Liberal Blogosphere

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:35:55 +0000

Container Rates Near a Two-Year High Amidst Renewed Tariff Concerns

iStock

Published Jun 26, 2026 10:16 PM by The Maritime Executive

2026 was widely expected to be a quiet year for container shipping, but events are proving the forecasts wrong. Containerized freight rates are approaching two-year highs, driven upwards by tariff expectations, limited capacity and the impact of the U.S.-Iranian war.

This week, the Drewry World Container Index neared the $4,200 per FEU level, driven upward 40 percent year-over-year thanks to strong demand from American importers and strong ex-China bookings. The SCFI has more than doubled compared to rates seen last year.

Part of the cause is the expectation of soon-to-come tariff hikes. After the Supreme Court struck down the White House's International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariff rates earlier this year, the administration used a separate set of legal authorities - Section 122 - to impose blanket import tariffs of 15 percent on all nations. The Section 122 tariffs expire at the end of July, and President Donald Trump is widely expected to announce additional new tariffs to replace them. That prediction is proving accurate: on Friday, he threatened import duties of 100 percent on any nation that collects taxes on the overseas revenues of U.S. tech companies, taking aim at European plans for a digital services tax.

"The section 122 tariffs will expire on July 24th and it is not yet known which new tariffs, likely from the Section 301 investigations, will supersede them," commented freight market expert Lars Jensen in a LinkedIn post.

For importers, the current 15 percent baseline tariff under Section 122 appears favorable, as it is equal to or less than the IEEPA rates in effect last year - and likely better than what might be available in several months' time, forwarders and BCOs told the Wall Street Journal. To take advantage of current tariff rates, bookings for the annual holiday season imports are getting moved up, and freight rates are increasing accordingly. The benchmark Shanghai-LA box rate is up 12 percent this week alone, according to Drewry, reaching $5,750 per forty-foot container. Southeast Asia-USWC rates have also soared abruptly, a welcome reprieve for ocean carriers.

It may be a short-lived bump, according to Jensen. Container spot rate futures on the NYFI index suggest that investors expect a substantial drop from the current heights within just a month's time, Jensen noted - aligned with the expected imposition of new tariff rates.

Number of Containers Lost Overboard Rises for a Second Year, Reports WSC

The MSC Elsa 3 casualty accounted for more than 40 percent of the containers reported lost at sea in 2025 (Indian DGS)

Published Jun 25, 2026 5:27 PM by The Maritime Executive

One casualty and a few incidents pushed the number of containers lost at sea up for the second year in a row, reaching possibly the fourth-highest level in the 18 years that the World Shipping Council has been tracking losses. The level of losses, however, appears in line with the long-term average, with the industry trade group further highlighting that it is an infinitesimal portion of the number of containers transported each year.

In its annual Containers Lost at Sea Report, WSC calculates that a total of 1,478 containers were reported lost overboard in 2025 out of a total of approximately 280 million transported globally. It notes that one casualty, the loss of the MSC Elsa 3 off India in May 2025, accounted for 640 containers within the total. That represented 43 percent of the boxes reported lost overboard during the year.

The number, however, is above the three-year average for the industry and is nearly triple that of 2024, when 576 containers were reported lost overboard. The prior year, 2023, had seen the industry’s lowest ever recorded level at just 221 containers reported lost at sea.

The peak years generally consist of one or two major casualties as well as various smaller incidents. The highest recorded losses were in 2013, with 5,578 containers lost, primarily driven by the MOL Comfort, which broke in two in the Indian Ocean. The next highest peaks came in 2020 with a series of casualties, including the ONE Apus, which lost 1,816 boxes in the North Pacific, and in 2021, when several ships were caught in heavy seas, and the X-Press Pearl burnt and sank off Sri Lanka.

WSC highlights that the key challenges remain weather and ocean conditions, although the industry has made significant strides in managing the phenomenon known as "parametric rolling." It also points to fire-related losses.

As an industry, they continue to work on improving safety factors, with work focusing on the misdeclaration of dangerous goods. It highlights the 2026 introduction of new reporting requirements adopted by the International Maritime Organization and safety rules for the transport of charcoal.

The report also shows that for the first time, 128 containers were recovered in 2025. The WSC says that it is the highest recovery figure since it began gathering data in 2023 on boxes recovered.

It is also continuing its education efforts for the industry on issues such as stowage and lashing plans and the safe execution of voyages. Another focus is on the Code of Practice for Packing Cargo Transport Units. A draft code has been developed and submitted to the IMO for consideration.

The World Shipping Council concludes by saying the long-term trend continues to show that container losses remain a very small fraction of the total global movements of boxes. It says year-to-year figures fluctuate, often driven by extreme weather and isolated events, while the overall trajectory remains stable and significantly below earlier peak years.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:16:57 +0000

U.S. Opposes Sale of Artifacts Recovered from the Titanic

Famed liner Titanic departing ahead of its ill-fated maiden voyage (public domain photo)

Published Jun 27, 2026 5:24 PM by The Maritime Executive

The U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia, which continues to oversee the management of the wreck of the famed ocean liner Titanic, has given the salvage company and the United States until Monday, June 29, to file any supplemental briefings concerning the proposed auction of artifacts recovered from the wreck site. This comes after RMS Titanic filed in March that it was planning to auction some of the artifacts, and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), which represented the United States’ interests, repeated its opposition to the sale of any artifacts.

Salvage operations at the wreck site began in 1987, just a year after the team from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found the vessel 2.5 miles down, roughly 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland in international waters. NOAA, in a court filing that was just unsealed in June, says that approximately 5,500 artifacts have been recovered from the debris field between 1987 and 2004. Some 2,100 of the artifacts were taken to France as its research institute organized the earliest recovery dives at the site.

In its March 2026 update filed with the court, RMS Titanic reported that it was planning the auction of some of the items recovered and previously controlled by the French. Items for which no heir or rightful owner could be established were eventually turned over to RMS Titanic.

It was from the French portion of the collection that the company reported it intended to sell 100 lots. Among the items, Associated Press reports, would be a bronze cherub from the ship, a necklace of gold nuggets, and a heart-shaped pendant. RMS Titanic said it would conduct a four-city tour to display the items before the auction. The company asserts that the French items are not part of the agreement with the United States and are not subject to the same limitations.

It is not the first time the group has attempted to sell items, reports AP. However, in the past, the U.S., along with preservation groups and victims’ relatives, was successful in getting the court to block any sales.

NOAA contends that the proposed sale would violate the long-standing Covenants and Conditions that have been established for the wreck site and any items recovered from the debris field. Shortly after the discovery of the Titanic’s location and the existence of the debris field, the U.S. Congress directed NOAA to consult with the UK, France, Canada, and others to develop the international guidelines. The guidelines state as a general principle that all the artifacts should be kept together and intact as a collection for display. RMS Titanic has organized or participated in numerous displays of artifacts, including a section of the hull, conducted over the years,

The court issued orders in 2011 about the maintenance of the artifact collection, and NOAA contends any sale would violate that order. It also asserts that the predecessor company made similar commitments to France to maintain the collection.

The filing asks the court to prohibit the sale of any items from the French artifacts. NOAA calls for RMS Titanic to be prohibited from advertising for sale or conducting any sale without the court’s approval. Further, it says the French government should be notified and given the opportunity to set forth its position on the intended sale, if it chooses.

Items related to the Titanic have come up for auction in the past and drawn significant amounts. In November 2025, a pocket watch that was recovered from the body of Isidor Straus (one of the owners of the U.S. department store R.H. Macy and part of Titanic lore, as his wife refused a seat in a lifeboat, saying she wanted to be with her husband). Both went down with the ship, and she was never found, but he was found, and the watch was returned to the family. It sold at auction for a record-breaking £1.78 million ($2.32 million), NBC News reported. A life jacket worn by a survivor sold at auction in April 2026 for £670,000 (nearly $885,000). Other items carried off the ship by survivors, including menus and bits recovered from the ocean in the days after the disaster, have also been sold over the years.

In addition to Monday’s deadline for any supplemental briefing concerning the proposed auction, the court has set July 10 as the deadline for responses. Various groups have joined with NOAA, filing letters of support to oppose the auction.

RMS Titanic is no stranger to controversy, as in the past few years, it initially sought approval in 2000 to remove the Marconi wireless from the wreck, but the expedition was delayed by the pandemic and opposition. In 2024, it withdrew the request, which had also drawn strong opposition, and instead conducted an imaging and research expedition, using unmanned ROVs to further image and research the site and located significant new items in the debris field.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:15:41 +0000

Russian Warships Linger in the English Channel

RFS Admiral Grigorovich (F494) ties up alongside PM-82 amidst a North Sea wind farm (Royal Navy)

Published Jun 28, 2026 11:14 AM by The Maritime Executive

The Russian frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich (F494) has been lurking in the English Channel since the end of April, evidently to escort dark fleet tankers carrying Russian oil transiting through the English Channel. The goal is to protect them from the ship seizures now being carried out by the British as well as the French government.

Since the seizure on June 14 of the sanctioned Cameroon-flagged Aframax Smyrtos (IMO 9389100), this mission has become a critical task for the Russian Navy, given that almost all tankers exporting crude and LNG from the primary Russian terminals at Primorsk and Ust-Luga need to transit through the English Channel if they are otherwise not to have to divert around Ireland – on a route where they are still vulnerable to interception. Given the Ukrainian long-range sanctions program affecting both Primorsk and Ust-Luga, more traffic is now coming out of Murmansk and the Kola Peninsula as well, and these tankers also need to pass through the English Channel, where geography puts them at risk of maritime interdictors.

Fires burning in Ust-Luga, post a Ukrainian attack in June captured on social media

In late June, the Admiral Grigorovich was observed by the Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Tyne (P281) conducting a fuel transfer with the Project 304 Amur Class floating repair ship (PM-82), not the first occasion where these two ships have been seen alongside each other. The operation was conducted in the area of the Galloper Wind Farm, which lies 15 nautical miles off the Suffolk coast in the North Sea. Amur Class vessels were designed to fulfill the role of dockside base repair workshops, so a ship-to-ship refueling operation at sea is a makeshift procedure outside their normal operating parameters, and with implicit risks.

Also pressed into service by the Royal Navy to keep watch on the Admiral Grigorovich (F494) has been the Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset (F82), OPVs HMS Severn (P282) and HMS Mersey (P283), and the Hunt Class minehunter HMS Ledbury (M30), as well as naval helicopters. The persistent Russian presence in the Channel, which has also seen the Ropucha Class landing ship RFS Aleksander Shabalin (LST110) and the tanker MV Mikhail Britnev (IMO 9081370) passing through recently, is a manifestation of the increased Russian threat that the British defense budget is now being stressed by. Dealing with this is a good test of improvisation skills, but it is imposing a considerable strain on the ingenuity of naval planners, as well as on ships’ crews diverted from planned training, port visits, and leave.

The operation to keep a watchful eye on the Russians lingering in the Channel is also necessary because the Aframax Smyrtos is being detained off Weymouth, with its crew still aboard. The captain is being detained onshore, and the British government is proceeding with plans to seize and sell the cargo on board, potentially to gift the proceeds to the Ukrainian government. It would be embarrassing if the Smyrtos were to be buccaneered.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:14:48 +0000

Resolute Dragon Exercise Upsets the Chinese Navy East of Taiwan

USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group sails in formation with Japan Maritime Self- Defense Force (US Pacific Fleet)

Published Jun 28, 2026 2:50 PM by The Maritime Executive

Chinese hackles have been raised once again by Japanese and U.S. Marine maritime activity taking place in the seas around Taiwan, where the nearest Japanese island lies just over 60 nautical miles east of the Taiwanese coast.

Exercise Resolute Dragon involves both the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Forces (JGSDF) and is taking place over training areas in Kyushu, Okinawa, and the southwestern Japanese Nansei Chain islands of Miyako, Ishigaki, and Yonaguni. No activity is planned to take place on Senaku Island, which is contentious territory that has seen regular intrusions by Chinese PLA Navy vessels challenging Japanese sovereignty.

Japanese Nansei Chain islands, east of Taiwan, where Exercise Resolute Dragon is taking place
(Google Earth/Copernicus/CJRC)

Of particular concern to the PLAN will be the involvement of the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment from the 3rd Marine Division, which is permanently based at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, and is tasked alongside the JGSDF with defending Japan’s outlying islands. The 12th Marine Littoral Regiment received delivery of two new coastal artillery systems this month, namely the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction Systems (NMESIS) and Marine Air Defense Integrated Systems (MADIS). These systems both deliver an upgrade to the range of weapons systems that are capable of countering PLAN air and drone intrusions, which, up until now, have been difficult to challenge. A second 3rd Marine Division unit, the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment based in Hawaii, received the same NMESIS and MADIS equipment somewhat earlier in 2024, and exercised with these systems in the Philippines during Exercise Balikatan 2026, which concluded last month.

The JGSDF will also benefit for the first time from the deployment of two new amphibious ships designed with beach landing support for the Nansei Chain islands in mind. Both the 80m Nihonbare (L4151) and 120m Yoko (L4101) are the first of a planned 10-strong multi-class fleet of similar vessels, which will be based at the Kure Naval Base near Hiroshima.

Japan's new amphibious ship Yoko loading for the exercise (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force)

The deployment of new and capable US littoral defense systems, and the increasing sophistication of exercises that the United States is carrying out with its allies in the East and South China Sea areas appear to be touching a raw nerve with the editors of the China Military website, which is a good barometer of Chinese Wolf Warrior concerns. While China Military likes to advertise the prowess of PLAN capability, with reports of deployments and exercises, it appears to be equally focused on the tougher defense policy and bigger defense spending of Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, but also with the tighter and deeper integration of US and Japanese forces operating alongside allied forces in the Southeast Asian region.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:23:41 +0000

Dismantling Underway for the Beached Wreck of MSC Baltic III in Canada

Access has been created and the area in front of the ship is being prepared for the bow section to be pulled ashore for dismantling (Canadian Coast Guard)

Published Jun 23, 2026 1:36 PM by The Maritime Executive

The efforts are underway to dismantle the containership MSC Baltic III, according to the most recent update from the Canadian Coast Guard. It will be a complex operation requiring possibly a year or more, involving breaking the ship into pieces and pulling it onto the beach to be cut up and trucked away for recycling.

Favorable weather at the site, which is in a remote area of Newfoundland, about 30 miles from Corner Brook, permitted the wreck removal team increased access to the vessel. A barge was positioned alongside, and they have been removing material from the ship.

Preparation work is also underway on shore. A switchback road is being created down to the beach in front of the vessel to get equipment and trucks to the site, while improvements were also made to the access road to Cedar Cove, where the vessel came to rest in February 2025.

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and its insurers retained Resolve Marine earlier in the spring for the second phase of the recovery operation. Resolve will be undertaking the removal of the ship and the restoration efforts in the area.

During the first phase of the clean-up conducted in 2025, the Canadian Coast Guard reported that 409 of the 462 containers aboard the ship, including dangerous goods, had been removed. All the bulk fuel, approximately 1,700 metric tons, was also removed.

A barge is alongside as material is being removed from the wreck (Canadian Coast Guard)

Resolve reported that in the first phase, it would complete the removal of the remaining containers, many of which were reported to be waterlogged. The Canadian Coast Guard also said that, in addition to residual amounts of fuel, the ship has contaminated water aboard.

So far they have reported to have removed approximately 23 additional containers. Works has also begun to remove furnishings from the accommodations area. The hatch covers are also being removed. Cutting of the vessel is expected to start during the summer.

Preparation work aboard the MSC Baltic III, Resolve reported, would include the welding of rigging points. The plan calls for separating the ship at the break point in the hull. The forward section will be pulled onto the beach and cut apart. The fuel tanks will be further cleaned, and work on the removal of the accommodation block will also get underway. The cut will be forward of the engine room of the vessel. After the bow section has been recycled and similar operation will pull the stern section to shore.

Resolve Marine has said it will get the first phase completed during 2026 and that work will continue until winter conditions set in over the area. Additional removal work is likely for 2027.

The Canadian Coast Guard currently says the wreck is stable with no significant change to its condition recently. In May, it had reported that the wreck, however, was in poor condition after heavy weather and ice conditions during the winter. There is significant damage to the hull, including a crack in the port side. There is also buckling on the starboard side and a crack that was worsening on the deck of the vessel.

MSC Baltic III had been heading for Newfoundland in February 2025 when the vessel blacked out in a strong winter storm. It was driven into the cove, and the Canadians organized a daring helicopter rescue of the crew. The ship ended up aground on the shoreline in Cedar Cove, with the stern settling to the seafloor. Under Canadian law, MSC and its insurers are responsible for the removal operation and the cost of the cleanup.

Kenya Seeks to Get Rid of a Tanzanian Ship Beached for Six Weeks

Dan has been on the beach since mid-March with an effort to reflot it now expected in mid-July (Emmanuel Ernest on Facebook)

Published Jun 28, 2026 3:50 PM by The Maritime Executive

Salvors in Kenya are attempting to coordinate efforts to be rid of a Turkish-owned vessel that has been aground near a marine protected park for six weeks. The ship remains high and dry as environmentalists are raising concerns.

The MV Dan (IMO: 8415160), a general cargo ship that sails under the flag of Tanzania, grounded within Kenyan waters off Nyali beach on May 17, igniting concerns that a hull breach or fuel leak could have catastrophic impacts on the marine ecosystem. The vessel grounded after drifting off course while on its way from Tanga, Tanzania.

The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) has come out to allay fears that the 99-meter (326-foot) vessel owned by SLA Maritime Co. is a danger to the environment. It said in a briefing on June 23 that it has been maintaining close oversight of the situation to ensure the safety of navigation, protection of the marine environment, and the welfare of the crew on board.

Built in 1985, the 4,900-dwt vessel, however, remains firmly aground. According to the authority, a detailed inspection of the vessel has established that its hull integrity remains intact with no evidence of structural failure or leakage.

“Consequently, the likelihood of a pollution incident is currently assessed to be minimal. Nevertheless, precautionary measures remain in place, and the situation continues to be closely monitored,” said Omae Nyarandi, KMA Director General.

He added that the Kenya Coast Guard has been maintaining a round-the-clock security and surveillance of the vessel to ensure the safety of the crew, prevent unauthorized access, and facilitate rapid response should the need arise.

To prevent a major environmental disaster, SLM Maritime, working with Kenyan authorities, is engaging in efforts to refloat the vessel. The operation is expected to be undertaken around July 13, when the salvors intend to take advantage of the next favorable tide period.

KMA highlights that the vessel will be refloated in accordance with maritime and environmental protection requirements. This is because Nyali beach is renowned for its pristine, white-sand shoreline and calm, turquoise waters that transition into a rich, protected marine ecosystem.

The beach serves as an accessible gateway to the vibrant marine life and coral formations of the adjacent Mombasa Marine National Park and a reserve.

The ship was cited for safety problems in 2025 during an inspection in Slovenia. Among the listed issues were concerns over the safety of navigation and bridge operations. The inspection also cites fire safety issues, problems with the closing devices for the watertight doors, and various shortcomings in its certificates.

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:28:51 +0000

New paths for developing drought-resistant crops

Ruhr-University Bochum

image:

Christopher Grefen and Khushbu Kumari are conducting laboratory research into how plants develop stomata.

Credit: © RUB, Marquard

Enzyme becomes active early in development

Stomata are microscopic pores on the surface of the lead through which plants take in carbon dioxide and release water. Their function depends on two guard cells that open and close in response to environmental signals. The research team in Bochum discovered that GELP80 becomes activated in an early stage of development and selectively reshapes the cuticular lipid structure surrounding the created pores. This gives the guard cells their mechanical flexibility required for later regulation of the pore opening.

Unusual shape and stiffer guard cell walls

Plants lacking both GELP80 and GELP100 developed abnormally shaped stomata with structurally defective cuticular ledges and stiffer guard cell walls. As a result, the stomata were restricted in their mobility. At the same time, however, the plants continued to react normally to abscisic acid (ABA), confirming that the cause of the defects does not lie in disrupted signal transmission, but rather in altered mechanical characteristics of the cell wall and cuticle.

Limited mobility is an advantage

Surprisingly, the limited mobility of the stomata under drought-induced stress proved advantageous: The mutant plants lost less water and survived longer drought periods much more often than wild type plants. After 14 days without water, their survival rate was at about 80 percent, whereas nearly all of the comparison plants died.

The team also established a new model for stomata development in which GELP80 orchestrates early cuticle organization while the guard cells are in their early development. Later, the related enzyme OSP1 enables final pore opening, revealing a precisely timed sequence of lipid-remodeling events required for functional stomata formation.

“GELP80 acts like a molecular sculptor at the stomatal pore—it remodels the cuticular lipids early in guard cell development to give the stomata the precise mechanical flexibility they need to function,” says Dr. Khushbu Kumari, first author of the study. “When that sculpting is lost, the pore architecture becomes rigid and disorganized, and the plant simply cannot open and close its stomata efficiently.”

For the first time, the findings reveal a direct link between lipid metabolism, cell wall mechanics, and stomatal physiology. As we are faced with increasing drought and water scarcity, this insight could aid in optimizing crops for better water management and greater resilience to drought.

Journal

The Plant Cell

DOI

10.1093/plcell/koag150

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Lack of GDSL motif–containing proteins increases drought tolerance by altering the stomatal cuticle in Arabidopsis

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:26:02 +0000

The "water-saving" effect of vegetation under rising CO₂ may be overestimated

Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

image:

Direct and indirect pathways through which CO2 physiological effects (PHY) influence evapotranspiration.

Credit: Xing Yuan

Climate warming is intensifying terrestrial water scarcity and drought risks worldwide. Meanwhile, rising atmospheric CO2 reduces plant stomatal conductance— the openness of leaf pores that governs both CO₂ intake and water loss — and improves water-use efficiency, which has been widely considered capable of alleviating land surface drying. However, a recent study reveals that this perceived benefit may have been optimistically overestimated.

On June 24, the team led by Prof. Xing Yuan published a paper in PNAS, uncovering a critical indirect impact that substantially limits the water-saving potential of vegetation under elevated CO2, originating from atmospheric feedbacks.

Based on simulations from Earth system models participating in CMIP6-C4MIP (the carbon-cycle climate intercomparison project within the global CMIP6 modeling framework), the research team isolated the indirect impacts of vegetation changes on evapotranspiration through atmospheric feedbacks, and found that vegetation responses to rising CO2 (including increased leaf area and reduced stomatal conductance) can alter surface energy balance, leading to warming and enhanced atmospheric evaporative demand, which ultimately drives greater surface water loss, undermining the water savings they were expected to deliver.

This previously overlooked indirect impact offsets 54% of the vegetation water-saving effect in northern mid-to-high latitudes under current climate conditions, and this ratio is projected to increase to 68% under a future 4×CO2 scenario. Most concerning, at high latitudes, the net CO2 physiological effect on evapotranspiration becomes statistically insignificant, meaning the anticipated water-saving benefit essentially disappears.

The indirect impacts of vegetation changes exhibit strong latitudinal differences, with particularly pronounced effects in northern mid-to-high latitudes. In these regions, sustained water loss associated with atmospheric feedbacks can undermine the potential benefits of vegetation in mitigating land surface water scarcity, covering major agricultural regions such as the U.S. Corn Belt, European plains, and rice-growing regions of China.

As droughts become more frequent under climate change, vegetation’s role in regulating land surface water availability is becoming increasingly critical for agricultural production and water resource management. However, “the study warns against overreliance on CO2 physiological effects as a natural solution to drought,” said the corresponding author, Prof. Xing Yuan.

Meanwhile, in low-latitude regions, the first author Yi Hao noted that “although CO2 physiological effects may partially alleviate soil moisture drought, increasing compound heat and atmospheric drought stress are more likely to threaten ecosystem sustainability.”

The findings highlight that vegetation's CO₂ response alone cannot secure water resources or ecosystem stability under future climate change, underscoring the need for proactive adaptation strategies — including improved irrigation efficiency, drought-resilient crop breeding, and sustainable water resource planning.

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI

10.1073/pnas.2534643123

Article Title

A potential overestimation of CO2 physiological effects on evapotranspiration

Article Publication Date

22-Jun-2026

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:25:06 +0000

C'mon and join the convoy: Batteries, fuel cells would overhaul emissions from semis, other heavy vehicles

University of Michigan

Although electrified versions of vans, buses and semis cost more upfront on average than their diesel-powered counterparts, the overall calculus behind adopting greener vehicles is currently in flux.

The cost of diesel fuel is skyrocketing. California, where the new Tesla Semi is establishing a toehold, has also unveiled a rebate program to help companies purchase electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Plus, even as the federal U.S. government embraces fossil fuels, some companies remain committed to their sustainability goals, as evidenced by Amazon's ever-growing fleet of electric delivery vehicles.

Now, research from the University of Michigan shows just how big a difference switching from diesel to fuel cells or batteries can make when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. If a medium- or heavy-duty battery electric vehicle were to be powered completely by renewable energy, it would offer around a 90% reduction in lifetime greenhouse gas emissions compared to its diesel equivalent.

The research team, led by Maxwell Woody and Greg Keoleian, published its results in the journal Nature Energy and was supported by the Ford-University of Michigan Alliance Program.

"There's an urgency for climate action and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector," said Keoleian, a professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability, or SEAS. "There's a disproportionate amount of emissions from these heavy- and medium-duty vehicles compared to the rest of the vehicles on the road."

Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles account for nearly 30% of road vehicle emissions despite making up just about 5% of traffic on U.S. roadways, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

"Moving to battery electric vehicles and even hydrogen fuel cell vehicles provides a significant reduction in emissions," said Keoleian, who is also co-director of U-M's Center for Sustainable Systems, or CSS.

This study, focusing on larger vehicles, follows a comprehensive study from the team that showed electrified sedans, SUVs and light-duty pickups reduced lifetime emissions from noncommercial vehicles across the U.S. In the new study, the team performed life cycle analyses for Class 3 vehicles, weighing between 10,001 and 14,000 pounds, up to Class 8 vehicles that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds.

They modeled different powertrains, including internal combustion engines, hybrids, battery-powered EVs and fuel cell electric vehicles, accounting for a variety of other factors. That included variables like how a vehicle was driven—for example, with the frequent starts and stops of urban delivery up to the long-haul drives of trucks with sleeper cabs. The researchers also examined how hydrogen and electrons for fuel cells and batteries, respectively, were sourced, comparing established methods to newer, greener options.

In the case of fuel cells, this meant analyzing sourcing hydrogen from the standard process known as steam methane reforming versus greener hydrogen from the electrolysis of water powered by renewables. For battery electric vehicles, the standard is simply plugging into the current grid versus charging from renewables alone.

Though there were variations due to these factors, a clear takeaway emerged: Hydrogen fuel cells and battery electric powertrains offered the largest lifetime emissions reductions compared with diesel-powered vehicles.

Battery electric vehicles cut emissions by 72%-82% using the current grid and by 87%-92% using renewables only.
Fuel cells offered 12%-51% reductions using steam methane reforming and 44%-68% reductions with electrolysis powered by renewables.
Hybrid powertrains offered 1%-26% emission reductions.

"Basically, we see across all the different vehicle sizes the same general pattern of the conventional diesel having the highest emissions, then the hybrid, then the fuel cell with conventional hydrogen production, then the battery electric with grid electricity, then fuel cell with green hydrogen, and then the battery electric vehicle with renewable electricity," said Woody, a postdoctoral researcher with CSS. "That pattern held across everything that we investigated, from the Class 3 van to the Class 8 truck."

SEAS doctoral student Spencer Checkoway also contributed to the research, as did Robert De Kleine, Hyung Chul Kim and James Anderson at Ford Motor Co.

Journal

Nature Energy

DOI

10.1038/s41560-026-02095-6

Article Title

Batteries vs Fuel Cells for Decarbonizing Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Across Applications

Article Publication Date

25-Jun-2026

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:23:56 +0000

As Northern Hemisphere temperatures soar, a new app shows players' heat risk for sport

Online sports heat risk app launched internationally to help players check their heat risk across 33 sports, including football

University of Sydney

image:

The Sports Heat Tool can be used by anyone, anywhere, all over the world to map their heat risk while playing sport in hot weather

Credit: University of Sydney

As temperatures soar across the Northern Hemisphere, a free tool lets anyone, anywhere check how dangerous the heat really is for their sport and decide whether it is safe to play.

Most people who play sport judge heat by the temperature, or simply by how it feels. But the real danger depends on much more than that. Humidity, the sun, and how hard you are working all affect how much heat your body has to shed, which is why two days at the same temperature can carry very different risks.

The Sports Heat Tool, developed at the University of Sydney, now calculates that risk for anyone, providing sport-specific guidance on heat exposure and a clear answer to a question that millions of people ask each summer: is it too hot to play?

The interactive online tool, downloadable for free from the Apple App Store and online, is designed to help people monitor their heat risk while participating in more than 33 sports and guide safe participation during hot conditions.

From soccer and softball, to canoeing and cycling, users around the world can search their location, check their heat risk, and discover a sport-specific risk profile based on the activity they are doing.

Professor Ollie Jay, Director of the Heat and Health Research Centre at the University of Sydney, who helped develop the tool, said the gap between elite and community sport is stark.

At the elite level there are doctors, cooling stations, and someone whose job it is to call it off when it gets dangerous,” said Professor Jay.

“A local club has a coach, a hot afternoon, and a judgement call. We have taken the science that the professionals rely on and put it in everyone’s pocket for free. Your body follows the same rules whether you are playing at the FIFA World Cup or a Sunday league.”

How to check your heat risk

Users can enter their location and choose their sport, then the app returns a sport heat-risk score for the hours and days ahead, ranging from low (1.0) through to extreme (5.0), alongside practical steps to bring the risk down.

“It models how a real body exchanges heat with its surroundings, rather than relying on older indices designed decades ago for narrow conditions. It accounts for the temperature, the humidity, the sun and your own exertion, so the risk it shows is the risk you are genuinely facing,” said Dr Federico Tartarini, from the Heat and Health Research Centre and the Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning, who co-developed the tool.

A version tailored to children and adolescents, whose bodies manage heat differently to adults will be launched later this year.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:21:57 +0000

Lamprey brain atlas uncovers ancestral blueprint of the vertebrate brain

Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters

image:

An adult Far Eastern brook lamprey (Lethenteron reissneri)

Credit: Image by WU Haixu from Kunming Institute of Zoology

What did the very first complex vertebrate brain look like? To find out, scientists turned to an unlikely time traveler: the lamprey, a jawless, eel-like fish whose body plan has barely changed in roughly 360 million years.

In a study published in Science on June 18, a team of researchers led by SU Bing from the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with collaborators from BGI-Research and Liaoning Normal University, built the first three-dimensional, single-cell atlas of an entire lamprey brain, which is essentially a high-resolution map showing the location of every cell and which genes are active in each cell.

The researchers found that although lampreys diverged from jawed vertebrates about 450 million years ago, their brains share strikingly similar gene-expression patterns with the mouse across many regions. This finding suggests that the common ancestor of all vertebrates likely already had a well-organized, molecularly complex brain.

However, the researchers showed that each lineage also evolved its own innovations: the lamprey has unique midbrain neurons and oversized "Müller cells," while mammals went on to build a more elaborate, layered cortex.

Moreover, the atlas hints at how neuronal types became more specialized over the course of evolution. The lamprey has a versatile cell type called the anamniote-enriched neuron (AEN) that carries both excitatory and inhibitory signals at once—a process described as "moonlighting."

Comparing living species across the vertebrate tree, the researchers found these "moonlighting" cells to be common in lampreys and zebrafish but rare in amniotes, which instead rely on "specialist" neurons with dedicated functions. The researchers suggest this contrast is linked to an ancient whole-genome duplication.

In addition, the researchers revealed that even the cerebellum, the brain's coordination hub, shows early roots: lamprey cells resembling cerebellar neurons point to a diffuse, primitive "cerebellum-like region."

Overall, the study helps reconstruct the evolutionary blueprint of the ancestral vertebrate brain and provides new insights into how vertebrate brains became increasingly complex over time.

Journal

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.aea2535

Article Title

Lamprey 3D single-cell transcriptomics reveals ancestral and specialized features of the vertebrate brain

Article Publication Date

18-Jun-2026

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:19:11 +0000

Rings of power – how bacteria use circadian clocks to colonise their world

John Innes Centre

image:

Rings of bacterial colony growth controlled by circadian rhythms

Credit: Dr Jack Dorling

Research has revealed how bacteria rely on circadian clocks to control the spread of their multi-cellular colonies.

The findings provide important clues as to how we might improve soil health and plant growth. They may also help to explain how some bacteria spread hospital-acquired infections.

Researchers at the John Innes Centre, University of Munich, and Leiden University made the discovery while studying the widespread soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis.

Circadian clocks, or circadian rhythms, align biological processes with the 24-hour solar cycle of life on earth. The circadian clock regulates much of our physiology and behaviour, for instance determining if we sleep earlier or later than others.

The European consortium discovered that circadian clocks exist in B. subtilis, which is one of the first examples of these cellular timepieces being found in a non-photosynthetic bacterium. Labs in the USA and Argentina discovered clocks in bacteria that associate with humans, indicating that circadian clocks are found broadly in this ancient and diverse class of organisms.

Despite these breakthroughs, little was known about how the circadian clock worked to organise colonies of bacteria.

In research appearing in Nature Communications, the team used a range of experiments which strongly support the theory that the circadian clock acts as a master regulator controlling expression of diverse genes and the rate at which the bacterial colonies expand. Gene expression across colonies shows similarities with circadian control of multi-cellular organisms such as plants and animals.

To make this discovery, the team analysed colonies of B. subtilis expanding across plates of agar gel. They had noticed that B. subtilis forms concentric rings as it spreads on petri dishes, resembling the rings of decay caused by fungi on autumn apples.

In constant conditions, the team observed that the bacterial colony spread at the rate of one ring over each period of 24 hours.

They devised a set of experiments which alter environmental conditions such as light wavelength (blue and red light) and temperature. This allowed them to test if the pattern of bacterial development and gene expression might change in response to these external stimuli or if it maintains a 24-hour cycle – indicative of a self-sustained and internally driven clock.

The team observed that concentric rings formed at the edge of the colony about once a day under all sets of conditions, consistent with circadian timing.

In further experiments, the team used a luciferase reporting technique, involving a bioluminescent enzyme, that enables tracking of gene expression over time and space.

Imaging of bioluminescence showed that genes involved in the formation of biofilms, the slimy material that binds communities of bacteria together, were clearly expressed at very specific and individual times of day over a 24-hour period, as were genes involved in sporulation, a process where cells enter dormancy.

“We found that the clock organises the Bacillus subtilis colonies, the rate at which the colony spreads across petri dishes, and it structures patterns of gene expression according to the time of day,” said the first author of the study Dr Jack Dorling, postdoctoral scientist at the John Innes Centre.

“Bacillus subtilis is a soil bacterium that is also associated with plants. We think that bacterial circadian clocks organise the ecology of soil microorganisms and could have roles in supporting plant growth,” he added.

The European Research Council-funded consortium behind this research, MicroClock, is conducting experiments to identify the mechanisms of the Bacillus subtilis clock and how this impacts the ecology and evolution of the bacterium.

The research is testament to the blend of skills brought together in this European consortium which includes researchers at the John Innes Centre, University of Munich and Leiden University.

“This is an example of a big European team working in a synergistic way across several labs. We have developed techniques, resources and protocols by sharing the work across this multi-disciplinary team over a period of ten years,” said Professor Antony Dodd, a Group Leader at the John Innes Centre and a corresponding author of the paper.

The evolutionary distance between B. subtillis and the two species of human-associated bacteria reported to have clocks (Klebsiella aerogenes and Acinetobacter baumanii) suggests that circadian clocks could be widespread amongst non-photosynthetic bacteria and the biological domain of the prokaryotes.

This opens a new field of exploration for the field of chronobiology with benefits for biotech and human medicine.

Professor Martha Merrow at the University of Munich said, “Our aim is to describe the ‘how’s’ and ‘why’s’ of the circadian clock in this bacterium so that others will be able to more easily find circadian clocks in the thousands of other bacteria. We do not think that Bacillus is alone with their rhythms!”

In addition to the longer-term applications, this study has helped to change perceptions of how bacteria survive and thrive in the world around us, explains Professor Dodd.

“People tend to think of bacteria as these single cells that float around, but microbiologists know that they are part of a matrix held within a biofilm. Once you know this you can see bacteria as a multi-cellular structure and, thanks to this work, we have in Bacillus subtilis a scientific model for the study of circadian clocks across multi-cellular life.”

The Bacillus subtilis circadian clock coordinates intricate spatiotemporal organisation, is in Nature Communications.

Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:08:53 +0000

Kenya Seeks to Get Rid of a Tanzanian Ship Beached for Six Weeks

Dan has been on the beach since mid-March with an effort to reflot it now expected in mid-July (Emmanuel Ernest on Facebook)

Published Jun 28, 2026 3:50 PM by The Maritime Executive

The beach serves as an accessible gateway to the vibrant marine life and coral formations of the adjacent Mombasa Marine National Park and a reserve.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:57:06 +0000

Rediscovery of once-lost super-sized Megalodon vertebrae

International team of scientists sheds new insight into the biology of the prehistoric shark

Museum Sønderjylland

image:

Dr. Mette Elstrup holding a 10.8-million-year-old vertebral fossil specimen of the extinct megatooth shark, Otodus megalodon, from the Gram Formation of Denmark featured in the new study, and a reconstructed O. megalodon jaw model in the background

Credit: Museum of Southern Jutland, Denmark

Gram, Denmark — An associated set of gigantic vertebrae belonging to the iconic extinct Megalodon or megatooth shark that had been missing in action since the 1980s was discovered, providing new information about the shark’s lifestyle. Two Museum of Southern Jutland staff, Mette Elstrup and Trine Sørensen, and a researcher at Aarhus University, Henrik Lauridsen, teamed up with a scientist in the United States and another in Australia and took a renewed look at a once-lost vertebral specimen of Otodus megalodon, the fossil shark that lived nearly worldwide about 15 to 3.6 million years ago. The new study appears in the international journal Palaeontologia Electronica.

The rediscovered 10.8-million-year-old vertebral specimen was originally discovered from a large commercially-dug clay pit in Gram, Denmark, in the late 1970s and was scientifically introduced in the early 1980s. The specimen was housed in the Geological Museum of Copenhagen (now part of the Natural History Museum of Denmark), but when the specimen was moved out of the original research laboratory after it was published, it became misplaced, leaving behind only photographic evidence in the scientific literature. The situation changed in the late 2010s when an observant museum staff member fortuitously encountered some mysterious fossil-filled boxes that were tucked in the collection and realized they were the missing Megalodon vertebrae.

Otodus megalodon is commonly portrayed as a gigantic shark in novels and films, such as the 2018 sci-fi thriller “The Meg.” In fact, the most recent estimated maximum size of the fossil species is 24.3 meters in length, which possibly weighed about 94 tons. Although most of the vertebrae have deteriorated, their rediscovery is critical because it is the very specimen that was the basis of the maximum size and weight estimates.

“The rediscovery of the vertebrae was a true delight because they empirically confirm the maximum vertebral diameter of 23 cm reported in the literature,” said the lead author of the new study, Kenshu Shimada, who is a paleobiology professor at DePaul University in Chicago. In fact, “the specimen not only represents the largest shark vertebrae known to date but also the largest fish vertebrae ever recorded to our knowledge,” Shimada added.

Although no complete skeletons of Megalodon exist, the 24.3-meter estimate comes from its vertebral diameter compared with the maximum vertebral diameter (15.5 cm) measured from a reasonably complete string of trunk vertebrae known from Belgium, which is thought to have come from a 16.4-meter-long individual.

Sørensen, a Natural History Conservator at the Museum of Southern Jutland, who prepared the vertebral specimen, stated, “The sharks’ cartilaginous skeletons make their preservation potential generally very low except for their highly mineralized teeth. The Gram Formation exposed in the claypit is special in that we have multiple examples of well-preserved fossilized shark vertebrae in addition to teeth from many shark species, although one known gigantic Megalodon tooth and the specimen in our study remain to be the only Megalodon vertebrae from the site.”

Elstrup, the Head of the Natural History section of the museum, added, “The giant Megalodon vertebrae are of great importance because size matters when it comes to understanding the biology, ecological impact, and geographic distribution pattern of this extinct giant predator.” “The Gram claypit site also represents the scientifically verifiable latitudinally highest Megalodon locality in the world, which does not contradict the previous observation that larger Megalodon remains are more common in ‘cooler’ regions relative to ‘warmer’ regions,” Elstrup continued.

The research team took the study one step further by analyzing incremental ‘growth bands’ putatively formed annually (analogous to tree rings) in the Megalodon vertebrae using micro-CT imaging, a non-destructive X-ray-based technique. The micro-CT images revealed that the Megalodon individual was at least 64 years old when it died, with a possible theoretical longevity of 96 years old based on a growth model the team attained for that shark.

Lauridsen, an associate professor at Aarhus University, who performed the micro-CT scanning, noted, “Scanning the large, low-contrast vertebrae fossils surrounded by clay at ultra-high resolution was a real technical challenge, which resulted in generating more than 100 GB worth of images.”

Ultrasound propagation in porous rocks: Theory identifies three distinct wave modes

University of Tsukuba

Tsukuba, Japan—Ultrasound-based irradiation of rock formations has attracted considerable attention as a technique for enhancing heavy-oil (high-viscosity crude oil) recovery from deep underground reservoirs. However, a unified theoretical framework for wave propagation and energy dissipation in these formations remains lacking because water coexists with heavy oil within rock pores and gas bubbles in the water respond dynamically to ultrasonic excitation, thereby creating a complex system. Conventional theories typically treat oil as a purely viscous (Newtonian) fluid or assume frequency ranges markedly below the ultrasonic regime. Consequently, these theories inadequately capture oil viscoelasticity and the influence of bubble oscillations in the ultrasonic regime.

This study extends previous low-frequency models and constructs a theoretical framework applicable to ultrasonic frequencies by incorporating three notable elements into a unified system of equations: (i) heavy-oil viscoelasticity, (ii) dynamic capillary pressure at fluid-fluid interfaces, and (iii) oscillations of gas bubbles dispersed in water induced by ultrasonic pressure fluctuations. This framework analyzes wave velocities and frequency-dependent attenuation. The results reveal the coexistence of three longitudinal-wave types with distinct physical origins: a fast-propagating mode, strongly attenuated mode arising from relative motion between fluids and the rock matrix, and slow mode governed primarily by capillary dynamics at fluid interfaces.

These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding and predicting ultrasonic wave behavior in multiphase porous media across a wide frequency range. The results are expected to support optimized strategy development depending on the intended application, such as selecting lower frequencies for wider spatial coverage and higher frequencies to exploit localized interfacial and viscoelastic effects.

###
This study was partially supported by JSPS KAKENHI (No. 22K03898) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and JKA and its promotion funds from KEIRIN RACE. This work was also partially supported by the Top Runners in Strategy of Transborder Advanced Research (TRiSTAR) program conducted as part of the Strategic Professional Development Program for Young Researchers by MEXT.

Original Paper

Title of original paper:
Ultrasound propagation in multiphase porous media: A continuum-mechanical model for coupled effects of bubble dynamics and oil viscoelasticity

Journal:
Physics of Fluids

DOI:
10.1063/5.0323134

Correspondence

Associate Professor KANAGAWA, Tetsuya
Institute of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba

FUKUYA, Tomohiro
Graduate School of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba

Palatable food engages reward-stress neural circuit to relieve anxiety

Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

To counteract the adverse effects induced by chronic stress, individuals often engage in behaviors that activate the brain's reward system, exerting compensatory regulation over emotional states. The consumption of palatable food represents a simple yet effective strategy for alleviating stress-induced anxiety. However, the underlying neural circuit mechanisms linking reward processing to stress regulation remain largely unclear.

In a study published in Advanced Science, Dr. TU Jie's team from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences identified a neural circuit from dopamine 1 receptors (D1R) neurons in prefrontal cortex (PFC) to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons in paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of hypothalamus—PFCD1R→peri-PVNCRFR1→PVNCRF—that functionally connects the brain's reward system with the stress-response system and mediates reward-driven top-down regulation of stress.

Using both high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) behavioral mapping and conventional behavioral assays, researchers demonstrated that chronic stress induces the hyperactivation of PVNCRF neurons and produces anxiety-like behaviors in mice. Notably, the intake of palatable food reversed these neural and behavioral abnormalities.

Through in vivo neural activity recordings, researchers revealed that palatable food consumption triggers dopamine release within the PFC, leading to the activation of excitatory D1R-expressing neurons, and these PFCD1R neurons, in turn, suppress the stress-induced hyperactivity of PVNCRF neurons.

Because PFCD1R neurons are excitatory, researchers hypothesized that the inhibitory regulation of PVNCRF neurons require an intermediate inhibitory relay. Besides, they identified CRFR1-expressing neurons in the peri-PVN region as the critical relay node mediating this effect.

The findings of this work provide important insights into how reward-related experiences modulate stress responses and emotional homeostasis.

DOI

10.1002/advs.75604

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:52:30 +0000

Antibiotic resistance threatens vision in pets and horses, new veterinary review warns

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

image:

Cat

Credit: Credit: Yosef Adest

Sight-threatening antibiotic-resistant eye infections are becoming a significant threat to vision in dogs, cats, and horses, according to a newly published comprehensive review. The study examines global trends in antimicrobial resistance in animal eye infections and warns that multidrug-resistant bacteria are becoming more common in referral veterinary settings. The review also highlights a critical challenge for veterinarians: standard laboratory tests may not always predict how well topical eye treatments will work in practice. The authors call for earlier diagnostic testing, more targeted antibiotic use, stronger infection-control measures, and the development of antibiotic-sparing strategies to help preserve treatment options for future patients.

Sight-threatening eye infections in pets and horses are becoming more difficult to treat as antibiotic-resistant bacteria spread worldwide, according to a new review published in Veterinary Ophthalmology by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The review by Dr. Lionel Sebbag and Dr. Oren Pe'er of the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, examines the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in veterinary ophthalmology, with a particular focus on bacterial corneal infections that can threaten vision within hours or days if left uncontrolled.

Bacterial keratitis, a serious infection of the cornea, is among the most urgent emergencies in veterinary eye care. While antibiotics remain the cornerstone of treatment, the researchers found mounting evidence that many of the bacteria responsible for these infections are becoming increasingly resistant to commonly used drugs.

Drawing on studies from North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia, the review identifies Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, beta-hemolytic streptococci, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the most frequently isolated bacterial pathogens in companion animals. Particularly concerning is the rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains, especially in referral and specialty-care settings where the most severe cases are concentrated.

One of the most consistent findings across studies was the impact of previous antibiotic use. Animals that had recently received topical antimicrobial treatment were more likely to harbor resistant bacteria and less likely to yield positive culture results, making accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment more challenging.

The review also highlights a surprising gap between laboratory testing and real-world clinical outcomes. Standard antimicrobial susceptibility tests are largely based on how antibiotics behave when administered systemically, yet eye drops achieve very different drug concentrations at the ocular surface. As a result, laboratory susceptibility reports may not always accurately predict whether a treatment will succeed or fail in clinical practice.

“Antimicrobial resistance is no longer a theoretical concern in veterinary ophthalmology,” the authors note. “It is a clinically significant and evolving reality.”

The researchers argue that laboratory findings should always be interpreted alongside clinical observations, disease severity, and patient history. They emphasize the importance of obtaining microbiological samples before extensive antibiotic treatment whenever possible, allowing veterinarians to make more informed treatment decisions.

Beyond the immediate clinical implications, the review places antibiotic-resistant eye infections within a broader One Health framework. Some bacterial species commonly found in animal eye infections have recognized zoonotic potential, meaning they can be transmitted between animals and humans. The authors note that veterinary clinics, equipment, and even households can serve as environments where resistant organisms circulate, highlighting the importance of rigorous hygiene and infection-control practices.

Looking ahead, the review explores a range of antibiotic-sparing approaches designed to reduce reliance on traditional antimicrobials. These include antiseptic therapies, biofilm-disrupting treatments, corneal cross-linking technologies, ultraviolet-based approaches, and other emerging methods that may complement conventional antibiotic therapy.

The authors conclude that preserving the effectiveness of existing antibiotics will require coordinated efforts in surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, infection control, and the development of ophthalmology-specific guidelines for managing ocular infections.

“The goal is not simply to resolve the current infection,” the authors write, “but to preserve therapeutic reliability for future patients.”

Dogs Veterinary Hospital

Credit

Credit: AG

Physical inactivity: A systemic implementation failure, not just a lifestyle choice

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center

image:

Infographic of this Editorial.

Credit: Yannis P. Pitsiladis, Daria Obratov, Fabio Pigozzi and Uğur Erdener.

A new Editorial published in Translational Exercise Biomedicine (ISSN: 2942-6812), an official partner journal of International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS), argues that physical inactivity can no longer be described merely as a public-health crisis. Instead, the authors contend, it represents a persistent implementation failure of modern societies to align with fundamental human biology with consequences that strain global health systems, economic sustainability, and long-term human resilience. The editorial was authored by Yannis P. Pitsiladis, Daria Obratov, Fabio Pigozzi and Ugur Erdener.

Human physiology evolved over approximately 200,000 years in environments that demanded regular physical activity for survival. Yet within little more than a century, societies have constructed environments dense urbanization, motorized transport, sedentary occupations, and digital services that systematically eliminate the need to move. This evolutionary mismatch, the authors warn, is being amplified at population scale as urbanization accelerates and physical inactivity becomes embedded within social, occupational, and educational systems. Global surveillance data up to 2016 already showed that more than one quarter of adults worldwide did not meet recommended physical activity levels, with higher prevalence among women and in high-income and rapidly urbanizing regions. Among adolescents, more than 80% were insufficiently active. Crucially, these figures describe the situation before the COVID-19 pandemic, which further reduced physical activity levels with recovery incomplete and uncertain. Despite decades of unequivocal evidence and well-developed policy frameworks including the World Health Organization's Global Action Plan on Physical Activity and its target of a 15% relative reduction in inactivity by 2030, population-level outcomes have remained stagnant. "This gap reflects not a lack of evidence, but persistent implementation challenges," Prof. Yannis P. Pitsiladis highlights "Policy has been adopted but not consistently delivered at scale".

The editorial also addresses the growing prominence of GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity management. While acknowledging that these therapies are evidence-based and clinically appropriate for selected individuals, the authors express concern that normalizing long-term pharmacological management at population scale risks displacing sustained investment in environments and systems that support routine physical activity. They emphasize that physical exercise, particularly resistance training, should be positioned as an essential adjunct to pharmacotherapy to preserve muscle mass and maintain functional capacity.

To bridge the persistent gap between policy and action, the authors propose the formation of an independent Global Alliance for the Promotion of Physical Activity. Unlike normative bodies, this alliance would focus specifically on translating policy commitments into sustained population-level change through capacity-building, cross-sector collaboration and measurable implementation outcomes. Corresponding author Yannis P. Pitsiladis commented on the significance of the work: "Physical inactivity is no longer an emerging challenge; it is entrenched, systemic, and accelerating." Prof. Fabio Pigozzi, president of FIMS, added: "When evidence has been unequivocal for decades, policy frameworks are well developed, and yet population-level outcomes remain stagnant, restraint of language risks obscuring reality. The time for implementation-focused collaboration is now."

The authors call for renewed international coordination, structural reform, and implementation accountability to translate policy into population-level change. The editorial serves as both a stark warning and a roadmap for action, arguing that without fundamental changes to the environments and systems that shape daily life, the global inactivity crisis will continue to accelerate with predictable consequences for health systems and society.

Journal

Translational Exercise Biomedicine

DOI

10.1515/teb-2025-0041

Method of Research

News article

Article Title

Physical inactivity as a critical global challenge: escalating consequences for health systems and society

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:48:06 +0000

Promising single-dose malaria treatment advances toward pan-African clinical trial

DZIF project aims to overcome major barriers to malaria control. Study principal investigator Prof. Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma named to TIME100 Health 2026.

German Center for Infection Research

image:

Treatment of a patient as part of the clinical SPAP study in Gabon. Pictured are nurse Merleye Nongou (standing), data clerk Naomie Badinga (seated), and physician Dr. Alex Hounmenou Zinsou. The photo was taken at the satellite site of the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL) in Mighoma, Tchibanga.

Credit: Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma/BNITM/CERMEL

Researchers at the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) have developed a promising single-dose malaria treatment that could help address growing drug resistance and simplify treatment for patients. The four-drug combination treatment, known as SPAP, is now being prepared for large-scale clinical testing across Africa. Prof. Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma, who was named to the 2026 TIME100 Health list in recognition of his contributions to global health research, is co-leading the project.

Despite major progress in recent decades, malaria continues to cause hundreds of thousands of deaths every year, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Drug resistance is increasing, and many patients struggle to complete treatment regimens that require medication over several days. While new antimalarial drugs are being developed, it may take years before they become widely available.

To address these challenges, researchers supported by DZIF are investigating how to combine existing medicines more effectively. They have developed SPAP, a new single-dose combination therapy based on the four already approved antimalarial drugs, sulfadoxine, pyrimethamine, artesunate and pyronaridine.

Results from a clinical trial conducted in Gabon suggest that SPAP could significantly improve malaria treatment. By targeting the malaria parasite through multiple mechanisms, SPAP has the potential to overcome two major barriers to malaria control: increasing drug resistance and poor adherence to multi-day treatment schedules.

"Efforts are underway to develop next-generation antimalarial medicines, but it will take many years for them to reach the market," explains Prof. Peter Kremsner, a world-renowned malaria researcher at University Hospital Tübingen, regarding the objective of the study. "It is paramount to establish a regimen for an optimal use of combinations of existing medicines to cover this period."

Next step: a pan-African clinical trial

To validate the promising findings of the previous study, the researchers are planning a large, multi-country clinical trial in Africa to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of SPAP under real-world conditions. The potential of SPAP has also been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has included the therapy on its list of priority malaria medicines under development. Production of fixed-dose SPAP tablets for the pan-African clinical study is expected to begin this year. If the clinical trial confirms these results, SPAP could be a significant advancement in malaria treatment in sub-Saharan Africa, offering a simpler, more effective therapy.

"This study addresses one of the most pressing challenges in malaria treatment: maintaining effectiveness while reducing the risk of resistance development," says co-project leader Prof. Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma of the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM). "A single-dose regimen could considerably simplify treatment and improve access for patients in endemic regions," Mombo-Ngoma, who is also a group leader at the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL) in Gabon, adds. CERMEL is one of four African Partner Institutions with which DZIF scientists already have long-standing collaborations.

"The strength of this project lies in the close collaboration between research institutions across Africa and Europe," says Dr. Oumou Maïga Ascofaré, a group leader at BNITM and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) in Ghana and the third principal investigator (PI) behind the pan-African clinical study. "Together, we aim to generate evidence that can support future malaria treatment strategies where they are needed most."

The pan-African clinical trial is receiving significant support from the DZIF. All three principal investigators are scientists in the DZIF research area Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma named to TIME100 Health 2026

The international visibility of this work is reflected in a recent honor for one of its lead investigators. Prof. Mombo-Ngoma was named to the TIME100 Health 2026 list, which recognizes the 100 most influential individuals shaping the future of health worldwide.

Through this award, TIME not only highlights individual leadership, but also emphasizes the critical importance of translating biomedical research into sustainable health improvements for populations worldwide. This recognition underscores the value of international research partnerships in addressing some of the world's most pressing health challenges.

"I am deeply honored to be included in the TIME100 Health list," says Prof. Mombo-Ngoma. "This recognition reflects the efforts of many colleagues and partners in Africa and Europe who are committed to reducing the burden of neglected infectious diseases. Our work is driven by the belief that scientific excellence must translate into real health benefits for communities that need it most."

Prof. Mombo-Ngoma is an internationally recognized expert in clinical and implementation research on poverty-related infectious diseases. He leads the Drug Implementation Research Group at BNITM in Hamburg and the Medicines for Poverty-Related Infectious Diseases and Implementation Research Group at CERMEL, an African partner institution of DZIF, and holds a joint professorship with the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). His research focuses on developing and evaluating new treatments for malaria, schistosomiasis, and other infectious diseases that disproportionately affect women, children, and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.

In addition to leading multinational clinical trials, Prof. Mombo-Ngoma is committed to strengthening research capacity in Africa and improving maternal and child health through evidence-based interventions. His work unites research institutions

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:46:11 +0000

Algorithms for species conservation

New AI tool identifies wild animals by their unique patterns in real time

Universitaet Stuttgart

image:

András Zábó: He developed the innovative RAPID algorithm.

Credit: Dorothya Nemeth

Monitoring is necessary to track the status of wildlife populations, to assess whether they are stable or under pressure. Naturalists observe zebras, giraffes, jaguars, and other animals over the course of months and years using drones or camera traps. The problem is that the animals are constantly on the move, disappearing and reappearing elsewhere. To be able to capture this highly dynamic environment, animals must be individually identifiable. Specifically, this means that it must be possible to clearly distinguish a single jaguar from other jaguars, and a single giraffe from other giraffes. While conventional technologies do provide accurate results in this regard, they are too slow and require too much computing power.

The Flight Robotics Group led by tenure-track professor Aamir Ahmad, based at the Institute of Flight Mechanics and Controls (IFR) at the University of Stuttgart, together with collaborators, among them the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, created an algorithm that makes the re-identification of wild animals easier, faster, and more reliable. The scientists explain how it works in the journal "Methods in Ecology and Evolution".

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.70332

Like a fingerprint: Every pattern is unique

The acronym RAPID stands for “Real-Time Animal Pattern Re-Identification on Edge Devices.” RAPID uses a 100 percent reliable characteristic for recognition: the coat patterns of wild animals. After all, whether it's the spots on a giraffe or the stripes on a zebra—the pattern is always unique, just like a human fingerprint.

But how exactly does RAPID work? “First, we need a reference database,” says Aamir Ahmad. This database contains images of wild animals – such as zebras – whose individual identities are already known. Over time, newly observed individuals can also be added to this database, allowing it to grow during monitoring. Once deployed in the field, for example on image data from a research drone circling over the savanna, RAPID scans these images for distinctive visual cues in each zebra’s stripe pattern. “To do this, we use descriptor vectors, a kind of mathematical profile,” explains András Zábó, researcher at the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest and first author of the publication. He developed RAPID during his research stay in the Flight Robotics Group. The algorithm compares the descriptor vectors of the drone-observed animal with the descriptor vectors of known animals stored in the database. “In this way, we can identify a newly observed individual — provided it is represented in the reference database — in a fraction of a second,” says Zábó.

A promising module: fast, precise, and practical

The research team tested RAPID on six datasets: four public datasets containing images of, among other animals, Amur tigers, and two new datasets containing videos of zebras and jaguars. The footage of the zebras was captured by drones flying over the savanna in Mpala, Kenya; the jaguar footage comes from the Jocotoco Foundation and consists of camera trap videos recorded in the rainforest in Ecuador. On the four public datasets, RAPID achieved accuracies ranging from 89 to 99 percent; on the new datasets, accuracy was 80 percent (zebras) and 93 percent (jaguars). The algorithm also demonstrated its strengths in terms of speed. On a standard PC, it processed 40 to 60 cropped query images per second, and on a basic edge device, about ten images per second. “That's an important point: Our recognition system works even on hardware with very limited processing power and without a GPU,” says Ahmad.

Open-source and modular: A key component for wildlife monitoring and ecological analyses

The AI tool is available as open source and has a modular design. If park rangers or research groups want to use RAPID, they can easily integrate it into their own drones, camera traps, airships, or other monitoring devices. The only requirement: the animals being observed must have patterned coat; for example, the technology does not work with elephants. The new algorithm is an important technical component for future wildlife monitoring and ecological analyses. “With RAPID, it's much easier for us to determine whether a particular individual is repeatedly sighted in a specific area. We can also observe whether its behavior changes over time as its environment changes, or whether an injured animal continues to move and interact normally,” Ahmad explains. Next, he plans to further develop the AI so that it can also recognize other wild animal species without depending on their coat patterns. In addition, the algorithm is to be made even more robust so that it functions reliably even under particularly difficult conditions like partially occluded individuals. It is also conceivable that, with the help of RAPID, entirely new databases will eventually be created.

About the research project „Wildcap“:

The new RAPID algorithm was developed as part of the “Wildcap” research project (duration: May 2021 – April 2026). The Flight Robotics Group at the Institute for Flight Mechanics and Controls (IFR) at the University of Stuttgart collaborated on the project with researchers in Kenya and Hungary. Partners included, among others, Princeton University in the United States and Hortobágy National Park in Hungary. The goal was to use artificial intelligence and autonomous aerial robots—a drone and an airship—to monitor endangered wildlife species. “Wildcap” was funded by the Cyber Valley Research Fund.

Aamir Ahmad: His team develops precise and fast AI tools for species conservation and nature observation.

Credit

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:43:28 +0000

China deploys first 24-hour rapid intensification forecast model for typhoons

Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The deployment of a new 24-hour rapid intensification forecast model for typhoons and its 12-hour rapid intensification forecast service now offers China significantly enhanced forecasting performance, according to Shenzhen-based researchers in south China.

The model, developed at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, recently completed operational deployment and real-world application testing at the country's National Meteorological Center.

In meteorology, a typhoon is defined as undergoing rapid intensification when its maximum sustained wind speed increases by more than 15 meters per second within 24 hours, or by more than 10 meters per second within 12 hours.

The weather events can be highly destructive. Typhoons such as Rammasun in 2014, Hato in 2017, and Yagi in 2024 all underwent rapid intensification before landfall, causing significant casualties and economic losses.

In 2025, forecasting typhoon rapid intensification was selected as one of the top 10 frontier scientific problems by the China Association for Science and Technology.

The new model, "Machine Learning Ensemble Model for Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification Forecast," was developed by a SIAT team led by LI Qinglan.

According to LI, the evolution of typhoon intensity is controlled by multiple interacting factors that include inner-core structure, environmental background and land-sea surface interactions, making accurate forecast extremely difficult.

Conventional statistical-dynamical methods also fail to capture the nonlinear characteristics of intensity changes. As a result, forecasting typhoon intensity, especially rapid intensification, remains a persistent challenge in the field.

To solve this, the team established two quantitative indices -- the sea-land ratio, which captures variations in land-sea distribution along a typhoon track, and the symmetric ratio, which describes inner-core convective symmetry. The indices reveal physical links between inner-core symmetry and rapid intensification.

"Prior to rapid intensification, a typhoon's inner core typically develops a highly symmetric ring-like structure. A more symmetric inner core indicates a higher likelihood of rapid intensification occurrence," LI explained.

As part of this innovation, the research team integrated four machine-learning algorithms into an ensemble forecast model. When more than half of the sub-models predict rapid intensification, the system issues a rapid intensification forecast, effectively improving forecast accuracy.

The team tested the new model by simulating 24-hour rapid intensification events of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic from 2016 to 2020 and compared its performance with the operational forecast system from the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The results showed that the new model achieved a higher probability of detection and a lower false alarm rate, demonstrating enhanced forecasting performance and operational viability.

The 24-hour rapid intensification forecast technology now provides an important reference for China's typhoon intensity forecasting, said LYU Xinyan, senior engineer of the National Meteorological Center.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:41:59 +0000

Harvesting UV Light from sunlight just got ‘solid’

New solid-state material from Kyushu University turns visible light into high-energy UV at sunlight intensity, expanding solar energy potential

Kyushu University

image:

A new solid-state material from Kyushu University turns visible light into high-energy UV at sunlight intensity. By attaching alkyl chains to the sp³ carbon atoms of an organic molecule, the researchers create precisely controlled gaps between neighboring molecules. This spacing enables efficient triplet energy transfer, achieving a quantum yield above 60% in the solid state. When combined with a donor molecule, the system reaches 1.9% visible-to-UV upconversion efficiency.

Credit: Naoyuki Harada / Kyushu University

Fukuoka, Japan—Two cups of warm water don’t make one cup of boiling water. But in the quantum world, multiple low-energy photons can combine to produce a single, higher-energy photon.

A research team at Kyushu University has developed a solid-state molecular material that “upgrades” visible light into ultraviolet (UV) light under ordinary outdoor sunlight, achieving a conversion efficiency of 1.9%. The study was published in Nature Communications on June 23.

Harsh UV light is something most people try to avoid in summer, yet it is indispensable across fields ranging from air purification and resin curing in 3D printing to gel hardening in dental fillings and nail art. Despite its importance, UV accounts for only about 6% of the sunlight reaching Earth’s surface, with only a fraction of that being practically usable.

“What we do here is ‘add together’ the energy from two visible light photons to make one ultraviolet photon. It’s a fascinating process called photo upconversion,” explains Yoichi Sasaki, Associate Professor at Kyushu University’s Faculty of Engineering and the study’s corresponding author.

One mechanism that enables such upconversion is triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA). A “donor” molecule absorbs visible light and excites its electrons into a high-energy triplet state, then passes it to a neighboring “acceptor” molecule. When two triplets meet, they annihilate each other, releasing their combined energy as a UV photon. TTA works well in liquids, where molecules move freely, and triplets collide easily. But those systems often rely on toxic solvents and can evaporate, limiting their practical use. That is why scientists have long searched for solid alternatives.

“In solids, molecules are packed tightly, and the π electron clouds—regions of high electron density hovering above and below each molecular plane—can overlap,” says Sasaki. “When that happens, triplets easily fizzle out before they ever meet. Molecules must be close enough for energy to transfer but separated enough to prevent quenching of excitons.”

The team found their answer in an organic semiconductor called dihydroindenoindenedene (DHI). By attaching alkyl chains to DHI’s sp³ carbon atoms—which have four bonds pointing in fixed 3D directions—the researchers created precisely controlled gaps between neighboring molecules, keeping them close enough for energy transfer without unwanted strong electronic interaction.

The optimized material shows strong light emission, long-lived excited states, and efficient energy transfer, achieving a solid-state fluorescence quantum yield above 60%. With a donor molecule, the system reaches an upconversion efficiency of 1.9%.

“This means roughly two UV photons are produced for every hundred visible-light photons absorbed,” Sasaki adds. “It may sound low, but it runs on natural sunlight alone. Most solid-state materials cannot realize this even at much higher light intensity.”

The material has been filed for a patent. Beyond efficiency, it offers advantages for real-world use, including straightforward synthesis and low-cost starting materials. The team sees potential applications in solar-driven photocatalysis, indoor air purification, and low-intensity 3D printing.

For the research team, the work also carries personal weight.

In 2012, Nobuo Kimizuka, now Professor Emeritus at Kyushu University’s Research Center for Negative Emissions Technologies, pioneered research into photon upconversion via triplet energy migration in self-assemblies, seeking to establish a molecular systems chemistry where self-assembly performs useful functions. His team made steady progress in both solution and gel systems, yet developing efficient solid-state upconversion systems remained challenging. A breakthrough finally came in May 2024, less than a year before Kimizuka’s retirement.

What followed was a sprint driven as much by shared bonds and gratitude as by science. At that time, graduate students Naoyuki Harada, Hayato Shoyama, Nutnicha Boonmong, along with then-Assistant Professor Kiichi Mizukami of Kyushu University’s Faculty of Engineering, worked alongside Sasaki to compress years of work into one.

“We handed the draft to Professor Kimizuka just 11 days before he left the lab, which for us felt like a heartfelt retirement gift,” Sasaki notes.

“This discovery is the culmination of over 14 years of our research and marks a major milestone in photon-upconversion and molecular self-assembly research,” concludes Kimizuka.

###

For more information about this research, see “Sterically protected π-electron systems for efficient solid-state photon upconversion,” Naoyuki Harada, Hayato Shoyama, Nutnicha Boonmong, Kiichi Mizukami, Yuya Watanabe, Pei Zhao, Masahiro Ehara, Yoichi Sasaki, Nobuo Kimizuka, Nature Communications, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-73898-0

About Kyushu University
Founded in 1911, Kyushu University is one of Japan's leading research-oriented institutions of higher education, consistently ranking as one of the top ten Japanese universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS World Rankings. Located in Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu—the most southwestern of Japan’s four main islands—Kyushu U sits in a coastal metropolis frequently ranked among the world’s most livable cities and historically known as Japan’s gateway to Asia. Its multiple campuses are home to around 19,000 students and 8,000 faculty and staff. Through its VISION 2030, Kyushu U will “drive social change with integrative knowledge.” By fusing the spectrum of knowledge, from the humanities and arts to engineering and medical sciences, Kyushu U will strengthen its research in the key areas of decarbonization, medicine and health, and environment and food, to tackle society’s most pressing issues.

New global study reveals link between local-scale species changes and global extinction risk

University of St. Andrews

image:

An assembly of tropical fish

Credit: University of St Andrews

New research from the University of St Andrews has shown that higher extinction risk is associated with higher frequency of decreasing local prevalence of species, in an analysis of one of the most comprehensive long-term databases ever created, BioTIME – a major tool to study biodiversity change also developed at the University of St Andrews.

Published today (23 June) in Nature Communications, researchers from the School of Biology alongside a team of international partners, analysed over 60 000 populations of 2362 species across 978 marine and terrestrial assemblages. These populations have been sampled comprehensively over at least 20 years.

An assemblage refers to a group of species from the same taxonomic group that co-occur within the same geographic location and time period, such as, a bird or fish assemblage. Analysing assemblage-level data allows us to systematically quantify change over time for many species and populations, and identify which ones might be faring better, i.e. assessing the “winners and losers” amidst ongoing global change.

The analysis matched each population’s temporal prevalence trend with each species’ extinction risk from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The picture that emerged was of complex links between the two factors, but a clear signal also emerged that decreasing temporal trends were associated with higher extinction risk compared to the other trends. Overall, fewer than 10% of populations showed either increasing or decreasing prevalence over time

Joint lead Author, Dr Faye Moyes from the School of Biology at the University of St Andrews, said: “Our results highlight the importance of assemblage level monitoring in conservation strategies and shows the value of long-term time series such as those in BioTIME. “

Joint lead Author, Laura Antão, based at the University of Turku in Finland, added “We have assessed for the first time whether there is a consistent signal between population temporal trends and a species extinction risk status using assemblage monitoring data, rather than ‘dedicated’ species-level assessments. Finding a clear signal that decreasing prevalence is usually associated with a higher risk of extinction is a strong indication that we can detect impacts even for species that are not currently classified as at risk”.

As global environmental change continues to accelerate, extinction risks are rising and assemblages are being reorganised across taxa, biomes and realms. The team also revealed complex links between local temporal prevalence and extinction risk categories: some populations of threatened species could have stable or increasing trends, while non-threatened species could be decreasing. A better understanding of the processes that underpin such biodiversity changes is crucial for improving predictions and conservation strategies.

Professor Anne Magurran, a senior author of the study, added: “These temporal trends could serve as early‑warning indicators and help target both new monitoring efforts and conservation actions. For instance, stable populations of at-risk species are of key conservation interest, while declining trends might highlight species that are missing from extinction risk assessments”.

Professor Maria Dornelas added: “Because the task of assessing biodiversity change is gigantic, and we cannot travel in time to collect more data in the past, we want to use all information available. These two large biodiversity databases have only limited overlap and this study shows us how we can leverage both to expand our understanding of biodiversity change.”

ENDS

Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-026-74132-7

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Linking species local trends from assemblage monitoring to global extinction risk

Article Publication Date

23-Jun-2026

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:38:22 +0000

Rise in colorectal cancer among young adults in Germany as well — but below US levels

German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ)

Colorectal cancer is generally considered a disease of older adults. However, a new analysis of German cancer registries shows that the number of new colorectal cancer cases among younger adults has risen slightly over the past two decades. Those most affected are people between the ages of 20 and 39. The findings are based on data from ten German cancer registries and cover the period from 2003 to 2023.

“Early-onset” colorectal cancer (EOCRC) refers to cases diagnosed before the age of 50. However, reports of rising colorectal cancer rates among younger people—particularly from the U.S.—prompted scientists at the German state cancer registries to take a closer look at the disease situation in Germany

Marked Increase Among the Youngest

For the current analysis, the experts evaluated more than 28,000 cases of colorectal cancer in people aged 20 to 49. They found that the incidence of colorectal cancer increased among 20- to 29-year-olds as well as among 30- to 39-year-olds. The increase was particularly pronounced in the youngest age group. Among 40- to 49-year-olds, however, the incidence rate remained largely stable overall.

“Our results show that the rise in colorectal cancer among young adults in Germany is real, but—at least so far—it is significantly more moderate than in the U.S.,” says Volker Arndt of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Baden-Württemberg Cancer Registry, one of the study’s two senior authors.

Germany Well Below U.S. Levels

An important part of the study was the comparison with the United States, where the rise in colorectal cancer among younger adults has been the subject of intense debate for years. The researchers show that incidence rates in Germany are significantly lower than in the U.S., both at the beginning of the study period and currently. Furthermore, the increase has been much slower in Germany.

Why Are the Numbers Rising?

The causes have not yet been fully explained. Lifestyle changes, including obesity, lack of physical activity, and dietary habits, are being discussed as possible contributing factors. Changes in gut flora could also play a role.

At the same time, the results suggest that part of the observed increase could be attributed to earlier and improved diagnosis. In particular, there was an increase in tumors with a comparatively favorable prognosis, which are often detected at an early stage.

No Reason to Lower the Screening Age Across the Board

Despite this trend, the authors currently see no sufficient reason to lower the age limit for colorectal cancer screening in the general population to under 50 years. “Colorectal cancer before the age of 50 remains rare overall in Germany,” emphasizes Jacqueline Müller-Nordhorn of the Bavarian Cancer Registry at the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety. “Of the approximately 56,000 new cases of colorectal cancer each year, only about five percent occur in people under 50. Nevertheless, it should be noted that younger people should, of course, seek prompt, individualized medical care if they experience symptoms. The priority is to consistently identify known risk groups—such as people with a family history of the disease—and offer them the recommended screening tests.

The researchers recommend continuing to closely monitor trends in the incidence of the disease. Future studies should focus on clarifying the role that early life lifestyle factors, obesity, the consumption of highly processed foods, antibiotic use, and/or changes in the gut microbiota play in the development of colorectal cancer at a young age.

Sven Voigtländer, Hiltraud Kajüter, Ina Wellmann, Andras Szentkirályi, Bernd Holleczek, Volker Arndt, Jacqueline Müller-Nordhorn, and the ALSTER Working Group: Incidence trends of early-onset colorectal cancer in Germany: A registry-based study from 2003 to 2023

International Journal of Cancer, 2026, DOI: 10.1002/ijc.70600

Journal

International Journal of Cancer

DOI

10.1002/ijc.70600

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:30:51 +0000

Shorter strides can be an early warning sign of dementia in senior dogs, just as in people

Cognitive decline in dogs is associated with changes in the front legs’ gait, yielding a new monitoring tool for vets

Frontiers

The onset of dementia often comes with a change in gait: for example, years before they display any loss in memory, patients may start to walk more slowly with shorter, uneven, and sometimes shuffling steps. These changes are thought to be driven by a deterioration in the function of the brain’s frontal cortex and the cerebellum, which are responsible for planning and monitoring movement.

Now, scientists have found a similar change in dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome, also known as canine dementia. Noting such a change in their pet could thus prompt owners to seek veterinary help earlier. The results are published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

“Here we show that the length of front leg stride taken by dogs decreases with age, but even more importantly, decreases with a cognitive impairment. In fact, we found that the effect of cognitive decline is larger than the effect of age by itself,” said lead author Dr Natasha J Olby, a professor of veterinary neurology and neurosurgery at North Carolina State University.

Olby and colleagues followed 88 senior and geriatric dogs (females and males, and purebred or mixed breed) as part of the Longitudinal Study of Canine Neuroaging. These had been enrolled in the study upon reaching 75% of the life expectancy for their size and breed, corresponding to 12.7 years old on average.

Longitudinal study of ‘neuroaging’

Dogs visited the laboratory for three days every six months for the remainder of their life. Here, they underwent a comprehensive battery of physical, neurological, physiological, and orthopedic examinations, including tests for cognition, mobility, vision, hearing, and strength. Each time, owners were asked to fill out questionnaires about their companion’s health and behavior, for example the Canine Dementia Scale (CADES) to measure cognitive impairment and the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) to assess chronic pain.

A filmed assessment of gait speed and stride length formed an integral part of these visits. Dogs were set up to walk at their own pace along a five-meter-long walkway, while being held on a slack leash by the researchers. No verbal encouragement, treats, or other external motivations were given to them during these trials. Two key measures analyzed were the dogs’ absolute average stride length and their relative average stride length, adjusted for body size.

The relative stride length of the front legs tended to decrease across visits. But more detailed analyses showed that this reduction was not driven to a significant extent by increasing age itself when age and cognition were included in the same statistical model: rather, the relative stride length decreased with worsening CADES scores, indicating that as dogs age, greater cognitive decline results in shorter strides of the front legs.

On average, a 10-point increase in CADES translated into a 1.2% reduction in the relative stride length of the front legs. In contrast, the relative stride length of the hind legs did not significantly change over time, either in association with greater chronological age or worsening cognitive performance.

Stepping down

“It is fascinating to see that cognitive decline affects front legs and hind legs differently. In dogs, the hind legs are important for moving forwards, while the front legs also change direction and initiate braking,” said Olby.

“The cerebral cortex integrates more sensory information into the neuronal circuits which produce steps in the front legs, and so loss of high-level sensorimotor integration affects them differently.”

As expected, the relative stride length of the front legs also decreased with higher CBPI ratings, meaning that chronic pain further worsens the gait.

The authors concluded that front leg stride length is an objective measure of mobility that reflects changes associated with age-related cognitive decline (and, to a lesser degree, chronic pain) in dogs. While other factors like orthopedic and spinal health can influence stride length, it could nevertheless be useful for clinical monitoring.

“If owners notice that their dog's front leg stride is becoming shorter they should visit their vet, for there are possible alternative causes such as arthritic pain or neck issues that can be treated,” recommended Olby. “If a diagnosis of cognitive decline is made, there are likewise several lifestyle interventions than can be made, even if there is currently no cure.”

Journal

Frontiers in Veterinary Science

DOI

10.3389/fvets.2026.1814017

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Thoracic limb stride length is associated with cognitive impairment in aging dogs

Article Publication Date

25-Jun-2026

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:28:19 +0000

First-ever protein analysis of Homo naledi fossils finds zero male markers

New analysis of the South African's Rising Star Cave fossils reveals striking genetic singularity, hinting at first known example of a sex-specific burial site from a non-human species

University of the Witwatersrand

image:

National Geographic Explorer and biological anthropologist Keneiloe Molopyane studying the excavation pit. Molopyane was one of the members of the all-female ‘underground astronauts’ who helped excavate Homo naledi fossils.

Credit: Robbie Shone/National Geographic.

An international team of researchers successfully extracted and analysed the first-ever protein fragments from fossil teeth of Homo naledi, an extinct human relative found in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, South Africa.

In a study published today in Cell, scientists from the University of Copenhagen, the University of the Witwatersrand, the National Geographic Society’s Rising Star project and 13 collaborating global institutions found no signs of any biological males within the group of Homo naledi remains tested, offering intriguing insights into potential cultural behaviours that may have existed before Homo sapiens.

The analysis examined 23 teeth representing at least 20 Homo naledi individuals. To determine the biological sex of each individual, researchers looked for Amelogenin-Y – a protein that is uniquely coded onto the male Y chromosome – within the tooth enamel. Thorough examination of ancient proteins from the enamel of 23 Homo naledi teethrevealed a complete absence of the marker, indicating a strong likelihood that each individual discovered in the Rising Star Cave system was biologically female. Among hominins, like all other mammals, females typically exhibit two X chromosomes and males carry an X and a Y chromosome. Because only males have a Y chromosome, finding amelogenin-Y tells researchers with certainty that the tooth belonged to a male.

“Unlike those found in other remains like bone fragments, proteins in tooth enamel are preserved because dental enamel – the hardest tissue in the human body – shields proteins from environmental contamination even for millions of years. This makes them ideal carriers of genetic information from deep time,” said South African-born scientist and lead study author Palesa Madupe. Madupe is a molecular scientist who was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen at the time of the study and currently a researcher at Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany. “Our study helps resolve the long-standing mystery of why Homo naledi lacked significant variation; it’s probably because they could have all belonged to one sex.”

As the largest extinct hominin population to ever be examined using ancient protein analysis, the findings raise new questions about the biology, evolution, culture, and potential mortuary practices of Homo naledi.

When the Wits University team first discovered and excavated the Homo naledi remains in 2013, they noticed something puzzling — the adult fossils found in the Dinaledi Chamber were all very similar. The adult fossils had very little variation in size, shape, and other physical traits. Typically, some variation is expected among hominins, especially among males and females, otherwise known as sexual dimorphism.

To investigate this anomaly, researchers applied a minimally destructive acid etching technique to carefully extract fragments of ancient proteins — called peptides — from the remains. The peptide samples were then analyzed with a mass spectrometer to identify all of the proteins present in the remains, including amelogenin — a process called paleoproteomic analysis.

“It appears that the most likely explanation for the observed absence of an Amelogenin-Y marker in these individuals is that we are seeing a sex-bias in mortuary practice — a practice until now only observed in contemporary human cultures,” said National Geographic Explorer in Residence and corresponding author of the study Lee Berger, who is still and Honorary Professor at Wits University. “The chance of having sampled twenty individuals and they are all from one sex, is quite literally one in a million.”

First described by Berger and colleagues from the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star cave system, Homo naledi is an extinct hominin species with a combination of human-like and pre-human-like features that lived between 335,000 and 241,000 years ago. Fueled by a curiosity that reaches deep into millennia-old cave systems, an all-female team of “underground astronauts” in 2013 excavated more than 1,500 fossils and 150 hominin teeth — the largest ever discovered on the continent of Africa — which at the time represented at least 15 individuals. Later, this number grew as more fossils were found by the Rising Star team in this and other areas of the cave. Wits University is the custodian of the Homo naledi fossils.

The results of this study build upon previous insights from the Rising Star team about Homo naledi’s purported behavior. In 2023, the Rising Star team discovered evidence of possible Homo naledi fire, symbols, and burials and in 2025, the team published additional evidence to support their findings of intentional burial practices and the creation of rock engravings.

“There are many past human societies with sex-specific burial practices, but we’ve found very little hard evidence of this from the earliest burial sites of modern humans or Neanderthals,” said John Hawks, a co-author of the paper and member of the Rising Star team. “These remains of Homo naledi are older than any known Neanderthal or modern human burial site, and it’s remarkable to see that they may all be female.”

Still, the research team acknowledges in this work that there could be another reason for the absence of male markers in the tested Homo naledi remains: the Amelogenin-Y gene may have mutated or have been deleted over time.

“While the deletion of the entire AMELY gene has already been observed in extant male humans and even in the DNA of a Neanderthal male, it’s very unlikely that this would be the case among even half of the 20 individuals we studied or for an entire population,” explained Enrico Cappellini, professor of paleoproteomics at the Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, where the analytical work took place, and senior and corresponding author of the study. “Either scenario, namely the absence of H. naledi males in the Rising Star cave system or a systematic deletion of their AMELY gene, is fascinating and would have deep implications for a better understanding of the biology and evolution of this species.”

This finding is particularly significant because Homo naledi is anatomically distinct from modern humans, possessing a brain size only slightly larger than that of a chimpanzee, the authors said. Despite this smaller cranial capacity, a growing body of research suggests the species appears to have engaged in practices once considered uniquely human.

“Seeking to understand where we come from is truly core to the human experience. These new findings are amazing because they’re challenging us to rethink what we thought we knew about our place in human history,” said Ian Miller, chief science and innovation officer at the National Geographic Society. “What I love about the Rising Star team is their restless curiosity. They keep pushing the boundaries of paleoanthropology, and reminding us that the biggest discoveries are still yet to be made.”

Leaders Address Regulatory Barriers to Maritime Nuclear Technologies

Published Jun 27, 2026 12:08 PM by The Maritime Executive

[By American Bureau of Shipping]

The U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation (USCMI) convened industry, government and regulatory leaders for a workshop on Maritime Nuclear Technology Regulatory Barriers. Facilitated by its Secretariat, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG’s) Maritime Nuclear Policy Division and U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) leadership, the event focused on identifying and addressing the challenges associated with deploying advanced nuclear technology in the maritime sector.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from across the maritime, energy, and regulatory communities, including shipowners, shipbuilders, technology developers, classification societies and federal agencies. Participants explored pathways to enable the safe, secure and commercially viable adoption of nuclear-powered vessels and offshore energy platforms.

“The United States has a critical opportunity to lead in the deployment of next generation maritime systems powered by small modular reactors,” said Steve Carmel, U.S. Maritime Administrator. “Workshops like this ensure we are bringing the right stakeholders together to identify and address regulatory barriers, fostering innovation while maintaining the highest standards of safety and security.”

“The collaboration we are seeing across industry and government is essential to advancing maritime nuclear technologies from concept to reality,” said David Walker, Executive Director of the Secretariat operating the USCMI for MARAD and Vice President at ABS. “By convening stakeholders with diverse expertise, USCMI is helping to clarify regulatory pathways and accelerate progress toward viable, scalable solutions for the maritime sector.”

The workshop also featured keynote remarks and engagement from key federal partners, including Captain Robert Compher, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy at the USCG and Dr. Mehdi Reisi Fard Director of the Division of Advanced Reactor Engineering in the Office of Advanced Reactors at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Through the workshop, a large audience of in-person and online participants shared their inputs on potential regulatory and other related barriers that oversight agencies need to address to facilitate safe deployment of this innovative technology in maritime applications. Discussions underscored the complexity of maritime nuclear deployment, including licensing pathways, safety frameworks, operational considerations and coordination across domestic and international regulatory bodies. Participants emphasized that continued collaboration between industry and government will be critical to enabling innovation while ensuring robust safety and security standards.

The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:54:23 +0000

GPS Jamming Can Be Solved With Existing Satcom Signals

GPS is easily corrupted, but all sorts of other radio signals can be used for accurate positioning

Starlink's vast satellite constellation transmits signals that can be used for positioning, without any approval or involvement from the operator (SpaceX file image)

Published Jun 24, 2026 3:18 PM by The Conversation

[By Zak Kassas]

Few people want to get lost when traveling. But if there are places where being lost feels especially unsettling, they tend to be the sea, desert and sky. These environments share a defining feature: the absence of distinctive visual cues. Where horizons blur, landmarks disappear and every direction can look deceptively similar. Knowing where you are depends on information that you cannot see for yourself.

For most of human history, finding your way in such environments required skill, judgment and constant attention. Satellite navigation marked a fundamental shift. The advent of GPS has made navigation almost effortless: Press a button and voilà, location and heading appear instantly.

GPS’s great strength is that under benign conditions, it works remarkably well in precisely the environments where being lost would be most dangerous. Civilian systems routinely achieve meter?level accuracy. This accuracy, however, masks a growing vulnerability.

Over the past few years, deliberate GPS interference has surged worldwide, disrupting maritime and aviation operations at an unprecedented scale. I’m an electrical engineer who studies alternative methods of electronic navigation. My lab and others around the world are developing these alternatives as backup for when GPS is unavailable or unreliable.

When GPS is silent – or lies

Jamming overwhelms weak satellite signals with noise or radio frequency signals, blocking GPS position and time altogether.

Spoofing is more insidious: Counterfeit signals surreptitiously replace authentic ones, misleading GPS receivers about location and timing while appearing to crews and automated systems to operate normally.

Interference arises from three sources: military activity, criminal exploitation and accidental misuse. In conflict zones, GPS disruption has become a routine tool of warfare, used to protect assets, degrade surveillance and counter drones. This activity is well documented across Ukraine, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, the eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. It routinely spills over to affect civilian ships and aircraft, and civilian life.

Accidental GPS jamming has caused serious disruption at international airports by making it difficult for aircraft and air traffic controllers to track traffic in and out of the airports. Intentional GPS spoofing was even used in a highway heist to steal US$1 million worth of restaurateur Guy Fieri’s tequila.

Making matters worse, spoofed GPS data does not remain confined to a single system. Ships use the Automatic Identification System to broadcast their locations and to see what other ships are nearby to avoid collisions. The system broadcasts a ship’s GPS position information along with the ship’s name, course and speed, classification and call sign.

GPS spoofing effectively corrupts Automatic Identification System signals, sending false position information to nearby vessels, shore authorities, insurers and commercial tracking services. This activity can create fleets of “ghost ships” that appear real to others navigating nearby.

Criminals use GPS interference to block or alter Automatic Identification System information to evade oversight. Illegal fishing fleets, oil smugglers, sanctions evaders and maritime sand thieves have been repeatedly linked to falsified or disrupted Automatic Identification System and GPS signals.

Deadly consequences

GPS intereference is not new, and the U.S. government warned about it decades ago, but the scale of its impact has significantly accelerated over the past few years. GPS spoofing and jamming incidents affecting civil aviation increased by about 500% from January to August 2024.

Maritime authorities reported hundreds of ships affected daily, with groundings and collisions in 2024–25 publicly linked to interference of GPS and other satellite navigation systems, including in the Baltic Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

The consequences have claimed lives. In December 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 was struck by a Russian air-defense system, killing 38 people after the flight was diverted due to GPS interference. At sea, GPS interference in the Strait of Hormuz has caused oil tanker collisions.

GPS jamming caused the container ship MSC Antonia to run aground in the Red Sea near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 10, 2025.

Disruption has also forced runway closures, mass flight diversions and emergency procedures at Newark Liberty, Dallas-Fort Worth and Denver international airports.

Even senior officials are not immune: In 2025, GPS jamming forced an aircraft carrying the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to make an emergency landing.

Strait of Hormuz: Navigation danger zone

Recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S.-Iran war mark a decisive escalation in the risk posed by GPS interference. The strait sits at the intersection of intense geopolitical conflict and one of the world’s most critical maritime choke points. Around 20% of global petroleum trade transits these narrow waters each day, alongside dense commercial traffic. There’s little margin for navigational error. Here, even modest mistakes in position or timing can rapidly escalate into collisions, groundings or environmental disasters.

The Iran war has led to sustained spoofing across the Persian Gulf. Ships have reported positions via Automatic Identification System that place them on land or otherwise miles from their true locations without triggering alarms.

In the confined waters of the Strait of Hormuz, where ships pass one another in close proximity, GPS interference erodes situational awareness precisely where it matters most.

Crucially, interference in Hormuz is persistent rather than episodic. Reports show jamming and spoofing used systematically over extended periods, not merely as short-term responses to specific incidents. This pattern suggests that GPS disruption has become routine practice rather than a niche capability in electronic warfare.

Once normalized in one of the world’s busiest sea-lanes, such practices are difficult to contain geographically. The result is a navigation environment in which people can no longer fully trust position, timing and identity at sea. The consequences extend far beyond the confines of the Persian Gulf.

Beyond GPS

The normalization of GPS disruption exposes a deeper issue: Modern navigation resilience has been built around the assumption that GPS signals are usually available and trustworthy. As that assumption erodes, attention has shifted from hardening GPS toward security through diversification. This means drawing navigation information from fundamentally different signals.

For a backup to satellite navigation, several countries, including the U.K., France, Saudi Arabia, Russia, South Korea and China, are deploying or modernizing long-range radio navigation, or LORAN, a system that dates back to World War II.

Another alternative that has gained increased interest over the past decade or so is using signals never intended for navigation, referred to as signals of opportunity. In contrast to dedicated navigation systems, such as long-range radio navigation, this approach uses existing infrastructure and preserves scarce radio spectrum. A particularly fruitful type of signal to exploit is terrestrial cellular.

The author’s team tracked the path of its car using signals from cell towers during live GPS jamming at Edwards Air Force Base. Zak Kassas

My lab has demonstrated this type of navigation with ground vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, high?altitude balloons and aircraft, including in GPS?jammed environments. We developed specialized receivers that exploit signals from existing LTE and 5G cellular networks.

We have demonstrated sub?meter accuracy on UAVs, near-lane?level accuracy on grou

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:52:30 +0000

Volkswagen Sells Majority Stake in Everllence to Bain Capital

Published Jun 24, 2026 8:13 PM by The Maritime Executive

Automaker Volkswagen Group has agreed to sell a majority stake in its storied diesel engine division, Everllence - previously known as MAN Energy Solutions - to the American private equity giant Bain Capital.

Everllence - formerly a division of MAN SE - can trace its roots back to the start of the Ruhr Valley iron smelting industry, but its engineering history is centered in Bavaria. MAN's Augsburg plant sponsored Rudolf Diesel's experiments in the late 1890s, fostering the invention of the diesel engine and the beginning of modern industrial power systems. MAN later became a leading maker of marine diesels through the acquisition of Burmeister & Wain in the 1980s, and was itself acquired by Volkswagen in 2011. The marine-diesel business was spun out of MAN SE as MAN Energy Solutions in 2018, placed under VW's direct ownership, then (last year) renamed Everllence.

Today, it is a top manufacturer of large diesels for marine propulsion and power generation, and it also makes turbochargers and low-carbon power systems. Like others in the medium-speed segment, its fortunes have been boosted by the outsize power demands of data centers, which are growing so quickly and have such demanding requirements that they often require their own supplemental power generation.

After six years of successful restructuring, Everllence has revenue of about $5 billion and a book value of $3.9 billion. Volkswagen Group has agreed to sell 51 percent of its stake in the company to Bain for about $8.4 billion in a leveraged buyout. VW says that it plans to retain the remaining 49 percent "in the medium term."

"Leaner structures and processes will give Everllence the opportunity to achieve further growth in attractive markets such as data centers, the energy sector and shipping. At the same time, it will allow us to focus even more strongly on our core business," said Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:47:51 +0000

US Coast Guard Charters an Offshore Vessel to Support its Cutters

Connor Bordelon (USCG)

Published Jun 26, 2026 3:37 PM by The Maritime Executive

The U.S. Coast Guard is taking a page from the U.S. Navy's operating manual and beginning to hire in civilian-crewed tonnage for sealift support, freeing up transit days for its cutters to remain at sea and stay on mission hunting drug-runners.

The service's new Homeland Security Cutter-Ocean program is a newly-launched plan to bring in commercially operated vessels that can carry out the basic logistics on behalf of the cutter fleet, and specifically the Fast Response Cutters - small, capable vessels that can do the job of medium-sized cutters but are constrained in range and endurance by stores capacity. Having a "mother ship" that can deliver supplies and conduct crew change at sea - much like the function that a reefer ship performs for a high seas fishing fleet - will keep Coast Guard-manned law enforcement assets deployed in the mission area for longer.

"As demands on the Coast Guard continue to grow, we must find innovative ways to sustain our fleet and keep our crews focused on the mission," said Vice Adm. Nate Moore, Deputy Commandant for Operations. "Homeland Security Cutter-Ocean will help us deliver critical supplies and personnel more efficiently while increasing the endurance and effectiveness of our operational forces."

The contract with Bordelon provides for the use of one offshore vessel, crewed by civilians and overseen by coastguardsmen. Bordelon's team will handle all the vessel operations, and the Coast Guard personnel will take care of the mission and the logistics - a pattern the service has previously experienced with the rapid delivery of the commercial icebreaker Aiviq, which came with a civilian crew in order to speed up the handover of a modern, technically complex vessel.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:45:31 +0000

Carnival Corp. Expands Surplus Meal Donations to the Dominican Republic

Published Jun 27, 2026 12:25 PM by The Maritime Executive

[By Carnival Corporation]

Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL), the world's largest cruise company, today announced the expansion of its surplus meal donation program to the Dominican Republic, marking the second Latin American country to join the company's initiative to safely redirect prepared, unserved meals to local communities where its ships visit.

As part of Carnival Corporation's Less Left Over food waste reduction strategy, the donation of approximately 200 portions of prepared, unserved meals from Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras was provided to the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata, Carnival Corporation's local program partner, for distribution to area organizations assisting families and the elderly. Supported by government collaboration, coordination with local partners ashore and Carnival Cruise Line's culinary teams, the effort is designed to move meals from ship to shore safely and consistently. The program is expected to expand quickly to all Carnival Cruise Line ships calling on Amber Cove.

With the addition of the Dominican Republic, the program has expanded to 19 ports since launching in 2017, helping address food insecurity in port communities where the company's ships visit. As of year-end 2025, the program has provided more than 320,000 meal portions to global communities since its inception, with plans to continue expanding the model into new markets.

"Bringing our surplus meal donation program to the Dominican Republic is an important part of expanding this work across Latin America," said Vicky Rey, vice president of government relations for Latin America, Carnival Corporation. "This work depends on clear processes, strong coordination with government and local partners, and a shared commitment to supporting the local community. Amber Cove's long-standing presence in Puerto Plata gives us a strong foundation to build on. We are grateful to the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata for serving as our local program partner, to our business partner Fabio Valenzuela, advisor to Rannik Group, and to government authorities for helping make this possible."

"We value Carnival Corporation's continued investment in Puerto Plata and its work with the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata to help ensure these meals reach organizations serving people in need," said Claritza Rochtte Peralta de Senior, governor of Puerto Plata. "This donation reflects the value of bringing the right partners together to support communities across the province."

The announcement builds on Carnival Corporation's long-standing role in Puerto Plata through Amber Cove, which opened in 2015 as an $85 million cruise destination that helped return cruise tourism to the region after more than three decades. Since then, Amber Cove has welcomed approximately seven million visitors, helped position Puerto Plata as a leading Caribbean cruise destination and created opportunities for local tour operators, artisans, vendors, transportation providers and small businesses.

The meal donation milestone adds to Carnival Corporation's broader work with local partners in Puerto Plata, including Maimón Basura Cero, a collaboration with the District Municipality of Maimón and Fundación Héroes del Medio Ambiente that is nearing completion of its third and final phase. The initiative is designed to strengthen local waste management by reducing solid waste sent from Maimón to the Puerto Plata landfill, encouraging separation at the source and supporting recycling and circular economy opportunities within the community.

As the leading cruise operator in the Dominican Republic, Carnival Corporation's eight global cruise lines will visit six Dominican ports in 2026, bringing more than 1.3 million guests and representing 50% of the country's cruise market share.

The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:44:54 +0000

GREENWASHING

Port Canaveral Earns Green Marine Certification for 10th Consecutive Year

Port Canaveral’s Sr. Dir. – Environmental Bob Musser is shown accepting the Port’s Green Marine 10th year of certification from David Bolduc, Green Marine International's Pres. and CEO. (Credit: Canaveral Port Authority)

Published Jun 27, 2026 12:32 PM by The Maritime Executive

[By Canaveral Port Authority]

For the 10th consecutive year, Port Canaveral has earned Green Marine certification, continuing its decade of environmental leadership and sustainability performance among deepwater seaports. The achievement underscores the Port’s ongoing commitment to implementing responsible environmental practices across its diverse operations while continuously improving its environmental performance.

“Achieving this international certification year after year reflects our continuous commitment to operate responsibly and with respect for the natural resources that make our region such a special place,” stated Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO.

Bob Musser, Port Canaveral’s Senior Director, Environmental, added, "Environmental stewardship is fundamental to everything we do. Green Marine challenges participants to continually improve their environmental performance beyond regulatory requirements. Maintaining certification demonstrates our commitment to measure our performance, identify opportunities for improvement and, most importantly, implement sustainable practices that benefit both our operations and the surrounding environment.”

Green Marine is a voluntary international environmental certification program that includes ports, seaways, terminal operators, shipyards and vessel owners. Port Canaveral has been a member since 2016, earning certification that same year by meeting the organization’s rigorous environmental standards and performance criteria.

Participants are evaluated on a range of performance indicators that extend beyond regulatory compliance, including air emissions – including greenhouse gases and air pollutants – as well as aquatic ecosystems, community impacts, community relations, environmental leadership, spill prevention and stormwater management, underwater noise, and waste management. Certification requires annual self-assessments and every two years an independent third-party verification to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.

Since first earning Green Marine certification, Port Canaveral has maintained its standing in the program by demonstrating ongoing improvements and performance across multiple environmental categories while advancing initiatives that support long-term sustainability throughout its operations.

The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:43:20 +0000

Underwater Ribbon Cutting Ushers in New URI Ocean Robotics Laboratory

Event marked milestone for Narragansett Bay Campus

From within the ORL’s tank, ROV Rhody cuts the ribbon. (URI Photo: Inner Space Center)

Published Jun 27, 2026 2:02 PM by The Maritime Executive

[By The University of Rhode Island]

The University of Rhode Island celebrated a major milestone in the $300 million, multi-phase revitalization of the Narragansett Bay Campus with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Ocean Robotics Laboratory on June 25.

Students Elliot Roman and Jake Bonney piloted URI’s remotely operated vehicle Rhody to cut the ceremonial ribbon underwater in the building’s 20-foot-wide by 30-foot-long test tank.
Governor Dan McKee, House Speaker Emeritus K. Joseph Shekarchi, other local and state elected leaders, members of the URI Board of Trustees, and University faculty, staff, students, and alumni were among the hundreds who attended the ceremony.

“This is a major milestone in the revitalization of this campus,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “This campus is truly a hub for the blue economy in Rhode Island, with education, with research, with training, with extension, and partnerships with industry, as well as state and federal agencies. I am so grateful for the support of our state and federal elected officials and generous donors who make this transformation possible.”

Margo Cook, chair of URI’s Board of Trustees, also expressed appreciation on behalf of the University.

“Because of this investment made by our state leaders and the voters of Rhode Island, the new Ocean Robotics Laboratory is a cutting-edge resource to support our students, faculty, and our industry partners,” said Cook. “It's also a new recruitment tool for the state of Rhode Island that will attract and retain talent to advance the blue economy.”

Rhode Island voters supported the revitalization measures by approving two bond referenda totaling $145 million.

“URI has one the best oceanography programs in the entire country, and yet, we hadn't really invested a great deal in the infrastructure on the campus,” said Governor McKee. Noting a report from the state’s commerce board that estimated up to 60,000 jobs are available in the blue economy with proper investment, McKee continued, “What better place to invest than the University of Rhode Island.”

Shekarchi recalled visiting the Narragansett Bay Campus for the first time soon after he became speaker of the House of Representatives.

“I always held the oceanography school as a national treasure,” he said. “I came down here and I saw the antiquated facilities. It was a rainy day and President Parlange, ever the salesman that he is, took me through a few buildings and we had to use umbrellas inside the buildings because there were leaks coming down.”

The multi-year campus revitalization is changing that, with new, state-of-the art facilities that are advancing the design and development of technology-driven solutions.

“The people who will work in the Ocean Robotics Laboratory are building the robots and instruments that are needed to solve challenges by giving them shared space, innovative infrastructure, and place-based partnership opportunity,” said Steve D'Hondt, interim dean of URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography. “The facility will enable Rhode Island to take a commanding global lead in robotic ocean exploration and automated sensing of the ocean.”

Anthony Marchese, dean of the College of Engineering, said the research and innovation that will transpire in the new building is as relevant now as it has ever been.

“The taxpayers of the small but mighty state of Rhode Island were not only generous, but visionary because we are now poised to cut the ribbon on the ocean robotics laboratory at URI at a time when such a facility could not be more important for the region and for society at large,” Marchese said.

In speaking about the building and three words—research, development and deployment—that greet visitors upon their entry, Lora Van Uffelen, associate professor of ocean engineering explained, "We're all familiar with research and development. These are pillars of innovation everywhere. But what really makes us special and what makes this work unique is the deployment aspect. We as oceanographers and ocean engineers take instrumentation to sea, to the ocean. This is one of the most extreme environments we have on our planet, and it requires a lot of preparation. Facilities like this tank behind me are really essential for refining our systems before they head out to sea.”

Jason Noel, a Ph.D. candidate in ocean engineering, who earned a bachelor’s degree in ocean engineering with a minor in oceanography in 2022, expressed how much the new facility means to the students and faculty who will use it regularly.

“It truly is an amazing advancement for us and is exactly what this department was lacking,” said Noel. “We have always been at the forefront of research and talent, with amazing faculty, graduate students, and undergrads. The one thing that we were missing was the facilities to do our work.”

The graduate student also pointed out what the facility will mean for the blue economy and partnerships between URI and private industry.

“Not only is this building great for us, the researchers, but it is great for the state of Rhode Island,” said Noel. “We have the space here to support companies and integrate their work with existing research projects, as well as support larger organizations when they need facilities to test equipment. This creates a direct conduit between university minds and the state’s industry, keeping our talent local to our region.”

Several state elected officials spoke about the significance of URI’s new Ocean Robotics Laboratory.

Sen. Alana DiMario

I could see the importance of investing in leveraging what we have here as such a great asset in the Ocean State, which is our proximity to the ocean and our ability to capitalize on research and different types of innovation and development to be able to utilize that to its full potential.

In our work in government, we often work on things that are slow and abstract and incremental, and we don't always get to see exactly how those things play out. Projects like this are such a thrilling exception. We get to see in standing here today what happens when we think big things, when we build big things, and then together when we do big things.

Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee

I would say that this is a great day for all of us. Investing in URI is one of the best uses of taxpayer dollars, and today's ribbon cutting on the new Ocean Robotics Laboratory demonstrates that. I'm excited to be part of this exciting development on the Bay Campus because this is an amazing transformation.

Rep. Kathleen Fogarty

Investing in facilities like this new Ocean Robotics Lab provides tremendous advancements for the University and will attract the talent and research in ocean science and drive our economic growth. I look forward to seeing research and industry and collaboration at this new Ocean Robotics Lab for many years to come.

Rep. Teresa Tanzi

Today's ribbon cutting demonstrates something very powerful here in Rhode Island—and that's the fact that state investments in facilities here at the University of Rhode Island have a massive impact. This represents the future of ocean exploration, research, education, technology development, and deployments—really another key part of the excitement around this project. We should be very proud of URI's achievements and the benefits these provide for our state.

The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:42:37 +0000

Rising Tensions in Yemen Threaten Red Sea Transits

Heavy traffic on the Maritime Security Transit Corridor, June 25 (VesselFinder)

Published Jun 26, 2026 11:39 AM by The Maritime Executive

There have been a number of worrying indicators recently that tensions between the Houthis in the north and the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) of Yemen, based in Aden, are rising.

To the great relief of the maritime community, traffic though the Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden was not disrupted in the bout of fighting which ended with the opening of talks between Iran and the United States in Switzerland. Paydari and IRGC hardliners in Iran attempted without success to persuade the Houthis to resume their attacks on shipping. Prior to the recent partial re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz, this would have had devastating impact; Saudi Arabia was shipping out its oil exports through the Red Sea, and much of the imports of basic essentials required by the Gulf countries were being trucked in after being landed at Jeddah. But apart from a few missiles and drones fired at Israel, which caused no damage and which were diplomatically ignored by Israel, the ceasefire came into effect without the threats made by AbdulMalik Al Houthi and the leader’s ebullient spokesman Brigadier Yahya Al Sare’e being realized. Naval vessels assembling for the Strait of Hormuz monitoring mission were able, in consequence, to pass through the Bab el Mandeb without disruption.

The general consensus is the Houthi leadership has not wanted to jeopardize progress being made in negotiations with Saudi Arabia, which promise to release substantial financial subsidies that would rescue northern Yemen from its current dire economic situation. A rash of economic protests have broken out in Houthi-controlled areas protesting against hunger and deprivation, emphasizing the need for urgent action to suppress what otherwise could become a threat to the Houthi’s grip on power.

Progress in these talks has evidently not been sufficient for the Houthis, who have now embarked upon an unpopular general mobilization to boost the size of their forces – and to pressure the Saudis with the threat of a resumption of hostilities.

At the same time, the Vice President of the IRG, General Tariq Saleh, has broadcast that he thinks a military clash with the Houthis is inevitable, preparations need to be made, and that compromise with the Houthis (who killed his uncle and tried hard to kill him) is impossible. Also a worry for the Houthis, the IRG has been consolidating its grip on the area it controls in Yemen, now that the UAE-backed Southern Transition Council has been defused as a separatist force. With some inevitable resistance, semi-autonomous militias have been brought under central administration, unifying command and control and improving military effectiveness, and all aided by reinvigorated support from the Saudis.

These developments have not threatened an immediate renewal of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. But on June 25, the risk of this happening increased. Both AbdulMalik Al Houthi, the Houthi leader, and a leading Houthi spokesman made speeches threatening imminent military action if Saudi Arabia did not concede more in ongoing talks, particularly with regard to what the Houthis say are unpaid salaries worth $13bn, in effect the salary roll of the Houthi rebel movement for the last decade. AbdulMalik Al Houthi also expressed his worries about what he identified as an Israeli presence in Somaliland, increasing the risk that the Houthis might attack targets there across the Gulf of Aden, over the heads of shipping using the Maritime Security Transit Corridor. These threats are evidently a response to growing criticism in Houthi areas of the domestic economic impact of their belligerent external policies.

With a very tenuous peace returning to the Gulf area, a resumption of disruption in the Gulf of Aden would create new challenges for the maritime industry - and commercial opportunities for specific sectors, notably container shipping.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:42:26 +0000

CMA CGM Containership Uses Iranian Route Through Strait of Hormuz

CMA CGM's containership made the transit and is now anchored off Oman (CMA CGM file photo)

Published Jun 28, 2026 2:17 PM by The Maritime Executive

While the United Nations continues to say its evacuation plan for seafarers and their vessels remains suspended while it awaits further safety guarantees, ships are still making the transit. Container carrier giant CMA CGM confirmed in a brief statement that it has been able to move one of its trapped vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

The 154,222 dwt CMA CGM Galapagos has now anchored off Muscat, Oman, after having been trapped in the Persian Gulf since the start of the conflict at the end of February. No details were provided on the transit of the vessel, but tracking shows it proceeded to the Iranian-sanctioned route near Lark Island.

Built in 2022, it is an ultra-large container vessel registered in France with a capacity of 15,254 TEU. Other carriers, such as Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, and Evergreen, have also highlighted that they were able to move vessels out of the Gulf, but most of them have been smaller feeder-type vessels.

CMA CGM took the northern corridor for its transit (courtesy of Marine Traffic)

CMA CGM called the safe transit of its vessel “an important milestone in a regional context,” but did not provide additional details. The online routing shows the vessel is resuming a trip to China, where it is shown to be arriving in mid-July. CMA CGM said it has 10 additional vessels that remain in the Persian Gulf, but did not comment on any plans to possibly evacuate other ships.

It comes after IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Domingues said on Friday that they had been able to evacuate at least 115 vessels in three-and-a-half days before suspending their efforts. He said that represented about 2,500 seafarers out of an estimated 11,000 seafarers aboard around 600 ships still trapped in the Gulf.

The IMO said it had paused the operation after the IRGC made statements that vessels in the region that used an unauthorized corridor would be subject to “legal sanctions.” Dominguez said they were following up on that statement when they learned the Ever Lovely had been struck, and that prompted the pause. He also repeated the statement that the Ever Lovely had not been in touch with the Omani officials and was not following the IMO’s procedures, although Evergreen Line says it was transiting on the route recommended by UK Maritime Trade operations.

However, while he said the official position was that the evacuation effort was suspended, Dominguez said they had preliminary information Friday that a further 11 vessels were making the transit in the northern corridor maintained by Iran, and four were in the southern corridor off Oman.

Iran continues to assert that the only route is its corridor and that all vessels require its permission regardless of the agreements. It stuck the Evergreen Line Ever Lovely on Thursday and the tanker Kiku on Saturday, saying that both vessels were not following the procedures. Donald Trump said Iran had launched four drones on Thursday, with the U.S. having shot down three.

U.S. Central Command reported later on Saturday that it had struck a further 10 Iranian military targets in response to “continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping.” Reports said Iran had responded by launching retaliatory strikes against U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Trump took to social media to repeat his threats against Iran. He said the U.S. “struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN! It is very possible that they will never learn!”

Despite the recent back-and-forth strikes, ships appear to be making the transit. Maritime AI data intelligence firm Windward calculated that 18 vessels had been outbound from the Gulf on Saturday, June 27, with one operating dark. It reported that 22 vessels were inbound, although it did not detail which corridor was being used. Citing data from Vortexa, it said 3.9 million barrels of crude and a total of 4.12 million barrels had transited outbound.

Tanker Struck by Drone off Oman and the US Again Responds with New Strkes

Tanker was struck by an Iranian drone on Saturday off Oman for not transiting in Iran's route (UKMTO)

Published Jun 27, 2026 4:07 PM by The Maritime Executive

A laden Panama-flagged tanker outbound from the Gulf was struck early on Saturday, June 27, as Iran continues to say it is firing “warning shots” at any vessel attempting to make the transit without its permission. Donald Trump called the attack on Thursday on the containership Ever Lovely a “foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement” while the U.S. has now staged two rounds of retaliatory strikes on Iranian infrastructure. As a result of the potential escalation, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) raised the threat level to “substantial” just days after it had been lowered to “moderate.”

The Greek-owned tanker Kiku (300,866 dwt) registered in Panama, was hit early on Saturday, June 27. It had loaded at the Al Shaheen Offshore Terminal in Qatar and was bound for Singapore more than two-million barrels of crude oil, says U.S. Central Command. The tanker was reported to have been approximately 22 nautical miles off Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE when it was struck. The master told UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) that the crew was safe, but the vessel had sustained damage.

MSCIO (Maritime Security Center Indian Ocean) reports the tanker was struck by a drone on its starboard bridge wing. It says the damage was minor and that the tanker was continuing its passage. However, the vessel’s AIS shows that it was bound for Fujairah in the UAE.

The attack on the tanker was followed by several drones launched toward Bahrain. The Bahrain Foreign Ministry reported “a number of drones,” with Iran contending it was targeting U.S. military installations with “defensive strikes” after the “barbaric” air strikes by the U.S. overnight on Friday. Earlier, Iranian officials had repeated their assertion that “the Strait of Hormuz is governed by Iran, so respect the rules.”

Donald Trump, in a social media posting, said Iran had fired at least four one-way attack drones at ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz. He said the U.S. “knocked down” three drones, but one had struck the Ever Lovely.

Both sides are accusing the other of violating the ceasefire agreement. CENTCOM said in a statement, however, "Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku."

Late on Saturday, CENTCOM forces launched strikes in response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping. U.S. military aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities. CENTCOM asserts that commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz continue. It ays U.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.

Earlier today, JMIC had advised that the southern route has been expanded to accommodate simultaneous inbound and outbound traffic. Concerns had been raised when the southern route near the coast of Oman was opened, that it was narrow and raised the risk for incidents. The International Maritime Organization repeated the earlier assessment that there are at least 80 mines in the Traffic Separation Scheme lanes of the Strait of Hormuz.

The IMO, however, continued to pause its evacuation effort, saying it was waiting for more information and renewed safety g

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:39:34 +0000

Ukrainian Pressure on Russian Presence in Crimea Builds

Fuel tanks ablaze at Kerch, occupied Crimea, June 2026 (Russian social media)

Published Jun 26, 2026 2:57 PM by The Maritime Executive

The long-running and carefully-designed Ukrainian campaign to weaken Russia’s occupation of Crimea appears to be building and may be reaching a culmination point.

Over many months, Ukraine has worn down the Russian base, fuel and logistic infrastructure in Crimea, which still remains an important support area for Russian front line operations in south-western Ukraine. Ukraine started this campaign by degrading Russian air defences which had provided a protective umbrella over Crimea.

At the same time, Ukraine continued its attacks on Russian shipping using ports in Crimea. Primarily using remotely-piloted one-way sea drones, the Russian Black Sea Fleet was largely pushed out of Sevastopol to the relative safety of Novorossiysk, and Crimean ports became increasingly dangerous for merchantmen. While not a 100% effective blockade, the Russian naval threat to Odesa has been pushed back, and the Russian military logistic organisation have had to switch to road and rail links.

Then the Ukrainians started on the road and rail links. The Kerch Bridge providing access to Crimea from the east has been weakened by attacks, and can no longer be used by heavy fuel and ammunition trains. The ferries the Russians used instead have progressively been attacked and sunk.

The alternative rail and road routes along the Sea of Azov coast are now within medium-range drone coverage, and are increasingly vulnerable. For truck drivers convoying on these routes, life expectancy is low. There a number of choke points on these routes, for example the few bridges across the North Crimean Canal dividing Crimea from the Ukrainian mainland. When bridges like those at Rozdolne and Vladislavivka are struck are repaired or replaced by pontoon bridges, they have been attacked again.

The impact of this campaign can be seen in the decision by the Russian military administrator for the Crimea to halt the sale of fuel to civilians, and by the large queues of civilian cars waiting to cross the Kerch Bridge – while it still remains open and before it is finally severed, which must be imminent. Crimea has become a military liability for the Russian, a drain on resources. The Ukrainians would probably prefer Crimea to remain a drain on Russian resources, Russia’s very own Stalingrad, knowing that they will delay their departure knowing that President Putin could never survive the humiliation of having to withdraw.

For now, the dominant position the Ukrainians have established over the Crimea has not had a major impact on frontline operations. There have been some Russian withdrawals, for example from the Kinburn Spit which dominates the entrance to the Dnieper River, and such tactical withdrawals will increase as the shortage of fuel, rations and ammunition impacts the Russian units on the Kherson and Zaporizhhzhia front lines in southwest Ukraine.

But perhaps more significant than adjustments and withdrawals on the front line will be the collapse of the illusion that Russians are doing well in the war. The Russian population in general, and maybe even Putin himself, have been regimented into believing that the war is far away and being prosecuted successfully. But on top of thousands of casualties, thick black smoke over Moscow, yet another cancelation of the annual St Petersburg Naval Parade, and sometime fairly soon a major disaster on the battlefield will come to a breaking point and then shatter this illusion, fatally undermining the credibility of President Putin’s leadership.

Historically, Russian has demonstrated extraordinary resilience in time of war, but it has also suffered some spectacular defeats. This time though, the parlous state of the Russian campaign to wipe Ukraine from the map of the world appears to be no temporary setback. Ukraine’s position is only getting stronger as it develops its own sovereign capabilities, such as in long range drones and hypersonic missiles. Increasingly, it is able to fight without being restrained by the weak-willed who think it would be nice to compromise and allow Russia to retain some of its illegally-seized conquests.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:34:50 +0000

Seven Injured in Fire Aboard LCS USS Indianapolis

USS Indianapolis (USN file image)

Published Jun 25, 2026 8:41 PM by The Maritime Executive

Seven sailors have been injured in a shipboard fire on the littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis, USNI reports.

The Navy confirmed that Freedom-class LCS USS Indianapolis caught fire alongside the pier Naval Station Mayport, Florida, at about 1130 hours Wednesday. Mayport is the home port for the monohull-LCS fleet.

Seven personnel sustained minor injuries, but all were treated and released on the same afternoon. The investigation is under way, Naval Surface Force Atlantic told USNI.

The story was first covered by local outlet News4Jax. According to its earlier report, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department aided the response, arriving about 45 minutes after the start of the fire. Mayport Fire and Emergency Services and the crew assisted as well, and the blaze was extinguished quickly. The Navy said that the damage was localized.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

USS Indianapolis is an upgraded Freedom-class hull, longer at the stern to improve stability and increase weight margins. She was also designed with additional sensors and automatic monitoring tools in order to minimize workload for the crew.

Indianapolis deployed to the Red Sea in 2024 during the counter-Houthi campaign to ensure freedom of navigation. While navigating the Bab el-Mandeb with destroyers USS Spruance and USS Stockdale in late September, Indianapolis was targeted by Houthi forces. The destroyers knocked down eight drones, five antiship ballistic missiles and three antiship cruise missiles, according to the Pentagon, with no damage to the American task force.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:33:25 +0000

Canadian Coast Guard Completes Long-Range Rescue in North Pacific

Image courtesy CCG

Published Jun 25, 2026 11:21 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Canadian Coast Guard has completed a long-distance mission to rescue three people from a disabled trimaran yacht in the middle of the North Pacific.

On June 18, the crew of the sailing trimaran Mizuya made a mayday call to report that they had lost rudder control and were no longer able to maintain heading. The call was fielded by U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District's command center, which reached out to nearby merchant ships in hopes of finding a good Samaritan vessel that could divert and assist. However, according to the Coast Guard, the 15-foot wave height and strong winds on scene made it impractical to arrange a safe rescue by merchant mariners.

Instead, the Canadian Coast Guard cutter Sir Wilfrid Laurier diverted to the scene, transiting more than 500 nautical miles. The Laurier arrived at Mizuya's position - some 825 nm to the southwest of Adak, in the midst of a vast stretch of remote ocean - on Friday evening. They safely retrieved the crew of the Mizuya, and they marked the vessel's hull with the word "Safe" in red spraypaint to indicate to any passing vessels that the drifting yacht had been fully evacuated. All of the survivors were found in good health.

"Despite the considerable distances involved, the Canadian Coast Guard crew, along with Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fishery Officers and Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers, performed exceptionally well in carrying out a successful marine rescue approximately 5,000 kilometers from the Laurier’s home port of Victoria, B.C.," said CCG assistant commissioner Derek Moss in a statement.

Wilfrid Laurier later transferred the survivors to the Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel Kurikoma at sea. The JCG vessel will deliver them safely back to Japan.

Mizuya is a 40-foot trimaran fitted with a center daggerboard and all-electric propulsion, according to her builder. The yacht's ultimate fate is unknown, but images from the scene suggest that it was abandoned in an intact state.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:30:38 +0000

Op-Ed: In Ship Recycling, Progress Should Not Be Mistaken for the End State

Courtesy EEC

Published Jun 26, 2026 5:59 PM by Capt. Soumitro Roy

Dr. Ishtiaque Ahmed’s recent article on ship recycling offers a thoughtful and erudite exposition of the legal relationship between the Basel Convention and the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC). His central proposition that the debate should focus on implementation rather than on choosing between the two conventions is well made and deserves serious consideration.

At EEC, our practical experience leads us to an additional conclusion: legal compliance and industrial transformation are not synonymous.

We have demonstrated that vessels of any flag can be acquired, owned and recycled in full compliance with applicable national and international laws through a transparent ownership structure in which a single accountable entity assumes responsibility from acquisition through final recycling. Such an approach mirrors the accountability expected under the Document of Compliance (DOC) and vetting systems in the tanker industry. In our view, genuine compliance requires clear responsibility, transparent ownership, and identifiable decision-makers not opaque structures or fragmented chains of accountability.

There is no denying that South Asia possesses significant ship recycling capacity and that standards have improved substantially in recent years. These advances deserve recognition. However, capacity should not be conflated with progress. A system can process large volumes while remaining fundamentally constrained by legacy infrastructure and methods.

The HKC itself illustrates this distinction. Negotiated in 2009 and entering into force in 2025 without substantive amendment, it was conceived as a pragmatic compromise intended to improve prevailing practices incrementally. It was never presented as the ultimate benchmark for industrial excellence. Yet there is an increasing tendency to portray HKC compliance as the destination rather than the beginning of the industry's evolution.

Such an approach risks institutionalizing the status quo instead of encouraging continued advancement.

History provides many parallels. Cargo was once moved manually through ships’ holds by large labor forces before mechanized handling and containerization transformed global logistics. Likewise, traditional rickshaw pullers in many cities have been replaced by electric vehicle operators who often enjoy greater productivity and economic opportunity. In both cases, employment did not disappear; rather, work evolved into safer, more skilled, and more productive forms.

The same question should be asked of ship recycling. Are we protecting employment, or are we preserving outdated working conditions?

Manual dismantling in open environments, exposure to hazardous materials, and reliance on operations conducted in inherently challenging conditions should not be regarded as inevitable characteristics of the industry. They are consequences of particular technological and infrastructural choices. Capacity does not emerge spontaneously, but where investment, regulation, and industrial intent converge, new models can and do develop.

HKC-compliant facilities undoubtedly represent progress over historical practices. Nevertheless, many do not yet achieve full containment of pollutants, dock-based dismantling, zero-discharge operations, or integrated circular industrial systems. These concepts are not unrealistic aspirations; they increasingly represent accepted practice across other sectors of heavy industry.

For this reason, frameworks such as the EU Ship Recycling Regulation and emerging higher-standard initiatives in jurisdictions such as the UAE seek to extend accountability beyond the immediate recycling operation to encompass downstream waste management, traceability, and broader environmental stewardship. Treating HKC compliance as a complete solution risks freezing development at the level of a negotiated compromise rather than encouraging continuous improvement.

Lifecycle arguments are frequently advanced in defense of existing recycling methods, particularly where rerolling and material reuse reduce demand for virgin steel production. These environmental benefits are genuine. However, lifecycle assessment should equally encompass transparent management of hazardous waste streams, verified pollutant control, emissions accounting, and auditable downstream treatment. Circularity and accountability should advance together.

Similarly, arguments that recycling should remain concentrated where existing ecosystems have developed deserve scrutiny. Industrial ecosystems evolve continuously. Containerization replaced breakbulk cargo handling despite the existence of mature commercial networks supporting the earlier system. Technological progress has repeatedly reshaped maritime industries without eliminating their economic importance.

The central question is therefore not whether HKC-compliant yards have value - they unquestionably do - but whether they represent the industry's final destination. In our assessment, they do not. They represent an important bridge toward more industrialized, transparent, and fully contained recycling systems.

Commercial realities increasingly reinforce this trajectory. Decisions surrounding end-of-life vessels are no longer determined solely by scrap price. Banks, cargo owners, charterers, insurers, regulators, and investors increasingly demand demonstrable environmental performance and verifiable governance. The relevant commercial question is no longer simply “What is cheapest?” but rather “What can withstand regulatory, financial, and public scrutiny?”

Another principle deserving greater attention is accountability at the source. Ships are engineered assets whose end-of-life management should form part of their lifecycle planning rather than being externalized to downstream actors. A sustainable future is likely to integrate dismantling into mainstream industrial engineering through dry docks, controlled facilities, permanent skilled workforces, and auditable processes that minimize exposure-based labor and environmental risk.

This perspective should not be interpreted as criticism of South Asian recycling industries or of sovereign regulatory choices. India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have every right to develop regulatory frameworks suited to their own economic and developmental circumstances, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities remains an important feature of international environmental governance.

At the same time, objective technical realities remain. Methods relying on intertidal operations present inherent challenges when measured against more stringent frameworks such as the EU Ship Recycling Regulation, which extends obligations beyond many existing national requirements. Practical constraints including primary cutting within intertidal zones, gravity-assisted dismantling, downstream accountability, infrastructure limitations, and the economics of impermeable surfaces, heavy-lift systems and contained operations that make convergence with higher standards difficult without substantial structural transformation.

This observation should not be understood as criticism of sovereign policy choices but rather as recognition that different regulatory frameworks pursue different objectives and impose different expectations.

Ultimately, the future of ship recycling is unlikely to be determined solely by the HKC. Market expectations are already shifting. Numerous stakeholders seek non-beaching solutions and recycling pathways capable of satisfying heightened environmental, governance, and transparency requirements. Capacity for such approaches is beginning to develop accordingly.

The industry therefore faces a choice familiar throughout maritime history: whether to lead technological transformation or adapt only when compelled to do so. Double-hull tankers, ballast water treatment systems, and emissions controls all illustrate that practices once considered commercially impractical eventually became accepted norms.

The HKC should be welcomed as an important milestone in improving global ship recycling standards. It should not, however, be regarded as the final destination. Progress should continue beyond compromise toward systems that combine legal certainty, industrial efficiency, environmental integrity, and full lifecycle accountability.

Capt. Soumitro Roy is Head of Middle East Operations at the ship recycling company EEC.

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 02:30:48 +0000

Beyond the Paint

Hull coatings are now part of a wider system for biofouling control that goes beyond the paint – including inspections, cleaning strategy, monitoring and documentation.

Image courtesy GIT Coatings
Published Jun 26, 2026 8:16 PM by Sean Hogue
(Article originally published in Mar/Apr 2026 edition.)

Paint technology has come a long way since I was a cadet slapping "red lead" on everything.
While effective, the lead-based primer was both toxic to the environment and hazardous to apply with neurological risks following long-term exposure. This thankfully went largely unnoticed in most seafarers.
Modern coating solutions aim to replicate the effectiveness of red lead while minimizing the environmental impact, increasing ease of application and reducing any exposure-based health concerns. These modern technologies offer full coating systems that achieve these aims while playing a vital role in shipping decarbonization by offering quantifiable improvements in efficiency and fuel burn.
The industry is moving away from reactive cleaning of hull coatings towards proactive management with lower discharge of toxic chemicals and microplastics to the marine environment.
SPCS VS. FRCS
There are two primary coating technologies that must be balanced when considering durability, biofouling resistance and friction through the water.
Self-polishing coatings (SPC) rely on chemistry.
They're formulated with self-polishing copolymers that react with seawater through controlled hydrolysis. This process gradually erodes the coating surface while releasing biocides, typically copper-based, that prevent organisms from settling. As the outer layer wears away, a fresh active layer is exposed. This makes SPC coatings highly effective across a wide range of operating profiles including vessels that spend significant time at low speed or on station.
Fouling-release coatings (FRC) take a physical approach.
Based on silicone or fluoropolymer technology, they create a very smooth, low surface energy finish that reduces the ability of organisms to adhere. Fouling may occur, but it is weakly attached and removed by hydrodynamic forces when the vessel is underway – or active hull cleaning when the vessel reaches port. These coatings contain no biocides and can improve fuel efficiency due to reduced drag. However, their performance depends on regular cleaning, making them less effective for idle or slow operating vessels.
Determining the best coating means understanding your vessel's operations.
QUANTIFIED RESULTS
Ryan Ingham, Lead Performance Advisor at GIT Coatings, presented a one-year operational case study on proactive hull management (PHM) at this year's Hull Performance & Insight Conference (HullPIC).
The study followed an LPG carrier operating with GIT's next-generation, graphene-based hard foul-release coating, XGIT-FORCE™. This biocide-free, hard foul-release coating was combined with onboard robotic proactive cleaning and supported by a ship-specific proactive hull management plan developed through biofouling-risk modelling, port feasibility analysis and continuous in-service advisory. Over 12 months, hull condition and performance were monitored using inspection footage and vessel performance data analysis.
The results:
- ~6% fuel savings out of dock
- <2% added power over the year
- 3–5% fuel savings regained after each cleaning event
Proactive hull management works in real commercial operations when the right coating, technology and advisory support come together to enhance operational efficiency.
With over 600+ applications worldwide, GIT Coatings' products and advisory services division support shipowners and operators in achieving measurable performance and peak operational efficiencies. Its coatings are also environmentally friendly as they offer a zero-leaching solution without shedding toxic chemicals or microplastics into the marine environment.
That's a great foundation for an advanced biofouling program.
GROOMING
Greensea IQ, a pioneer in proactive, in-water hull cleaning technology, is officially approved as a certified hull grooming provider for vessels coated with GIT Coatings' advanced foul-release systems.
Grooming is defined as a proactive measure of periodical removal of microfouling (slime) to prevent the development of macrofouling on ships' hulls. It's an AI-powered robotic solution proven to be incredibly effective.
The approval, granted by Lloyd's Register, confirms that the EverClean program meets the requirements to groom hulls protected by GIT Coatings' sustainable and biocide-free coatings like XGIT-FORCE™.
Delivered as a subscription, the program provides a professionally managed performance plan specific to the vessel that continually evolves to maintain peak performance.
BIG DATA BELOW THE WATERLINE
Another aspect of modern hull-performance solutions involves active monitoring, data collection and analysis and expert advising.
Jotun, whose paint can be found on 25 percent of the global fleet, started its Hull Performance Solutions (HPS) program back in 2011 with a focus on shifting from promised to proven performance. Now in its second iteration, Jotun has launched HPS 2.0 including its HullKeeper program, which is an active condition-monitoring service designed to help identify potential fouling problems before they slow vessels down.
Biofouling begins the moment a freshly painted ship leaves the drydock.
It's a major issue in shipping and quickly leads to significant increases in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions – not to mention the reduction in speed the additional drag causes, which impacts delivery times.
In 2018, the International Maritime Organization set targets to cut the shipping industry's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to 2008 by 40 percent in 2030 and 50 percent in 2050. In its fourth GHG emissions study, the IMO said shipping emitted around 919 million tons of CO2 in 2018. Of that figure, the IMO suggested nine percent – or 83 million tons – was entirely due to the biofouling loading of ships. Low-hanging fruit for a substantial gain.
In 2025, the company received independent verification by DNV of 11.8 million tons of avoided CO2 emissions across all Jotun-coated vessels. This independent validation strengthens trust and gives owners clear, credible documentation to support both regulatory compliance and sustainability reporting.
Vessel owners are under intense environmental pressure from modern regulations. Navigating them to ensure compliance is a full-time job, best supported by a full-time partner who operates with transparency and brings third party-verified data to the table.
Jotun's focus is on reducing emissions immediately and at scale – part of its Clean Shipping commitment – exactly the kind of commitment you want from a partner you can trust.
PREPPING THE SURFACE
A paint job is only as good as the surface preparation.
Panama-based Marine Metal Coatings has specialized in surface prep, painting and corrosion-control for over 35 years.
Its standard paint-removal techniques include ultra-high-pressure water blasting to 40,000 PSI and grit blasting. The company also has the ability to perform more specialized hydro-jetting coating removal. While not always the fastest, this method provides the most controlled option and avoids damaging the underlying material or over-blasting with abrasives.
MMC also specializes in the removal and disposal of traditional lead-based paints in preparation for a more modern coating application.
INDUSTRY ADVOCACY & PARTNERSHIPS
RightShip is a global maritime risk management organization that uses data, inspections and vetting processes to improve safety, sustainability and operational standards across the shipping industry. As part of the Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program, RightShip supports the evaluation and adoption of technologies and practices that reduce risk and help move the industry toward the goal of zero harm to the marine environment.
Chugoku Marine Paints (CMP Chugoku) has entered into a partnership agreement with RightShip, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and innovation in the maritime industry.
Charleston Pauses Operations at New Terminal Citing Low Volume, High Costs

Operations are being suspend at Charleston's Hugh K. Leatherman Port Terminal (SC Ports)

Published Jun 25, 2026 4:59 PM by The Maritime Executive

South Carolina Ports, in a surprise announcement, reported it will suspend operations at its new terminal in Charleston, citing low volumes and high costs for the terminal. Celebrated in 2021 as the first new, large terminal opened in the United States in more than a decade, it is the latest blow to the operation, which has struggled to gain a footing.

The state authority reports it will be winding down the operations over the next few weeks, with the temporary pause going into effect on August 1 for the Hugh K. Leatherman Port Terminal. It said operations would be consolidated at Charleston’s Wando Welch and North Charleston terminals while assuring customers that the two facilities have sufficient capacity as well as space to support short-term growth.

Making the announcement, it said, “The industry faces numerous headwinds, an uncertain trade forecast, and tempered volumes. This decision aligns with the port’s continued focus on cost competitiveness to ensure the business is well-positioned for growth.”

The terminal is running at a low percentage of its capacity even before a planned expansion. According to local media reports, Leatherman handled less than 10 percent of its capacity in the first 11 months of the fiscal year. It had a volume of just 75,455 containers versus a volume of more than 1 million containers at the Wando Welch terminal in Charleston.

The closure will force MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company to relocate its operations, which were the primary tenant at the Leatherman terminal. It has five routes calling at the terminal, although one is also scheduled to be suspended due to low volumes.

Leatherman opened in March 2021 with high expectations for growth at the Port of Charleston but soon encountered challenges. The International Longshoremen’s Association was battling with the port for control of the terminal and the jobs and filed a lawsuit weeks after the operations commenced. The major shipping companies refused to move operations to Leatherman due to the labor dispute. The terminal was effectively closed for 21 months until the union and port authority reached an agreement and operations resumed in September 2024.

A state senator who also heads the State Transportation Committee, Larry Grooms, admitted to the South Carolina Daily Gazette that it is “too costly to operate right now.” The paper reports that the union has said it would be willing to work with the authority.

Plans for the Leatherman terminal called for an initial capacity of 700,000 TEUs of annual throughput. It initially added one 1,400-foot berth and was outfitted with five ship-to-shore cranes, 25 hybrid rubber-tired gantry cranes, and a refrigerated container yard. When fully built, the three-berth terminal was slated to add 2.4 million TEUs of throughput capacity to the Port of Charleston. Year-to-date in FY26, the port has handled just over 2.2 million TEU, which is down five percent from the same period in FY25.

South Carolina Ports had previously announced it was delaying the opening of a planned rail yard adjacent to Leatherman. It is a $690 million project, but it was also suspended. However, construction on the second berth at Leatherman has continued. It was expected to be completed next year.

Analysts have forecast that container volumes at U.S. ports are likely to remain at lower levels. The National Retail Federation is projecting that monthly year-over-year volume declines will continue through the remainder of 2026. Its full-year forecast calls for volumes to be flat compared to 2025, as well as on a plateau starting in 2021.

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:23:59 +0000

Where nature conservation can make the greatest difference in saving endangered species

Linköping University

image:

Karl-Olof Bergman, senior associate professor at Linköping University.

Credit: Charlotte Perhammar/Linköping University

Old oak trees and semi-natural grasslands are very important for a large number of species that risk disappearing as habitats decline. In a new study, researchers at Linköping University in Sweden present their findings on the habitat amount needed. The results can help nature conservation agencies set scientifically based goals and take more precise action to ensure long term survival of threatened species.

No less than 1,800 species are associated with the oak. This makes the oak the most biodiversity-rich tree in Sweden. Together with semi-natural grasslands, oak landscapes play an important role in enabling species to form viable populations that survive in the long term. But how much of these types of habitat is needed?

It would be practically impossible for researchers to physically count every animal and plant at each site. Instead, they used a combination of private databases, various species projects and the digital reporting system Artportalen, a platform for open public reporting of species sightings. The researchers behind the study combined millions of reported species data with data on habitat distribution, such as inventories of large oaks made by county administrative boards, and other openly available geodata on grasslands. By combining data on species found with habitat data, the researchers were able to search for patterns.

The researchers show that the amount of habitat is linked to whether different species occur at a given location. They were also able to identify thresholds for how much habitat is needed for a species to persist.

“A sensitive species is more likely to be found in an oak-rich landscape than in a place where there are very few oaks. We’ve been able to calculate threshold values for different species. We can with relatively high confidence provide a target for how much habitat is needed,” says Karl-Olof Bergman, senior associate professor at Linköping University, who led the study published in the journal Landscape Ecology.

One of the most discerning species, which needs many old oaks in its vicinity, is the orange polypore Aurantiporus croceus; a globally endangered fungus species that is critically endangered in Sweden. In their study, the researchers identified how much habitat is required for the species to be found in a particular location. And if the orange polypore can grow there, the requirements are also met for all other species dependent on old oaks. The results provide conservationists with concrete, science-based data to prioritise cost-effective interventions where they are most useful.

“It’s particularly important that we can identify areas where endangered species occur today, but where habitats are too small or fragmented for the species to survive long-term. Species richness in these places exists on borrowed time. We have a time window now when we can act and restore these environments to save species that will otherwise disappear from there,” says Karl-Olof Bergman.

But why does it matter if we lose species such as the orange polypore? The answer lies in how deeply interwoven biodiversity is with our own everyday lives. Functional, species-rich ecosystems are a prerequisite for the existence of clean water, clean air and productive soils. Some fruits and vegetables are highly dependent on pollination by various insects to provide good harvests. Many pharmaceuticals are based on substances found in plants and animals, and even today new discoveries are being made that may come to benefit humans in the future.

“The utility perspective is important, but everything in nature has an intrinsic value. What right do we have to eradicate species that have millions of years of evolution behind them? The species that disappear during our lifetime are also lost for all future generations,” says Karl-Olof Bergman.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the Pro Natura enterprise foundation and was funded by WWF Sweden and Formas.

Article: Identifying functional landscapes in Sweden for semi-natural grasslands and old-growth oaks (Quercus robur) based on habitat thresholds, Karl‑Olof Bergman, Leif Andersson, Markus Franzén, Victor Johansson and Lars Westerberg, (2026), Landscape Ecology, published online 22 May 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-026-02373-4

Journal

Landscape Ecology

DOI

10.1007/s10980-026-02373-4

Article Title

Identifying functional landscapes in Sweden for semi-natural grasslands and old-growth oaks (Quercus robur) based on habitat thresholds

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:22:43 +0000

Hantavirus in the South Atlantic: A one health and microbiome wake‑up call

KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.

On 1 April 2026, the polar expedition cruise ship MV Hondius sailed from Argentina on a transatlantic voyage. By the middle of the month, passengers developed fever and breathing difficulties. The World Health Organization confirmed 11 hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) cases, including three deaths (27% fatality). Genomic sequencing identified Andes virus — the only hantavirus known to spread via limited human‑to‑human transmission.

No rodents were found aboard. The confined vessel, carrying 147 people from 23 countries, became an unexpected amplifier of person‑to‑person transmission. The ship had stopped at remote ecological hotspots including the Antarctic Peninsula and Tristan da Cunha. This is not an isolated incident — it is a clear ecological alert: global travel and environmental change are reshaping how zoonotic viruses emerge.

Microbiome and biodiversity matter

A recent study shows that hantavirus infection alters the lung microbiome of rodent reservoirs (Xiong et al., Microorganisms, 2026). Such changes could serve as early‑warning indicators of spillover risk. Meanwhile, long‑term evidence from Shaanxi, China, reveals that land consolidation reduced rodent diversity by 53%, creating a "one‑species monopoly" of the dominant hantavirus host. This dramatically accelerated viral transmission to humans — a powerful illustration of how land‑use change drives disease risk.

Four urgent actions

Professor Lu proposes four initiatives aligned with Microbiome and One Health:

1. Multi‑sectoral One Health coordination — integrating human, animal, environmental and climate expertise.

2. Microbiome surveillance — using reservoir host microbiota as early warning indicators.

3. Multi‑factor early warning systems — combining biodiversity, climate and travel data.

4. Ecologically informed travel health regulations — targeting cruise ships and ecotourism.

Concluding remarks

As this commentary went to press, WHO declared a new Ebola PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern). Ebola and hantavirus share strikingly similar ecological drivers: deforestation, climate anomalies and global travel networks. The 2026 Ebola PHEIC and the hantavirus cruise cluster are two fractures on the same One Health crisis map. The boundaries between human, animal and ecosystem health have effectively vanished.

###

Contact the author:

Jiahai Lu

Institute of One Health, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, P.R. China

lujiahai@wmu.edu.cn

The publisher KeAi was established by Elsevier and China Science Publishing & Media Ltd to unfold quality research globally. In 2013, our focus shifted to open access publishing. We now proudly publish more than 200 world-class, open access, English language journals, spanning all scientific disciplines. Many of these are titles we publish in partnership with prestigious societies and academic institutions, such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

DOI

10.1016/j.mico.2026.100002

Article Title

Hantavirus on the South Atlantic: A One Health and Microbiome Perspective on an Emerging Ecological Alert

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:21:48 +0000

New breeding techniques for plants: DFG welcomes European Parliament approval of new regulation

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

The European Parliament has given its final approval in Brussels to a new legal framework for plants produced using new breeding techniques (new genomic techniques, NGTs). At second reading, Parliament adopted the regulation that were the subject of trilogue negotiations with the Member States and the European Commission in December 2025. The Council gave its final approval to the regulation in April 2026. The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) welcomes this step, having actively advocated at European level for a reform of legislation governing genetic engineering in recent years.

The adopted regulation provides for simplified rules concerning so-called NGT-1 plants that could also have been produced using conventional breeding methods. These plants will no longer have to comply with the strict authorisation and labelling requirements that will continue to apply to other plants produced using new breeding techniques (NGT-2). In future, the EU will assess plants more based on their characteristics than on the breeding method used.

“Following the initial political breakthrough in December 2025, when the Council and Parliament arrived at a provisional agreement, we hoped for swift approval by the EU institutions in the interests of science,” said DFG President Prof. Dr. Katja Becker. “I’m delighted that this has now been achieved without further amendments. From mid-2028, when the regulation comes into force, researchers will now be able to conduct field trials much more easily, for example to improve plants’ resilience to climate change and resistance to pests. This will mean that new breeding techniques can become one of the tools for securing stable and increasing yields while reducing the use of pesticides.”

“In this way we can help safeguard food security, sustainability and adaptation to climate change in Europe,” added Prof. Dr. Axel Brakhage, Chair of the DFG Senate Commission on Genetic Research. He reiterated: “From a scientific perspective, genome-edited plants whose genetic modifications could also have arisen naturally or through conventional breeding techniques do not pose any specific risks. In our view, they can be treated in the same way as conventionally bred varieties.”

The classification of NGT-1 plants as adopted in the regulation reflects this scientific assessment, thereby overcoming the strictly process-based regulatory approach that has significantly restricted research and innovation to date. The newly adopted legal framework provides researchers and breeders in Germany and Europe with reliable prospects. It facilitates field trials, strengthens competitiveness and establishes the conditions for developing more robust, sustainably produced crops that can contribute to the objectives of the EU’s Vision for Agriculture and Food.

Further Information

Media contact:
DFG Press and Public Relations, Tel. +49 228 885-2109, presse@dfg.de

For further information on the DFG Permanent Senate Commission on Genetic Research and its publications, see: www.dfg.de/sc_genetic_research

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:19:55 +0000

Three-decade analysis reveals persistent sepsis burden in China

The study found that infections remain the leading cause of sepsis mortality, while aging and chronic disease increasingly shape national risk patterns

Journal of Intensive Medicine

image:

Estimated sepsis-related deaths in China by age and underlying cause category in 2021. Error bars indicate 95% uncertainty intervals.

Credit: Professor Hao Wang from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, China Image Source Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jointm.2026.04.004

Sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s dysregulated response to infection, remains one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. Although advances in infection control, intensive care, and antimicrobial therapy have improved survival in many countries, sepsis continues to place enormous pressure on healthcare systems because it can develop rapidly and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. In China, the burden of sepsis has been difficult to fully characterize because sepsis is frequently recorded as an intermediate complication rather than the primary cause of death, limiting the availability of consistent long-term national statistics.

The research was led by Professor Hao Wang from the Department of Critical Care Medicine at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, China. Using publicly available Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 outputs together with China-specific anchor values, the researchers reconstructed annual sepsis incidence and mortality trends in China from 1990 to 2021. The study combined national incidence and mortality estimates with analyses of sex, age, and broad underlying disease categories, including infections, injuries, and non-communicable diseases. The researchers also performed sensitivity analyses using multiple interpolation approaches to ensure the robustness of the reconstructed national trends. Their findings were made available online in the Journal of Intensive Medicine on May 6, 2026.

The analysis estimated that China experienced approximately 6.77 million incident sepsis cases and 2.48 million sepsis-related deaths in 2021 alone. Although age-standardized incidence and mortality declined substantially between 1990 and 2021, while the absolute number of sepsis cases continued to rise alongside population aging and demographic change. The study also found that infection-attributed sepsis remained the largest contributor to mortality, while non-communicable disease-related sepsis became increasingly important over time.

“Males and older adults consistently carried the highest burden across most categories of sepsis,” explained Prof. Wang. “This suggests that demographic aging, chronic disease accumulation, and delayed healthcare access remain major drivers of severe infection outcomes in China.”

The findings revealed striking age-related differences in sepsis burden. Infection-related sepsis deaths remained substantial among children and older adults, while non-communicable disease-attributed sepsis deaths increased sharply with age and peaked among individuals aged 80–84 years. In contrast, injury-related sepsis accounted for only a relatively small fraction of total mortality across all age groups. The researchers noted that these patterns reflect China’s broader epidemiological transition, in which chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and malignancy increasingly amplify vulnerability to severe infection and organ failure.

The study also highlighted persistent sex disparities. Across infection-, injury-, and chronic disease-related sepsis, males consistently showed higher age-standardized incidence and mortality than females. The researchers suggest that smoking exposure, occupational hazards, chronic cardiometabolic disease, delayed healthcare-seeking behavior, and biological differences in immune responses may all contribute to this imbalance.

“Our results show that reducing sepsis deaths will require more than better infection treatment alone,” said Prof. Wang. “Future prevention strategies must integrate chronic disease management, healthy aging programs, vaccination, infection surveillance, and early recognition of clinical deterioration.”

Beyond its immediate public health implications, the study may influence future collaborations between critical care specialists, infectious disease researchers, epidemiologists, geriatricians, and chronic disease experts. In the short term, the findings could help policymakers prioritize high-risk populations for vaccination campaigns, antimicrobial stewardship programs, and rapid sepsis recognition pathways. Over the longer term, the data may support the development of more integrated healthcare systems capable of managing the combined pressures of aging populations, multimorbidity, and severe infection. The researchers also emphasized that future studies incorporating hospital-level datasets, provincial analyses, and pathogen resistance trends could further refine the understanding of China’s evolving sepsis burden.

In summary, the study provides one of the most comprehensive reconstructions of China’s sepsis burden from 1990 to 2021 within the GBD framework. While age-standardized incidence and mortality have declined, the overall burden remains extremely large, with infections continuing to dominate mortality and chronic diseases increasingly shaping risk. The findings underscore the urgent need for integrated prevention, earlier recognition, and targeted care strategies to reduce future sepsis-related deaths in China.

Reference
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jointm.2026.04.004

Chonnam National University identifies dual-function rice gene that boosts drought tolerance and grain yield

New findings reveal how a chloroplast gene helps rice withstand environmental stress

Chonnam National University, The Research Information Management Team, Office of Research Promotion

image:

OsFeSOD3 enhances drought resilience and yield by coordinating ROS scavenging and chloroplast development in rice

Credit: Geupil Jang at Chonnam National University

As climate change intensifies droughts and other environmental stresses, maintaining crop productivity has become a major challenge for global agriculture. Drought can impair chloroplast development, reducing photosynthetic efficiency and ultimately lowering crop yields. Despite the importance of chloroplasts in plant growth and productivity, the molecular mechanisms that link chloroplast development with stress responses remain poorly understood.

Now, a research team led by Professor Geupil Jang at Chonnam National University has identified a rice gene called OsFeSOD3 that plays a dual role in protecting plants from environmental stress while supporting chloroplast development. Their findings were published online on 17 December 2025 and appeared in Volume 24, Issue 4 (2026) of the Plant Biotechnology Journal.

OsFeSOD3 encodes a chloroplast-localized iron superoxide dismutase, an enzyme known for detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS), harmful molecules that accumulate under stressful conditions. Using time-lapse visualization of cellular ROS dynamics and genetic analyses, the researchers found that drought-induced ROS accumulation begins primarily within chloroplasts before spreading throughout plant cells. Increasing OsFeSOD3 expression reduced chloroplast ROS levels, limited overall cellular damage, and enhanced drought tolerance in rice plants. “Chloroplast development is highly sensitive to environmental stresses such as drought, and this sensitivity is closely associated with growth inhibition and yield reduction under stress conditions,” explained Professor Geupil Jang.

The study also uncovered an unexpected function of OsFeSOD3. Beyond its antioxidant role, the protein was found to act as a component of the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase (PEP) complex, a molecular machinery essential for chloroplast gene expression and development. Through direct interactions with other PEP-complex proteins, OsFeSOD3 helps regulate chloroplast biogenesis, linking stress protection with the maintenance of photosynthetic capacity. This dual functionality allows the gene to support both chloroplast health and plant survival under adverse conditions.

To assess the agricultural significance of this discovery, the team conducted field trials over two consecutive growing seasons. Rice plants engineered to overexpress OsFeSOD3 produced 33–42% higher grain yields under drought conditions than wild-type plants. The increase was largely driven by improved grain filling and greater grain numbers. In contrast, rice plants lacking OsFeSOD3, generated using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, developed severe chloroplast defects, exhibited albino leaves, and showed arrested growth, highlighting the gene’s essential role in normal plant development.

The findings could have important implications for crop improvement. Plant breeders often face a trade-off between productivity and stress tolerance, as stronger stress defenses can sometimes reduce yield. By simultaneously enhancing stress resistance and supporting photosynthesis, OsFeSOD3 may help overcome this limitation. “Our findings suggest that OsFeSOD3 serves as a bifunctional regulator that coordinates chloroplastic ROS metabolism and chloroplast biogenesis in rice,” concluded Prof. Jang.

As droughts, heat waves, and other climate-related stresses become more frequent, the ability to develop crops that remain productive under adverse conditions will become increasingly important. The researchers believe that understanding genes such as OsFeSOD3 could contribute to the development of climate-resilient, high-yield crops capable of supporting food security in vulnerable regions worldwide.

Reference
Title of original paper: OsFeSOD3 Functions as an Enzymatic Component of the PEP Complex, Bifunctionally Regulating Chloroplastic ROS Metabolism and Chloroplast Biogenesis in Rice
Journal: Plant Biotechnology Journal
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70508

About the institute
Chonnam National University (CNU), established in 1952 as Korea’s first national university, is a leading institution of higher learning located in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province. Building on its founding commitment to cultivating leaders of integrity and professional excellence, CNU contributes to national development and global progress through the pursuit of knowledge, ethical responsibility, and inclusive excellence. Guided by the core motto “Truth, Creativity, and Service,” the university advances research, education, and public engagement that strengthen resilient societies, foster sustainable development, and promote the well-being of future generations. As a trusted partner in the global community, CNU remains dedicated to addressing complex challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.Website: https://global.jnu.ac.kr/jnumain_en.aspx

About the author
Geupil Jang is a Professor in School of Biological Sciences and Technology at Chonnam National University, Republic of Korea. He received his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of East Anglia, UK. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying chloroplast biogenesis, chloroplast signaling, and root development in plants. His laboratory combines molecular genetics and genomics approaches to understand plant growth and stress adaptation and develops CRISPR/Cas-based genome-editing technologies to create high-yielding, stress-resilient crops for sustainable agriculture and food security.

Journal

Plant Biotechnology Journal

DOI

10.1111/pbi.70508

Taking a step back changes group discussions in virtual environments

Third-person avatar perspectives in virtual environments may reduce intragroup conflict and improve consensus-driven decision-making

Waseda University

image:

Researchers reveal that adopting a third-person perspective in a virtual environment can help improve collaborative decision-making while reducing intragroup conflict.

Credit: Professor Junko Ichino from Waseda University, Japan

In group decision-making, it is critical for each member to engage in discussions with a broader perspective and without fixating on personal values and knowledge. While self-distancing or stepping back and viewing oneself from a third-person perspective has been associated with more objective thinking, its role in multiparty decision-making within virtual environments remains underexplored. As virtual meetings and metaverse platforms become increasingly common, researchers are beginning to explore how virtual environments influence human behavior and decision-making.

In a new study, a research team led by Professor Junko Ichino from Waseda University, Japan, along with Doctoral student Masahiro Ide from Tokyo City University, Japan, Professor Hitomi Yokoyama from Okayama University of Science, Japan, Professor Hirotoshi Asano from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, Professor Hideo Miyachi from Tokyo City University, and Professor Daisuke Okabe from Tokyo City University, investigated whether discussing from a third-person perspective in a virtual environment influences group decision-making, in comparison with a first-person perspective. Their findings were published online in the journal of CHI '26: Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems on April 13, 2026.

“Although many previous studies have applied third-person perspectives in virtual environments, they have primarily focused on their effects on individual-level activities, such as single-player games and sports. Consequently, their effects on group decision-making have remained largely unexplored,” says Ichino.

To investigate this effect, the researchers recruited 144 participants aged 20–49 years and divided them into 48 groups of three people each. Participants completed two different group decision-making tasks in virtual reality. In one condition, they experienced discussions through a standard first-person perspective, seeing the virtual world through their avatar’s eyes. In the second condition, participants viewed their avatars from behind, similar to watching themselves from the perspective of an outside observer. This was referred to as the third-person perspective condition.

They found that participants using the third-person perspective demonstrated significantly stronger consensus agreement and improved accuracy in understanding the opinions of other group members. They also reported lower levels of intragroup and task-related conflict during discussions. These findings suggest that observing oneself from a slight psychological distance may help people avoid becoming overly attached to their own opinions, leading to calmer and more cooperative conversations.

Interestingly, the study also revealed changes in communication behavior. Participants in the third-person perspective condition displayed more “regulating gestures,” such as movements that help manage conversational flow by signaling when to speak, pause, or yield turns to others. At the same time, they used fewer gestures that substituted for verbal expression. According to the researchers, this indicates that the altered perspective may subtly reshape the way people coordinate and interact during discussions.

However, the study also identified an important trade-off. While the third-person perspective improved cooperation and reduced conflict, it also decreased “affective interdependence,” meaning participants felt less emotionally connected to one another. In other words, discussions became more objective and consensus-driven, but slightly less empathetic.

“Our study demonstrates that perspective design in virtual environments can greatly influence people’s social behavior and decision-making processes, going beyond mere usability and immersion. Therefore, it is important to consider not only how realistically environments are reproduced, but also what kinds of psychological states and communication styles should be encouraged through avatar experiences and perspective design in future virtual reality and metaverse applications,” concludes Ichino.

***

Reference
Authors: Junko Ichino1, Masahiro Ide2, Hitomi Yokoyama3, Hirotoshi Asano4, Hideo Miyachi2, and Daisuke Okabe2/////
DOI: 10.1145/3772318.3791367
Affiliations: 1Waseda University, Japan
2Tokyo City University, Japan
3Okayama University of Science, Japan
4Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan (Affiliation at the time of paper acceptance: Kogakuin University, Japan)

About Waseda University
Located in the heart of Tokyo, Waseda University is a leading private research university that has long been dedicated to academic excellence, innovative research, and civic engagement at both the local and global levels since 1882. The University has produced many changemakers in its history, including eight prime ministers and many leaders in business, science and technology, literature, sports, and film. Waseda has strong collaborations with overseas research institutions and is committed to advancing cutting-edge research and developing leaders who can contribute to the resolution of complex, global social issues. The University has set a target of achieving a zero-carbon campus by 2032, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015.

To learn more about Waseda University, visit https://www.waseda.jp/top/en

About Professor Junko Ichino
Dr. Junko Ichino is a professor at Waseda University, Japan. Her research interests include human–computer interaction, human interface, virtual reality, and human–robot interaction. She has authored 63 publications with over 200 citations, contributing extensively to research on immersive communication, social interaction, and virtual reality-based collaboration systems.

DOI

10.1145/3772318.3791367

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

UAB and UB organize the global political ecology conference POLLEN 2026 on power, crises, and alternative futures

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

As the world faces a critical historical conjuncture marked by rising inequality, ecological disruption, and geopolitical fragmentation, the Political Ecology Network (POLLEN) will convene its biennial international conference in Barcelona, Spain, from June 29 to July 3, 2026, hosted across the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the University of Barcelona (UB). The event will bring together more than 1,500 researchers, activists, representatives of civil society organizations, and creators from across the globe to dissect contemporary crises and forge pathways toward peaceful, just alternatives.

The welcome reception will take place on Monday the 29th at the Faculty of Geography and History of the University of Barcelona (UB), where a large part of the conference activities will be held.

The cornerstone of POLLEN 2026 will be its three plenary sessions, which break away from traditional panels by featuring brief keynotes followed by quick, complementary interventions designed to spark extensive audience debate on issues ranging from anti-capitalist resistance to authoritarian capitalism.

Hosted on Tuesday, June 30th at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the first two plenary sessions will center on global challenges: Farhana Sultana (Syracuse University) will explore what has—and has not—changed after the 2024 revolution in Bangladesh, supported by other speakers’ insights on authoritarian trends across Hungary, Turkey, Latin America, and Tanzania.

In the second, Sara Mingorria Martinez (UAB/CSIC) will present a keynote on infrastructure resistance and aviation degrowth based on Barcelona's massive ZeroPort platform protests, accompanied by responses on territorial struggles across India, the Catalan Pyrenees, Sweden, and the Caribbean.

The dialogue will conclude on Thursday, July 2nd, at the Museu Marítim de Barcelona with a special closing plenary titled "Reflecting on POLLEN2026." Chaired by Rosaleen Duffy (University of Sheffield), this final session will bring together prominent political ecologists Elia Apostolopoulou, Christos Zografos, Farhana Sultana, and Felipe Milanez to share critical reflections, challenges, and lessons generated throughout the event.

The summit’s organizing committee is led by the experts Camila del Mármol (UB), Dan Brockington, David Gilbert, Esteve Corbera, Isabelle Anguelovski and Maria Pastor (ICTA-UAB), and Ismael Vaccaro (CSIC).

The full schedule, speaker profiles, and detailed abstracts can be found on the official plenary page at https://pollenpoliticalecology.network/plenary-page/

The conference will also foster a vibrant space for public dialogue through a series of over 250 panel discussions, workshops, films, games, posters, book launches and creative artistic interventions designed by international creators to reshape our environmental imaginaries.

From the UAB, the event is organized through ICTA-UAB with the support of the María de Maeztu Unit of Excellence accreditation granted by the Government of Spain.

About POLLEN

POLLEN operates as a global network connecting independent groups to exchange ideas and collaborate on political ecology. This year's program addresses critical contemporary issues, including energy transitions, data justice, militarized environmental governance, eco-feminism, and Indigenous knowledge systems. The Organizing Committee emphasizes that these shared perspectives are vital for coordinating collective action and driving real change against environmental degradation.

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:14:08 +0000

Heatwaves, air conditioning, and blackouts: Quantifying the real benefits of rooftop solar energy

CMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change

Key facts

By 2050, rising temperatures are projected to increase residential electricity consumption for cooling in Italy by approximately 5% compared to 2023 residential demand.
On peak summer cooling days, households with rooftop solar panels reduce their grid electricity consumption by around 68% compared to similar households without panels.
Under current national energy plans, residential solar ownership is expected to grow from about 6% of households in 2023 to 22–24% by 2050.
Expanded solar adoption could offset roughly half of the climate‑driven increase in grid electricity uptake for cooling
Northern regions and Italian islands benefit most thanks to higher solar penetration, while major urban centres in central and southern Italy such as Rome, Naples and Palermo face a “double vulnerability”: the most intense heat but the lowest solar installation rates.

Synergies between climate mitigation and adaptation: the role of photovoltaics in meeting cooling demand in Italy analyses how hotter summers will affect residential electricity demand and how much of this extra cooling need can be met by rooftop photovoltaics (PV). Using household‑level electricity data, detailed solar adoption statistics and high‑resolution climate projections, the authors estimate how much more power Italian households will draw for cooling and how much PV can offset.

“Rooftop solar panels offer a powerful solution: they can offset nearly half of increased electricity demand during peak cooling periods,” says lead author of the study Lucia Piazza. “This matters to the public because it shows how clean energy can simultaneously fight climate change and help people cope with its effects, while potentially lowering household energy costs.”

The study finds that climate change alone is set to push up residential cooling demand by about 5% of today’s total residential electricity use. At the same time, if rooftop solar grows in line with current national plans – from around 6% of households today to about 22–24% in 2050 – PV could halve this additional climate‑driven load.

Because solar production peaks during the hottest, sunniest hours, PV‑equipped households are able to cover a large share of their cooling needs directly from their own panels. On the hottest summer days, households with rooftop PV reduce their grid withdrawals by around 68% compared to similar households without solar, easing pressure on the system precisely when demand peaks.

“This work provides valuable insights into the future potential of a renewable energy source, in this case solar photovoltaic, in addressing the side effects of climate warming in the residential sector,” says Francesco Pietro Colelli.

However, the benefits are unevenly distributed. Regions in northern Italy and the islands, where solar ownership is higher, see the greatest reductions in cooling‑related grid demand, while major cities in central and southern Italy such as Rome, Naples and Palermo face a “double vulnerability”: they will experience the most intense heat but currently have some of the lowest solar installation rates. The authors argue that targeted policies to support rooftop PV in these urban hotspots could help protect residents from rising bills and reduce stress on the grid during heatwaves.

For more information

Synergies between climate mitigation and adaptation: the role of photovoltaics in meeting cooling demand in Italy. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/ae6dc0

DOI

10.1088/2753-3751/ae6dc0

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:12:08 +0000

Climate-anxious youth from poorer countries “unheard” due to digital disconnection

As rising temperatures around the world trigger climate-related anxiety, new research shows that those most in need of mental health support may be cut off from it.

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Queen Mary University of London

image:

Huts in the Androy region of Southern Madagascar offer little protection from extreme heat

Credit: Queen Mary University of London

Young people from the lower-income countries most vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis, including the toll it takes on their mental health, are being “overlooked” because their lack of internet access prevents them from taking part in research and accessing online support, a new study has found.

The study, published in the BMJ Mental Health, builds on a paper published last year highlighting high rates of climate-related anxiety and depression among young people in Southern Madagascar. The researchers found adolescents were struggling with uncertainty about the future, the loss of household resources and disruption to their coping mechanisms.

One young person from the Bongolava region told the researchers: "If there’s extreme heat… people get worried because their yearly harvest determines their future. And if that’s compromised, your future is too, because you haven’t produced enough, and that leads to a lack of means to prepare for the next year. It breaks your heart because you realise the climate is changing."

Now, the new paper shows that the voices of these young people risk not being heard. The researchers found that the communities most harmed by climate change are the least able to participate in the online research designed to study that harm, because they tend to lack reliable electricity supplies and internet connectivity.

Isabelle Mareschal, Professor in Visual Cognition at Queen Mary University of London, who worked on the paper, said:

“Since the Covid-19 pandemic, so much has moved online. That includes a great deal of mental health research and support.

“Analysing publicly available data on climate vulnerability and internet access, we show that the most climate-vulnerable populations also have the least access to the internet. Not only does that make it more difficult for them to access mental health support online, but it also means they may be excluded from the very research that seeks to understand their situation. This means that the evidence base used to develop policy or interventions may not be adequately developed for the people who need the most help.”

Dr Nambinina Rasolomalala from the Catholic University of Madagascar added:

“Climate and mental health is just one, particularly timely, example of this problem. Whilst online testing has undoubtedly been advantageous in extending the range of groups and populations taking part in research, this trend has an equity cost as well, skewing the evidence towards richer, better-connected populations.”

ENDS

People and cattle seek shade together under a tree in Southern Madagascar

WSU study explores environmental cost, perceptions of influencer PR gifts

Washington State University

PULLMAN, Wash. — As part of their marketing strategy, many companies send public relations packages full of curated products to social media influencers, who film themselves opening the gifts on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

While such “PR unboxings” promote the brand, they also produce a lot of waste — which goes virtually unmentioned by those posting comments on the videos, according to new research from Washington State University. The findings, published in the Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, suggest influencers have an opportunity to educate consumers about excessive packaging and hold companies accountable when their packaging practices don’t match their “green” rhetoric.

“Sustainability values in influencer marketing are often communicated silently through a company’s packaging practices,” said Ting Chi, the study’s corresponding author and chair of WSU’s Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles (AMDT). “Influencers are receiving an increased amount of PR gifts with excessive packaging, but there seems to be minimal consumer awareness of how much waste is being generated. We hope this study will help educate consumers, influencers, and brands about environmental impact.”

A relatively new phenomenon, PR gifting is driven mainly by younger generations, who prefer to learn about products through social media influencers.

“Influencers can impact their followers by promoting certain behaviors,” said Chi, who co-authored the study with AMDT graduate students McKenzie Duqaine, Joshua Mollel, and Juan Doria. “If influencers neglect environmental sustainability considerations in their unboxing videos, consumers won’t see it as a priority. Likewise, if they discuss how they’ll redistribute those gifts or describe the amount of packaging as unnecessary, that could have a very positive influence on their followers in relation to sustainability.”

The study focused solely on fashion and beauty brands, which rely heavily on influencers to effectively market their products.

To avoid the influence of algorithms based on existing preferences or searches, the researchers created a new TikTok account. Using search terms such as “PR haul,” “PR unboxing” and “PR sustainability,” they gathered and analyzed a sample of 131 public, unsponsored videos posted by U.S.-based fashion and beauty brands during a yearlong timeframe.

After analyzing more than 34,000 user comments, they discovered that less than 1% mentioned packaging sustainability.

“We were surprised that such a small percentage of videos and consumer comments included sustainability considerations,” Chi said. “Many brands use influencer marketing while claiming to be sustainable, but their behavior suggests the opposite. These findings indicate that excessive packaging has been normalized and that environmental impact is not a consideration for many brands and consumers.”

He added that the research could help increase consumer awareness, hold brands accountable, and support the development of policies that restrict excessive packaging and encourage the use of recyclable, biodegradable, or plastic-free materials.

Studying a larger geographical area, longer posting timeframe, and additional social media platforms are among the opportunities for increasing the research’s scope.

“We’d like to conduct a cross-cultural comparison that includes other countries or perhaps explore what types of products tend to have excessive packaging and which tend to have better regulated, more sustainable packaging,” Chi added.

He also emphasized that consumers may have more control over the behavior of brands and influencers than they realize.

“It’s important for consumers be clear about their expectations,” Chi said. “If they demand a more proactive approach to sustainability, brands and influencers will likely pay attention.”

DOI

10.1002/fcsr.70055

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Sustainability signaling through PR gifting to social media influencers: A brand perspective

Liberal Blogosphere

Container Rates Near a Two-Year High Amidst Renewed Tariff Concerns

Number of Containers Lost Overboard Rises for a Second Year, Reports WSC

U.S. Opposes Sale of Artifacts Recovered from the Titanic

Russian Warships Linger in the English Channel

Resolute Dragon Exercise Upsets the Chinese Navy East of Taiwan

Dismantling Underway for the Beached Wreck of MSC Baltic III in Canada

Kenya Seeks to Get Rid of a Tanzanian Ship Beached for Six Weeks

Journal

DOI

Method of Research

Subject of Research

Article Title

Journal

DOI

Article Title

Article Publication Date

Journal

DOI

Article Title

Article Publication Date

How to check your heat risk

Journal

DOI

Article Title

Article Publication Date

Journal

DOI

Kenya Seeks to Get Rid of a Tanzanian Ship Beached for Six Weeks

Ultrasound propagation in porous rocks: Theory identifies three distinct wave modes

Original Paper

Correspondence

Related Link

Journal

DOI

Article Title

DOI

Dogs Veterinary Hospital

Credit

Physical inactivity: A systemic implementation failure, not just a lifestyle choice

Journal

DOI

Method of Research

Article Title

Aamir Ahmad: His team develops precise and fast AI tools for species conservation and nature observation.

Credit

New global study reveals link between local-scale species changes and global extinction risk

Journal

DOI

Subject of Research

Article Title

Article Publication Date

Journal

DOI

Journal

DOI

Method of Research

Subject of Research

Article Title

Article Publication Date

GPS Jamming Can Be Solved With Existing Satcom Signals

GPS is easily corrupted, but all sorts of other radio signals can be used for accurate positioning

Volkswagen Sells Majority Stake in Everllence to Bain Capital

US Coast Guard Charters an Offshore Vessel to Support its Cutters

Carnival Corp. Expands Surplus Meal Donations to the Dominican Republic

Port Canaveral Earns Green Marine Certification for 10th Consecutive Year

Underwater Ribbon Cutting Ushers in New URI Ocean Robotics Laboratory

Event marked milestone for Narragansett Bay Campus

Rising Tensions in Yemen Threaten Red Sea Transits

CMA CGM Containership Uses Iranian Route Through Strait of Hormuz

Tanker Struck by Drone off Oman and the US Again Responds with New Strkes

Ukrainian Pressure on Russian Presence in Crimea Builds

Seven Injured in Fire Aboard LCS USS Indianapolis

Canadian Coast Guard Completes Long-Range Rescue in North Pacific

Op-Ed: In Ship Recycling, Progress Should Not Be Mistaken for the End State

Beyond the Paint

Hull coatings are now part of a wider system for biofouling control that goes beyond the paint – including inspections, cleaning strategy, monitoring and documentation.

Journal

DOI

Article Title