“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
Neom is a megalomaniac’s dream in Saudi Arabia where dozens of towns, cities and resorts like The Line, a mile long city will cut through the desert to the Red Sea, and all join together in a futuristic utopia. The first of the endless series to be opened, claim the Saudis, is Sindalah an island covering 84 acres. It opened this month to the public with celebrities like Will Smith and Tom Brady smiling on location to bring the Americans over on their mega yachts.
Saudi Arabia announces massive construction projects on a weekly basis hoping that its oil wealth will attract western tourists, as it builds out other dreams for its locals in a parallel universe.
Below is an image of the intended result. The two images below are the actual construction state of Sindalah.
Sindalah as imagined by contractorSindalah under constructionSindalah, October 28, Google EarthWill Smith and Tom Brady at Neom’s Sindalah, eco luxury yacht resort on the Red Sea
Set to welcome up to 2,400 guests per day by 2028, the island will also generate around 3,500 jobs.
Boasting an “impressive marine ecosystem”, Neom developers provide no available reports on environmental assessment or how it will protect coral reefs, dolphins or marine life. We reached out and received no comment.
Sindalah’s PR unit says its surrounding waters are home to 1,100 species of fish – 45 of which are unique to NEOM waters, in addition to more than 300 coral species.
In line with Neom’s commitment to sustainability and conservation, preservation of Sindalah’s natural marine habitat has been central to the island’s development, and guests are invited to dive beneath the surface to explore its wonders for themselves, writes marketing material. Where are the commitments and environmental standards kept?
From What’s On Saudi Arabia: “Dozens of yachts from around the world have landed at the state-of-the-art marina at the Sindalah Yacht Club in NEOM as the destination approaches its grand opening. Also spotted on one of the super yachts was Tom Brady, the American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League for 23 seasons.”
Sindalah, before and after (after is a rendering – not the actual after)
We have dove off the waters of Egypt and no one is preparing you on how to behave in a coral reef environment. With luxury mega yachts expected to crash every party, how does Sindalah expect to protect the environment?
Sindalah will host 38 restaurants, nightlife and golfing for guests who can stay at none of 440 rooms and 88 villas, as well as 218 luxury serviced apartments.
Happiness can sometimes feel elusive, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are a multitude of simple things you can do to cultivate happiness in your life. Here’s a small handful:
Eating meals outdoors with loved ones
Outdoor kitchens are inside gardens, greenhouses or on your favorite patio space. They are green, sustainable and liveable.
There are numerous physical and psychological benefits associated withcooking outdoors backed by science. For example,research shows that when people share meals together, they’re more likely to feel happy and satisfied with their lives. Combined with thebenefits of being outdoors, sharing meals with others outside can do wonders to increase happiness.
Going for walks
If you have a dog, you know that going for walks is the most exciting part of their day, and it can be that way for you, too. Walking will get your heartrate up just enough to give you some health benefits, and will also make you breathe deeper, pulling more oxygen into your system. This alone can lift your mood quite a bit.
Deep breathing
The mind is always moving a mile a minute, and when you learn to slow down your thoughts, you experience more peace and lower stress and anxiety. Engaging in deep breathing exercises for just ten minutes a day can do wonders to make you feel happier.
Sleeping well
You don’t realize how much sleep quality is tied to your mood until you have a rough night and feel irritable the next morning. When you don’t sleep well, your mood suffers. If you can improve your sleep quality, your mood will also improve. Over time, when you get settled into a proper sleep routine where you’re able to stay in the deeper REM cycles long enough, you’ll wake up feeling rested and happier.
Talking with friends
Sometimes just talking with someone about what’s going on in your life is all you need to feel good. You don’t have to share too many personal details to enjoy a meaningful conversation. Often, it’s enough to just enjoy the company of a friend and talk openly together.
Helping others
Many people derive a strong sense of happinessfrom helping other people. If that appeals to you, start volunteering your time with organizations that do the kind of work you support. For instance, you might want to work in a soup kitchen or help a nonprofit organization deliver supplies to homeless shelters. Or, you might prefer spending time with animals living in a shelter. Do whatever excites you the most, because that’s what will make you the happiest.
Drawing, singing, and other creative acts
Being creative is about more than just creating something fun – it’s an outlet for self-expression. Although art is often appreciated by others, artists need to express their craft to feel alive. If you’re the creative type, but you haven’t pursued anything artistic in a while, try to find a way to express yourself. Sometimes that blocked energy can stagnate and suppress happiness. Once you find an outlet for self-expression and get into your flow, you’ll feel a lot happier.
Meditating
Just like deep breathing exercises, meditating can have a profound impact on slowing down your thoughts and bringing you into the present moment. During meditation, your brainwaves first enter the alpha state, which makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. When you allow yourself to go deeper, your brain will enter theta, which feels like a blissful experience.
Spend time at the beach
If you’re fortunate enough to live within a reasonable drive to the beach, start visiting more often and dig your toes into the sand. If you don’t like to swim in the ocean, you don’t have to – just getting your feet wet is enough.
A sauna at the beach
Most people know they feel great at the beach and the smell of the salty air feels uplifting, but can’t explain why. It’s actually because there isan abundance of negative ions in the air created because of the way sunlight and moisture break apart and reform while gaining electrical charge. High concentrations of negative are associated with a positive mood and even higher energy levels. Many people claim going to the beach has helped to alleviate depression, stress, and anxiety.
Happiness isn’t hard to find
Although society constantly trains us to look outside of ourselves for happiness, the truth is being happy is an inside job. Increasing the happiness in your life doesn’t have to be hard. Start small by incorporating a couple of things on this list into your daily routine. With some experimentation, you’ll find something that works for you.
If you have ever given birth vaginally there is an unspoken reality. Labor feels like you need to go to the toilet and it’s common for women to poop when the baby is being born. If we think nature knows best, it seems counter-intuitive that a brand new baby would be exposed to faeces while being born, but new clinical research suggests there is an immunity benefit.
In early results of a clinical trial, Helve found that babies fed 3.5 mg of poo versus those that were given a placebo, showed an obvious increase in microbial diversity.
While the results are positive, researchers emphasize that this method should not be replicated at home, says Helve from the University of Helsinki: “You have to be certain that the faecal matter that you give to the newborn doesn’t include pathogens that could cause a disease.”
Researchers are asking these questions because birth by C-section is associated with an increased risk of many immune-related diseases, suggesting that the lack of maternal microbes in early life may have long-term health consequences for children. With women afraid of the pain of birth, and doctors afraid of lawsuits, more and more women opt for C-section.
Over the years global caesarian section rates have significantly increased from around 7% in 1990 to 21% today surpassing the ideal acceptable CS rate which is around 10% to 15% according to the WHO.
Vaginally born infants receive healthy gut bacteria from the mother at birth through the vaginal canal, and from around the mother’s anus. But C-section babies are not exposed to maternal faecal microbes and this prevents the natural transfer of microbes from mother to baby, the researchers say.
The children in the study were followed for 24 months during which time, stool and blood samples were collected from the child and mother and analysed for changes in the bacterial diversity in the microbiome between groups, and to assess immunological changes associated with the transfer such as response to vaccinations and function and interaction of immune cells in vitro. The trial has recruited 90 healthy pregnant women scheduled for elective C-section since 2019.
All of the mothers were asymptomatic (no diarrhoea or abnormal bowel functions) and none had been prescribed antibiotics or travelled outside of Europe in the three months prior to screening. Some mothers had pathogens in their bodies and they were screened out for the procedure.
Every business has a carbon footprint. An organization, in its full operation, is bound to leave behind a carbon footprint. This, in fact, is an inevitable reality. But there are certainly a few ways to reduce an organization’s carbon footprint to some extent.
Reducing the carbon footprint is good for the environment and requires adhering to complaints issued by various organizations. One way you can reduce your organization’s carbon footprint is by selecting sustainable freight shipping. But this is just one of several ways. Let’s get into an in-depth discussion of how businesses can reduce their carbon footprint.
Choosing a Sustainable Freight Shipping Process
According to a study, transportation and logistics contribute to one-fifth of the world’s total carbon emissions. This trend doesn’t stop here. Almost 30% of this number is contributed by road freight transportation. This is why it is important for businesses to choose a freight shipping structure that is sustainable and reduces the carbon footprint. For instance, one can opt for a shared truckload model, which is designed to reduce 40% of carbon emissions. In STL, the shipper only pays for the space they need. This is different from a full truckload, in which you need to hire the entire truck. This means various shippers consolidate their goods into one truck, reducing carbon emissions.
Implement a Circular Economy
Before discussing how to implement a circular economy model in your supply chain, let’s define the term. A circular economy is a production and consumption approach that aims to reduce waste, utilize fewer resources in the supply chain, and use materials, tools, and machines for a longer duration of time.
Let us understand the circular economy with an example. The food industry is one of the top supply chains and is responsible for 50% of the total carbon emissions. One way the industry can reduce its carbon footprint is by reducing packaging usage and waste. Organizations working in the food industry can design their food packages so that they are easy to reuse.
Choosing Electric and Hybrid Vehicles for Logistics
When electric vehicles were first tested in the 1930s, who thought they would play such an important role in curbing the carbon footprint of the supply chain? The freight industry is also among the top eight supply chains that contribute to 50% of carbon emissions. To reduce the environmental impact of operations, many shipping providers are opting for electric and hybrid vehicles for logistics.
Choosing a Sustainably Structured Logistics System
In addition to using electric and hybrid vehicles for logistics, there are numerous other ways to reduce carbon footprint. One of them is choosing a sustainable logistics system. How? Here are some ways:
Optimizing the utilization of truck space: If you are shipping your products by road, make sure you are maximizing the utilization of truck space. This way, you will be able to ship a larger volume of goods in one single consignment.
Optimizing the route: Optimizing the route to reduce the need for terminals reduces the cost and duration of transit.
Implementing Proper Waste Management Strategies
Efficient waste management strategies in your supply chain distinguish you from your competitors. Organizations that aim to make a profit while also working for a noble cause are always appreciated by their peers and partners.
Proper waste management includes encouraging your customers to recycle the final products. In other cases, it also means being able to recycle the raw materials that were used in the production process.
Conclusion
Managing your organization’s carbon footprint has many environmental benefits. This approach also makes your operation cost-effective.
By determining the route that leads to fewer carbon emissions, you reduce the cost of fuel and freight transportation. By opting for proper waste management, you ensure that not a single byproduct of your supply chain goes to waste.
Moreover, when you choose these approaches, you establish yourself as a leader in your niche and get recognition as a business that gives importance to environmental well-being. This helps open up new partnership opportunities that you have never thought of.
Are you a diver that runs a dive shop or a hobby diver that loves the sea and wants to change the world? A researcher of forest ecosystems? A concerned citizen? The Canada and UK-based Ocean Wise and the Kelp Forest Alliance have released a new guidebook to help monitor kelp ecosystems globally.
Kelp forests may seem like just seaweed, but they are foundational for life both underwater and on land. Kelp – also known as dulse – itself is a superfood, but in the water and alive kelp support an astonishing array of biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services that help mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Kelp forests hold significant cultural and existence value for Indigenous peoples and local communities. These underwater forests are vital for the health of our planet, but unfortunately, kelp forests are disappearing at an alarming rate.
“Over 50% of kelp forests have declined in the past 50 years due to climate change and ecosystem imbalances. Global efforts to protect and restore these necessary ecosystems have never been more urgent. But to make a compelling case for kelp forest conservation, you must be able to measure their value and the impact of your interventions,” says Carlos Drews, Executive Vice President of Conservation, Ocean Wise.
Divers restore kelp forests
Ocean conservation has been around for decades but kelp restoration is a relatively new frontier. Still in its discovery phase, kelp restoration research has focused on uncovering the most effective ways to protect and restore kelp forests. But reversing the global loss of kelp requires scalable, innovative, cost-effective, and collaborative efforts. This new handbook hopes to be the the missing link to making this a global effort.
Conservation without proper monitoring and reporting is at best an estimation, say the guide creators. That’s where this guidebook comes in—offering standardized methods to ensure data can be assessed, shared, and compared across projects.
“We spend our hard-earned conservation dollars trying to help kelp forest ecosystems, but we rarely place the same investment in tracking the outcome of those efforts. When we fail to accurately monitor and report on the outcomes of these projects, we do ourselves a disservice,” says Aaron Eager, Program Director, Kelp Forest Alliance.
“We are currently missing opportunities to understand what makes some projects more successful than others. This gap also impedes our understanding of the benefits these ecosystems provide and a result, we are unable to effectively communicate their importance to society. This document will help guide monitoring efforts and give the kelp forest community a common language when comparing data.”
Global kelp restoration efforts include active projects in 13 countries including Canada, Australia, Chile, Denmark, and the United States.
Ocean Wise is a globally focused conservation organization on a mission to restore and protect our ocean. Through research, education, public engagement, and international collaborations, we empower communities to fight three major ocean challenges: ocean pollution, overfishing and climate change.
By equipping and empowering individuals, communities, industries, and governments, we can create a future where people and our oceans can thrive. Ocean Wise is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia with staff across Canada and Chile, and operates conservation projects that make national and international impact.
About Kelp Forest Alliance
The Kelp Forest Alliance (KFA) is a global network of scientists, conservationists, and stakeholders dedicated to protecting and restoring 4 million hectares of kelp forests by 2040. We promote research, conservation, education, and restoration efforts worldwide. The alliance offers evidence-based strategies for effective and ethical kelp forest management, advocates for stronger policies, and aims to deepen public awareness and connection to these often-overlooked ecosystems.
Divers play a critical role in saving and restoring kelp forests, which are vital marine ecosystems. These underwater forests support biodiversity, sequester carbon, and protect coastlines. Here’s how divers contribute to the conservation and restoration of kelp forests:
How divers can help preserve kelp forests
One of the primary threats to kelp forests is the overgrazing by sea urchins, particularly in areas where natural predators, like sea otters, have declined. Divers help by:
Urchin Culling: Divers manually remove overabundant sea urchins, reducing their numbers and allowing kelp to regrow.
Targeted Removal: They focus on areas where sea urchins are particularly damaging, helping to restore balance in these ecosystems.
Planting and Restoring Kelp
In some areas, kelp populations have declined to the point where natural regrowth is limited. Divers can assist by:
Replanting Kelp: They collect kelp spores or young plants and replant them in damaged areas to encourage regrowth.
Seeding Efforts: Divers can attach kelp spores to artificial substrates or rocks to help new kelp beds establish.
Monitoring and Research
Divers are often involved in scientific research that helps track the health of kelp forests:
Ecological Surveys: They monitor kelp health, sea urchin populations, and other environmental factors.
Data Collection: Divers gather data on water quality, temperature, and biodiversity, which can help scientists understand the impacts of climate change and human activity on kelp forests.
Marine Debris Removal
Trash and fishing gear can damage kelp forests by entangling plants and marine animals. Divers contribute by:
Removing Debris: They collect discarded fishing nets, plastic waste, and other debris that can harm kelp forests.
Studying how magma behaves underground could help harness powerful geothermal energy. Scientists from the Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT) in Iceland plan to drill into the magma beneath the Krafla volcano, starting in 2027.
Pressure and temperature sensors will be placed in the first of two boreholes to track changes to the magma, which could help predict volcanic eruptions.
The second will house a test run for a new type of geothermal power station. “[Magma] are the heat source that power the hydrothermal systems that lead to geothermal energy. Why not go to the source?” says Yan Lavallée, volcanologist and head of KMT’s science committee.
Krafla is one of the world’s most active volcanic areas, where temperatures approach 2,372°F (1,300°C). The greatest challenge to accessing this energy is not having the equipment melt.
Iceland has been harnessing the Earth’s geothermal energy for a while — where it drills into underground regions to produce steam from heated water. Ormat from Israel is a leader in this space. Water in a magma chamber inside a volcano isn’t steam, but rather it’s “supercritical” — it’s water water so hot and under pressure that it’s not liquid or steam, but that fourth state of matter close to a vapor.
In theory a magma geothermal plant has the potential to produce at least 10 times the power of a traditional geothermal plant.
According to researchers Iceland’s ongoing volcanic eruptions may continue on and off for years to decades, providing renewable energy but also threatening the country’s most densely populated region and vital infrastructure.
The eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula have forced authorities to declare a state of emergency, with a series of eight eruptions having occurred since 2021. This southwestern region is home to 70 percent of the country’s population, its only international airport, and several geothermal power plants that supply hot water and electricity.
The most recent eruption in May through June triggered the evacuation of residents and visitors of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a popular tourist attraction, for the third time in more than two months.
Although Iceland sees regular eruptions because it sits above a volcanic hot spot, the Reykjanes Peninsula has been dormant for 800 years. Its last volcanic era continued over centuries however, prompting scientists to predict the renewed volcanism to be the start of a long episode.
Under an hour’s drive from the island’s capital city Reykjavík, the eruptions pose considerable risks for economic disruption, and they leave evacuated communities uncertain of a possible return.
An international team of scientists has been watching the volcanoes over the past three years. Analyzing seismic tomography imaging and the composition of lava samples, they’ve uncovered parts of the geological processes behind the new volcanic era. They predict the region may have to prepare for recurring eruptions lasting years to decades and possibly centuries.
The researchers report their findings in a paper published June 26 in the journal Terra Nova. The project included collaborations from the University of Oregon, Uppsala University in Sweden, University of Iceland, Czech Academy of Sciences and University of California, San Diego. The work follows an earlier Nature Communications study of the initial Reykjanes eruptions in 2021.
Some of the risks of tapping into magma for geothermal energy are the risks of creating earthquakes. Sudden changes in flow could endanger operations and there is currently no equipment that can safely handle the excessive heat. Also magma releases gases like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), which could pose local environmental hazards and contribute to atmospheric pollution if not managed properly.
Neuroscientist Carina Heller has joined a cadre of investigators who are filling in gaps in women’s health research by hopping into brain-imaging machines themselves. Credit: Ann-Christine Buck
Ask anyone in science and it’s known that areas that get the most funding are issues that affect more men than women, such as heart disease and prostate cancer. She had a question and got some of her own answers: A scientist in the US scanned her own brain over the period of a year to document how the brain is affected by the birth control pill. We know that some women report weight gain and other unwanted side-effects, and now we have a look into the brain.
For 75 days over the span of a year University of Minnesota neuroscientist Carina Heller’s morning ritual included climbing into her university’s brain scanner at 7:30 a.m. and lying perfectly still for an hour and a half — without falling asleep. She believes she is the most scanned woman in science.
She found a rhythmic pattern of change in brain volume and connectivity between brain regions over the course of her natural cycle, with volume and connectivity dipping slightly while she was taking the pill. Heller has joined a group of investigators filling gaps in women’s health research by scanning their own brains.
Her work builds on the work of Laura Pritschet who is now a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Pritschet scanned her brain for 30 consecutive days during her natural menstrual cycle and then for 30 more days while taking oral contraceptives in a project Pritschet calls 28andMe, after the genetics firm 23andMe in South San Francisco.
Heller’s goal was to catalogue how her brain changes during her menstrual cycle, with and without oral contraceptives and what that might mean for women’s health. Her research might inform women as to whether or not they want to take the birth control pill which alters a woman’s hormone cycle.
It’s just the beginning but her findings suggest that brain morphology and connectivity change daily throughout the natural cycle and are influenced by birth-control pills with preliminary results presented at the annual Society for Neuroscience conference.
Women in the Taliban-controlled country of Afghanistan are already banned from showing their bodies and faces in public. A new blow to dehumanizing women is the ban of the sound of women’s voices in public.
Like the regime in Iran that controls women singing in public and showing their hair, the restrictions in Afghanistan are more fierce and among them ban women from being friends with non-Muslims and from entering national parks. Women are not allowed to work at NGOs that support women. Women can’t work in any legal profession, they can’t work for the government, or go to the gym or drive.
The Taliban published a list of “vice and virtue” laws this past summer which were approved by their supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. The vice and virtues edicts are exhaustive and oppressive: Afghan women must completely veil their bodies – including their faces – in heavy clothing at all times in the public setting so men will not be led to temptation and vice.
Woman and man in Afghanistan
Among religious Jews, women are not encouraged to sing in public so men refrain from attending women’s concerts if they so choose. But women are allowed to speak in public, even encouraged to do so. But in Afghanistan and in Iran women’s voices are considered an instrument of vice and will not be allowed to be heard talking in public under the new restrictions. They cannot sing or real aloud if it can be heard from outside their home.
“Whenever an adult woman leaves her home out of necessity, she is obliged to conceal her voice, face, and body,” the new laws state.
Two Afghan medicine students (Left & Center) listening to their Professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Kabul, as they examine a plaster showing a part of a human body – January 1962 (STAFF/AFP via Getty Images)
March 31, 2024: Taliban closed several female educational centers in Kabul for registering female students beyond 6th grade.
April 2024: The Taliban’s Education Department of Kabul Province issued a commitment letter to owners of private schools, outlining a series of ten points to which the owners/administrators are pledging adherence. One of these points declares, “I confirm my agreement to adhere to the decision to suspend schooling for female students from grades 7 to 12…” Source: copy of the letter
June 4, 2024: The Department of Education in Bamyan issued a letter, signed by Qari Enayatullh Sahaar, stating that in all schools where students follow both Hanafi and Jafari jurisprudence, but only use textbooks based on one of these jurisprudences, the textbooks will be replaced with books from both Hanafi and Jafari traditions. Source: copy of the letter
March 24, 2024: The Taliban leader stated that the public stoning of women shall be enforced, and the Taliban will not bend to the pressure of the West.
December 30, 2023: The Taliban’s Ministry of Economy issued a letter calling on local and international organizations to refrain from implementing projects focused on peace, conflict resolution, advocacy and public awareness as they are not considered a need. Source: copy of the letter
August 15, 2024: The Taliban’s department of economy instructed NGOs to remove the word “woman” from their organizational names. Source: contacts on the ground
February 28, 2024: The Taliban’s spokesperson for the Ministry of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Abdul Ghaffar Farooq, announced that women appearing on television must wear black hijab and with their faces covered only leaving their eyes visible.
April 2024: The Taliban in Helmand verbally instructed media outlets to refrain from airing women’s voices. Source: field contacts
April 2024: Media outlets were verbally instructed to ban women from co-hosting shows with male journalists and refrain from reporting on women’s rights and violence against women. Source: media contacts
May 5, 2023: Banned young and unmarried women from going to health centers and shrines in Kandahar province.
January 2024: In Farah, the governor has issued a verbal order making wearing of black color hijab, face mask and gloves mandatory. Source: contacts on the ground
January 2024: In Logar, the religious police made announcements through loudspeakers in mosques and in public stating that women and girls should refrain from wearing white pants, and shoes when going out and that those ignoring the order have no right to complain about the consequences. Source: contacts on the ground
January 2024: In Paktia, the vice and virtue authorities announced through mosques that women are prohibited from wearing black Arabic hijabs, as they reveal the eyes. Instead, women are mandated to exclusively wear burqa. Source: contacts on the ground
February 14, 2024: Mullah Abdul Haq Waseeq, head of the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence, has directed its units to stop organizations from taking inappropriate photos (mixed male/female) during aid distribution, and during meetings, particularly of women. Violators are instructed to be reported to the directorate for appropriate action. Source: copy of the letter
May 26, 2024: The Taliban required couples in Herat to present their “marriage certificate” to allow them to eat together in restaurants.
July 3, 2024: The religious police in Daikundi issued an announcement mandating that women must comply with the hijab requirement within five days. The specified hijab style must be Arabic. After the deadline, violators will face punishment and imprisonment, with responsibility falling on both the individual and her family. Source: copy of the announcement and sources on the ground
July 5, 2024: The religious police in Daikundi issued an announcement mandating that women must comply with the hijab requirement within five days. The specified hijab style must be Arabic. After the deadline, violators will face punishment and imprisonment, with responsibility falling on both the individual and her family. Source: copy of the announcement
July 17, 2024: The Vice and Virtue authorities in Faryab have re-issued a ban prohibiting women from visiting three parks (Khawja Ghaar, Dara Shaakh, and Dara Rang) in Gurziwaan District. The ban has been confirmed through an official letter and corroborated by contacts on the ground.
July 31, 2024: The Taliban issued a new edict under their ‘Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Law’, which was published in the Ministry of Justice gazette, listing previously imposed restrictions as well as additional ones, including women’s voice in public and prohibiting friendship with non-Muslims. Source: copy of the edict
August 26, 2023: Taliban Minister of Vice and Virtue during his visit to Bamiyan announced that women are henceforth not allowed to enter Band-e Amir national parkBand E Amir National Park: forbidden for women
March 27, 2022: Banned women from traveling abroad without a mahram (husband or guardian) and without a legitimate reason.
January 16, 2023: Instructed travel agencies not to sell tickets to women without a mahram.
Loads of vitamin supplements, including leading American supplement company SmartyPants founded by Courtney Nicols who we interviewed for Charity:Water uses sugar as a sweetener. A new invention from gummy supplement manufacturer TopGum Industries, has created HoneyGum, a line of all-natural, honey-based functional gummies. The new product joins the company’s rapidly expanding portfolio of advanced dietary supplement gummies.
What makes this gummy unique is TopGum’s utilization of pure, high-dose liquid honey as opposed to commonly used powdered honey. Harnessing the ancient wellness benefits of pure liquid honey, HoneyGum seamlessly blends one of nature’s finest ingredients into its advanced gummy formulation technology.
The company will introduce the new line, alongside its innovative Caffeine Gummicino, IronGum, and others at SupplySide West, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, on Oct 30 to 31.
Honey is enjoying a revival among consumers. According to CNBC Honey is a key trending flavor in multiple food and beverage products. People everywhere including me are raising honey bees at home to access pure, local honey. Much of the honey you find in supermarkets will be adulterated: the bees fed with sugar, pesticides and the honey boiled as a form of pasteurisation. Read here about the benefits of raw honey. And here to know if your honey is real or fake.
TopGum creates nutraceuticals in these health categories:
Honey Sleep Relaxation: Features honey (500mg) with chamomile extract, GABA, L-theanine, and valerian in a calming, lemon-chamomile flavor, designed to help promote restful sleep.
Honey Immune: This gummy is enhanced with 500mg honey, elderberry, vitamin D (1000IU) and other vitamins in a vibrant mixed-berry flavor.
Honey Immune Ginger: Combines ginger, propolis, and honey (500mg) in a refreshing apple flavor.
Honey Energy: Delivers 500mg honey-infused energy via B-vitamins and caffeine in a bright tangerine flavor.
High-Dose Honey: Offers the highest amount of honey in a single gummy, enriched with biotin for beauty-from-within, and comes in a natural, light brown hue.
You can theoretically skip the product and just make these honeys at home. Functional foods and neutraceuticals are also found in the CBD market in the US where Walmart is adding CBD to coffee products. As my old fashioned GP used to say: if you eat a healthy diet there is no need for vitamins.
Still people want promise and vitamins may be the way to help achieve mental and physical health on top of eating a balanced diet, preferably the Mediterranean Diet.
“Combining liquid honey into a stable gummy matrix in a way that hits the right texture and flavor notes is a complex process,” explains Jennifer Toomey, Head of New Product Development, US, for TopGum. “But it was important for us toshowcase the benefits of honey without the unnecessary additives that can come with a dry or powdered ingredient.
“The new line of honey-based functional gummies is designed to meet the diverse needs of consumers in their active lifestyles,” asserts Eyal Shohat, CEO of TopGum. “Each HoneyGum product is carefully crafted to deliver a holistic, wellness solution in a deliciously chewy and convenient format. This new gummy series is a prime example of how TopGum can innovate a full line of products responding to consumer demands for functional supplements that can deliver a flavorful and enjoyable experience.”
The HoneyGums were created using TopGum’s technology for combining pure liquid honey with the company’s fiber-based prebiotic gummy matrix. This process leverages the natural sweetness and prebiotic benefits of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) with the natural goodness, signature flavor and sweetness of honey. The gummies come in a unique, hexagonal shape, as inspired by natural honeycombs, for tactile and visual appeal.
Want to take camping to a higher level? Tentsile, a UK-based tent company has developed a novel treehouse tent that is bound to attract attention. Slung between three trees, and hanging a yard or two off the ground, this two-person tent feels like something between a shelter, a hammock, and a fine solution for smuggling chocolate into your sleeping bag without worrying about prowling bears.
While wild animals may not be the biggest concern for campers in the Levante area (countries like Israel, Lebanon and Syria) wild bears are still endemic to Iran, and countries like Turkey.
The Tentsile tent for obvious reasons will not work well in desert locations, but is ideal for a novel camp in forests or jungles anywhere. It reminds me of my travelling days to Turkey. I spent two months there one fall, and about 5 days at a treehouse camp in the south.
In the photos below, you can see how it works in Jaffa, Israel where I have installed it between two palm trees and a large jacaranda. My daughter is the model. The pictures show how the tent looks from delivery, all the way to set up. I’ve included an aerial photo as well from the roof of my house.
The Tentsile package arrives by courier:
This two-person tent by Tentsile, called Connect, does just what its name implies. If you and your two friends each buy one you can connect them in a triad forming a larger triangle.
Setting up the Tentsile suspension system between the palms:
Setting up the tent is quite easy, and handily there is a sewn-in instructions page with pictures that are easy to follow. I was missing instructions on how to use the winches to secure the tent to the trees, but after some trial and error and hanging on to the tent with my test weight I figured it out. I had four palm trees I could have worked with, but there was a better triangulation made with a jacaranda tree in the front yard to the side of the house.
An additional fly, not pictured here, will also come in handy during the rainy winter season in the Middle East. It has just started to rain.
Without the fly, the tent looks very unique. It’s definitely a showstopper. With the fly it looks like a strange large spider strung inside the trees.
Here is the Tentsile tent set up at our house in Jaffa
As someone who has been camping since the age of zero, and buying and setting up tents in the wild forests of Canada, all the way to the jungles of south America and the deserts of the Middle East, this is what I can say about those interested in buying this tent after trying it out:
What I love about the Tentsile Connect
First thing, the egoist in me loves how it looks. You’ll definitely catch a lot of attention with this beauty. Wanted or unwanted. This could be a great solution for art and music festivals where you have to find your tent in a sea of other similar looking tents. The tent could provoke unwanted attention, so be prepared that people might be inclined to tickle your bottom while they walk by.
Hanging out with my daughter in the Tentsile tent:
Again, this is a plus or minus depending on the situation.
If I were a teen or in my early 20s, my inner attention seeker would love to have this in my backpacking tool kit. Coming in at 7.5 kilos, it’s not the lightest 2-man tent in the forest, but worth lugging around on canoe trips or backpacking when not a lot of hiking is involved. Or give it to your boyfriend to carry! He he.
Aerial view of Tentsile from my roof:
If you set it up high enough (you can buy a portable ladder for climbing in), and the space below it forms an instant covering against sun and rain.
In cold climates, using this tent may let you forego using a ground sheet or thermal insulating on the bottom. You’d have to try it out first in cold climates for conformation.
No bottom touching the ground means no leakage when it rains, and the tent preserves vegetation below it. You can quite literally set your tent up above flowerbeds or above a river. Imagine that?
Extra fly material can be draped to form extra canopy.
While I haven’t slept overnight in it yet, the tent cradled me as though I were sleeping in a hammock, a position supposedly good for blood circulation.
In countries where wild animals are a concern, this tent will definitely give you peace of mind, unless you are using it where monkeys, sloths and snakes are endemic. In this case the zippered flies should offer you enough protection.
The design is very sleek and sexy.
Shortcomings of the Tentsile
The tent is obviously very well designed and constructed, and the designers considered the mass issue of a hanging tent that can hold up to 600 kilos. The zippers however seem very delicate. I would consider using them sparingly, and only the ones on the side of the tent, and while one’s weight is centred just so. The zippers do look like they would be easy to replace, if needed.
If you like to toss and turn and zip two sleeping bags together for a snuggle on cold nights then this tent might not be for you. The Connect is made with two distinct sleeping cells, with a seam between them running in the middle.
The weight issue, mainly due to the winches that keep the tent secure to the trees, might be a misgiving for the campers in us who need to pack light for long-haul trips. And relying on trees to connect with may not be a luxury for everyone in every country all the time.
If you sleep lightly, sharing this tent my be a problem if your partner moves a lot at night. The feeling is much the same as sharing a waterbed.
The instructions say not to hang the tent above sharp objects and not higher than 1.5 meters off the ground for safety considerations. Or what would happen if lighting strikes?
The only other shortcoming I see would be privacy issues: if you are using this tent in a public or semi-public space like a camp ground and want to get romantic with your partner. If the tent’s a rocking, don’t come a knocking, we used to say back in the good old days. But this tent would be swinging. Again, it all depends on one’s outlook to these sorts of things.
I personally was very afraid of the so-called hermits that are thought to live throughout Canada’s wild and vast national parks. These are people who go into the park and never come out. Thinking a hermit might be underneath me while I sleep, however unlikely, might affect my peace of mind. A window on the bottom of the tent, like a glass bottom boat might solve the problem or make it even freakier. This fear is canceled out by the fact that no bears would be able to claw open the tent looking for my M&Ms.
Sum up: the Tentsile is a good #2 “alternative” tent for an Alpha male or female outdoorsy sort who wants a little attention, and another way to camp in a little unconventional way. It’s also a great day tent for outings with the family to the forest where you want a space to have a bug free, possibly toddler-free nap, high up in the trees with the wind blowing and the bugs out of your nose. It’s made well and if cared for could last a long time. It would be a great gift item due to its novelty and usefulness.
I love this tent and am looking forward to using it.
As the former CEO of NatWest Group, Dame Alison Rose often inspires entrepreneurs by speaking about leadership challenges and her experiences overcoming these in the banking sector.
Many have heard her speak on James Harding’s ThinkIn podcast, where she delves into several leadership topics, from opening opportunities for female founders to supporting small businesses through Entrepreneur Accelerators.
On this podcast, she also explains how, as NatWest’s CEO, she managed the activity happening throughout the UK’s biggest business and commercial bank and kept track of its emissions-related goals.
She goes on to discuss the UK’s entrepreneurial position in the wider global economy and shares how she stayed calm while holding such an influential position.
Here are some highlights from the episode.
Alison Rose on Staying Afloat of Activity Throughout NatWest
As NatWest’s CEO, it was essential for Alison to stay afloat of activity throughout the bank. She oversaw both technical and ethical measures, carving out regular time to communicate with customers, review complaints, and track all emissions activity.
Communicating with customers was a cornerstone of her leadership approach. She often hosted round tables with customers to hear their updates, considering it important to “spend time with customers and talk to them. To ask what’s really going on, so that you get a feel, rather than just looking at the data.”
She would also “get home every weekend with a pile of complaint letters” to personally read and review. On top of this, she monitored NatWest’s whistleblowing process, which encouraged colleagues to share information openly. “We set very high standards of conduct and culture,” she says.
Alison also monitored activity from a sustainability, climate, and emissions perspective. This was “much easier to track” because of NatWest’s “credit policies, appetite policies, and guidelines of lending.”
She gives an example of a balance sheet at the time, which showed that NatWest only lent 0.8% of their funds to oil and gas. She and her colleagues could track and monitor that percentage, “flexing it up and down” as they aligned credit risk policies.
Working Towards NatWest’s Net Positive Goal
In 2020, Alison launched “a very clear strategy on climate” that mapped a route to NatWest becoming net zero by the end of the year. The organisation achieved this goal and aims to be net positive by 2025.
To reach these goals, Dame Alison and her colleagues identified the exposure to oil, gas, and coal on their balance sheet. They decided to phase out coal by 2030, then move on to phasing out oil and gas. The approach was to get their own house in order and then provide the tools and support to guide customers through the transition. They achieved this by:
Partnering with leading carbon management solution companies like Cogo.
Providing consumers with information about emissions from their spend via the app.
Creating tools for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and suppliers to measure their environmental impact and help come up with solutions to minimise this.
Sharing information and offering support was critical to this wholesale rewiring of the economy and management of risk.
Introducing The Transition
To introduce the transition, NatWest’s relationship managers told customers in these sectors about the new goals. They asked the customers to provide a credible transition plan by the end of the year to continue receiving funds. Alison and her colleagues also introduced incentives to reduce fees when customers hit sustainable goals.
Having analysed major sectors for emissions — “which was about 46% of our balance sheet” — Alison and her colleagues decided how to halve these emissions. They knew this would “need collaboration across the public and private sectors” and a focus on global targets.
Alison notes that it was crucial to “start by being very clear about what we were doing, and then, most importantly, funding the transition.” In 2020, she set a target to secure £20 billion of renewable financing by 2021. They were already at £12 billion by May 2021. Demand was so high that she and her colleagues extended the target to £100 billion and, at last results, had reached £78 billion.
Setting A Clear Culture and Policy Suite to Best Protect Customers
Alison believes a bank like NatWest must find the “balance between supporting the economy and not being the moral arbiter of the economy.” To achieve this, a bank needs a clear ethical policy, sustainability policy, and culture.
This means deciding what types of businesses to support and setting environmental, social, and ethical criteria that the bank is prepared to lend by. Having laid this groundwork at NatWest, Alison and her colleagues could ensure they provided “the right support for customers within an ethical and social background.”
Alison gives data protection as an example, noting that NatWest has “huge amounts of data on customers that [it] collects from being in their lives and seeing their payments.” As CEO, she considered NatWest’s “ethical responsibilities as important as [its] data protection responsibility.”
This meant not using or selling the data in any way. “We [didn’t] do any of that,” Alison says. “We [had] a very clear, ethical policy around our use of data for what we [thought was] appropriate in terms of protecting our customers. We almost [viewed] that in the same way as their money. Our job [was] to keep that safe for them as well.”
Alison and her colleagues also “put a lot of systems and controls in place” to prevent financial crime.” Alison managed 4,000 people who specifically managed crime prevention, and NatWest invested almost half a billion pounds in systems and controls to make this possible between 2019 and 2021 alone.
The UK’s “Resilient” Position in the Global Economy
Alison considers NatWest “a bellwether of the UK economy” due to its position as the third-largest retail bank and number-one business bank. This makes it “inherently linked to the success of [its] customers.”
She notes that “regional economies are very different.” NatWest has “regional boards around the country that tap into the local economies,” which “have different dynamics,” she says.
Overall, she considers the UK’s business community “amazingly resilient” and “incredibly entrepreneurial,” as proven by its response to Covid-19. Even with the economy “put into a hard stop for effectively six months,” Alison saw “entrepreneurs and small business owners cope and pivot their businesses” in a way that she considers “really positive” and with “incredible resilience and ambition.”
Today, “this country still attracts a huge amount of inward investment in terms of fintechs and startups and entrepreneurialism,” Alison says. With many SMEs creating jobs, these “are the lifeblood of the economy.”
Because of this, Alison believes “there’s a huge amount to be optimistic about in terms of a nation of SMEs and real strengths in our economy through biotech, bioscience, manufacturing, entrepreneurism, and the different sectors.”
She also believes “the ability to export and import talent is a really important one, and we need to make sure we continue to be a place that is vital for skills coming in and being exported.”
“I think that’s a critical part of a thriving global economy,” Alison says. “We’re still one of the global financial centres [that] services the economy more broadly and a big contributor to tax receipts, which drives that.”
How Alison Rose Carried the Weight of CEO Responsibilities
Serving as the CEO of a major bank comes with a huge level of responsibility. A purpose-led strategy, strong team, and customer communication all helped Alison carry the weight of this responsibility.
“When banks get it wrong, I can see the damage we do in people’s lives,” Alison says. This is “because we’re so embedded in people’s lives and providing capital to the economy.” As a result, “having a purpose-led strategy… and knowing that we should be a force for good rather than bad is really important.”
To stay calm running such a big organisation, Alison turned to her “great team,” remembering that running a bank “is a team sport.” She recognises that “sometimes we all make mistakes” and prioritised only focusing on controlling the things she could control.
She also spent “as much time as possible talking to customers and colleagues” so that she and her team could “react quickly and respond quickly like we did during the pandemic.”
“Working really closely and being honest about what we [were] doing” was crucial, as was “trying to make sure we [were] always doing the best job we possibly [could],” Alison says.
Lastly, recognising that she held a “privileged position” helped Alison manage her CEO responsibilities. She would remember, “I have a fantastic job, and I’m very privileged to do it, and I love my job.” This helped “ease the days when you’re lying awake at night wondering what you need to do,” Alison says. “That’s how I [did] it.”
About Alison Rose
The former CEO of NatWest, Alison Rose is the first woman to lead a major UK bank. Having joined the organisation in 1992 as a graduate trainee, she progressed her career within the bank and became CEO in 2019. That same year, she launched the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, which has supported hundreds of thousands of women with their entrepreneurial ventures.
The government commissioned this seminal report, which highlights the challenges that many women in business face and explores the opportunities they can leverage to overcome these barriers. Alison also served as chair of the Rose Review Board until 2023, when she became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to the financial sector.
Today, Dame Alison is a senior adviser to the private equity firm Charterhouse and a member of the Board of Trustee Directors of Business in the Community (BITC). She also advocates for industry action on climate change and has served on the Net Zero Council and the government’s Energy Efficiency Taskforce.
NASA’s Europa Clipper yesterday began its voyage to investigate a vast ocean buried under the icy crust of Jupiter’s moon Europa. If Europa is found to have the ingredients for life, that discovery would drastically expand the chances of finding life on icy worlds in other solar systems, according to Nature.
The spacecraft will make crucial manoeuvres in space, such as deploying radar antennas, to prepare for its arrival in 2030. “We’re watching through our fingers with excitement,” says planetary scientist Kathleen Craft. “Everything needs to go right.”
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Europa Clipper spacecraft aboard is seen at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the mission, Sunday, Oct. 13, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: NASA
With its massive solar arrays extended, Europa Clipper could span a basketball court (100 feet, or 30.5 meters, tip to tip). In fact, it’s the largest spacecraft NASA has ever built for a planetary mission. The journey to Jupiter is a long one — 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometers) — and rather than taking a straight path there, Europa Clipper will loop around Mars and then Earth, gaining speed as it swings past.
The spacecraft will begin orbiting Jupiter in April 2030, and in 2031 it will start making those 49 science-focused flybys of Europa while looping around the gas giant. The orbit is designed to maximize the science Europa Clipper can conduct and minimize exposure to Jupiter’s notoriously intense radiation.
Technicians encapsulated NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft inside payload fairings on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The fairings will protect the spacecraft during launch as it begins its journey to explore Jupiter’s icy moon Europa. Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
But, of course, before any of that can happen, the spacecraft has to leave Earth behind. The orbiter’s solar arrays are folded and stowed for launch. Testing is complete on the spacecraft’s various systems and its payload of nine science instruments and a gravity science investigation. Loaded with over 6,060 pounds (2,750 kilograms) of the propellant that will get Europa Clipper to Jupiter, the spacecraft has been encapsulated in the protective nose cone, or payload fairing, atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, which is poised for takeoff from historic Launch Complex 39A.
Launch Sequences
The Falcon Heavy has two stages and two side boosters. After the side boosters separate, the core stage will be expended into the Atlantic Ocean. Then the second stage of the rocket, which will help Europa Clipper escape Earth’s gravity, will fire its engine.
Once the rocket is out of Earth’s atmosphere, about 50 minutes after launch, the payload fairing will separate from its ride, split into two halves, and fall safely back to Earth, where it will be recovered and reused. The spacecraft will then separate from the upper stage about an hour after launch. Stable communication with the spacecraft is expected by about 19 minutes after separation from the rocket, but it could take somewhat longer.
About three hours after launch, Europa Clipper will deploy its pair of massive solar arrays, one at a time, and direct them at the Sun.
Mission controllers will then begin to reconfigure the spacecraft into its planned operating mode. The ensuing three months of initial checkout include a commissioning phase to confirm that all hardware and software is operating as expected.
While Europa Clipper is not a life-detection mission, it will tell us whether Europa is a promising place to pursue an answer to the fundamental question about our solar system and beyond: Are we alone?
This artist’s concept depicts NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft in orbit at Jupiter as it passes over the gas giant’s icy moon Europa (lower right). Scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in April 2030, the mission will be the first to specifically target Europa for detailed science investigation. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Scientists suspect that the ingredients for life — water, chemistry, and energy — could exist at the moon Europa right now. Previous missions have found strong evidence of an ocean beneath the moon’s thick icy crust, potentially with twice as much liquid water as all of Earth’s oceans combined. Europa may be home to organic compounds, which are essential chemical building blocks for life. Europa Clipper will help scientists confirm whether organics are there, and also help them look for evidence of energy sources under the moon’s surface.
Europa Clipper’s three main science objectives are to determine the thickness of the moon’s icy shell and its interactions with the ocean below, to investigate its composition, and to characterize its geology. The mission’s detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet.
Reaffirming its ongoing support for environmental initiatives, especially in Pennsylvania, Colcom Foundation has awarded a generous $50,000 grant to PennEnvironment.
The donation highlights the alignment between the two organizations’ missions and their shared dedication to preserving the natural world. The partnership reflects a joint effort to advance environmental stewardship and protect Pennsylvania’s diverse ecosystems for future generations.
Colcom Foundation, founded in 1996, is a philanthropic organization focusing on environmental conservation and sustainability. It was established by the late Cordelia Scaife May, a member of the prominent Mellon family and a passionate conservationist. May’s deep concern for the environment led her to create Colcom Foundation as a vehicle for supporting conservation causes.
PennEnvironment is a leading environmental advocacy organization dedicated to protecting Pennsylvania’s air, water, and natural habitats. Through research, public education, and policy initiatives, PennEnvironment works tirelessly to address pressing environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and habitat loss.
Championing a Greener Future for Pennsylvania
Clean air and water, thriving wildlife, and healthy forests are essential components of a safe environment and a sustainable future. Driven by a mission to protect the natural world and ensure a greener Pennsylvania, PennEnvironment employs rigorous research, public education, and policy advocacy to address pressing environmental issues.
PennEnvironment envisions a Pennsylvania where natural spaces are preserved and restored, with habitats where all life forms can flourish. Its vision encompasses not only the state’s abundant natural beauty but also the well-being and health of its residents. By focusing on clean air, clean water, and renewable energy sources, PennEnvironment wants to leave a legacy of environmental stewardship for future generations.
Research and Education
At the heart of PennEnvironment’s strategy is a commitment to in-depth research. Understanding the complexities of environmental challenges requires meticulous study. Whether investigating the decline of bee populations or analyzing the impact of single-use plastics on local waterways, PennEnvironment’s research forms the backbone of its advocacy efforts.
By disseminating information through reports, multimedia content, and community outreach, the organization empowers individuals and communities to make informed decisions and take proactive steps toward environmental conservation.
Key Initiatives and Campaigns
Save the Bees
Bees for Peace teaches women how to become urban beekeepers
Bees play an indispensable role in pollinating crops and maintaining biodiversity. Recognizing the alarming decline in bee populations, PennEnvironment has launched comprehensive campaigns to protect these vital pollinators. The organization’s efforts include advocating for restrictions on harmful pesticides, promoting the planting of pollinator-friendly gardens, and urging major retailers to end the sale of bee-toxic products. Through resources like guides on creating pollinator habitats and multimedia content highlighting the plight of bees, PennEnvironment galvanizes public support for these tiny yet mighty creatures.
Beyond Plastic
Plastic pollution poses a major threat to wildlife and ecosystems. From marine animals ingesting microplastics to landscapes marred by discarded bags and containers, the repercussions are far-reaching. PennEnvironment’s “Beyond Plastic” initiative tackles this challenge head-on. By advocating for bans on single-use plastics, promoting sustainable alternatives, and highlighting businesses that lead by example, the organization strives to reduce the environmental footprint of plastic products.
Forests and Conservation
Pennsylvania’s forests are treasures that offer recreation, support biodiversity, and act as crucial carbon sinks in the battle against climate change. PennEnvironment works to protect these green expanses from threats like logging, development, and road construction. Through advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and partnerships with other conservation entities, the organization endeavors to keep forests healthy, intact, and wild.
Global Warming Solutions
Addressing the existential threat of global warming requires both local and global actions. PennEnvironment engages in campaigns that promote renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency, and policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By spotlighting milestones such as new limits on power plant emissions and pioneering actions on auto pollution, the organization showcases progress while emphasizing the work that remains.
Building a Sustainable Future with Colcom Foundation
As PennEnvironment continues its vital work across the state, support from organizations like Colcom Foundation plays a crucial role in amplifying these efforts. The recent $50,000 grant from Colcom Foundation to PennEnvironment is more than just a financial contribution; it’s the product of Cordelia Scaife May’s foresight and the groundwork she laid for environmental action. Through Colcom Foundation’s ongoing support of organizations like PennEnvironment, May’s legacy lives on, ensuring the ongoing fight for a balance between human needs and environmental preservation.
In supporting PennEnvironment‘s multifaceted approach to conservation Colcom Foundation is helping to realize Cordelia Scaife May’s vision of a world where human activities coexist sustainably with the natural environment. Their ongoing commitment ensures that the work of protecting Pennsylvania’s diverse ecosystems, clean air, and water resources will continue for generations to come, honoring May’s passion and foresight in environmental stewardship.
The power of Colcom Foundation’s mission and PennEnvironment’s on-the-ground work are writing a new chapter in Pennsylvania’s environmental history. — one that Cordelia Scaife May would undoubtedly be proud to see unfolding.
An AI generated image of Heracleion before it sank to the sea
In Egypt, there’s a fascinating underwater mystery that’s been captivating archaeologists and history lovers alike: the ancient city of Heracleion (also known by its Egyptian name, Thonis). Once a bustling port city located near the mouth of the Nile, Heracleion was a key hub for trade and religion. But, over time, it vanished beneath the Mediterranean Sea just off the coast of Alexandria. How this happened is still a mystery.
Heracleion was an important city as far back as the 12th century BCE and remained significant through the Ptolemaic period. The city got its name from the legendary Greek hero Heracles (Hercules), and the Egyptians called it Thonis. It played a crucial role as the entry point to Egypt for many foreign traders. However, sometime around the 2nd century CE, it disappeared under the waves, likely due to a combination of natural disasters like earthquakes, rising sea levels, and soil liquefaction (where the ground becomes unstable and sinks). Maybe it was an ancient tsunami?
Franck Goddio by CHRISTOPH GERIGK
For centuries, Heracleion was thought to be nothing more than a legend. That all changed in the year 2000, when French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio and his team stumbled upon its remains buried under layers of sand and silt in Abu Qir Bay, not far from Alexandria.
Statue of Amun-Ra – via Franck Goddio
What Divers Found
Since its rediscovery, Heracleion has given us an incredible look at the past. Divers have uncovered massive statues, the remains of grand temples, and treasures that hint at the city’s wealth and influence.
Monumental Statues and Temples: Some of the most remarkable finds include giant stone statues of pharaohs and Egyptian gods. One particularly impressive statue is of Hapi, the god of fertility and abundance. These figures once stood in front of temples dedicated to deities like Amun and Osiris, towering over those who came to worship.
Ancient Ships and Sphinxes: Archaeologists have found over 60 shipwrecks in the area, as well as sphinxes and other relics. The ships, some of which were loaded with goods, offer a glimpse into Egypt’s role as a major player in Mediterranean trade.
Religious Artifacts: Heracleion was also a spiritual center. It’s believed that one of the city’s major roles was hosting religious festivals, like the Mysteries of Osiris. Processions would sail from Heracleion to the nearby city of Canopus as part of a sacred ritual. Many religious artifacts and offerings left by worshippers have been discovered in the ruins of the city’s temples.
Jewels and Coins: Among the treasures recovered are golden coins, jewelry, and weights that show just how prosperous the city was. These artifacts reveal how tightly Egypt was connected to the Mediterranean world, especially Greece, in terms of both trade and culture.
The discovery of Heracleion fills in the gaps about Egypt’s ancient past, but it also highlights just how interconnected civilizations in the Mediterranean were. The city was more than just a local port—it was a thriving center where goods, ideas, and cultures mingled.
The city likely sank gradually due to natural disasters, including earthquakes, combined with a slow rise in water levels. But it seems a major flood might have been the final blow, covering it with silt and water, which ironically helped preserve many of its structures and artifacts for over a thousand years.
The underwater archaeological research in Thonis-Heracleion is ongoing until today. Franck Goddio estimates that only 5 percent of the city have yet been discovered.
Today, Heracleion is considered one of the greatest underwater archaeological finds ever made. New discoveries are being made with each dive, revealing more about this long-lost city and its people. The underwater ruins continue to fascinate historians, explorers, and anyone with a love for ancient history.
Who is Franck Goddio?
Franck Goddio is a pioneer of modern maritime archaeology. As the grandson of Eric de Bisschop (navigator, writer, inventor of the modern catamaran, and specialist of ancient navigational routes in the South Pacific), a passion for the sea and wanderlust runs in Franck Goddio’s veins.
After graduating from the École Nationale de la Statistique et de l’Administration Economique in Paris, Franck Goddio conducted economic and financial counselling missions in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia for the United Nations, and later for the French Foreign Ministry. He was a financial advisor to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and various other governments.
In the early 1980’s he decided to dedicate himself entirely to his passion – underwater archaeology – and founded the Institut Européen d’Archéologie Sous-Marine (IEASM), of which he is currently president. Franck Goddio has initiated and directed a number of excavations on shipwrecks including seven junks from the 11th-16th century, two Spanish galleons and two trading vessels of the British East India Company.
Notable among these excavations are the San Diego (a Spanish galleon from the famous Manila-Acapulco-Sevilla trade route) and the Royal Captain (a British East India Company ship, where complex technical problems due to the great depth (350 m) had to be overcome during the mission), as well as the Orient, Napoleon Bonaparte’s Flagship during his campaign in Egypt.
According to dive experts on sites like Trip Advisor, it is not possible to dive at the protected site and doing so could lead to jail or fines.
One user writes: “There is no way you will be allowed to dive there as a tourist. Attempting it by using some sort of desperado “dive company” could result in VERY hefty fines or even in a prison sentence if the equipment or the circumstances suggest that you were attempting to plunder the site.
“If you have legit credentials as an underwater archeologist it’s a different matter and you should pursue the usual channels.”
One diver I spoke with on the Facebook Group Divers Uncensored said you can dive there: “Not much extant except for plenty of broken amphorae,” he says.
The country of Azerbaijan wants to be the center of Islamic architectural heritage. Does that justify knocking down heritage sites that are churches?
The symposium titled “Islamic Architectural Heritage of Shusha City,” organized by the Shusha City State Reserve Department and supported by ICESCO (Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), has concluded in Shusha, Azerbaijan.
Held over two days as part of the events marking Shusha’s designation as the “Cultural Capital of the Islamic World” for 2024, the event attracted over 80 architects from Türkiye, Egypt, the UAE, Tunisia, Kenya, Jordan, Italy, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Azerbaijan.
Aydin Karimov, Special Representative of the Azerbaijani President in Shusha district, Ilgar Isbatov, Deputy-Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee of Urban Planning and Architecture, Pietro Laureano, a representative of UNESCO, and Bilal Çelebi, a representative of ICESCO, highlighted Shusha’s unique architectural significance.
They described the event as highly important in terms of the history and significance of Islamic architecture, adding that the symposium significantly contributed to the development of architecture.
The event featured panel discussions on topics such as “Urban regeneration of historical fabrics,” “Modern life of monuments,” and “Sustainable architecture: material, design, and implementation.”
Is Islamic heritage incompatible with Armenian Christian churches?
There was no mention of the past and ongoing Armenian genocide happening at warp speed in Azerbaijan or the complete eradication of Christian culture in Shusha City. Churches that were not destroyed are being dismantled. A sustainable city is one that welcomes all kinds of religions and its architecture, past and present. That’s what the West believes as it welcomes immigrants from all over the world who are free to practice their faith and build their homes of worship.
The Caucasus Heritage Watch has reported that Azerbaijan has destroyed a 177-year-old church in the city of Shusha (Shushi), in Nagorno-Karabakh in the last year. The open-source cultural sites watchdog, reported that the St Hovhannes Mkrtich church is gone. They analyzed satellite imagery appearing to show that the church was completely destroyed between 28 December 2023 and 4 April 2024.
If you are in Baku and can make it to Shusha this week give them an ask.
St. Hovhannes Mkrtich Church in Shusha. An Armenian Church. Image via Caucasus Heritage Watch.
What happened to Shusha Church? Satellite imagery showing the St Hovhannes Mkrtich church in December 2023 (left) and April 2024 (right). Image via Caucasus Heritage Watch.
Band E Amir National Park: forbidden for women
