The Prince of Wales has announced the five winners of this year’s Earthshot Prize, describing them as “an inspiration that gives us courage”. During the awards ceremony at Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Tomorrow, Prince William said their work showed that “progress is possible”. Winners include a project that makes South America’s Atlantic Forest financially sustainable and a global ocean treaty aiming to protect marine life. Brazilian football icon Cafu, Olympic gymnast Rebeca Andrade, and former Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel helped present the awards. Pop star Kylie Minogue thrilled the crowd with a medley of hits, including Padam Padam…
Author: Grace Johnson
Grace Johnson
Grace Johnson is a freelance journalist from the USA with over 15 years of experience reporting on Politics, World Affairs, Business, Health, Technology, Finance, Lifestyle, and Culture. She earned her degree in Communication and Journalism from the University of Miami. Throughout her career, she has contributed to major outlets including The Miami Herald, CNN, and USA Today. Known for her clear and engaging reporting, Grace delivers accurate and timely news that keeps readers informed on both national and global developments.
U.S. startup Teleskope, based in New York, has raised $25 million in Series A funding to advance its platform for detecting, classifying, and protecting sensitive enterprise data. The company focuses on securing information across cloud environments, SaaS applications, and endpoint devices. Teleskope’s platform uses advanced analytics and machine learning to identify sensitive data, monitor access, and enforce security policies in real time. This approach helps organizations prevent data breaches, comply with regulations, and safeguard critical information. The new funding will accelerate product development, expand the team, and drive innovation in data security. Teleskope plans to enhance its platform with automated threat…
Researchers at the University of Kansas have uncovered how soil microbes remember drought and help plants adapt. Their study in Nature Microbiology reveals how “legacy effects” in soil influence plant growth and survival across changing climates. Microbes shape the soil’s memory The research team analyzed soil collected across Kansas to study how microbes adapt to local climates over time. Associate Professor Maggie Wagner, who co-authored the study, explained that bacteria, fungi and other soil organisms play key roles in carbon storage, nutrient cycling and plant health. She said her team became interested in how these microbes might retain a kind…
When the Hektoria Glacier in Antarctica suddenly began a rapid retreat three years ago, scientists were baffled. The glacier pulled back more than eight kilometres in just two months at the end of 2022. A new study now claims to have solved the mystery. Researchers suggest that Hektoria may be the first modern case where the front of a glacier resting on the seabed became suddenly unstable. This process could cause sea levels to rise faster if it occurred elsewhere in Antarctica. Yet some scientists argue that the glacier’s edge was already floating, making the event less unusual than it…
Rescuers and relatives waded through knee-deep water, searching for the body of one-year-old Zara. Flash floods had swept her away while the bodies of her parents and three siblings had been recovered days earlier. “We suddenly saw a lot of water. I climbed to the roof and urged them to join me,” said Arshad, Zara’s grandfather, showing the dirt road where the current took his family in the village of Sambrial, northern Punjab. His family tried to reach him but arrived too late. The powerful current washed all six of them away. Every year, Pakistan’s monsoon season brings deadly floods.…
Although scientists understand the chemistry behind autumn colours, the reason trees evolved them remains a lively debate. Driving north through Duchess County, New York, in mid-October, golden yellows and fiery reds flank the road. Sunlight dapples the leaves, making the colours explode like fireworks. The vibrant display signals that colder months are approaching. Further north in Maine, autumn colours appear more muted. “Some plants are changing early and undergoing senescence quickly because they are drought-stressed,” says Amanda Gallinat, an ecologist at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. From her window, she sees many leaves already turning brown. Across the Atlantic, the…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lynkuet (elinzanetant), a new non-hormonal daily pill designed to help women manage menopause symptoms. This approval provides a fresh treatment option for hot flashes and night sweats. Lynkuet works differently from traditional hormone therapies, targeting the nervous system pathways that trigger menopause-related symptoms. This approach allows women to find relief without the risks associated with hormonal treatments. Clinical trials showed that women taking Lynkuet experienced significant reductions in both the frequency and intensity of hot flashes and night sweats. Many participants reported improved sleep quality and better overall daily comfort. Healthcare professionals…
The forgotten hero of Manta Bamboo is proving to be not just cheap but remarkably resilient against earthquakes. When a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Ecuador in April 2016, the coastal city of Manta suffered massive destruction. The Tarqui district was levelled, and deep fissures cut through the streets. But amid the ruins, one unexpected legacy remains. In the former ground zero area, a bamboo pavilion now shelters a fish market, a restaurant, a fire station, and a tourist information centre. Throughout Manta and the province of Manabí, hundreds of bamboo homes still stand firm. “They were all built before the earthquake,”…
As darkness falls, bat experts move carefully among the gravestones of Guestwick Church in Norfolk. The old wooden door creaks open, revealing a deserted, pitch-black church. The team sets up infrared and thermal cameras and adjusts audio detectors to bat-friendly frequencies. Soon, bats emerge, darting through the aisles while their amplified chatter fills the historic space. Churches as Vital Bat Homes “Many churches have stood here for about 1,000 years, and bats have likely shared them for just as long,” says Diana Spencer from the Bats in Churches Project. A recent study in People & Nature, led by citizen scientists…
The Federal Reserve has lowered its benchmark interest rate to a range of 3.75 to 4.00 percent. The move aims to reduce borrowing costs and encourage investment in businesses and the broader economy. Lower interest rates make loans more affordable for companies and consumers. Experts say this can boost spending, expansion projects, and overall economic activity. The rate cut reflects the Fed’s efforts to support sustained growth amid evolving economic conditions. Analysts believe that businesses may now find it easier to invest in new projects and hire additional staff. Financial markets responded positively to the announcement. Stocks in sectors that…