Author: New York Mirror

Over the last 20 years, Arctic sea ice has shown an unexpected pause in its decline, with little change since 2005. This contradicts earlier projections, as rising greenhouse gas emissions have continued to drive global temperatures upward. Researchers attribute the pause mainly to cyclical ocean current shifts that temporarily reduced heat transport into the Arctic. They stress the slowdown is temporary and that stronger ice loss is expected to return within the next decade. Decline Already Severe Current levels of September sea ice — the annual minimum — are only about half of those recorded in 1979. Experts highlight that…

The Kremlin has minimized expectations for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. Donald Trump has called for the two leaders to meet and seek an end to the war in Ukraine. Trump made the call after meeting Putin in Alaska last week and hosting Zelensky with seven European leaders at the White House on Monday. He acknowledged the conflict is difficult to resolve and warned Putin might not want peace. “We’re going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks,” he said on Tuesday. “It’s possible that he doesn’t want to make a deal.”…

Children at Highest RiskSomalia is witnessing a rapid escalation in diphtheria infections, with children making up over 97% of reported cases. The highly contagious bacterial illness, which is preventable through vaccination, has become a major public health concern. Hospitals Overwhelmed by PatientsAccording to Dr Abdulrazaq Yusuf Ahmed, director of Demartino public hospital in Mogadishu, the number of patients has surged drastically. “In 2024 we recorded 49 cases, but in just four months of 2025 we have admitted 497,” he said. Deaths have also increased, rising from 13 last year to 42 this year, with the outbreak described as a serious…

Global sperm counts have fallen nearly 60% since the 1970s, with the decline rate doubling since 2000. Chemicals like phthalates and bisphenols in plastics disrupt hormones and harm fetal development in boys, reducing adult fertility. Need for Stronger Chemical Regulations and Global Cooperation The fertility crisis worsens as plastic production rises. Political resistance blocks chemical regulation efforts. Global talks on plastics treaties failed after oil and gas nations opposed restrictions. Experts call for tighter laws, safer materials, and international cooperation. Individuals can limit exposure by using glass or stainless steel, but only systemic change can protect future generations’ reproductive health.

An Australian court has fined airline giant Qantas 90 million Australian dollars for illegally sacking more than 1,800 ground staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. Australia’s Transport Workers’ Union welcomed the decision, calling it the largest fine ever for breaches of industrial relations law. Court issues strong warning Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said the penalty must act as a real deterrent. He emphasized that employers cannot ignore legal obligations. Qantas accepted the ruling and confirmed it will pay the fine. The airline acknowledged the serious harm caused to its employees. “We sincerely apologise to all 1,820 employees and their families…

A team led by Prof. David Salt at the University of Nottingham made a breakthrough in understanding how microbes influence cocoa fermentation. They studied beans from three Colombian regions and found that beans from Santander and Huila developed fruity and floral flavors, while Antioquia beans lacked these due to different microbes. Nine Microbes Shape Chocolate Flavors The researchers identified nine essential microbes responsible for creating citrus, fruit, and floral notes in chocolate. Fermenting sterile beans with these microbes produced chocolate with richer flavor, less bitterness, and smoother texture. Changing Cocoa Production and Flavor Creation Prof. Salt explains that farmers could…

Scorching heat drives flames across Spain and Portugal Wildfires are tearing through Spain and Portugal as extreme heat, intensified by climate change, fuels destruction across southern Europe. One in four weather stations in Spain registered 40C on Sunday, with a peak of 45.8C in Cádiz, according to the national weather agency Aemet. Officials warned of “very high or extreme fire danger” across much of the country. Vast areas destroyed, lives lost So far this year, 348,000 hectares in Spain and 216,000 in Portugal have burned, according to Copernicus data. Four people in Spain, including a firefighter in a truck accident,…

Google and NASA created the “Crew Medical Officer Digital Assistant” to help astronauts manage health concerns during space missions. The tool enables astronauts and Earth-based medical teams to diagnose and treat symptoms instantly. It also provides flight surgeons, experts in space medicine, with predictive analytics and data for accurate decision-making. Early trials produced reliable diagnoses from reported symptoms, and doctors now refine the model further. The assistant offers treatment options when astronauts face limited contact with Earth teams, which becomes vital as NASA pursues deeper missions to the Moon and Mars. Google emphasized that this innovation extends AI’s role in…

A US senator has launched an investigation into Meta. A leaked internal document reportedly showed the company’s artificial intelligence allowed “sensual” and “romantic” conversations with children. Leaked document sparks alarm Reuters reported the document was titled “GenAI: Content Risk Standards.” Republican Senator Josh Hawley described it as “reprehensible and outrageous.” He demanded access to the full document and the products it referenced. Meta denied the accusations. A spokesperson said: “The examples and notes in question were erroneous and inconsistent with our policies.” They emphasized that Meta enforces “clear rules” for chatbot responses. These rules “prohibit content that sexualizes children and…

To understand the new politics stance and other pro nationals of recent times, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement of the latest generation. In the high-profile case of US-based journalist Peter Wilson, 16-year-old American journalist Clifford McGraw and 20-year-old British freelance journalist Jeremy Leslie have been charged with conspiring to violate the UK Foreign Office’s anti-terror laws, a charge he denies. On Monday, UK attorney Andy McDonald revealed that he had spoken. “Few worry about catching Covid anymore, as it’s just a matter of time before they do,” says Tea, a teacher at a school for…