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USA Field Hockey | USWNT Starts Independence Day Weekend with Shutout Win Over New Zealand

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In their first of two matches of the Cathy Bessant International Series against No. 10 New Zealand, the No. 14 U.S. Women’s National Team defeated the Black Sticks, 3-0, over Independence Day weekend.

The first quarter of play was uneventful, with USA earning the first penalty corner of the match several minutes into the second frame. Caroline Ramsey sent in a high flick, which was saved but earned USA a second set piece chance. The second flick by Ramsey was right on target, but met with a nice save by the New Zealand goalkeeper.

USA’s first goal came late in the second quarter, when Abby Tamer sent a ball in toward the stroke spot and there was a scrum in front of the cage. Phia Gladieux held onto the ball and scooped a backhand flick into the cage to put the United Eagles up 1-0.

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July 5, 2025
New Intel E610 NICs Shown for Low Power 10Gbase-T and 2.5GbE

Intel E610 XT2 At HPE Discover 2025 1

At HPE Discover 2025, I was walking through the Intel booth and stopped cold when I saw a few products. One series shown was its newest 10GbE and 2.5GbE NICs based on the latest Intel E610 chipset. This is a new lower-end networking solution that will bring lower power to some key markets.

Intel E610 NICs Shown for Low Power 10Gbase-T and 2.5GbE

The first adapter did not look like anything too exciting, until I realized what it was. This is a PCIe Gen4 x4 adapter for dual 10Gbase-T connectivity. It is based on the new Intel E610 chipset.

Intel E610 XT2 At HPE Discover 2025 1

The dual ports support 10GbE, 5GbE, 2.5GbE, and 1GbE. At full dual 10Gbase-T speeds, this card is rated at only 5.1W! That is awesome.

Intel E610 XT2 At HPE Discover 2025 2

Also at the show, we saw the Intel E610-IT4 in an OCP NIC 3.0 form factor (SFF with pull tab in this case.)

Intel E610 IT4 At HPE Discover 2025 1

This card has quad 2.5GbE ports. Interestingly, this can use up to 8.6W with 7.2W typical power. For an OCP NIC 3.0 SFF slot, this is not much to cool, but it is also just a neat solution.

Intel E610 IT4 At HPE Discover 2025 2

A lot of folks who might have used the Intel i350 4-port 1GbE NICs are probably looking for a 2.5GbE solution these days, and Intel now has one. That is pretty neat.

Final Words

The somewhat crazy part about this is that these cards were launched by Intel with very little fanfare. I spoke to an Intel product rep at the booth who is a STH reader (hello if you are reading this.) I simply said it is a bit strange that Intel would release new chips and cards in this segment and I did not hear about it. There is a lot of change at Intel these days. At the same time, I know a lot of folks would be interested in these cards. I certainly am. Hopefully we can get some to show-off soon.

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July 5, 2025
PPP not seeking ministries, will remain key ally, says Dar

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Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday dismissed reports of a meeting between PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and PTI founder Imran Khan, terming them baseless and part of a “sponsored narrative” aimed at sowing political confusion.

Speaking to reporters at Data Darbar, Dar said the current government was initially formed with critical support from the PPP. “When we started, our numbers were incomplete without them. Now that we have a simple majority, there’s no difficulty — but we will continue cooperating with PPP even more than before,” he said.

In response to a question about offering ministries to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Deputy Prime Minister said that the PPP had made no such request. “They are our allies and will remain so. We have an excellent working relationship, and they have extended full support to us,” he said. “Those who stand by you in difficult times are not abandoned when things get better.”

Dar noted that both parties had signed a formal agreement, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif representing the PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari signing on behalf of the PPP. “That agreement is a sacred document for us, and we are fully committed to its implementation.”

Read More: Govt basks in two-thirds glory

Addressing recent political speculation, the deputy prime minister categorically denied reports of a meeting between PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and PTI founder Imran Khan.

He described the claims as “baseless rumours” and a “sponsored narrative”, adding that such stories were deliberately floated to create confusion. “These are merely someone’s wishlist. We have no need to approach anyone,” he said.

DPM reaffirmed the government’s openness to engaging with all political parties, saying it was prepared to work across the aisle in the national interest. “When Pakistan was under threat, we engaged not just with coalition partners, but also the opposition. The result was a unified message heard around the world.”

Discussing the economic outlook, Dar said the country had narrowly avoided default in April 2022 when the PDM government took office. “Had that change not happened, we might have defaulted. Yes, we paid a political price — but it stabilised the economy. Today, our reserves stand at $14.5 billion as of June 30.”

He credited PM Shehbaz efforts for key economic gains, including the reduction of interest rates from 22% to 11% and improvements in per capita income.

Dar, who also holds the designation of foreign minister, highlighted a diplomatic breakthrough with the United Arab Emirates, where he met Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed on June 24. “This was the first meeting of the bilateral economic commission in 12 years. We resolved longstanding visa issues, and talks are underway to include blue passport holders as well.”

Also Read: Lyari building collapse: Death toll rises to 16 as rescue work continues

On Pakistan’s ties with Iran, Dar said Tehran now sees Islamabad as a sincere ally. “We condemned Israeli aggression against Iran and extended full diplomatic support to a brotherly country,” he said.

Touching on defence and regional matters, Dar said Pakistan had responded firmly to Indian hostility in the past. “India started the war, and we shot down six of their fighter jets. We stood our ground and defeated a much larger enemy,” he said.

While the ceasefire along the Line of Control was holding, Dar acknowledged that tensions could always escalate. “India’s war rhetoric seems driven by domestic compulsions. We remain alert — we’ve handled such situations before and will continue to do so.”

On domestic governance, Dar said corruption must be tackled across all provinces, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, through due legal process. “Accountability should be uniform,” he added.

Concluding his remarks, the deputy premier said extensive arrangements had been made for the annual urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh, adding that Sufi teachings continue to inspire peace and unity. “We’re ensuring all possible facilities for visitors at the shrine,” he said.

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July 5, 2025
Thousands line streets to watch parade

The UK’s biggest LGBTQ+ event took place on Saturday, with tens of thousands of people on the streets of central London.

The Pride in London parade featured dancing and rainbow flags as the celebration began at noon under cool and cloudy conditions.

Organisers estimate more than 30,000 participants from across 500 organisations will take part in the capital’s annual Pride Parade.

Large crowds watched the brightly-coloured procession as it passed from Hyde Park Corner to its destination in Whitehall.

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July 5, 2025
DPM performs annual ghusal of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh’s shrine – RADIO PAKISTAN
1. DPM performs annual ghusal of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh’s shrine RADIO PAKISTAN
2. Maryam Nawaz orders top-quality arrangements for annual ghusl ceremony at Data Darbar Ptv.com.pk
3. Deputy PM, Punjab ministers perform ghusal ceremony of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh’s shrine Pakistan Today
4. Political, religious leaders attend annual ghusal ceremony at Data Darbar Dunya News
5. Ministers review arrangements for ghusal of Data Ganj Bakhsh shrine Associated Press of Pakistan
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July 5, 2025
Jurassic World Rebirth Heads To $312.5M Global Opening at Box Office

SATURDAY UPDATE: This dinosaur franchise is far from becoming extinct as Universal/Amblin’s Jurassic World Rebirth is now looking at a $312.5M opening, heads and tails higher than what we were seeing in our early week projection of $260M.

That’s already the second biggest global opening of the year, just behind A Minecraft Movie and ahead of Lilo & Stitch. And accounting for inflation and currency swings, it’s the second biggest global opening in the Jurassic franchise behind Jurassic World‘s $525M+.

The dinos are eating up an overseas weekend of $171.3M, which is the second-best offshore opening YTD behind Ne Zha 2 and ahead of Lilo & Stitch. It’s also the second biggest international debut for a Jurassic movie behind Jurassic World.

In regards to today, China is seeing a great $11.4M, with a running $33.7M cume and 50% market share at No. 1. The opening day for the Gareth Edwards directed movie alone ranked as the biggest MPA opening day of the year in the Middle Kingdom.

Australia is adding an excellent $1.9M today, taking the running total to $4.4M. The reboot is ranked as the clear No.1 for the day with 43% market share. On Thursday, Jurassic claimed the biggest opening day of 2025, surpassing A Minecraft Movie.

In Korea, Jurassic World Rebirth posted a strong Saturday, grossing $2.4M and the No. 1 ranking title in the territory with $5.1M running cume through four days.

Territory breakouts in regards to Friday’s biz:

UK & Ireland added $2.9M with a $7.5M running total with the pic repping a 50% marketshare. Overall, it’s 2x F1 The Movie at No.2 for the day. This is Universal’s 5th No.1 opening of the year.

Mexico grossed $2.2M on Friday, taking the running total to $6.5M. Jurassic World Rebirth reps 60% of the market at No. Uni is currently tracking +6% above Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom at the same point in release.

France opened on Friday, grossing $1.8M. That’s the second biggest opening of the year, behind Lilo & Stitch, and in sync with Jurassic World Dominion and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom‘s opening days. Jurassic World Rebirth is natch No.1 with 43% marketshare.

Germany added $1.5M on Friday, reaching $3.6M running total after 3-days in release. Jurassic World Rebirth took a massive 49% market share at No.1, in a market currently impacted by a heatwave.

India debuted to $1.3M on Friday, ranking as the 2nd biggest MPA opening of the year, only behind Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning. Jurassic World Rebirth is the No. 1 film there.

Spain added a strong $1.1M on Friday, to reach $3.6M running total. Jurassic World Rebirth continues to claim the clear No.1 spot in the market, accounting for almost half of Friday’s box office (47%).

Italy added $800K for a $2.5M running total. Jurassic World Rebirth has 56% of Italy’s box office market share, yes, ranking as No. 1

Other No. 1s includes Taiwan ($600K Friday, $1.8M cume, already surpassing Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny‘s total lifetime in the market, Thailand ($600K, $1.8M cume and 76% marketshare), Brazil ($600K, $1.2M total, 40% marketshare), Indonesia ($500K, $1.7M cume). Malaysia ($1.2M running total, grossing $500K on Friday). U.A.E ($500K, $900K running total, 40% marketshare). Chile ($500K, $1M running cume), Poland ($400K opening with 42% marketshare) while the Middle East posted $400K yesterday with an $800K running total. Jurassic World Rebirth is opening at No.1 despite strong holds for F1 The Movie. Qatar and Kuwait are driving results this weekend, account for 74% of grosses. The title opens across 228 screens this weekend.

Anthony D’Alessandro updated Saturday’s post

FRIDAY UPDATE: With another big day spent gobbling up turnstile action, Universal/Amblin’s Jurassic World Rebirth has topped the century mark globally, putting $104.6M in its powerful maw through Thursday worldwide.

The Thursday tally in 70 overseas markets was $22.3M, lifting the running international box office cume to $48.8M. Today notably adds France and India to bring the opening suite to 82 offshore markets. Signs are looking good for an opening above pre-weekend projections — we’ll know more Saturday.

Not included in the totals above, China’s Friday estimate is $6.1M for $21.9M across the first three days at No. 1 and with a 50% share in a competitive environment. In Korea, Rebrith was likewise tops again today, the third day in a row, now with $2.8M through Friday. Also not included above, Australia added an estimated $1.3M on Friday, taking the running total to $2.5M. JWR is ranking as the clear No. 1 for the day with a 50% share of the Top 10.

Thursday results, which do figure in the $104.6M global and $48.8M overseas totals above, include Mexico’s $1.8M at No. 1 (63% share) for a $4.3M running cume including previews. Rebirth’s opening day is just off Jurassic World Dominion, almost double Captain America: Brave New World and more than double Gladiator II, Dune: Part Two, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Top Gun: Maverick.

RELATED: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Review: Scarlett Johansson In Spielbergian Reboot That Is Part ‘Jaws’, ‘Skull Island’ & ‘Indiana Jones’ Mixed With The Pure DNA Of 1993 Original

UK & Ireland stomped up another $1.8M on Thursday, reaching $4.5M to date and dominating the market. Germany increased to $2.1M from two days and amid a heatwave. Spain is at $2.4M with Thursday’s $800K the second-highest Thursday gross of the year.

Italy‘s strong start continued on Thursday, jumping to a $1.7M running total. Brazil’s Thursday bow was $700K — the biggest opening day of the franchise at 15% above previous record-holder, Jurassic World.

Among other notable debuts, Chile welcomed JWR with $500K on Thursday, more than double all previous franchise entries and the 2nd biggest opening day of 2025 so far.

RELATED: Everything We Know About ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ So Far

Other markets through Thursday include Taiwan ($1.1M), Thailand ($1.2M), UAE ($400K), Colombia ($500K/top opening for the franchise) and Netherlands ($500K/biggest opening Thursday of 2025).

More to come throughout the weekend.

PREVIOUS, THURSDAY: Universal/Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World Rebirth delivered a strong overseas start on Wednesday with $26M from 38 international box office markets, including some previews. Combined with domestic’s $30.5M Wednesday, the global running total is $56.5M through Day One.

In total, JWR will be out in 82 offshore markets this weekend with Japan joining in August.

International rollout began on Tuesday in Hong Kong to capitalize on the Special Administrative Region Establishment Day holiday, coming in with $600K — the single biggest day for a studio title since Deadpool & Wolverine‘s opening Saturday, and the biggest MPA opening of the year to-date. The Scarlett Johansson-starrer ranked as a clear No. 1 for the day, with a 44% market share.

On Wednesday, China delivered the biggest launch day for a studio movie in the market this year at $9.9M. Opening on 65,000 screens in the market, including 760 Imax, the Gareth Edwards-directed adventure took a massive 64% share at No. 1. This is also the biggest studio opening day since Godzilla x Kong’s Friday debut in March 2024 and the 2nd biggest MPA single-day gross of 2025, only behind Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning‘s first Sunday, which fell during the Dragon Boat Festival national holidays at release.

On Thursday, China added a further $5.6M (not included in the offshore/global totals above), reaching $15.5M so far and continuing to dominate in a competitive market with a 50% market share at No. 1.

The Jurassic movies have been popular in China, with the recent titles grossing nearly $650M combined (unadjusted). The Rebirth team including Edwards, Johansson, Rupert Friend and Jonathan Bailey visited Shanghai for a premiere last Sunday – a promotional move that’s become far less frequent since the pandemic. Jurassic also has a dedicated section at the Universal Beijing Resort.

Meanwhile, Korea also opened yesterday, scoring the biggest Wednesday debut of the year at $1M and the 2^nd biggest non-holiday opening day of 2025 after Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17. The market grossed another $700K today (early estimate, not included in overall international and global totals above) and still a clear No. 1 with $1.7M through today.

Other Wednesday debuts include the UK & Ireland with $2.7M, accounting for 56% of the market at No. 1. The performance is just off Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom‘s opening Wednesday, above Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and above Spider-Man: Homecoming. Relative to other 2025 tentpoles, this is more than double Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning and 72% above F1.

Mexico debuted to $2.1M in wide Wednesday previews, taking a 67% market share for the day. Comparing to like-for-like wide Wednesday previews, this is above Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and aligned with Thor: Love and Thunder.

Spain grossed $1.6M on Wednesday at a clear No. 1 with a 41% share. The launch is the second best opening day for any installment of the Jurassic World saga: above Fallen Kingdom and Dominion and just below Jurassic World, which opened on a standard Friday. This result was also the highest-grossing Wednesday of the year and the 3rd highest grossing day of 2025 (only behind Lilo & Stitch and Minecraft).

Germany grossed $1.1M on Wednesday, taking a 52% market share at No.1, on what was the hottest day of the year so far. This is the biggest opening day of 2025, ahead of Lilo and Minecraft.

Italy is also off to a $1.1M start from Wednesday previews at a huge 60% market share for the day. Compared to standard Thursday openings for Jurassic titles, this is above Fallen Kingdom and in-line with Jurassic World.

Thailand, the production home for the film, opened on Wednesday to $700K, dominating close to 75% market share in the key cities at No. 1 and delivering the biggest non-holiday opening day of the year in the market.

Taiwan grossed $600K on Wednesday, marking the biggest opening day of 2025, and accounting for 50% of the market at No. 1.

Indonesia opened on Wednesday at No. 1 to $600K, best of the year so far in the market and the 2nd biggest opening day of the Jurassic franchise, coming in above Dominion and Jurassic World, and just below Fallen Kingdom. This is also Universal’s second biggest opening of the last 5 years, only behind Fast X.

As for other early Thursday results not included in the international and global totals above, Australia grossed $1.2M on opening day with JWR ranking as a clear No. 1 with a 54% share of the Top 10. This is the biggest opening day of 2025, surpassing A Minecraft Movie.

Malaysia entered the fray with $400K, the biggest non-holiday opening day for an MPA title this year, more than double Lilo & Stitch and 48% above Minecraft.

Other major Thursday openers include Brazil and Netherlands while France and India join on Friday.

We’ll have updates throughout the weekend.

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July 5, 2025
Save $220 on the ultra-slim Galaxy S25 Edge before Prime Day

Prime Day is just five days away, but the Galaxy S25 Edge is already enjoying a super-sweet $220 discount. Yep, you can grab Samsung’s latest ultra-slim flagship phone for 18% off in its 512GB variant. The promo only applies to select colorways, so keep that in mind.

The Galaxy S25 Edge is $220 off

$220 off (18%)

Looking for a super-slim flagship with a high-end Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and a 200MP main camera? The Galaxy S25 Edge might be the right fit! The device is currently $220 off at Amazon in select 512GB models, making it a real bargain ahead of Prime Day.

Buy at Amazon

With Prime Day just around the corner, some of you might be tempted to wait. But let’s face it—there’s no telling whether the Galaxy AI handset will drop any lower next week. So, if you don’t feel like waiting, this $220 discount is already a solid choice.While it doesn’t have the biggest battery or the longest battery life, the Galaxy S25 Edge is still quite attractive. Packing a large 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and an impressive 200MP main camera in an ultra-slim titanium body, this bad boy is meant to turn heads.

The display gets incredibly bright, eliminating any issues with outdoor visibility. In fact, our tests showed it’s a bit brighter than the Galaxy S25+, and it’s also a bit more color-accurate. Discover more about display quality in our Galaxy S25 Edge review.

In case you’re wondering, this Samsung phone is also quite capable on the camera front. Aside from its 200MP main camera, it features a 12MP ultra-wide on the rear and takes pretty good-looking photos with superb detail and vibrant colors. That said, since it lacks a dedicated telephoto sensor, you won’t get the best results when zooming beyond 4x.

But that’s not all! The S25 Edge packs none other than the Snapdragon 8 Elite inside its 5.8mm-thin body. The flagship SoC ensures solid performance across the board, but it doesn’t outperform the Galaxy S25+ or the S25 Ultra in terms of raw horsepower.

So, if you’ve been planning to get the Galaxy S25 Edge this summer but don’t feel like waiting for Prime Day to kick off, now might be a great time to grab the ~$1,220 variant for just under $1,000.

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Read the latest from Polina Kovalakova

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July 5, 2025
When in Doubt, Wear Your Clothes Backwards or Inside Out

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved wearing things the ‘wrong’ way and repurposing non-traditional objects as outfits. Skirts as sleeveless dresses, necklaces as belts and vice versa, button-down tops backwards, wide belts as skirts, skirts over pants. I also have a penchant for Christmas ornaments as earrings, and antique miniature portraits meant for walls on chains as charms. There is nothing better to me than wearing vintage skinny belts (preferably by Whiting & Davis) as necklaces. But most of all: jackets, coats, shirts and dresses, inside out.

So, I was overjoyed when on the fall 2025 runways, more than one designer engaged in flipping the script on how we conventionally wear our clothes. Upside down, inside out, reversed and contorted. For the final of Yohji Yamamoto’s fall 2025 collection, a group of models emerged wearing long back jackets with brilliant royal purple accents. They paused for the audience to look on, as they swapped the garments and turned them literally inside out, helping each other along the way to reveal outfits that were entirely different from what they first wore. Yohji-San famously doesn’t do interviews unless they’re in-person, but via an email, he tells Vogue that the concept was about “perfection… imperfection… I think they are the same. They can switch. So I want to show both sides.”

He continues: “When you wear clothes in a different way, maybe you find something new. When you turn them inside out, you can see the construction. You see the truth. Sometimes this part is more beautiful.”

Yohji Yamamoto fall 2025 collection.Photo: Getty Images

Yohji Yamamoto fall 2025 collection.Photo: Getty Images

Likewise, the rising brand Zomer, run by Danial Aitouganov and Imruh Asha, kicked off its fall 2025 show backwards, with models taking their final walk first. They all wore pieces that were upside down, turned around, or purposely inverted. “It all began with a conversation between us, a shared desire to go back in time and redo things,” says Aitouganov. “That idea sparked our styling process, which then evolved into the design phase. Some pieces are intentionally designed to be worn back to front. They might look ‘wrong’ at first, but the fit is just right. And some items were styled specifically for the show.”

For Sarah Burton’s fall 2025 Givenchy debut, structured dresses looked like they had been intentionally designed to look backwards, revealing the flip side of a collar that may have been on the back. Similarly, sustainable designer Maria McManus had models wear outerwear inside out for the spring 2025 show, to show the otherwise hidden details like organic cotton lining, buttons made from biodegradable potato starch and corozo nuts, and expertly bound seams.

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July 5, 2025
Tiny plastic particles found in human egg and sperm fluids

Tiny bits of plastic no wider than a human hair have turned up in some unexpected places, including the human bloodstream.

Now, data presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology meeting shows that these fragments have breached the fluids that surround eggs and travel with sperm.

The research team led by Dr. Emilio Gómez‑Sánchez of Next Fertility Murcia in Spain scanned follicular fluid from 29 women and seminal fluid from 22 men.

The experts found microplastics in 69 percent of the women and 55 percent of the men they studied. According to Dr. Gómez‑Sánchez, the team was surprised to find that the particles were so widespread.

Plastics in human reproductive fluids

The study detected polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene and polypropylene, materials better known for slick frying pans and food packaging. Seeing them next to human eggs turns a theoretical hazard into a measurable one.

Back in 2021, Italian obstetricians spotted twelve plastic fragments in every placenta they examined, confirming that particles smaller than five millimeters can cross the maternal‑fetal boundary.

Similarly sized particles have been uncovered deep in lung tissue removed during surgery, proving that inhalation is a realistic delivery route for plastic dust.

Researchers in the Netherlands have even measured plastic mass circulating in human blood samples, an observation that explains how fragments migrate to distant tissues.

How plastics enter the human body

Most people take in plastic flecks by eating, drinking, or breathing, because everyday products shed invisible dust whenever they are heated, abraded, or exposed to sunlight.

Once swallowed or inhaled, particles small enough can slip through the gut wall or the thin air‑blood membrane in the lungs.

Animal studies suggest that fragments under one micrometer can enter cells directly, whereas larger shards get trapped in tissue and spark local irritation. Either way, they bypass the body’s usual waste filters.

Laboratory work on mice shows that digestive uptake rises when microplastics hitchhike on fats, a detail that matters for fertility research because reproductive hormones ride on similar lipid highways.

The overlap raises worry that plastics may act as endocrine mimics or carriers for other chemicals.

Dr. Gómez‑Sánchez’s team avoided laboratory contamination by collecting every human sample in glass vials and verifying the absence of background plastic. This means the polymers they found were genuine residents, not stray lab dust.

Plastic harms fertility

Mice exposed to polystyrene fragments shed sperm with damaged DNA and sluggish movement, effects traced to oxidative stress that overwhelms antioxidant defenses.

Separate work on rodent Leydig cells shows shriveled mitochondria after nanoplastic exposure, which throttles testosterone production and shrinks litter sizes.

Reviews published in 2024 concluded that microplastics can disrupt the hypothalamic‑pituitary‑gonadal axis, leading to hormonal imbalances and faulty egg maturation.

Because human oocytes develop over months, chronic exposure could matter more than a short spike. That makes the repeated detection of PTFE in both eggs and sperm especially noteworthy.

Plastic levels in eggs and sperm

In the current data set, PTFE appeared in 31 percent of sampled egg fluid and 41 percent of semen. PP ranked second among women and polystyrene second among men, with polyethylene terephthalate also present but in smaller numbers.

Annual plastic output has climbed from under two million tons in 1950 to about 460 million in 2019, a 230‑fold jump documented by the Minderoo‑Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health.

Each uptick in production increases litter, weathering, and fragment release, tightening the feedback loop between plastics and people. Reproductive cells, delicate by design, stand on the front line.

Gómez‑Sánchez reported that most reproductive samples contained only one or two plastic particles, amounts considered low compared with overall debris in the fluids. Yet fertility specialists note that even trace metals can derail embryo development, so particle counts alone may not predict risk.

Human fertility research must include plastics

“They should be considered an additional argument in favor of avoiding the generalized use of plastics in our daily lives,” said Professor Carlos Calhaz‑Jorge of the University of Lisbon. He also noted that further research is needed to prove causation.

The research team will now study hundreds of patients and link particle loads to embryo quality during in vitro fertilization cycles. Those correlations could supply the first direct human evidence beyond laboratory rodents.

They plan lifestyle questionnaires to test whether habits such as heavy bottled‑water use or microwaving food in plastic correlate with higher particle counts. The approach could convert abstract exposure theory into personal advice.

“Microplastics are just one variable in a complex equation,” said Dr. Gómez‑Sánchez. He urges moderation of plastic use rather than alarm.

Simple habits to lower exposure

Switching from plastic bottles to glass or stainless steel lowers ingestion because heat and time no longer leach particles from container walls. Replacing scratched nonstick pans can cut PTFE flakes in the diet.

Researchers advise skipping plastic cutting boards and using ceramic or bamboo instead, because knife action liberates shavings that cling to food. Letting take‑out cool before transferring it from polystyrene boxes also helps.

Air purifiers with HEPA filters capture airborne fibers shed by synthetic textiles, a step especially useful for nurseries. Regular vacuuming with a sealed system keeps particles from resuspending.

These tweaks are not foolproof, yet they come with side benefits like removing chemical additives that ride on plastic dust. They buy time while science sorts out the clinical stakes.

Efforts to cut human plastics pollution

Public‑health researchers argue that personal choices alone cannot outrun a supply chain making more than a billion pounds of new plastic every day.

Negotiators at the United Nations are hammering out a global treaty that could cap production and streamline recycling.

Dr. Philip Landrigan of Boston College calls the treaty a once‑in‑a‑generation chance to protect human health, because curbing output remains the only sure way to slow microplastic fallout. He points to the emerging fertility data as evidence that time is short.

Whether lawmakers act or not, the science of sub‑visible plastic is moving fast thanks to sharper imaging tools and nanomechanical sensors. Studies that once took months now finish in days, filling the literature with fresh clues.

Every new dataset sharpens the same picture: plastics weather into dust, the dust goes everywhere, and living tissue keeps no closed doors. Eggs and sperm, it turns out, are no exception.

The study is published in the journal Human Reproduction.

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July 5, 2025
Uihlein 4 shots off lead at International Series Morocco entering Sunday

RangeGoats GC star Peter Uihlein shot a 1-under 72 on Saturday at The International Series Morocco to put himself in position for a run at the trophy at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat.

Uihlein, who won twice on The International Series last season, enters Sunday’s final round tied for eighth and four shots back of leader Scott Vincent. Uihlein is at 7-under for the week at the par-73 layout.

LIV Golf reserve player John Catlin, who has been a force on The International Series recently, is T12 after he recorded a 3-under 70 in the third round. He is 5-under for the week and six back of the lead.

Stinger GC’s Charl Schwartzel is T18 after a stellar 4-under 69 in the third round and sits seven shots off the lead. Torque GC’s Mito Pereira (T24), HyFlyers GC GC’s Andy Ogletree (T24) and RangeGoats GC’s Ben Campbell (T41) will look to go low on Sunday. Campbell is the defending champion in Morocco.

Click here for scores from Morocco

PUIG GRINDING ON DP WORLD TOUR

Fireballs GC’s David Puig continued his gritty play at the BMW International Open in Munich, Germany, and is six shots off the lead after a 2-under 70 in Round 3. Puig, who is tied for 12th, had five birdies and three bogeys on Saturday.

Cleeks Golf Club Captain Martin Kaymer, playing in his home country, is tied for 34th entering the final round. He shot 2-under 70 on Saturday.

Click here for scores from Munich

(Uihlein photo courtesy of Steve Bardens/Asian Tour)

(The International Series staff contributed to this story)

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July 5, 2025