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  • Erlang/OTP SSH Vulnerability Analysis and Exploits Observed in the Wild

    Erlang/OTP SSH Vulnerability Analysis and Exploits Observed in the Wild

    Executive Summary

    This article presents our observations of exploit attempts targeting CVE-2025-32433. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE) in the Secure Shell (SSH) daemon (sshd) from certain versions of the Erlang programming language’s Open Telecom Platform (OTP).

    Erlang/OTP sshd is widely used in critical infrastructure and operational technology (OT) networks.With a CVSS score of 10.0, CVE-2025-32433 enables unauthenticated clients to execute commands by sending SSH connection protocol messages (codes >= 80) to open SSH ports, which should only be processed after successful authentication. Vulnerable versions include Erlang/OTP prior to OTP-27.3.3, OTP-26.2.5.11 and OTP-25.3.2.20.

    A patch is available in Erlang/OTP versions OTP-27.3.3, OTP-26.2.5.11, OTP-25.3.2.20 and later.

    We have reproduced, validated and analyzed this vulnerability to better understand its impact and provide detection strategies. We observed a significant increase in exploitation activity targeting this vulnerability from May 1-9, 2025, with 70% of our detections originating from firewalls protecting global operational technology (OT) networks.

    This analysis includes telemetry data showing geographic distribution and trends as well as the industries affected by this vulnerability.

    Palo Alto Networks customers are better protected from the threats discussed in this article through the following products and services:

    If you think you might have been compromised or have an urgent matter, contact the Unit 42 Incident Response team.

    Vulnerabilities Discussed CVE-2025-32433

    Details of the Vulnerability

    Erlang is a programming language designed for building concurrent systems where multiple connections are needed simultaneously. Its companion framework, the Open Telecom Platform (OTP), has long been trusted in critical infrastructure from telecommunications networks to financial systems.

    OT and 5G environments use Erlang/OTP due to its fault-tolerance and scalability for high availability systems with minimal downtime. Due to compliance and safety requirements, OT and 5G administrators tend to use Erlang/OTP’s native SSH implementation to remotely manage hosts, which makes CVE-2025-32433 a particular concern in these types of networks.

    At the heart of Erlang/OTP’s secure communication capabilities lies its native SSH implementation — responsible for encrypted connections, file transfers and most importantly, command execution. A flaw in this implementation would allow an attacker with network access to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems without requiring credentials, presenting a direct and severe risk to exposed assets.

    Analyzing global internet scanning data from Cortex Xpanse in April 2025, we saw vulnerable Erlang/OTP SSH services were widely exposed on the internet using different TCP ports. This included TCP port 2222, which is commonly used for communications with older industrial automation components and sometimes used by the Ethernet/IP implicit messaging protocol.

    CVE-2025-32433 is inferred from SSH versions tied to Erlang/OTP releases. This widespread exposure on industrial-specific ports indicates a significant global attack surface across OT networks. Analysis of affected industries demonstrates variance in the attacks.

    In our telemetry, we saw that the following industries were disproportionately affected, with over 85% of exploit attempts being triggered directly on their OT firewalls:

    • Healthcare
    • Agriculture
    • Media and entertainment
    • High technology

    Despite high OT reliance, utilities and energy, mining, and aerospace and defense showed no direct OT triggers for this specific threat.

    Sectors like professional and legal services primarily saw triggers on their IT networks. Industries such as manufacturing, wholesale and retail, and financial services experienced more balanced detection across both IT and OT, necessitating integrated defenses.

    Scope of Exploitation Attempts Targeting CVE-2025-32433

    Our telemetry confirms active exploitation attempts of CVE-2025-32433. Our sensors have detected exploit attempts targeting this vulnerability across multiple industries, with the earliest observation occurring on May 1, 2025.

    We identified several malicious payloads being delivered through CVE-2025-32433 exploit attempts. A commonly observed technique uses reverse shells to gain unauthorized remote access. Two examples seen in the wild include the following payloads.

    Payload 1

    File descriptors are used to create a TCP connection and bind it to a shell, allowing interactive command execution over the network, as shown in Figure 1.

    Figure 1. TCP connection creation.

    Payload 2

    Figure 2 shows a simpler variant that initiates a reverse shell using Bash’s interactive mode and redirects the shell’s input and output directly to a remote host at 146.103.40[.]203:6667. This port is commonly associated with remote control servers used for botnet communications.

    Screenshot of a TCP steam with network address and port details visible.
    Figure 2. Remote host redirect.

    Threat Infrastructure Insights

    Our investigation into DNS telemetry was driven by DNS-based indicators we discovered during our payload analysis of exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2025-32433. Several payloads contained commands attempting DNS lookups of long, randomly generated subdomains under dns.outbound.watchtowr[.]com:

    • execSinet:gethostbyname(“d0am3pi3pgl6h3t9mkp0qt3zn9p1izwso.dns.outbound.watchtowr[.]com”).Zsession
    • execSinet:gethostbyname(“d0a3qn23pglekp6ckgtge8xxfd14a8ouk.dns.outbound.watchtowr[.]com”).Zsession
    • execSinet:gethostbyname(“d09idt23pgl3db0en3dgeam6i45tpc6bg.dns.outbound.watchtowr[.]com”).Zsession

    These payloads also provide clear signs of Out-of-Band Application Security Testing (OAST). Specifically, DNS lookups to randomized subdomains under dns.outbound.watchtowr[.]com were triggered using gethostbyname() calls — a common tactic in blind RCE or exfiltration testing.

    These payloads are designed not to return results directly, but to validate execution via external DNS resolutions that the attacker monitors. This approach is widely used in stealthy campaigns, red team assessments and automated scanning frameworks.

    Scope of the Activity

    We conducted a multi-source analysis to understand how attackers attempt exploitation of CVE-2025-32433 in real-world environments. This analysis highlights the geographic distribution of vulnerable systems, exploit activity across key industry sectors and evolving trends over time.

    Exposure Surface Analysis

    Cortex Xpanse revealed 275 distinct hosts and 326 distinct Erlang/OTP services that were publicly routable on the internet between April 16 and May 9, 2025. The countries observed to host the most Erlang/OTP servers are the U.S., Brazil and France.

    Cortex Xpanse scans showed that Erlang/OTP services are widely exposed and vulnerable on industrial networks. Figure 3 below shows the services found on TCP ports like 830, 2022 and 22.

    Bar chart showing the distribution of observed Erlang/OTP server ports and their exposure status labeled as 'Vulnerable' or 'Not Vulnerable' in Cortex XPANSE. The columns included on the right detail the port numbers, SSH version, if they are vulnerable, and the number of hosts.
    Figure 3. Port and vulnerability exposure of Erlang/OTP services.

    The group of exposed ports includes TCP port 2222. This port is also sometimes used by Ethernet/IP implicit messaging, highlighting a direct bridge between IT-centric software vulnerabilities and the operational heart of industrial control systems.

    This overlap highlights the following:

    • Attack surface convergence
      The blurred boundary between IT and OT systems, where a software vulnerability in an IT-facing protocol such as Erlang/OTP, could share network space — or even ports — with industrial control system traffic.
    • Increased exploitability
      Attackers scanning for exploitable Erlang/OTP services could inadvertently or intentionally interact with exposed industrial control systems (ICS) devices, creating opportunities for pivoting into OT environments, especially where network segmentation is weak.

    Geographic Distribution of Exploit Attempts

    After the vulnerability was published on April 16, 2025, we began to detect exploit attempts from a few countries, as shown below in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 represents the total number of CVE-2025-32433 signatures triggered by all firewalls in a given country. Figure 5 represents signature triggers specifically from firewalls identified as being within OT networks.

    Heat map showing various countries colored in shades of teal to red, representing data with a scale from 1 to 2,693. Low instances are teal and high instances are red. The United States is entirely red. The only country with slight variation is Japan.
    Figure 4. All network victim geolocation.
    Heat map highlighting countries in varying shades of blue and red, indicating different data values ranging from 1 to 1,916. The Unite States is entirely red.
    Figure 5. OT network victim geolocation.

    Out of a total of 3,376 CVE-2025-32433 signatures triggered globally, 2,363 (approximately 70%) originated from firewalls protecting OT networks. While the figures might appear the same, South America and Scandinavia showed minimal or no OT-related exploit activity despite broader exploitation elsewhere — indicating either better segmentation, slower adoption of vulnerable stacks or detection gaps.

    Countries With High OT Correlation:

    • Japan: 99.74% of its CVE-2025-32433 signatures originated from OT networks
    • U.S.: Despite a lower percentage (71.15%) compared to Japan, the volume of signatures in the U.S. (1916 within OT) signifies a great number of potential incidents affecting American industrial systems
    • The Netherlands, Ireland, Brazil and Ecuador: For these countries, 100% of observed CVE-2025-32433 signature triggers occurred within OT environments
    • France: This country had a significant OT impact at 66.67% of observed signature triggers

    The disproportionate volume of CVE-2025-32433 exploit attempts observed in OT networks across countries like Japan, the U.S. and others reflects a combination of factors, not a singular cause.

    These regions often host highly connected, digitally mature industrial sectors that rely on complex IT/OT integrations where general-purpose components like Erlang/OTP could be embedded in operational environments.

    Exploit Distribution by Industry

    Almost 70% of the total number of signature triggers originated from firewalls protecting OT networks. Of the total number of firewalls that saw an exploit attempt, nearly 60% of the attempts were on firewalls within OT networks. Averaging out the number of exploit attempts per firewall, OT networks saw 160% more attempts per device than non-OT networks.

    This indicates:

    • A significant number of OT firewalls are exposed to the internet
    • Adversaries might have already breached edge security, compromised enterprise devices and established persistence
      • They could be launching this exploit attempt from within enterprise networks using lateral movement techniques, with the goal of accessing OT networks
    • Discrepancy in exploit attempts on OT networks could indicate the intention of malicious actors to infiltrate critical infrastructure

    This number could be anomalous because of the small sample size analyzed.

    An outsized majority of triggers originated in the education industry, both within all networks and OT networks, with 2,460 (72.7% of total) and 2,090 (88.4% of total) respectively, shown in Figure 6 below.

    Bar chart comparing the number of incidents in two categories, "All Industries" and "OT Industries", split into "Education" and "Remaining". "Education" incidents are significantly higher in "All Industries" compared to "OT Industries".
    Figure 6. CVE triggers by industry.

    The industry-level distribution of CVE-2025-32433 exploitation attempts underscores a critical shift in the operational threat landscape.

    We observed nearly 70% of exploit attempts within OT networks. Several sectors — including healthcare, high technology and education — showed a disproportionately high concentration of OT-specific activity.

    This challenges the traditional view that OT risk is confined to industrial control systems or manufacturing. At the same time, we should not interpret the absence of detections in the following OT-heavy sectors as safety:

    • Utilities and energy
    • Mining and aerospace
    • Defense

    We should instead see it as potential evidence of detection weakness or delayed targeting.

    These findings highlight that attackers are exploiting the realities of IT/OT convergence and are targeting operational systems wherever they exist.

    Temporal Trends in Exploitation

    Bar chart showing daily data from May 1st to May 9th 2025 with two categories: "Total" and "OT Only." The bars for "Total" are consistently higher than those for "OT Only." Color distinctions indicate different categories with blue for Total and red for OT Only.
    Figure 7. Trigger distribution by day.

    Analyzing the data we have for May 2025, peaks in total triggers often correlate with OT activity. Figure 7 shows the days with the highest total triggers (May 3, May 6, May 8, May 9) include the days with significant OT activity (May 3, May 8, May 9).

    Exploitation attempts of CVE-2025-32433 are not uniform or continuous — they appear in concentrated bursts that disproportionately impact OT environments. When activity spikes, it is frequently driven by OT-specific triggers, often accounting for over 80% of detections on peak days.

    The geographic, industrial and temporal footprint of CVE-2025-32433 exploit attempts highlights a strategic shift in attacker behavior toward operational environments across diverse sectors and regions. Exploits are not limited to traditionally defined industrial control systems. They appear in healthcare, education, high tech and other verticals — many of which host embedded OT systems not previously treated as high risk.

    Geographically, countries with mature digital infrastructure and strong industrial bases — such as Japan, the U.S. and Brazil — show high OT exposure, while sectors like utilities and mining show no detections despite high inherent risk. This suggests telemetry gaps, delayed targeting or underreporting. Combined, these patterns illustrate that modern OT threats do not follow legacy assumptions about where OT resides or how it is attacked.

    We have confirmed active exploitation attempts through payload telemetry, with disproportionate impact on OT networks across multiple industries. The use of stealthy reverse shells and DNS-based callbacks further indicates that attackers are employing evasive techniques.

    Mitigation Guidance

    The rapid surge in attack payloads suggests that threat actors have quickly adopted this exploit in active campaigns. This pattern underscores the urgency for organizations — particularly those in the targeted sectors and geographies outlined above — to improve protections.

    • Apply the latest security patches
    • Update intrusion prevention systems with the newest signatures
    • Closely monitor environments for signs of compromise

    The primary mitigation for this vulnerability is to upgrade Erlang/OTP to a patched version:

    • OTP 27.3.3 or later
    • OTP 26.2.5.11 or later
    • OTP 25.3.2.20 or later

    As a temporary workaround (if patching is not immediately possible), consider disabling the SSH server or using firewall rules to restrict access to trusted sources only (as suggested by NIST).

    Conclusion

    CVE-2025-32433 is a serious vulnerability resulting from improper state enforcement in the Erlang/OTP SSH daemon, which could potentially allow unauthenticated RCE. The failure to reject post-authentication messages before authentication completion creates a significant attack surface that is being exploited in the wild.

    Attackers are attempting to exploit the vulnerability in short, high-intensity bursts. These are disproportionately targeting OT networks and attempting to access exposed services over both IT and industrial ports. Early telemetry confirms that the threat extends far beyond traditional industrial sectors, impacting education, healthcare and high technology — underscoring the reality that critical OT assets now exist across a much broader digital surface area.

    Organizations must re-examine their exposure, enhance OT-specific visibility and treat CVE-2025-32433 not as an isolated issue, but as a case study in how general-purpose software flaws can rapidly escalate into operational threats.

    Palo Alto Networks Product Protections for CVE-2025-32433

    Palo Alto Networks customers are better protected from these threats by the products and services listed below.

    Cortex XDR and XSIAM are designed to prevent the execution of known malicious malware, and also prevent the execution of unknown malware using Behavioral Threat Protection.

    Cortex Xpanse has the ability to identify exposed devices on the public internet and escalate these findings to defenders. Customers can enable alerting on this risk by ensuring that the Attack Surface Rule is enabled. Identified findings can either be viewed in the Threat Response Center or in the incident view of Expander. These findings are also available for Cortex XSIAM customers who have purchased the ASM module.

    Next-Generation Firewall with the Advanced Threat Prevention subscription can help block activity associated with CVE-2025-32433 (Erlang OTP SSH Remote Code Execution Vulnerability) with the release of our threat prevention signature 96163.

    If you think you may have been compromised or have an urgent matter, get in touch with the Unit 42 Incident Response team or call:

    • North America: Toll Free: +1 (866) 486-4842 (866.4.UNIT42)
    • UK: +44.20.3743.3660
    • Europe and Middle East: +31.20.299.3130
    • Asia: +65.6983.8730
    • Japan: +81.50.1790.0200
    • Australia: +61.2.4062.7950
    • India: 00080005045107

    Palo Alto Networks has shared our findings with our fellow Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA) members. CTA members use this intelligence to rapidly deploy protections to their customers and to systematically disrupt malicious cyber actors. Learn more about the Cyber Threat Alliance.

    Indicators of Compromise

    • .dns.outbound.watchtowr[.]com
    • 194.165.16[.]71
    • 146.103.40[.]203

    Additional References

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  • MSSQL Extension for VS Code 1.34.0 Deepens Copilot Agent Mode, Adds Colour‑Coded Connections

    MSSQL Extension for VS Code 1.34.0 Deepens Copilot Agent Mode, Adds Colour‑Coded Connections

    The Azure SQL team has released version 1.34.0 of the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code, a cross‑platform tool for developing against SQL Server, Azure SQL Database and SQL Database in Fabric. Carlos Robles, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, explains that the update continues the extension’s goal of making SQL development conversational, visual and local by improving Copilot Agent mode, adding colour-coded connections, streamlining local container workflows and polishing the Schema Designer.

    The previous release introduced GitHub Copilot Agent mode, a chat‑based assistant that can perform database tasks. Version 1.34.0 deepens this integration. The agent can now change databases, list schemas, tables, views and functions, show connection details, list all databases on a server and run queries directly from the chat assistant. In this version, Copilot goes beyond code suggestions to execute secure database actions using natural language or built‑in tools. Each action (e.g., connect, disconnect, change database, list servers or run query) is surfaced through the Agent Tools panel and requires user confirmation. This secure confirmation workflow ensures that Copilot never runs database tasks without explicit approval.

    The update introduces colour-coded connections to help developers navigate multiple environments. Users can assign a custom colour to any saved connection profile and see it reflected in the VS Code status bar. Group‑based colouring allows teams to align on conventions, and the length of the colored indicator is configurable. This feature was contributed by a community member @bathetrade.

    Local SQL Server containers, introduced in v1.33, let developers spin up SQL Server 2025 containers without running Docker commands. Version 1.34 builds on this by allowing containers to be assigned to connection groups and providing more flexible profile management. A streamlined wizard helps developers create containers faster, and containers can be started, stopped, or deleted from the connection panel. The previous release’s highlights included automatic port conflict detection and support for specifying container names, hostnames and versions. Those capabilities remain in this version.

    Lastly, for the database schema designer, still in public preview, an update now displays foreign‑key icons correctly and refines filter behaviour so that table relationships are easier to understand.

    Developer reactions to the update are mixed. In the comment section of Microsoft’s blog, Matthew Arp expressed frustration that Microsoft had killed Azure Data Studio and argued that colour-coded connections are not a compelling replacement for the richer features of that desktop tool. On the Visual Studio Marketplace, several reviewers similarly criticised the extension’s feature gap with Azure Data Studio and reported issues. One user wrote that the gap is astonishing and said the extension is nearly non‑functional for his workflow. Some reviewers offered praise: Alberto Peralta Ramos noted that he prefers the VS Code SQL integration over SQL Server Management Studio and Mark Douglas said the extension does the job fine, even though he dislikes the new results UI and keeps using version 1.24.

    As with previous releases, the extension is open source under the MIT License and accepts contributions via GitHub. The extension has accumulated over 8 million installs and around 1.7k GitHub stars, indicating significant community interest.


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  • World’s first artificial tongue ‘tastes and learns’ like a real human organ

    World’s first artificial tongue ‘tastes and learns’ like a real human organ

    Scientists have created the first artificial tongue that can sense and identify flavors entirely in liquid environments — mimicking how human taste buds work.

    The achievement, described July 15 in the journal PNAS, could lead to automated systems for food safety and early detection of diseases via chemical analysis, the researchers say.

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  • Great white shark DNA study mystifies scientists

    Great white shark DNA study mystifies scientists

    Within each of our cells we have two kinds of DNA. We are most familiar with ‘nuclear DNA’, which is what most people mean when they talk about DNA. This DNA is inherited from both parents, and contains the code for almost everything we need to function.

    The other type of DNA is called ‘mitochondrial DNA’. As opposed to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother. This DNA is found inside special structures in our cells called mitochondria. Mitochondria generate energy from the food we eat, and mitochondrial DNA contains code that programmes them to do this.

    Scientists can use both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA to understand the evolutionary history of a species. They do this by looking, for example, at how similar DNA of the same type is between populations. If DNA between populations is very different, this suggests that the populations have not interbred much in the past. If it is very similar, this suggests that populations have interbred, and/or are currently interbreeding.

    Usually, both nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA tell the same evolutionary story. But sometimes, they tell opposing stories. This is called ‘mitonuclear discordance’.

    An example of mitonuclear discordance is where nuclear DNA is very similar between some populations, suggesting that those populations regularly interbreed, while mitochondrial DNA is very different between those populations, suggesting that those populations do not mix. This is a pattern seen in several shark species.

    For a long time, scientists thought that mitonuclear discordance in these shark species was due to a difference in mating behaviour between the sexes. Females tend to breed in the place they were born, while males tend to roam around and breed wherever they can. This means that nuclear DNA, inherited from both males and females, becomes well-mixed across populations, but mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited only from females, remains specific to each population.

    A recent study on great white sharks has thrown this theory up in the air, though.

    Differences between the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of white sharks, once thought to be caused by their migration patterns, is likely caused by another — as of yet unknown — factor, say the researchers. Credit: Greg Skomal

    In the new study, the researchers first confirmed what previous research has found: that in great white sharks, nuclear DNA suggests some populations interbreed, while mitochondrial DNA suggests these populations do not mix much. Then, using state-of-the-art simulations, they tested the theory that this mitonuclear discordance is because females breed where they are born while males do not. They found no support for this theory.

    Female great white sharks do tend to breed where they are born, and males do tend to roam around, but this does not explain the opposing stories their DNA tells.

    Now that we know that the mating behaviour of the sexes is not the cause of mitonuclear discordance in great white sharks, the research team suggest we need to rethink this assumption across shark species.

    “We would like to dig more into the potential selective processes shaping the mitonuclear discordance,” lead author of the study, Romuald Laso-Jadarta, tells BBC Widlife. This would require more data, which means more wild great whites need to be sampled.

    Until that happens, there aren’t any other theories to really sink our teeth into. All we know is that something a bit fishy is going on with shark DNA, and more research needs to done to figure out why.

    Top image: great white shark. Credit: Getty

    More amazing wildlife stories from around the world

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  • Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Genotype Distribution in Patients with Emphysema

    Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Genotype Distribution in Patients with Emphysema

    Introduction

    Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a serine proteinase inhibitor synthesized from hepatocytes in the liver that plays a protective role against proteolytic enzymes in the body. In particular, AAT inhibits neutrophil elastase (NE) secreted by activated neutrophils during infectious processes and helps to prevent tissue damage. It also inhibits the action of other proteolytic enzymes, such as cathepsin G and proteinase 3.1

    Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in SERPINA1 and is characterized by decreased AAT levels. AATD is one of the most common inherited lung diseases. Patients with AATD typically present with symptoms of emphysema at a younger age than those with smoking-related COPD. Although some have a significant history of tobacco use, the disease may also occur in never-smokers. Emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and bronchiectasis are all lung diseases associated with AATD.2,3

    Emphysema is a chronic disease of the lower respiratory tract characterized by the expansion of air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles as a result of the destruction of alveolar walls.4 Although this disease is associated with environmental factors such as smoking and air pollution, genetic factors also play an important role. AATD is a known genetic cause of emphysema.5 Early findings of AATD in the lungs revealed emphysema. Currently, it is being diagnosed at a higher rate with the increasing use of computed chest tomography.6 AATD-related emphysema classically involves the lower lobes and causes Panaciner-type emphysema.7

    The frequency of AATD has been studied in different parts of the world in chronic lung diseases, such as COPD, asthma, and bronchiectasis, and its frequency has been determined at different rates. Less than 10% of individuals with AATD are diagnosed, and the time between symptom onset and diagnosis is often prolonged.8 Few studies have been conducted on patients with emphysema, and patient characteristics have not been adequately defined.

    In Turkey, the prevalence of AATD has been reported to range between 3% and 5% in patients with chronic lung diseases. Studies have identified both common mutations such as PIM/Z and PIZ/Z and rare alleles like PIM Malton and PIP Lowell in the Turkish population. These findings highlight the genetic variability in AATD across different regions of Turkey and underscore the importance of genotype-based evaluations in emphysema patients.9–11

    This study was conducted to determine the frequency of AATD, a genetic cause of emphysema, in patients with emphysema, to show the distribution of AATD genotypes by the type and localization of emphysema, and to evaluate patients in terms of augmentation therapy.

    Materials And Methods

    This cross-sectional descriptive study included patients with emphysema on high-resolution chest tomography (HRCT) between 01.12.2022 and 31.12.2024 in the chest diseases clinic of the Samsun Training and Research Hospital.

    Inclusion Criteria

    Patients who agreed to participate in the study, provided informed consent, and had emphysema on HRCTwere included in the study.

    Exclusion Criteria

    Patients Who Refused to Give Fingertip Blood

    Approval was obtained from the Samsun University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Date: 08.01.25, Decision No: 2025/1/10). This study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.Written informed consent was obtained from all the patients after they were informed of their condition.

    Based on the relevant literature, the AAT genotyping test simultaneously identified the 14 most common allele variants associated with AAT deficiency. This test is based on genomic DNA amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequent hybridization with allele-specific probes by utilizing Luminex xMAP technology. Dried blood spot samples collected from the fingertips of patients with emphysema were screened for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) genotype deficiency. Genotype analysis (AlphaKits®; GE Healthcare Ltd., Cardiff, CF147YT, UK) was conducted at the Progenika Clinical Diagnostics Laboratory in Spain. The alleles examined in the patients included PI*I, PI*M procida, PI*M malton, PI*S iiyama, PI*Q0 granite falls, PI*Q0 west, PI*Q0 bellingham, PI*F, PI*P lowell, PI*S, PI*Z, PI*Q0 mattawa, PI*Q0 clayton and PI*M heerlen.

    During screening, demographic characteristics (age and sex), smoking status (smoker, ex-smoker, and non-smoker), types of emphysema (centriacinar emphysema, panacinar emphysema, and paraseptal emphysema), and location (upper, middle, and lower lobes) were recorded.

    Smoking Status

    Non-smokers; those who had never smoked

    Ex-smokers; those who had quit smoking for at least one year

    Current smokers; those who still smoke

    Types of Emphysema12 Figure 1.

    Figure 1 Types of emphysema (A). Centriacinar emphysema (B). Panacinar emphysema (C). Paraseptal emphysema.

    A. Centriacinar emphysema: characterized by the destruction of the proximal respiratory bronchioles, while the distal alveolar sacs and ducts remain normal.

    B. Panacinar emphysema: characterized by the destruction of proximal respiratory bronchioles, distal alveolar ducts, and sacs.

    C. Paraseptal emphysema: Characterized by destruction of the distal alveolar sacs and ducts, while the proximal respiratory bronchioles are preserved.

    AAT levels and pulmonary function tests were evaluated in patients with AAT genotype deficiency during stable periods (no exacerbation and normal CRP levels). Pulmonary function tests were performed to assess the clinical relevance and phenotypic expression of AAT genotype deficiencies.

    Lung function tests were performed in accordance with European Respiratory Society (ERS) recommendations. Spirometry was conducted using standardized equipment, and the results were expressed as percentages of the predicted reference values based on ERS standards. Pre-bronchodilator values were used in the analysis. FEV₁, FVC, and FEV₁/FVC ratios were recorded and analyzed.

    Patients were assessed for eligibility for augmentation therapy based on their AAT levels and clinical status.

    Statistical Analysis

    All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22 for Windows program (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The frequencies and percentages of categorical variables and the mean, median, and standard deviation of the numerical variables were calculated.

    Results

    Between 01.12.2022 and 31.12.2024, 794 patients with emphysema with a mean age of 61.4±10.5/year (Male: 61.8±10.5, Female: 56.6±9.9) were evaluated. Sixty-six (8.3%) patients were female, and 728 (91.7%) were male. Regarding the smoking status, 586 (73.8%) were smokers, 165 (20.8%) were ex-smokers, and 43 (5.4%) were non-smokers. Upper lobe involvement (n=784, 98.7%) and panacinar emphysema (n=443, 55.8%) were most common (Table 1).

    Table 1 Demographic Characteristics of Patients with Emphysema

    In the AAT genotyping results, no mutations were detected in 763 (96.1%) patients, while AATD mutations were detected in 31 (3.9%) patients. Although AATD was more common in panacinar emphysema (n=24, 3%), no mutations were observed in paraseptal emphysema (Table 2). In the PI*Z/Z and PI*Z/M malton genotypes, emphysema was observed in all lobes and panacinar types (Table 3).

    Table 2 Genotype Distribution According to Emphysema Type

    Table 3 Genotype Distribution According to Emphysema Localization

    The characteristics of patients with defects in SERPINA1 based on genotype distribution are presented in Table 4. Of the patients with detected mutations, 5 were female and 26 were male. Fourteen patients were smokers, 14 were ex-smokers, and 3 were non-smokers. Panaciner-type emphysema was detected in 2 non-smokers, while centriacinar-type emphysema was observed in 1 patient. The most common mutations were PI*M/M malton (n=9), PI*M/Z (n=7), PI*M/I (n=4), and PI*M malton/M malton (n=4). Serum AAT levels of the patients with AATD were found to be 0.85±0.44 g/L. AAT level was found to be low in PI*Z/Z, PI*M malton/M malton and PI*Z/M malton genotypes (0.20±0.2 g/L). In pulmonary function tests, the mean FEV1 was 1.68±0.85 mlt (57±26.8%). None of the patients diagnosed with AATD were receiving augmentation therapy. Six patients received augmentation therapy for AATD: three had PI*Z/Z, two had PI*M malton/M malton, and one had the PI*Z/M malton genotype. It was determined that 3 patients received treatment approval with off-label application.

    Table 4 Characteristics of Patients with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

    Discussion

    This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to identify patients with mutations in SERPINA1, a potential genetic cause of emphysema. AATD was detected in 3.9% (n=31) of the patients with emphysema. AATD was associated with panacinar emphysema (3%) and with emphysema involving multiple lobes, predominantly affecting the upper lobes.

    Although emphysema is an early finding in AATD, it is difficult to distinguish between non-hereditary emphysema and emphysema caused by AATD.7 There is insufficient literature on the AAT genotypes in patients with emphysema. The prevalence and characteristics of these patients are not well known. When the studies were evaluated, AATD was examined in chronic lung diseases, such as COPD, asthma, and bronchiectasis, and the characteristics of patients with emphysema findings were given as sub-results. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to examine this number of emphysema cases and evaluate their genotypic characteristics and treatment indications.

    Most AATD-related cases are diagnosed when symptoms become evident and at an advanced age, as genotype tests are performed at private centers.13–15 In studies conducted worldwide3,16,17 and in Türkiye9–11 on chronic lung diseases such as COPD, asthma, and bronchiectasis, the age of AATD diagnosis was advanced. In our study, AATD was detected at an advanced age, similar to other studies (60.2±9.4 / year).

    Notably, all individuals with the PiMZ genotype in our cohort were either current or former smokers. This supports previous findings indicating that the PiMZ genotype alone may not be sufficient to cause emphysema but becomes clinically significant when combined with tobacco exposure. Mild AAT deficiency may predispose individuals to disease progression under oxidative stress from cigarette smoke.8 Therefore, Pi*MZ should be considered a genotype that warrants intervention, particularly in the context of active or past smoking.

    The normal allele for AAT is PI × MM. More than 120 SERPINA 1 mutations have been reported in the literature for AATD, and the most common alleles consist of a combination of M, Z, and S alleles (PI*SS, PI*MZ, PI*SZ, and PI*ZZ).2 In the study of Veith et al which examined the genotypes of 18736 patients diagnosed with COPD/emphysema, asthma and bronchiectasis, the genotype distribution in COPD/emphysema was determined as PI*MZ 2704 (22.01%), PI*ZZ 1120 (9.12%), PI*MS 557 (4.53%), PI*SZ 306 (2.49%), PI*Z/rare 202 (1.64%), PI*M/rare 142 (1.16%), PI*SS 33 (0.27%).16 In this study, COPD and emphysema were not analyzed separately, and the type and localization of emphysema were not examined. Lopez-Campos et al evaluated materials collected from six countries between 2018 and 2022 in 15,230 COPD patients, 3,381 poorly controlled asthma patients, and 1,435 bronchiectasis patients, and the most common allele combinations were MS (14.7%), MZ (8.6%), SS (1.9%), SZ (1.9%), and ZZ (0.9%).17 In a study conducted by Ale-Müniya et al on 1107 patients with COPD, AATD was detected in 144 patients (13.01%). Most mutations were PI*M/S (n=113, 78.5%) and PI*M/Z (n=14, 9.2%). Seventeen patients had at least one Z allele (11.8%) and one patient had a ZZ mutation.3 A study by Çörtük et al on 196 patients with COPD and 14 patients (7.1%). Among the common allele combinations, PI*M/Z was detected in three patients (1.53%) and PI*Z/Z in one patient (0.51%), whereas the S allele combination was not detected. PIM/Malton was identified as a rare allele in 3 patients (1.53%), PIM/I in 3 patients (1.53%), PIM/Plowell in 2 patients (1.02%), PIM/procida in 1 patient (0.51%), and a single-point mutation (GRCh38) g.94378611 in 1 patient (0.51%).10 Onur et al evaluated 1,088 patients with COPD, asthma, and bronchiectasis and AATD was detected in 51 patients (5%). In 15 patients (29.4%), variants combining common S or Z alleles were detected in 36 patients (70.6%), whereas rare alleles (PIM Malton, PIP Lowell, PIM Heerlen, and PIS Iiyama). The most frequent combinations were PI*M/Z (n=12, 24%) and PI*M/M males (n=11, 22%). Among 51 patients with AATD, 19 had emphysema.9 No information was available regarding the type and localization of emphysema.

    In a study conducted by Onur et al on 596 patients with COPD, AATD was observed in 21 (3.52%). The most common mutations were PI*M/Plowell (23.8%, n=5), PI*M/S (23.8%, n=5), PI*M/I (19%, n=4), PI*M/Malton (14.3%, n=3), PI*Z/Z (9%, n=2), PI*M/Z (4.8%, n=1), and Kayseri/Kayseri (4.8%, n=1) mutations. Computed chest tomography revealed that 85.7% (n=18) of patients with AATD had emphysema, 55% (n=10) of patients with emphysema only had upper-lobe emphysema, and 83.3% (n=15) had emphysema in additional areas.11 No information was available regarding the type of emphysema or genotype distribution.

    In our study, the AATD genotypes in patients with emphysema were PI*M/M malton (n=9), PI*M/Z (n=7), PI*M/I (n=4), PI*M malton/M malton (n=4), PI*M/I (n=4), PI*Z/Z (n=3), PI*M/P low (n=3), and PI*Z/M malton (n=1). The frequency and genotype distribution of AATD in patients with emphysema in the present study were similar to those reported by Türkiye et al. Unlike other studies. Interestingly, the M Malton/M Malton genotype was identified in 4 out of 794 patients (0.5%), higher than the frequency of the PiZZ genotype in our sample. This unexpected finding suggests a possible regional or ethnic variation in rare SERPINA1 mutation frequencies. Such variation may have important implications for the design of genetic screening programs. In populations where rare mutations such as M Malton are more prevalent, targeted sequencing approaches may be more effective than focusing solely on the most common variants. AAT genotyping was performed based on the type of bronchiectasis. The most frequently observed alleles in panacinar emphysema were PIM/Z, PIM/M Malton, PIM Malton/M Malton, and PIZ/Z. In centriacinar emphysema, the PIM/M Malton and PIM/I alleles were detected, whereas no mutations were observed in paraseptal emphysema. In the PI*Z/Z and PI*Z/M malton genotypes, emphysema was observed in all lobes and panacinar types.

    Augmentation therapy (a human Alpha-1-Proteinase inhibitor) in AATD has been used for approximately 38 years. The benefits of augmentation therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary emphysema due to AATD have been well established. Augmentation therapy has been shown to increase the level of AAT in serum and lung tissue, increase pulmonary anti-neutrophil elastase capacity, slow the progression of emphysema, and reduce the decrease in FEV1.4,18–21 Augmentation therapy in Türkiye is paid when it is prescribed to patients with the homozygous PI*Z/Z allele with genetic examination and FEV1 > 30% in a pulmonary function test or after it is evaluated by the Ministry of Health Board in off-label applications in patients with rare heterozygous mutations. Our study also evaluated patients with emphysema and AATD in terms of augmentation therapy. It was determined that 6 of the patients received augmentation therapy indication for AATD, and 3 patients received treatment approval with off-label admission. It was determined that 3 of Three patients had PI*Z/Z, 2 had PI*M malton/M malton, and 1 had PI*Z/M malton genotype. The AAT levels in patients receiving augmentation therapy were very low and they had panaciner-type emphysema.

    The limitations of our study include its single-center retrospective design. In addition, because screening was conducted only in patients with emphysema, there is no possibility of detecting AATD in patients with COPD or asthma without emphysema. One of the main limitations of our study is that smoking exposure was recorded only categorically (current, former, or never smokers), without quantitative data such as cumulative pack-years. This restricts the ability to assess the dose-dependent effect of tobacco exposure on genotype–phenotype correlations.

    Our results emphasize the importance of identifying AAT deficiency in emphysema patients. Measurement of serum AAT levels is recommended as the initial step. If levels are found to be low or borderline, genotyping can then be performed to identify specific mutations. Analyzing AAT genotypes in patients with emphysema may provide an early diagnosis of AATD, allowing the application of preventive measures and augmentation therapy strategies. This may slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life.

    Disclosure

    The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

    References

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    2. American Thoracic Society; European Respiratory Society. American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society statement: standards for the diagnosis and management of individuals with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;168(7):818–900. doi:10.1164/rccm.168.7.818.

    3. Alí-Munive A, Leidy P, Proaños NJ, et al. Prevalence of genetic mutations in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (aatd) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Colombia. BMC Pulm Med. 2023;23(1):156. doi:10.1186/s12890-023-02453-0

    4. Wewers MD, Casolaro MA, Sellers SE, et al. Replacement therapy for alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency associated with emphysema. N Engl J Med. 1987;316(17):1055–1062. doi:10.1056/NEJM198704233161704

    5. Janssen R, Piscaer I, Franssen FME, Wouters EFM. Emphysema: looking beyond alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2019;13(4):381–397. doi:10.1080/17476348.2019.1580575

    6. Regan EA, Lynch DA, Curran-Everett D, et al. Clinical and radiologic disease in smokers with normal spirometry [published correction appears. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(9):1588. DOI:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.4706

    7. Strnad P, McElvaney NG, Lomas DA. Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(15):1443–1455. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1910234

    8. Stoller JK, Brantly M. The challenge of detecting alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. COPD. 2013;10 Suppl 1:26–34. doi:10.3109/15412555.2013.763782

    9. Tural Onur S, Natoli A, Dreger B, et al. An alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency screening study in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, or Asthma in Turkey. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2023;18:2785–2794. doi:10.2147/COPD.S425835

    10. Çörtük M, Demirkol B, Arslan MA, et al. Frequency of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and unexpected results in COPD patients in Turkey; rare variants are common. Turk J Med Sci. 2022;52(5):1478–1485. doi:10.55730/1300-0144.5486

    11. Önür ST. Initial alpha-1 antitrypsin screening in Turkish patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Turk J Med Sci. 2023;53(4):1012–1018. doi:10.55730/1300-0144.5665

    12. Takahashi M, Fukuoka J, Nitta N, et al. Imaging of pulmonary emphysema: a pictorial review. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2008;3(2):193–204. doi:10.2147/copd.s2639

    13. Miravitlles M, Nuñez A, Torres-Durán M, et al. The importance of reference centers and registries for rare diseases: the example of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. COPD. 2020;17(4):346–354. doi:10.1080/15412555.2020.1795824

    14. Gurevich S, Daya A, Da Silva C, Girard C, Rahaghi F. Improving screening for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency with direct testing in the pulmonary function testing laboratory. Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2021;8(2):190–197. doi:10.15326/jcopdf.2020.0179

    15. Tejwani V, Nowacki AS, Fye E, Sanders C, Stoller JK. The impact of delayed diagnosis of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: the association between diagnostic delay and worsened clinical status. Respir Care. 2019;64(8):915–922. doi:10.4187/respcare.06555

    16. Veith M, Tüffers J, Peychev E, et al. The Distribution of alpha-1 antitrypsin genotypes between patients with copd/emphysema, asthma and bronchiectasis. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2020;15:2827–2836. doi:10.2147/COPD.S271810

    17. Lopez-Campos JL, Osaba L, Czischke K, et al. Feasibility of a genotyping system for the diagnosis of alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency: a multinational cross-sectional analysis. Respir Res. 2022;23(1):152. doi:10.1186/s12931-022-02074-x

    18. Wencker M, Fuhrmann B, Banik N, Konietzko N. Wissenschaftliche Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Therapie von Lungenerkrankungen. Longitudinal follow-up of patients with alpha(1)-protease inhibitor deficiency before and during therapy with IV alpha(1)-protease inhibitor. Chest. 2001;119(3):737–744. doi:10.1378/chest.119.3.737

    19. Survival and FEV1 decline in individuals with severe deficiency of alpha1-antitrypsin. the alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency registry study group. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998;158(1):49–59. doi:10.1164/ajrccm.158.1.9712017

    20. Stockley RA, Parr DG, Piitulainen E, Stolk J, Stoel BC, Dirksen A. Therapeutic efficacy of α-1 antitrypsin augmentation therapy on the loss of lung tissue: an integrated analysis of 2 randomised clinical trials using computed tomography densitometry. Respir Res. 2010;11(1):136. doi:10.1186/1465-9921-11-136

    21. McElvaney NG, Burdon J, Holmes M, et al. Long-term efficacy and safety of α1 proteinase inhibitor treatment for emphysema caused by severe α1 antitrypsin deficiency: an open-label extension trial (RAPID-OLE) [published correction appears. Lancet Respir Med. 2017;5(2):e13. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(17)30004-8.]

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  • The family tree of F1’s 10 teams and how they came to be

    The family tree of F1’s 10 teams and how they came to be

    The teams currently on the F1 grid all bring with them very different back stories. From those who have built a storied history, through to some that have been borne out of the ashes of past outfits and others that arrived brand new, we’ve been taking a look at the fascinating family tree of all 10 outfits…

    McLaren

    In terms of the sport’s most historic names, McLaren is up there amongst them. The team were founded by Bruce McLaren and made their debut back in 1966, with the New Zealander himself at the wheel.

    McLaren claimed the first win for his squad at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix and, following his death whilst testing a Can-Am car in 1970, the team bearing his name have gone on to score a total of 200 Grand Prix victories to date along with nine Teams’ Championships and 12 Drivers’ titles.

    The outfit are the second oldest team on the grid, behind another famed name in motorsport history…

    Ferrari

    Having arrived in Formula 1 when the championship made its debut back in 1950, Ferrari are the only team to have competed in every season since, and in that time the Scuderia have built an illustrious legacy.

    Famed for their scarlet livery, the Italian outfit have attracted some of the most famous drivers over the years and collected titles with many of them, including Alberto Ascari, Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher.

    While their last Drivers’ Championship came courtesy of Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 – with the Teams’ crown following in 2008 – Ferrari have well and truly earned their place in the F1 history books.

    Mercedes

    Mercedes first appeared in Formula 1 back in 1954 and 1955 but, following their withdrawal from motorsport after the latter year, the name did not return as a manufacturer until many years later.

    The outfit now known as Mercedes started life as Tyrrell back in 1970, before being purchased by British American Racing in 1998, resulting in the team being rebranded one year on.

    Another change came in 2006 when Honda took over but, after the company opted to withdraw at the end of 2008, Ross Brawn famously purchased the squad for one pound, leading to the fairytale championship-winning 2009 season for the Brawn GP squad.

    Mercedes acquired the team at the end of that year, meaning that the Silver Arrows name returned for 2010. In the years since, the Brackley-based outfit have achieved seven Drivers’ Championships – six courtesy of Lewis Hamilton – alongside eight Teams’ titles.

    Red Bull

    The origins of the Red Bull team can be traced back to Stewart Grand Prix, the squad founded by Jackie Stewart that went on to compete in F1 between 1997 and 1999.

    When Ford purchased the outfit at the end of the latter year, the team were rebranded as Jaguar, a name that they raced under through to the 2004 season.

    Energy drinks company Red Bull then acquired the squad, leading to the team becoming Red Bull Racing in 2005. The rest is history, with the outfit having gone on to win the Teams’ Championship on six occasions and the Drivers’ title a total of eight times, four apiece for Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

    Williams

    Another one of Formula 1’s most historic names, Williams made their full-time debut on the grid back in 1978 with Alan Jones at the wheel. The outfit – co-founded by Frank Williams and Patrick Head – went on to experience championship glory for the first time just two years later.

    Following plenty of success in the 1980s and 1990s, Williams have struggled to replicate that form in the years since, and a change came for the team in 2020 when they were purchased by Dorilton Capital.

    While Frank Williams and daughter Claire stepped back from the team, the squad continue to carry the Williams name as they try to make their way back to the front of the grid.

    Aston Martin

    Aston Martin briefly competed in F1 for just five races between 1959 and 1960, but the outfit that now carries the brand’s name actually started life as Jordan back in 1991.

    Founder Eddie Jordan sold the team to Midland Racing in 2005, who then rebranded under that name in 2006. The squad were subsequently acquired by Spyker, leading to another name change for the 2007 campaign.

    Just one year on, the outfit became Force India after another buyout, a moniker that they raced under through to 2018. A consortium led by Lawrence Stroll took over during that final year to bring the struggling team out of administration, and another rebrand as Racing Point followed in 2019.

    After Stroll’s consortium took a 16.7% stake in Aston Martin, the team took on the famous manufacturer’s name from 2021 onwards.

    Kick Sauber

    The Sauber name first arrived in Formula 1 in 1993, with Karl Wendlinger and JJ Lehto forming the line-up of Peter Sauber’s eponymous squad.

    When the team was purchased by BMW at the end of 2005, they began racing under the BMW Sauber moniker in 2006. However, after the manufacturer decided to withdraw from the sport at the close of 2009, the squad was sold back to Peter Sauber and returned to his name.

    After partnering with Alfa Romeo in 2018, the team rebranded as Alfa Romeo Racing from 2019 onwards, a name that remained until the Italian brand exited after 2023.

    While the team have been known as Kick Sauber since 2024, a big change is on the horizon next season when the squad will become Audi’s works outfit, coinciding with a new era of technical regulations coming into effect in the sport.

    Racing Bulls

    Another team that has seen its fair share of identity changes is Racing Bulls. The life of the outfit actually goes back to 1985 and the arrival of Minardi, the Italian squad that remained on the grid through to the end of 2005.

    Red Bull – off the back of purchasing the former Jaguar outfit – acquired Minardi ahead of the 2006 season, with the company deciding to run a second ‘junior’ team in which they would develop young talent.

    After making their debut under the Toro Rosso name, a rebranding saw the squad become AlphaTauri in 2020, which then changed to RB in 2024 before evolving into Racing Bulls for the 2025 campaign.

    Haas

    The newest team to arrive in Formula 1, Haas – established by American founder Gene Haas – entered the sport in 2016, having purchased the Banbury base of the former Marussia outfit to use as their headquarters in the United Kingdom.

    With the line-up of Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez, Haas enjoyed the strongest debut of a new team in this century after placing in a respectable P8 of the Teams’ Championship, before recording their best finish to date in 2018 with P5 at the end of the year.

    While they have faced some highs and lows in the time since, the squad bounced back from a last place result in 2023 to become regular points scorers again in 2024, ending that campaign in seventh place.

    Alpine

    Alpine are another team to carry a long history of name changes over the years. The origins of the outfit go right back to 1981 when Toleman arrived on the grid, the squad that famously gave Ayrton Senna his debut in 1984.

    After being purchased by Benetton, they took the moniker of the Italian fashion brand in 1986. It was under this guise that the team experienced great success in the mid-1990s, with Michael Schumacher claiming back-to-back Drivers’ Championships in 1994 and 1995.

    The outfit became Renault in 2002 following their acquisition by the French manufacturer, with Fernando Alonso taking the Drivers’ title in 2005 and 2006, before they changed to Lotus in 2012. Four years later, Renault took over again, a name that remained through to the end of 2020.

    As of 2021, the company decided to rebrand the F1 team as Alpine. The squad have faced mixed fortunes in the years since, but have collected six podiums along the way as well as a surprise victory courtesy of Esteban Ocon at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.

    Cadillac

    While there are currently 10 teams on the grid, it is worth noting that another name will join the family as of 2026.

    Cadillac are set to become F1’s newest arrival next season. It was first confirmed in November 2024 that Formula 1 had reached an agreement in principle with General Motors (GM) to support bringing GM/Cadillac to the grid in the 2026 season.

    The Cadillac Formula 1 Team then received final approval in March 2025 to join the sport next year, with the squad set to be led by Team Principal Graeme Lowdon, while General Motors and TWG Motorsports are also building a power unit facility which will ultimately make the Cadillac team a full-works operation.

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  • Trump’s massive tariff hike triggers boycott calls for US products in India

    Trump’s massive tariff hike triggers boycott calls for US products in India



    A person holds effigy with US President Donald Trump and Indian PM Narendra Modi posters. — APF/File

    NEW DELHI: Several US companies operating in India are now facing boycott calls in the South Asian nation with business executives and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s supporters stoking anti-American sentiment to protest against import duties imposed by Washington.

    India, the world’s most populous nation, is a key market for American brands that have rapidly expanded to target a growing base of affluent consumers, many of whom remain infatuated with international labels seen as symbols of moving up in life.

    India, for example, is the biggest market by users for Meta’s WhatsApp and a popular pizza chain has more restaurants than any other brand in the country.

    US-based beverage companies often dominate store shelves, and people still queue up when a new smartphone store opens or a coffee shop doles out discounts.

    Although there was no immediate indication of sales being hit, there’s a growing chorus both on social media and offline to buy local and ditch American products after Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on goods from India, rattling exporters and damaging ties between New Delhi and Washington.

    Manish Chowdhary, co-founder of a local company selling skin-care products, took to LinkedIn with a video message urging support for farmers and startups to make “Made in India” a “global obsession,” and to learn from South Korea, whose food and beauty products are famous worldwide.

    “We have lined up for products from thousands of miles away. We have proudly spent on brands that we don’t own, while our own makers fight for attention in their own country,” he said.

    Rahm Shastry, CEO of a local company which provides a car driver on call service, wrote on LinkedIn: “India should have its own home-grown Twitter/Google/YouTube/WhatsApp/FB — like China has”.

    To be fair, Indian retail companies give foreign brands stiff competition in the domestic market, but going global has been a challenge.

    Indian IT services firms, however, have become deeply entrenched in the global economy, with the likes of TCS and Infosys providing software solutions to clients worldwide.

    On Sunday, Modi made a “special appeal” for becoming self-reliant, telling a gathering in Bengaluru that Indian technology companies made products for the world but “now is the time for us to give more priority to India’s needs”, however, he did not name any company.

    BJP-linked group holds boycott rallies

    Even as anti-American protests simmer, Tesla launched its second showroom in India in New Delhi, with Monday’s opening attended by Indian commerce ministry officials and US embassy officials.

    The Swadeshi Jagran Manch group, which is linked to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), took out small public rallies across India on Sunday, urging people to boycott American brands.

    “People are now looking at Indian products. It will take some time to fructify,” Ashwani Mahajan, the group’s co-convenor, told Reuters. “This is a call for nationalism, patriotism”.

    He also shared with Reuters a table his group is circulating on WhatsApp, listing Indian brands of bath soaps, toothpaste and cold drinks that people could choose over foreign ones.

    On social media, one of the group’s campaigns is a graphic titled “Boycott foreign food chains”, with logos of many restaurant brands.

    In Uttar Pradesh, Rajat Gupta, 37, who was dining at a US-based restaurant chain in Lucknow on Monday, said he wasn’t concerned about the tariff protests and simply enjoyed the INR49 ($0.55) coffee he considered good value for money.

    “Tariffs are a matter of diplomacy and my coffee should not be dragged into it,” he said.

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  • Why Asia Cup 2025 will be played in T20I format

    Why Asia Cup 2025 will be played in T20I format

    Asia Cup 2025 will begin on 9th September.

    After the test season, it’s now time for some T20I action as Asia’s biggest championship is around the corner. Asia Cup 2025 is all set to be played in September in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

    Asia Cup 2025 will kick start on 9th September and will run till the end of the month, with the final set to take place on 28th September. This will be the 17th edition of the tournament, and like the last seasons, it is expected to be a blockbuster. 

    The first edition of the tournament was played in 1984 when the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) was founded. It was introduced to promote cricket in Asia, and since then, several teams from the continent have made their presence felt.

    Why the Asia Cup 2025 will be played in T20I format 

    When the Asia Cup was introduced, it was played in the ODI format since the T20I had not yet come into existence. Till 2015, the tournament was played in the 50-over format, but ahead of the start of the 2016 season, it was announced that the format in which the tournament would be played would be on a rotational basis. 

    It was announced that the format of the tournament will be decided on the basis of the format of upcoming world events. This is the reason why the Asia Cup was played in the T20I format for the first time in 2016 since the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 was next to follow. 

    With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 around the corner, the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup will be played in T20I format. The last edition was played in the ODI format, as it was played a few months ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

    Asia Cup winners 

    Indian Cricket Team at ICC Champions Trophy 2025. (Image Source: BCCI)

    India are the most successful team in the Asia Cup. They have won the title record eight times and are followed by Sri Lanka, who have six titles. Pakistan are there too with two cups.

    Year Hosts Winners Runners-up
    1984 UAE India Sri Lanka
    1986 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Pakistan
    1988 Bangladesh India Sri Lanka
    1990/1991 India India Sri Lanka
    1995 UAE India Sri Lanka
    1997 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka India
    2000 Bangladesh Pakistan Sri Lanka
    2004 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka India
    2008 Pakistan Sri Lanka India
    2010 Sri Lanka India Sri Lanka
    2012 Bangladesh Pakistan Bangladesh
    2014 Bangladesh Sri Lanka Pakistan
    2016 Bangladesh India (T20I) Bangladesh
    2018 UAE India Bangladesh
    2022 UAE Sri Lanka (T20I) Pakistan
    2023 Pakistan/Sri Lanka India Sri Lanka

    When will Asia Cup 2025 begin?

    Asia Cup 2025 will begin on 9th September.

    Which team has won the Asia Cup the most times?

    India have with eight titles have won the most number of titles.

    For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.


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  • Atlas may not be a typical comet, could be alien mission, says Harvard physicist

    Atlas may not be a typical comet, could be alien mission, says Harvard physicist

    A comet visiting our solar system from another star is only the third known interstellar object to pass our way. The approach of 3I/Atlas has sparked interest and curiosity in the astro community, but one prominent Harvard physicist has raised the possibility that it is more than a typical comet.

    This image provided by NASA/European Space Agency shows an image captured by Hubble of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on July 21, 2025, when the comet was 277 million miles from Earth. (NASA/European Space Agency via AP)(AP)

    Avi Loeb, the chair of the astronomy department at Harvard, has suggested that the Manhattan-sized interstellar object could be an alien probe on a “reconnaissance mission”.

    A comet or an alien probe?

    Loeb raised the possibility that the trajectory of the interstellar object – which has been travelling through space for millions, possibly billions, of years – was “designed”.

    “Maybe the trajectory was designed,” the Harvard physicist told Fox News Digital. “If it had an objective to sort of to be on a reconnaissance mission, to either send mini probes to those planets or monitor them… It seems quite anomalous.”

    According to scientists, the object is over 12 miles wide and moving at a pace of 37 miles per second. NASA states that it could be within about 130 million miles of the Earth on October 30, USA Today reported. It was first detected in July by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS, telescope located in Chile.

    (Also read: Rare interstellar object zooming through solar system: All about the mysterious 3I/Atlas)

    What makes Atlas an unusual comet?

    NASA has classified 3I/Atlas as a comet. Loeb, however, says that an unexpected glow appears in front of the object rather than trailing behind it. This he called “quite surprising”.

    “Usually with comets you have a tail, a cometary tail, where dust and gas are shining, reflecting sunlight, and that’s the signature of a comet,” Loeb told Fox News Digital. “Here, you see a glow in front of it, not behind it.”

    The Harvard physicist also said that the object is unusually bright for a comet, but the strangest bit about it is its trajectory.

    “If you imagine objects entering the solar system from random directions, just one in 500 of them would be aligned so well with the orbits of the planets,” he said.

    Loeb pointed out that 3I/Atlas is expected to pass near to Mars, Venus and Jupiter. He says it is highly improbable that this trajectory happened at random. “It also comes close to each of them, with a probability of one in 20,000,” he said.

    “If it turns out to be technological, it would obviously have a big impact on the future of humanity,” Loeb said. “We have to decide how to respond to that.”

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  • Best MacBook deal: Save $200 on 15-inch 2025 MacBook Air M4

    Best MacBook deal: Save $200 on 15-inch 2025 MacBook Air M4

    SAVE $200: As of Aug. 11, the 15-inch 2025 Apple MacBook Air M4 is on sale for $999 at Amazon. That’s the lowest-ever price for this model.

    Apple’s 2025 MacBook Air has seen some incredible deals over the last few months, but this latest discount beats them all. As of Aug. 11, you can get the 15-inch MacBook Air for under $1,000. Right now it’s priced at just $999. That’s its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. The deal applies to all colors too, so you can choose between starlight, midnight, silver, and sky blue.

    This price is only for the 16GB option. Need something bigger? You’re in luck — all memory sizes are reduced by $200.

    SEE ALSO:

    Apple may launch App Intents alongside the upgraded Siri next spring

    This is one of the best-ever MacBook’s, and the newest in the Air range. It’s powered by Apple’s new M4 chip, meaning it’s both fast and efficient. This means it can handle things like video editing, jumping between apps, and working through heavy multiple-tab workloads, without having to endure lag. It’s also created with Apple Intelligence, Apple’s personal AI system that helps you get more work done in less time.

    This model also boasts a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display that supports 1 billion colors, so enjoy seriously high-quality pictures at all times. Other standout features include a 12MP Center Stage camera, a three-mic setup, and a six-speaker system with Spatial Audio, so you’ll always look your best on work calls. And you get 18 hours of battery life, so you can work on the go without a worry.

    Mashable Deals

    Sold yet? Get it at Amazon now.

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