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  • Antarctic sea ice may be in terminal decline due to rising Southern Ocean salinity

    Antarctic sea ice may be in terminal decline due to rising Southern Ocean salinity

    The ocean around Antarctica is rapidly getting saltier at the same time as sea ice is retreating at a record pace. Since 2015, the frozen continent has lost sea ice similar to the size of Greenland. That ice hasn’t returned, marking the largest global environmental change during the past decade.

    This finding caught us off guard – melting ice typically makes the ocean fresher. But new satellite data shows the opposite is happening, and that’s a big problem. Saltier water at the ocean surface behaves differently than fresher seawater by drawing up heat from the deep ocean and making it harder for sea ice to regrow.

    The loss of Antarctic sea ice has global consequences. Less sea ice means less habitat for penguins and other ice-dwelling species. More of the heat stored in the ocean is released into the atmosphere when ice melts, increasing the number and intensity of storms and accelerating global warming. This brings heatwaves on land and melts even more of the Antarctic ice sheet, which raises sea levels globally.

    Our new study has revealed that the Southern Ocean is changing, but in a different way to what we expected. We may have passed a tipping point and entered a new state defined by persistent sea ice decline, sustained by a newly discovered feedback loop.

    A satellite image of Antarctica with sea ice and Southern Ocean noted.A satellite image of Antarctica with sea ice and Southern Ocean noted.

    The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica, which is fringed by sea ice. Nasa

    A surprising discovery

    Monitoring the Southern Ocean is no small task. It’s one of the most remote and stormy places on Earth, and is covered in darkness for several months a year. Thanks to new European Space Agency satellites and underwater robots which stay below the ocean surface measuring temperature and salinity, we can now observe what is happening in real time.

    Our team at the University of Southampton worked with colleagues at the Barcelona Expert Centre and the European Space Agency to develop new algorithms to track ocean surface conditions in polar regions from satellites. By combining satellite observations with data from underwater robots, we built a 15-year picture of changes in ocean salinity, temperature and sea ice.

    What we found was astonishing. Around 2015, surface salinity in the Southern Ocean began rising sharply – just as sea ice extent started to crash. This reversal was completely unexpected. For decades, the surface had been getting fresher and colder, helping sea ice expand.

    A line graph showing a steady and then sudden decline in sea ice extent.A line graph showing a steady and then sudden decline in sea ice extent.

    The annual summer minimum extent of Antarctic sea ice dropped precipitously in 2015. NOAA Climate.gov/National Snow and Ice Data Center

    To understand why this matters, it helps to think of the Southern Ocean as a series of layers. Normally, the cold, fresh surface water sits on top of warmer, saltier water deep below. This layering (or stratification, as scientists call it) traps heat in the ocean depths, keeping surface waters cool and helping sea ice to form.

    Saltier water is denser and therefore heavier. So, when surface waters become saltier, they sink more readily, stirring the ocean’s layers and allowing heat from the deep to rise. This upward heat flux can melt sea ice from below, even during winter, making it harder for ice to reform. This vertical circulation also draws up more salt from deeper layers, reinforcing the cycle.

    A powerful feedback loop is created: more salinity brings more heat to the surface, which melts more ice, which then allows more heat to be absorbed from the Sun. My colleagues and I saw these processes first hand in 2016-2017 with the return of the Maud Rise polynya, which is a gaping hole in the sea ice that is nearly four times the size of Wales and last appeared in the 1970s.

    What happens in Antarctica doesn’t stay there

    Losing Antarctic sea ice is a planetary problem. Sea ice acts like a giant mirror reflecting sunlight back into space. Without it, more energy stays in the Earth system, speeding up global warming, intensifying storms and driving sea level rise in coastal cities worldwide.

    Wildlife also suffers. Emperor penguins rely on sea ice to breed and raise their chicks. Tiny krill – shrimp-like crustaceans which form the foundation of the Antarctic food chain as food for whales and seals – feed on algae that grow beneath the ice. Without that ice, entire ecosystems start to unravel.

    What’s happening at the bottom of the world is rippling outward, reshaping weather systems, ocean currents and life on land and sea.

    An aerial view of sea ice.An aerial view of sea ice.

    Feedback loops are accelerating the loss of Antarctic sea ice. University of Southampton

    Antarctica is no longer the stable, frozen continent we once believed it to be. It is changing rapidly, and in ways that current climate models didn’t foresee. Until recently, those models assumed a warming world would increase precipitation and ice-melting, freshening surface waters and helping keep Antarctic sea ice relatively stable. That assumption no longer holds.

    Our findings show that the salinity of surface water is rising, the ocean’s layered structure is breaking down and sea ice is declining faster than expected. If we don’t update our scientific models, we risk being caught off guard by changes we could have prepared for. Indeed, the ultimate driver of the 2015 salinity increase remains uncertain, underscoring the need for scientists to revise their perspective on the Antarctic system and highlighting the urgency of further research.

    We need to keep watching, yet ongoing satellite and ocean monitoring is threatened by funding cuts. This research offers us an early warning signal, a planetary thermometer and a strategic tool for tracking a rapidly shifting climate. Without accurate, continuous data, it will be impossible to adapt to the changes in store.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    Alessandro Silvano is a Natural Environment Research Council (United Kingdom Research and Innovation) Independent Research Fellow.

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  • Zelenectide Pevedotin Plus Pembrolizumab Is Safe and Active in Treatment-Naive, Cisplatin-Ineligible Advanced Urothelial Cancer

    Zelenectide Pevedotin Plus Pembrolizumab Is Safe and Active in Treatment-Naive, Cisplatin-Ineligible Advanced Urothelial Cancer

    Urothelial Cancer | Image credit:

    © Adin – stock.adobe.com

    Treatment with the combination of the first-in-class Bicycle drug conjugate (BDC) zelenectide pevedotin (BT8009) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) was safe and generated antitumor activity in patients with previously untreated, cisplatin-ineligible, locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, according to data from the phase 1/2 Duravelo-1 trial (NCT04561362).

    Findings presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting showed that at a median follow-up of 7.1 months (range, 1.0-13.2), evaluable patients treated with the combination (n = 20) achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 65.0% (95% CI, 40.8%-84.6%), comprising a complete response rate of 25.0% and a partial response rate of 40.0%. The stable disease rate was 25.0%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 90.0%. Duration of response (DOR) data were not mature.

    Regarding safety, any-grade treatment-emergent adverse effects (TEAEs) occurred in all patients (n = 22), and 72.7% experienced grade 3 or higher TEAEs. Treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) of any grade were reported in all patients, including 68.2% who had grade 3 or higher TRAEs. Any-grade and grade 3 or higher zelenectide pevedotin–related TRAEs occurred at rates of 90.9% and 59.1%, respectively. These rates were 95.5% and 50.0%, respectively, for pembrolizumab.

    Serious AEs were reported in 54.5% of patients, including 50.0% who had grade 3 or higher serious AEs. TEAEs led to dose reductions and dose discontinuations of zelenectide pevedotin in 50.0% and 4.5% of patients, respectively. These rates were 0% and 9.1%, respectively, for pembrolizumab.

    “These data support a randomized, multicenter, open-label, phase 2/3 trial [NCT06225596] of zelenectide pevedotin as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab vs chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced/metastatic urothelial cancer,” lead study author Patrizia Giannatempo, MD, of Fondazione IRCCS – Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan, Italy, and colleagues wrote in a poster presentation of the data.

    Zelenectide Pevedotin and Duravelo-1 Background

    Zelenectide pevedotin features a highly selective Nectin-4–targeting bicyclic peptide that is conjugated to a monomethyl auristatin E payload via a cleavable link. Bicycle molecules have the manufacturing and pharmacokinetic properties of small molecules with the high binding specificity of a biologic agent.

    Duravelo-1 enrolled adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who were ineligible for cisplatin per Galsky criteria and were naive to systemic therapy in the advanced setting. Patients needed to meet at least 1 of the following criteria to be deemed ineligible for cisplatin:

    • a creatinine clearance of 30 to 59 mL per minute
    • hearing loss of at least 25 decibels at 2 contiguous frequencies
    • New York Heart Association heart failure of class III or higher
    • an ECOG performance status of 2, with a hemoglobin level of at least 10 g/dL, a creatinine clearance of at least 50 mL per minute, and no NYHA class III heart failure

    The study evaluated zelenectide pevedotin as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. For the combination, zelenectide pevedotin was given at 5 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 21-day cycle, and pembrolizumab was administered at 200 mg on day 1 of each cycle.

    The trial’s primary end point was investigator-assessed ORR per RECIST 1.1 criteria. Safety, DOR, and DCR were secondary end points.

    As of the January 3, 2025, data cutoff, patients in the combination cohort (n = 22) had a median age of 77 years (range, 61-85). The majority were male (68.2%) and White (81.8%). Patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 (22.7%), 1 (31.8%), or 2 (45.5%). Baseline creatinine clearance was below 60 mL per minute for 54.5% of patients.

    Additional Safety Findings

    Grade 4 TRAEs of hypomagnesemia and neutropenia were each reported in 1 patient. No grade 5 TRAEs occurred.

    The most common TRAEs reported in at least 20% of patients given the combination included asthenia (any-grade, 63.6%; grade ≥3, 9.1%), anemia (59.1%; 0%), diarrhea (50.0%; 9.1%), decreased appetite (40.9%; 4.5%), increased aspartate aminotransferase levels (36.4%; 4.5%), nausea (36.4%; 4.5%), rash (31.8%; 4.5%), increased alanine aminotransferase levels (27.3%; 13.6%), neutropenia (27.3%; 13.6%), pruritus (27.3%; 0%), alopecia (22.7%; 0%), hyperglycemia (22.7%; 0%), and vomiting (22.7%; 4.5%).

    Reference

    Giannatempo P, Galsky M, Duran I, et al. Phase 1/2 Duravelo-1 study: Preliminary results of nectin-4–targeting zelenectide pevedotin (BT8009) plus pembrolizumab in previously untreated, cisplatin-ineligible patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):4567. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.4567

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  • Studying an Oral Nighttime Therapy in Mild to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea: The LunAIRo Trial

    Studying an Oral Nighttime Therapy in Mild to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea: The LunAIRo Trial

    Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is known as a chronic and potentially serious disorder in which the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing intermittent drops in oxygen levels. It results from a combination of neuromuscular dysfunction during sleep and anatomical predispositions. OSA can affect patients of all genders, ages, ethnicities, and body types including those without obesity, and is estimated to impact 80 million patients in the United States. Despite the sleep disorder’s prevalence, up to 80% of cases remain undiagnosed and untreated.1

    Individuals with OSA may experience hundreds of breathing disruptions each night, leading to reduced oxygen levels that impair essential cellular functions. If left untreated, OSA can significantly increase the risk of long-term health issues such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, metabolic disorders, and early death. However, most diagnosed patients either do not initiate, discontinue, or inconsistently use current treatments. Presently, there are no approved pharmacologic therapies that directly target the neuromuscular dysfunction central to the disorder.

    The investigational oral therapy AD109 (Apnimed), a combination of aroxybutynin and atomoxetine, is currently being evaluated in the phase 3 LunAIRo study (NCT05811247), a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 1-year parallel-arm study of patients with mild to severe OSA. The trial, enrolling at least 660 participants aged 18 years and older from 64 clinical centers across the US, is designed to examine the efficacy and safety of the investigational agent compared with placebo.2 The study’s primary end point includes measuring the proportion of participants who experience a reduction in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) via polysomnography at 6 months and 1 year.

    Patrick Strollo, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM

    If successful, AD109 could become the first medication to address both the nighttime airway obstruction and oxygen deprivation central to OSA, as well as its daytime symptoms, such as fatigue. Taken once nightly at bedtime, this potential first-in-class combination targets neurological pathways involved in activating upper airway dilator muscles to help keep the airway open during sleep. Designed for use across varying levels of disease severity, AD109 offers the promise of a safe, effective, and more user-friendly alternative to current OSA treatments, which are often invasive or difficult for patients to tolerate.

    Eligible participants of the trial were adults aged 18 years or older who met specific polysomnography parameters, including an AHI greater than 5, with no more than 25% of events classified as central or mixed apneas and a periodic limb movement arousal index of 15 or less. Individuals also needed to report significant fatigue, as indicated by a PROMIS-Fatigue raw score of at least 17. Additional requirements included intolerance to or refusal of positive airway pressure therapy and a body mass index ranging from 18.5 to 40 kg/m² for men or up to 42 kg/m² for women.

    Participants were excluded if they had a diagnosis of narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, or REM sleep behavior disorder. Those with insomnia marked by difficulty falling or staying asleep, or recent use of medications targeting insomnia symptoms, were also ineligible. Other exclusions included the presence of craniofacial syndromes such as Pierre Robin or Treacher Collins, or grade 3 or higher tonsillar hypertrophy. Individuals with clinically significant heart conditions, such as unstable coronary artery disease or ventricular arrhythmias, were excluded although stable atrial arrhythmia was permitted. Neurological exclusions encompassed neuromuscular disorders, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson, Alzheimer, or related conditions.

    “The LunAIRo study is a complimentary study to SynAIRgy, a 6-month trial looking at safety and efficacy [of AD109]. LunAIRo is looking at safety and efficacy of [AD109] in a fairly similar population of over 600 participants,” Patrick Strollo, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM, professor of medicine and clinical translational science at the University of Pittsburgh, told NeurologyLive® in a recent interview. “We’ll get additional insights in terms of safety and efficacy over 1 year with a fairly similar demographic group.”

    “We’re also doing some substudies within LunAIRo looking at a more robust analysis of cardiovascular impact. There’s a substudy that we’ve done looking at ambulatory blood pressure. Those data are not fully analyzed. I imagine probably very shortly there will be an announcement of the topline results of LunAIRo, but right now I can’t really speak about results,” Strollo said. “But that’s the difference between LunAIRo versus SynAIRgy, and they should be complementary in terms of helping us understand safety and efficacy and also reassuring the FDA when the company goes to the agency, probably in early 2026.”

    AD109 first demonstrated therapeutic potential in the phase 3 SynAIRgy trial (NCT05813275), which tested the agent across a broad range of patients with mild, moderate, and severe OSA. In the study, the treatment met its primary end point in reducing AHI over a 26-week treatment period. Based on these findings, Apnimed noted that it plans to submit a new drug application (NDA) to the FDA in early 2026 for AD109 as a potential treatment of OSA.1

    Considered the largest such drug trial for OSA, SynAIRgy included 646 adults with the disease who were intolerant of or currently refusing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Coming into the study, 34.4% of patients had mild OSA, 42.4% had moderate, and 23.2% had severe. Overall, treatment with AD109 led to a statistically significant change in AHI, the primary end point, over a 26-week period relative to placebo (P = .001).

    In SynAIRgy, patients underwent a polysomnogram on treatment at week 4. Overall, treatment with the oral agent led to meaningful improvements in oxygenation, as assessed by hypoxic burden (P <.0001), and oxygen desaturation index (P = .001). Furthermore, 51.2% of treated patients experienced a reduction in OSA disease severity, and 22.3% achieved complete disease control, defined as an AHI of fewer than 5 events per hour.

    “Existing data suggests that up to 50% of patients with sleep apnea cannot or will not tolerate CPAP in the long term. There’s a huge unmet need for all of these patients with sleep apnea, and there’s a range of different treatment options being developed. AD109 is one of them that really is targeting neuromuscular function,” study chair Sanjay R. Patel, MD, MS, professor of medicine, epidemiology, & clinical and translational science at University of Pittsburgh, told NeurologyLive® in a recent interview. “There has been exciting data in the phase 2 short term studies and we’ve already very quickly filled enrollment for the phase 3 trial with 660 patients, which I think is just a testament of how many patients out there are interested in a pharmacologic treatment like this. We’re hopeful that we’ll get the results out there in about a year from now and, fingers crossed, there’s some promising results that give patients another treatment option.”

    In a previous phase 2 trial, dubbed MARIPOSA (NCT05071612), treatment with AD109 demonstrated statistically significant improvements on both objective and subjective outcomes in patients with OSA. The study featured 211 patients (41% female) with a median age 55 (48-60) years and BMI of 32.2 (28.0-35.2) kg/m2 who were randomized to AD109, atomoxetine, or placebo. All told, AHI4 was reduced from a median of 20.5 to 10.8 events/hour in the AD109 2.5mg/75 mg dose (P <.001 vs placebo).3

    Additional data showed that 41% of participants who completed the study achieved an AHI below 10 when treated with AD109, 44% had greater than 50% reduction from baseline, and 15%. Of treated patients had an 80% or greater reduction. Notably, atomoxetine, dosed as a monotherapy, did not improve daytime OSA symptoms, and statistically significantly worsened nighttime sleep subjectively and by the measurement of total sleep time, indicating that atomoxetine alone is an inappropriate therapy for OSA.

    AD109-treated patients also demonstrated statistically significant improvements vs placebo in PROMIS-Fatigue, a scale of daytime functioning (P <.05). The investigational agent also showed a trend towards statistically significant on scales measuring other important OSA symptoms such as PROMIS-Sleep Impairment and PROMIS-Sleep Disturbance.

    REFERENCES
    1. Apnimed Announces Positive Topline Results in the First Landmark Phase 3 Clinical Trial of AD109, an Investigational Once-Daily Oral Pill for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. News Release. Apnimed. Published May 19, 2025. Accessed June 25, 2025. https://apnimed.com/article/ad109phase3toplineresults/
    2. Apnimed Announces Completion of Enrollment in Phase 3 LunAIRo Study of AD109, the Potential First Nighttime Oral Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. News Release. Apnimed. Published May 9, 2024. Accessed June 25 2025. https://apnimed.com/article/apnimed-announces-completion-of-enrollment-in-phase-3-lunairo-study-of-ad109-the-potential-first-nighttime-oral-treatment-for-obstructive-sleep-apnea/
    3. Apnimed Presented Positive Phase 2b Results on AD109, an Investigational Oral Drug for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, for the First Time at ATS 2023. News release. Apnimed. May 21, 2023. Accessed June 25, 2025. https://apnimed.com/article/apnimed-presented-positive-phase-2b-results-on-ad109-an-investigational-oral-drug-for-obstructive-sleep-apnea-for-the-first-time-at-ats-2023/

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  • Huge $144m record smashed on opening weekend

    Huge $144m record smashed on opening weekend

    F1: The Movie has been in theaters for just under a week, and early tallies are in: It smashed box office expectations by netting $144 million in its worldwide debut. 

    The impressive figure means F1 is the most successful Apple Original film in history, as well as Brad Pitt’s most successful film launch.

    F1: The Movie makes global waves in debut

    Hailed as being the must-see blockbuster of the summer, F1: The Movie has just completed its first weekend in theaters, and it has been rewarded with stunning success — particularly for a racing movie.

    The film debuted at No. 1 on American domestic box office charts, netting $55.6 million in the US alone. It also made $88.4 million internationally, bringing its debut weekend total to $144 million.

    That makes this movie the most successful film launch of star actor Brad Pitt’s career, which is an impressive feat for a man with such a diverse resumé under his belt. It’s also the best market debut for an Apple Original Films movie; the company’s previous top debut was Killers of the Flower Moon, which made $23.2 million on opening.

    More on the F1 movie:

    👉 Six things about the F1 movie that make it a must-see

    👉 Brad Pitt F1 movie: An insider’s complete guide to the F1 film

    Motorsport-related films often struggle to make waves in the box office, which makes F1‘s success a compelling case study. Recent films like Ford v Ferrari only netted $52 million globally, while 2013’s Rush brought home $100 million.

    And with America’s Independence Day holiday approaching this weekend, potential viewers of F1: The Movie who weren’t able to attend opening weekend will likely have the time to do so soon.

    While $144 million is an impressive figure for a debut film, F1: The Movie will need to sell far more tickets in order to break even. Vulture estimates that the film cost around $250 million to film, while its advertising and promotion campaign cost an additional $150 to $175 million — and with ticket sales split between the theaters and the production company, some estimates have claimed F1 will need to net over a billion dollars to break even. However, Apple’s film model also relies heavily on streaming success through AppleTV+, which can build revenue for years to come.

    Still, the film’s initial success had proved several things. It showed that Apple Original Films can produce a box-office success. It developed innovative filming techniques that could even transform the way motorsport is broadcast. It also proved that, with the right amount of hype and promotion, a racing film can branch out to new audiences.

    Reviews of F1: The Movie have been mixed, with critics pointing out everything from its obvious product placement to its clunky plot, and motorsport fans noting that much of the movie hinges on racing sequences that are both unrealistic and that would also justify a driver being banned from the sport.

    Still, many viewers have praised its top-notch editing and immersive film style. Over on film review website Rotten Tomatoes, F1: The Movie has netted an 83% rating on its “Tomatometer,” which means that 83% of verified user reviews for the film are positive. It has also earned a “Certified Fresh” status, meaning it has netted strong reviews.

    Further, the website also rates films based on something called the “Popcornmeter,” which evaluates reviews for all users, not just verified users. F1: The Movie has earned a 97% rating on that metric, which means most fans have given the movie a 3.5-star rating or higher.

    The long-term impact of the film is impossible to know at this point, but those involved with its release are hoping it will engage a new set of fans in much the same way that Netflix’s docuseries Drive to Survive did.

    Read next: How many penalty points would F1 movie star Sonny Hayes have got in real life?

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  • Was ancient Mars habitable? NASA’s Perseverance rover is grinding into a ‘weird, uncooperative’ rock to find out

    Was ancient Mars habitable? NASA’s Perseverance rover is grinding into a ‘weird, uncooperative’ rock to find out

    NASA’s Perseverance rover is digging deeper into Mars’ geologic past as it begins grinding into Red Planet rock surfaces to expose material that could hold clues to the planet’s ancient environment and habitability.

    Earlier this month, the Perseverance rover used its abrasion tool to scrape away the top layer of a rocky Martian outcrop nicknamed “Kenmore,” revealing a fresh surface for close-up analysis of the rock’s composition and history. The procedure, which involves a combination of mechanical grinding and gas-blast cleaning, allows scientists to study rock interiors that haven’t been altered by wind, radiation or dust over billions of years.

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  • Allergies and Asthma Prevalence Rise With Climate Change Extremes and Pollutants

    Allergies and Asthma Prevalence Rise With Climate Change Extremes and Pollutants

    Increasing environmental events driven by climate change and human activity exacerbate allergy and asthma conditions, further compounded by exposure to persistent pollutants like per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances and microplastics. | Image Credit: Habibur – stock.adobe.com

    Allergy and asthma were linked with environmental events that are increasing in prevalence alongside natural disasters and other extreme weather events, including algal blooms, floods, heat stress, wild­fires, and thunderstorms that are coinciding with emissions of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics as downstream outcomes of these environmental events, according to a study published in Current Allergy and Asthma Reports.1

    Human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, are largely responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions driving these environmental changes. Weather intensity like droughts and floods have experienced dramatic rises over the past 5 years, based on data from NASA.2 Extreme weather is occurring more frequently, becoming longer-lasting, and more severe.

    The respiratory tract is highly vulnerable to these environmental stressors.1 Asthma, a common chronic disease, affects nearly 25 million Americans and is exacerbated by air pollutants and extreme weather. Similarly, allergic rhinitis, eczema, and food allergies, reported by 1 in 3 adults and 1 in 4 children in the US, are worsened by conditions like high temperatures and thunderstorms. As environmental threats increase respiratory contaminant exposure, continued investigation into these intertwined health outcomes is crucial.

    Extreme heat events, or heat waves, are becoming more frequent, intense, and prolonged. This poses a higher risk of premature death from respiratory diseases, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and those with chronic conditions. Heat stress commonly exacerbates asthma by increasing inflammation, activating sensory fibers, and disrupting epithelial barriers, leading to bronchoconstriction.

    High temperatures can also alter cytokine expression and T helper cell ratios, affect mucus production, and disrupt airway structural proteins. The interplay between environmental substances and extreme heat requires further research to understand additive, synergistic, or antagonistic health effects. Additionally, longer pollen seasons are introducing new allergenic species, likely worsening asthma and allergy cases.

    Warmer weather, earlier snowmelt, and hotter spring and summer temperatures are escalating the intensity, frequency, and duration of wildfires. These fires release harmful emissions like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide (CO2), nitric oxide, ozone, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

    Exposure to wildfire smoke is directly linked to more emergency department visits for respiratory issues, as well as increased respiratory illness and mortality. Perinatal wildfire smoke exposure can lead to earlier use of upper respiratory medications and a higher risk of respiratory birth defects in children. Wildfire smoke also worsens asthma symptoms and increases asthma-related hospitalizations, particularly for young children. Epigenetic changes may contribute to these health outcomes, requiring further research.

    The expansion of the wildland-urban interface, where human development meets wildlands, increases the risk of human-ignited wildfires. Fires in these areas are unique because they burn not only biomass but also homes, vehicles, and other synthetic materials, creating a distinct and poorly understood pulmonary toxicity profile. According to the authors, a key goal is to develop effective interventions to prevent adverse wildfire smoke exposure outcomes for communities, especially vulnerable populations like those with asthma and allergic rhinitis.

    Changing temperatures, weather patterns, and water acidi­fication from increased CO2 emissions have altered aver­age surface water conditions, which in turn increases the risk of harmful algal blooms by expanding both the geographic range and seasonal growth windows of the different marine and freshwater phytoplankton species that comprise harmful algal blooms. While harmful algal blooms may seem like a niche public health burden, 15% of global asthma cases in coastal regions can be attributed to aerosol­ized harmful algal blooms toxins. Pulmonary exposure to harmful algal blooms has linked toxins to rapid onset of respiratory irri­tation symptoms such as cough and congestion, along with increases in hospital admission rates for respiratory diseases. The distance harmful algal blooms aerosols can travel is also unclear, especially as it relates to the size of the at-risk population and the mix­tures of aerosolized harmful algal blooms toxins amongst other atmospheric copollutants.

    Floods, whether from sea or freshwater, heighten the risk of respiratory diseases, infections, and asthma exacerbations. This is primarily due to mold and microbial growth in flooded buildings. The sensitization to mold and fungi spores creates a proinflammatory environment, triggering conditions like allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis. Further research is needed to understand chronic flood-induced pulmonary issues and identify the specific mold and fungal strains responsible.

    Thunderstorm asthma is a global phenomenon characterized by an increase in asthma attacks after thunderstorms. It’s likely caused by a combination of high aeroallergen concentrations like ryegrass pollen, rain, and storm conditions that bring pollen to ground level. During a storm, pollen grains can rupture into smaller, more easily aerosolized subparticles due to physical disturbances. While fungal spores are abundant aeroallergens, their link to asthma exacerbations and thunderstorm asthma is not yet firmly established.

    PFAS are pervasive, persistent organic compounds used in consumer goods for their nonstick properties. Their strong carbon-fluorine bonds make them extremely difficult to degrade, posing a significant threat to environmental and human health. Humans are exposed through ingestion, absorption, and inhalation. PFAS exposure can alter inflammasome function in the lung, impacting immune response. Further research is needed to establish comprehensive limits, legislation, and public awareness regarding these chemicals.

    Microplastics are expected to increase in the environment and human bodies due to climate change impacts like increased precipitation and melting glaciers. Once released, microplastics do not easily degrade, persisting in environmental media. Inhaled microplastics, with their hydrophobic surfaces, may carry other pollutants and are linked to adverse respiratory outcomes such as irritation, interstitial lung disease, wheezing, and inflammation. More research is needed to understand their biological effects on pulmonary health, exposure routes, internal transport, and overall impact.

    “In the future, meta-anal­yses to quantify the health effects of natural disasters could be an important tool to inform public health measures. It is thus especially relevant for the scientific community also to begin exploring prevention and mitigation techniques in preparation for future disasters,” the authors concluded.

    References

    1. Chou CK, Winker R, Rebuli ME, et al. Respiratory health impacts from natural disasters and other extreme weather events: the role of environmental stressors on asthma and allergies. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2025(25);3-19. doi:10.1007/s11882-025-01206-9
    2. Harrabin R. Nasa data reveals dramatic rise in intensity of weather events. The Guardian. June 17, 2025. Accessed June 30, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/17/nasa-data-reveals-dramatic-rise-in-intensity-of-weather-events

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  • City parks reveal surprising wildlife secrets from soil

    City parks reveal surprising wildlife secrets from soil

    As cities rapidly grow, expanding by an area almost double the size of France by 2030, natural spaces are being replaced by buildings and roads. This massive urban spread is hitting wildlife hard, wiping out their homes, cranking up temperatures, and creating dangerous concrete jungles.

    It’s a tough situation for many animals on the move. Cities can be tempting with easy food and fewer natural predators, but they also come with deadly risks like traffic and lost pathways.

    While past studies used cameras or sound to monitor urban wildlife, a new Yale study takes a different approach by analyzing environmental DNA (eDNA) from soil in 21 Detroit parks during winter and summer to uncover how mammal diversity changes with the seasons in urban landscapes.

    The study aimed to understand how human activity shapes mammal communities in urban areas. By sampling environmental DNA (eDNA) from soil across 21 Detroit parks, researchers uncovered subtle, park-specific shifts in species composition, influenced by both natural and human-related factors, and larger parks supported greater biodiversity.

    eDNA revealed seasonal changes and human presence effects on urban wildlife. These insights offer a promising tool for more adaptive and informed urban biodiversity planning, helping cities better balance green space with growing human footprints.

    Measuring the effects of natural events on wildlife

    Researchers analyzed soil samples from 21 urban parks in Detroit, Michigan, during February and July 2023. They detected DNA from 23 mammal species, including humans. They confirmed these results using iNaturalist wildlife sightings.

    The DNA samples revealed seasonal shifts in mammal presence. Hibernators like groundhogs and muskrats were absent in winter samples, reflecting seasonal behaviors. During winter, animals were more clustered, likely due to resource competition and limited movement.

    In summer, eDNA patterns revealed that mammals were more dispersed across landscapes, with fewer cross-species interactions due to abundant resources. Larger parks supported wider-ranging species, and coyotes appeared only in parks over 14.4 hectares.

    Human DNA made up about one-third of all samples, highlighting constant human presence. Domesticated animal DNA (from cats, dogs, pigs, and cattle) reinforced the idea that urban parks are shared socio-ecological spaces.

    Human presence influenced wildlife makeup, generalist and human-tolerant mammals thrived in busier areas, while more sensitive species were less commonly detected.

    To protect urban biodiversity, especially wide-ranging species, researchers recommend expanding green spaces and building wildlife corridors that link parks together.

    As cities continue to grow, these connected landscapes could be key to maintaining resilient ecosystems that support both nature and human well-being.

    Journal Reference

    1. Jane Hallam and Nyeema C. Harris. Network dynamics revealed from eDNA highlight seasonal variation in urban mammal communities. Journal of Animal Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.70082

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  • Microsoft Authenticator will soon ditch passwords for passkeys – here’s what to do

    Microsoft Authenticator will soon ditch passwords for passkeys – here’s what to do

    ZDNET

    Those of you who use Microsoft Authenticator as a password manager will have to find another option, and soon. That’s because an upcoming change will pull the plug on the ability to use the Authenticator app to store and autofill passwords.

    In a recent support document, Microsoft revealed the timeline for Authenticator’s retirement as a password manager. Starting in June, you’ll no longer be able to add or import new passwords in the app, though you’ll still be able to save passwords through the autofill option. Beginning in July, you’ll no longer be able to autofill passwords with Authenticator. Come August, any passwords you’ve saved in the app will no longer be accessible.

    Also: 10 passkey survival tips: Prepare for your passwordless future now

    Microsoft Authenticator isn’t going away. You’ll still be able to use it for its primary purpose, namely to generate and display multi-factor authentication codes for logging in to secure websites. But its sideline as a password manager will come to an end.

    OK, but what should you do if you’ve been saving and using passwords in the app?

    Microsoft offers a few suggestions. Your stored passwords are synced to your Microsoft account, which means you can still use them elsewhere. For that, you can turn to Microsoft Edge. In its support document, the company explains how to use Edge to autofill saved passwords. At the same time, you can use this opportunity to review your saved passwords to remove any you no longer need or want.

    But Microsoft would really prefer that you start to renounce the dreaded password and move to the more evolved passkey. If you’ve already set up passkeys for your Microsoft account, Authenticator can serve as your passkey provider. If not, now might be the time to make the switch.

    There’s a reason we all hate passwords. They’re hard to create and remember, vulnerable to cyberattacks and security threats, and challenging to juggle even with a password manager. In contrast, passkeys offer a more convenient and secure alternative. Authenticating yourself with a passkey requires a PIN, facial scan, fingerprint recognition, or physical security key, all of which are more robust methods than a password.

    The main drawback of passkeys is that they can be difficult to sync across multiple devices, especially between a PC and a mobile device. However, using a central repository, such as Microsoft Authenticator, can help with that obstacle.

    Also: The best password managers: Expert tested

    The Microsoft document on “Register passkeys in Authenticator on Android or iOS devices” explains how to set up the Authenticator app to create passkeys for any supported account. Of course, you can use other programs to generate passkeys. I use my password manager to store passkeys for different sites and accounts, and the process is quick and easy. Plus, since I use my password manager on all my devices — PCs, mobile phones, and tablets — I can access the same passkeys everywhere.

    With the deadline looming for Microsoft Authenticator’s retirement as a password manager, now is as good a time as any to start migrating to passkeys.

    Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.


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  • County Championship: Yorks v Essex – Adam Lyth hits unbeaten 65 on day two

    County Championship: Yorks v Essex – Adam Lyth hits unbeaten 65 on day two

    The County Championship clash between Division One strugglers Yorkshire and Essex is nicely poised at its midway point after an engaging day two at York.

    Essex closed on 248-3 on the opening day, but things were different upon the resumption this morning, with Yorkshire claiming the last seven Essex wickets for 95 on a placid Clifton Park pitch, bowling the visitors out for 368 during the early stages of the afternoon.

    Yorkshire trailed by 225 runs after they closed on 143-3 from 54 overs, including opener Adam Lyth’s 65 not out off 172 balls.

    This was a tireless display from a Yorkshire bowling unit who gained little reward on day one, with new-ball seamer Jack White returning 3-68 from 27 overs.

    He, alongside George Hill and Dom Bess, struck twice during the first half of day two, while Noah Thain compiled an unbeaten 50 not out off 81 balls.

    Thain was then one of Essex’s three wicket-takers before close via his seamers, alongside Shane Snater and Simon Harmer. Like Yorkshire’s bowlers had done, Essex’s bowlers also stuck to their task well in difficult conditions.

    Essex’s innings was a curious affair, highlighted by the fact they batted through 110 overs on a pitch lacking pace for 278-6 and only one batting bonus point. They really did seem to get stuck between a rock and hard place on day two. Unable to attack whilst being unable to survive.

    While Yorkshire did not race away in their reply, they started more positively than Essex had batted. Lyth drove particularly well.

    The White Rose county struck three times in five overs for the addition of only three runs just before midday, as Essex slipped from 273-3 in the 104th over to 276-6 in the 109th. With it, Yorkshire secured a second bowling point.

    Hill claimed two of those wickets, with England fringe batter Jordan Cox caught behind for 33 playing off the back foot, and Charlie Allison caught slicing to point.

    Thain shared a seventh-wicket 56 with Michael Pepper through until early afternoon and reached his fifty off the last ball that he faced, with the last four wickets falling for 36.

    Off-spinner Bess picked up two of those. He had Harmer caught at slip and Snater caught at long-on.

    Yorkshire openers Fin Bean and Lyth then started their reply confidently either side of the tea break, sharing 81 on a pitch lacking pace.

    Both men pulled confidently, with Bean looking a completely different player to the one who had posted a top score of only 31 in the first seven games.

    An impressive 224 on a similarly slow pitch against leaders Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge has done wonders for his confidence.

    It will, therefore, have been a major frustration to him that he could not go on beyond 31 as, after tea, he was caught behind down leg off Snater’s seam in the 27th over.

    James Wharton then drilled Harmer’s off-spin to mid-on having advanced down the pitch looking to hit over the top – 110 for two in the 34th over.

    One man who did go on was Lyth. Sandwiched in between the two wickets, he reached 50 for the seventh time this season, this one off 110 balls.

    But the fixture’s fourth leg-side strangle did for Pakistan international Abdullah Shafique for four as Thain left Yorkshire at 125-3 in the 41st over. Pepper took a brilliant one-handed catch going to his left.

    Survival was the main aim for Lyth and Jonny Bairstow late on. The former was stuck on 63 from the 39th over until the day’s last. He navigated the threat of Harmer, who was excellent for 1-18 from 15 overs.

    Early morning wickets on day three will put eighth-placed Essex in a strong position, whereas second-bottom Yorkshire will know batting big is imperative for their own victory hopes.

    ECB Reporters’ Network supported by Rothesay

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  • BeyHive Couture: Vogue Captures Street Style Looks at the Cowboy Carter Show in Houston

    BeyHive Couture: Vogue Captures Street Style Looks at the Cowboy Carter Show in Houston

    Whenever Beyoncé performs in her native Houston, her return creates a rippling homecoming effect across the city. That’s less of a reference to the tour de force singer and songwriter’s 2019 live album and documentary concert film of the same name, but more a nod to true-to-life, Lone Star State homecoming traditions.

    The scene outside of NRG Stadium over the weekend for the two-night run of Cowboy Carter shows was nothing short of a pep rally. Texas-sized chrysanthemum corsages were on parade, embellished with ribbons and decorative spirit trinkets, pinned at the shoulder (down South, we call them mums). Red, white, and blue silk sashes sliced through crowds, too, customized to riff on the Grammy Award-winning (Best Country Album, anyone?) record cover. And because June 28 serendipitously doubled as International LGBTQI+ Pride Day, a gulf of self-described queens rounded out this metaphoric homecoming court.

    Beyoncé’s past and present onstage fashion inspired street style looks laden with Easter eggs. A number of outfits paid homage to the inaugural NFL 2024 Christmas Day Halftime Show, apropos-dubbed BeyBowl, for the Houston Texas vs. Baltimore Ravens game, which also took place at NRG. Many a concertgoer drew from the furry, feathered, and rhinestone-flecked all-white western wear that stylist and costume designer Shiona Turini produced for Cowboy Carter Christmas. Others paid tribute to classic Americana, with patriotic flags waving through Levi’s or Wrangler denim belt loops.

    For Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo competitors, such as sister barrel racers Leah and Elizabeth Zadel, it was an occasion to layer functional cowgirl gear with couture.

    “These are Stella McCartney jeans that I saved up for, for a long time with the Ariat boots I always wear,” Leah told Vogue. “And my sister got the idea for her pants from Beyoncé’s custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture outfit for the tour. She sewed on all those conchos after she couldn’t find anything similar and thought, ‘Why not make it myself?’”

    Outside of Queen Bey’s hometown hoedown, Vogue photographed some of the most inventive and inspiring looks.

    Arturo Valenzuela: “I really went off of her Christmas [halftime show] outfits. With everything going on in the world right now I thought, ‘Let me show up and show out.’ I thought the white really pops on my skin tone. And my sash was made by a designer I found on TikTok.”

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