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Riverhead board hears pleas to save site for planned Long Island Science Center
Residents questioned the town's plans to use eminent domain to take control of the property.
Music venue District 142 brightens Downriver's entertainment scene
The independently owned 3-year-old club attracts music fans of all genres with its eclectic calendar, clean facility and reasonable prices.
Music venue District 142 brightens Downriver's entertainment scene
The independently owned 3-year-old club attracts music fans of all genres with its eclectic calendar, clean facility and reasonable prices.
Sea Level Rise is Accelerating, Scientists Confirm
New research closes the sea level budget gap and takes account of the drivers of sea level change.
Wartburg Claims 22nd Consecutive A-R-C All-Sports Trophy; Earns 15th Triple Crown
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – For the 22nd consecutive year, Wartburg College claimed the Combined All-Sports Championship Trophy, awarded to the conference's top overall athletic program, announced by the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) today.
Rewrite the Grid: EA SPORTS™ Reveals F1® 25: 2026 Season Pack
The story continues with the 2026 Season Pack* for EA SPORTS’™ F1® 25, Featuring New Teams, Drivers Rosters, Rules Regulations, and MADRING Track Watch the Reveal Trailer Here Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) invites players to rewrite the grid in the all-new 2026 Season Pack* for EA SPORTS’™ F1 ® 25 , the official video game of the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship™, coming to PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on June 3, 2026. The 2026 Season Pack welcomes in a groundbreaking new era of F1®, featuring the updated rules and regulations for the 2026 F1® season, the introduction of two teams: Audi Cadillac, and their driver rosters to the grid, new action-packed gameplay features, and the highly anticipated MADRING circuit; the first new F1® circuit since 2023. The F1® 25: 2026 Season Pack continues to innovate the iconic racing experience. Implementing real-world regulation changes, the 2026 Season Pack showcases lighter, smaller cars† with active
Campground Camaraderie: Where Race Fans Become Family
New Hampshire Motor Speedway offers New England’s only NASCAR Cup Series weekend, combining thrilling races with a vibrant camping culture. From high-energy tailgates to family-friendly campgrounds, fans enjoy music, driver events and nonstop entertainment, making NHMS an unforgettable summer tradition.
Why renaming this common hormonal disorder is a huge deal
You probably know someone who has a condition that, until last week, was known as PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome. It affects one in eight reproductive-aged women. But despite it being such a common disorder, patients are often misdiagnosed and have delayed treatment. Now, medical professionals are trying to change that. After 15 years of work, the condition has been renamed to PMOS, or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome. The new name reflects the real driver of the condition: disruptions in hormones. But how much can changing a name really do? Click here to access resources about PMOS in multiple languages. Interested in more science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
Highway 178 closure from River Fire could threaten Kern River Valley Memorial Day business
KERNVILLE, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) Highway 178 remains closed at both ends of the canyon because of the River Fire, raising concerns for businesses in the Kern River
Don't drive your Cybertruck into a lake
Police said the 70-year-old driver was testing out the truck's Wade Mode setting. He ended up spending the night in jail.
✍🏼Galván confirms new River deal until 2028
The 26-year-old midfielder will remain tied to the Millonario for two more seasons. With president Stefano Di Carlo leading the way, Tomás Galván has confirmed his contract renewal with River until ...
State health officials step in amid ongoing Wintergreen wastewater issues in Nelson County
State health officials have joined the response to ongoing wastewater overflow issues at the Wintergreen Wastewater Treatment Plant in Nelson County.
Science behind sobriety field tests
Albany High students in Elizabeth Lopatniuk's health classes participated in a dynamic lesson about the effects of alcohol on the body. After taking an in-depth look at the science behind why and how alcohol slows the activities of the brain and central nervous system, students learned about how a variety of factors can impact the level of intoxication and how blood alcohol concentration can impair one's ability to operate a motor vehicle. Albany High Student Resource Officer Nick Schuler led students through an overview of field sobriety tests that are routinely performed during a traffic stop when an officer suspects a driver may be under the influence of alcohol. Officer Schuler explained the three elements of a physical sobriety test, including walking a straight line with turns and checks for motor skill patterns, standing on one foot to check for balance and following a moving stimulus with eyes only to check for Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), an involuntary, rhythmic jerking of the eyes as they look to the side. Students volunteered to try walking a straight line both with and without alcohol impairment simulation goggles. Officer Schuler pointed out particular behaviors and patterns that would lead to a failed field sobriety test during the simulation. As prom and graduation festivities approach, we applaud our Albany High staff for empowering our Falcons with valuable lessons so they can make wise and safe choices.
Science behind sobriety field tests
Albany High students in Elizabeth Lopatniuk's health classes participated in a dynamic lesson about the effects of alcohol on the body. After taking an in-depth look at the science behind why and how alcohol slows the activities of the brain and central nervous system, students learned about how a variety of factors can impact the level of intoxication and how blood alcohol concentration can impair one's ability to operate a motor vehicle. Albany High Student Resource Officer Nick Schuler led students through an overview of field sobriety tests that are routinely performed during a traffic stop when an officer suspects a driver may be under the influence of alcohol. Officer Schuler explained the three elements of a physical sobriety test, including walking a straight line with turns and checks for motor skill patterns, standing on one foot to check for balance and following a moving stimulus with eyes only to check for Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), an involuntary, rhythmic jerking of the eyes as they look to the side. Students volunteered to try walking a straight line both with and without alcohol impairment simulation goggles. Officer Schuler pointed out particular behaviors and patterns that would lead to a failed field sobriety test during the simulation. As prom and graduation festivities approach, we applaud our Albany High staff for empowering our Falcons with valuable lessons so they can make wise and safe choices.
Microsoft admits faulty drivers were killing Windows 11 battery life for years
Microsoft is changing how Windows evaluates third-party drivers as bad ones were silently draining batteries and tanking performance for years.
Plan Baton Rouge III takes next step toward reality
A plan to reimagine the Mississippi riverfront in downtown Baton Rouge is headed to the Planning Commission for review Monday. Commissioned by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and developed by i… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. Already an INSIDER? Sign in
Northport considers new hotel fee agreement tied to River Run Park sports tourism
NORTHPORT, Ala. (WBMA) - Northport leaders are expected to consider a new hotel fee agreement Monday night tied to the city’s growing sports tourism efforts at
River Pig Saloon owner speaks out after violent crimes outside business: 'Frustrates me, my staff, the neighborhood, everyone'
Five Points businesses say IRONMAN road closures hurt access, customers; city promises better communication
Jacksonville’s first-ever IRONMAN brought nearly 2,000 competitors to a route spanning parts of Duval and St. Johns counties this weekend, drawing crowds downtown, and prompting widespread complaints about traffic, road closures and access issues in neighborhoods like Riverside’s Five Points.
Dodgers trade for Eric Lauer
With Blake Snell having elbow surgery on Tuesday, Tyler Glasnow on the injured list with back spasms, and River Ryan only one start back from a minor league injured list stint, the Dodgers had five starting pitchers for their six-man rotation. So it makes perfect sense that they acquired left-hander Eric Lauer from the Toronto […]
Riverrock brings festivities, outdoor sports to Belle Isle for 18th year
Richmond’s beloved sports and music festival Riverrock brought together athletes, crowds and dogs for three days of outdoor activities, family fun and live entertainment this weekend.
Max Verstappen: Red Bull F1 driver plans Nurburgring 24 Hours return after reliability costs his team chance at win
Max Verstappen was on course for a remarkable win on debut at the Nurburgring 24 Hours but his car suffered a problem when in contention for victory in the closing hours of the race; watch the Canadian Grand Prix Sprint weekend from this Friday, live on Sky Sports F1
Adam Driver has cheeky response when asked for comment on Lena Dunham's bombshell book
Adam Driver was asked about Lena Dunham's bombshell memoir, which included several claims about his alleged behavior on the set of 'Girls,' at Cannes.
MRN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: ONE Event Venue
Today on Business Spotlight brought to you by Bank of Springfield, Crissie Caccamo sits down with Garrett Riley, the new owner of ONE Event Venue, to talk about what this new ownership means for the future of the venue and to give viewers a chance to get to know Garrett a little better. ONE Event...
WIU to add two new emphases to M.S. degree in computer science
University officials noted that prospective students frequently inquire about specialized study options in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The newly approved
Adam Driver Brushes Off Lena Dunham Memoir Question in Cannes: ‘I’m Saving It All for My Book’
Adam Driver may be known for leading critically acclaimed films like “BlacKkKlansman” and blockbusters like “Star Wars,” but his career first gained steam on TV in Lena Dunham’s HBO series “Girls.” Th...
Resilience tech company hires driverless car vet, advertising and PR firm promotes new VP
Take a look at some of the recent promotions and new hires announced at south Louisiana businesses.
Fans, speed, and risk: the strategy and science that fuels the tradition of the Indy 500
350,000 fans are waiting to watch 33 drivers race 500 miles at the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 next Sunday.
🚨 River v Rosario Central line-ups confirmed
What a match in Argentina! River Plate and Rosario Central face off tonight to decide the Professional League semifinal, a clash that comes in red-hot after the refereeing controversy in Canalla’s q...
These Android Auto and CarPlay features are built in, but most drivers never find them
A split-screen view and home screen customization are available on both Android Auto and CarPlay, but most drivers never discover these features.
Scientists warn that the world’s rivers are running out of oxygen
Rivers around the world are quietly running out of oxygen — and climate change is emerging as the main culprit. A sweeping global analysis of more than 21,000 river systems found that nearly 80% have been steadily losing dissolved oxygen over the past four decades, threatening fish, biodiversity, and the overall health of freshwater ecosystems. Surprisingly, tropical rivers are being hit the hardest, even more than rivers in rapidly warming polar regions.
Scientists find climate change is reducing oxygen in rivers worldwide
Climate change is causing rivers to slowly lose oxygen, threatening fish and other life in the waterways, a new study shows.
Colorado county Republican chair arrested in sting on allegations he tried to pay for sex with a child
Hunter Rivera, the 24-year-old chairman of the Weld County Republican Party, was one of two men arrested Thursday on suspicion of trying to buy sex from Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigators who posed as minors as part of an operation targeting child predators. After news of Rivera’s arrest broke late Friday, multiple prominent Republicans denounced […]
Arts and entertainment throughout the region
A listing of arts and entertainment events throughout the region.
A hotel check-in system left a million passports and driver's licenses open for anyone to see
The tech company that maintains the hotel check-in system set its cloud storage to public, allowing anyone to access customers' data without a password.
Health advisory issued for Fort Pierce Inlet State Park river area
The Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County advises against water-related activities
Microsoft Stock (NASDAQ:MSFT) Jumps as Microsoft Plans to Roll Back Faulty Drivers
Tech giant Microsoft ($MSFT) has recently come under fire for releasing software updates that actually do more harm than good. But Microsoft may also have a plan to...
Trump says sculpture garden honoring prominent Americans is planned for park along Potomac River
President Donald Trump plans to build an exhibit of statues featuring prominent Americans in a tightly regulated park along the Potomac River, potentially opening a new legal fight over whether his administration is ignoring the approvals process that typically governs Washington's monumental core.
Microsoft to automatically roll back faulty Windows drivers
Microsoft is introducing a new Windows Update capability that will allow it to remotely roll back problematic Windows drivers delivered through Windows Update.
Louisiana casino revenue growing faster than national average, thanks to expansions
Thanks to a series of upgrades that moved some aging riverboat casinos onto land, a $435 million transformation of Caesars New Orleans and a glitzy new casino in Bossier City, Louisiana’s state regulated gambling halls saw their revenues in 2025 grow well above the national average.
Georgia woman works through injuries as health insurance costs soar
This story is available through The Current GA. Carry Smith yawned as she fastened the driver’s side seat belt in her 2002 Toyota Sequoia. On a Sunday in early May, Smith headed to one of her four part-time jobs in Chatham County, part of her seven-day work week. Two years earlier, Smith suffered life-threatening injuries […]
River Hills Community Health Center announces closure of two Iowa clinics
River Hills Community Health Center will close its Centerville and Richland locations on July 31.
Howard Community College Featured in 'State of Business' Address
In his Business Outlook Luncheon remarks at Turf Valley Resort last week, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball outlined how Howard County “stands on business” through five pillars: managing crises, investing in people, backing businesses, making strategic investments, and preparing for the future. Howard Community College appears by name in the pillar that anchors the others: investing in people. Dr. Ball highlighted the $11 million county investment in HCC’s Cathy and Danny Bell Workforce and Trades Center, which will open this fall. He described the facility as a world-class center with state-of-the-art training in key industries, championed by HCC President Dr. Daria J. Willis, and positioned to help Howard County compete with institutions worldwide. He also recognized HCC’s Complete4Success program, supported by a $3.5 million county investment in 2022, as a continuing driver of certifications and degrees that prepare students to enter Howard County’s workforce ready to contribute on day one. Dr. Ball connected HCC’s work to the broader economic moment in the county, including more than 1,580 apprentices now training across Howard County businesses, up from roughly 1,100 in 2018, and the SPARK program that bridges classroom learning to high-demand industries. Each of these efforts depends on the kind of workforce pipeline HCC is built to deliver. Educational Services is one of the top three employment sectors for county residents, alongside Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services and Health Care & Social Assistance. HCC will award 1,263 degrees next week at its annual commencement ceremony, and every year, that output feeds directly into the industries the County Executive named as drivers of Howard County’s growth. The full picture also includes the families who are not yet there. The 2024 ALICE update from United Way of Central Maryland found that 35,346 households in Howard County, 29% of the total, fell below the ALICE Threshold in 2022, meaning they earned more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than the basic cost of living in the county. The Household Survival Budget for a Howard County family of two adults, an infant, and a preschooler reached $118,608 annually, requiring an hourly wage of $59.30 to cover housing, child care, food, transportation, and other essentials. Affluence and economic strain coexist within the same county lines. That gap is the reason higher education and economic development are inseparable. Every certification, associate degree, and apprenticeship credential issued at HCC represents a household closer to crossing the ALICE Threshold and into long-term financial stability. The Bell Center, Complete4Success, Howard P.R.I.D.E., Parent Scholars, and the institution’s transfer-rate gains are significant components of Howard County’s economic mobility infrastructure. HCC is grateful to Dr. Ball for his sustained partnership over nearly eight years of service and for recognizing that this college plays a central role in the economic story Howard County is telling. Standing on business in Howard County means standing alongside the flagship institution that prepares its workforce.
Scientists dig up Southeast Asia's largest dinosaur in Thailand
Along a meandering river in a warm and arid region that is now Thailand roughly 113 million years ago, a plant-eating behemoth almost 90 feet (27 meters) long browsed on the treetops without much fear of predators due to its sheer size. This was Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, the largest-known dinosaur from Southeast Asia.
Windows Update will soon automatically roll back faulty drivers
Microsoft is making Windows Update a lot less disruptive.
Windows Update is getting better at saving your PC from buggy drivers
Driver recovery can automate what used to be an irritating manual process.
'We lost everything': Western NC businesses seek support after Helene as recovery drags on
In 2024, the storm devastated parts of the region, including Asheville's River Arts District.
Red Foxes’ Hudson Valley Entertainment Playbook
When the maples blaze and a cool breeze rolls off the Hudson, Poughkeepsie slips into its best season—festival weather, sweater weather, show-going weather. Marist College Red Foxes call this river city home, and the campus hum becomes a perfect launchpad for music and theater all over the Mid-Hudson region. From ornate 19th-century opera houses to big-sky amphitheaters that echo into the hills, autumn here is tailor-made for set lists and standing ovations. Consider this your locally tuned guide: a mix of chart shapers, roots revivalists, and Broadway juggernauts—plus the nearby halls that turn a crisp evening into a memory.
Riverfront Rendezvous adds drone show and more entertainment for 2026
Riverfront Rendezvous will feature a drone light show, bigger fireworks display and more in 2026 to celebrate the country's 250th anniversary.
Waters of Inspiration in Peekskill: Art, Science and Environmental Education
May 16 program offers two complementary experiences at Riverfront Green Park and Depew Park, focusing on environmental justice, water quality, and watercolor art
River Hills Community Health Center announces closure of Centerville clinic
River Hills Community Health Center announced Tuesday it will close its Centerville clinic this summer, the second rural Iowa clinic the organization has shut down in recent weeks.
Warm weather brings visitors, boost in business to Columbia River Gorge
Tuesday’s warm and windy weather brought water sports fans back onto the water in the Columbia River Gorge, as well as a promising boost for local businesses.
Riverton business owner ‘shocked’ after woman steals hundreds in merchandise caught on camera
A Riverton small business owner said she is frustrated and shaken after a woman allegedly stole hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise right in front of her employee.
2026 Smoky Hill River Festival announces entertainment
Salina Arts & HumanitiesSalina Arts & Humanities announces the entertainment lineup for the 2026 Smoky Hill River Festival, marking
Smoky Hill River Festival announces entertainment for the 50th year
Salina Arts & HumanitiesSalina Arts & Humanities announces the entertainment lineup for the 2026 Smoky Hill River Festival, marking
5 ways HKFoods is strengthening its poultry business in 2026
Key drivers include market shifts, sustainability investments and product innovation.
LHU student revolutionizing stream restoration with rock-powered science
Natalie Brown kneels beside a humming wet lab setup at Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, calipers in hand, measuring the promise of Pennsylvania’s streams. The master’s candidate in biology regularly tests how everyday rocks could supercharge freshwater mussel recovery in the West Branch Susquehanna River, blending her geology roots with cutting-edge experiments. Her work is directly supporting […]
Trump seeks to pause federal gas tax as prices soar amid Iran conflict
Congress would have to approve the proposal, and passing the savings on to drivers, rather than oil companies, would be difficult to enforce.
Commentary: Dominican University’s Pilsen campus targets a workforce shortage
By removing barriers in higher ed, the River Forest-based institution connects students mainly from the West Side with communities that need their skills and talents.
Samsung will let you block apps that spam notifications with ads
Samsung has a new feature for Galaxy phones that gives users the ability to easily block apps that are spamming...
New AI tool developed by Stowers Institute and Helmholtz Munich scientists predicts how cells choose their future — helping uncover hidden drivers of development
Scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and Helmholtz Munich have developed RegVelo, a new AI framework that predicts how cells acquire their identities and identifies the genetic regulators guiding those changes. Published in Cell, the study used zebrafish neural crest development to show RegVelo can uncover early drivers of cell fate, including regulators of pigment cell formation, and then support those predictions experimentally. The researchers also applied the framework across multiple biological systems, suggesting its value extends beyond neural crest cells as a broadly useful tool for studying how cells change over time. The team says the new model could pave the way for future cell therapy treatments.
Working Iowa: Springville Ready Mix hiring truck drivers for family-owned business
Springville Ready Mix is hiring truck drivers for its cement delivery business.
It’s not just drivers who hate high gas prices. So do gas station owners
The overwhelming majority of gas stations are small businesses, and the rise in the wholesale gas price they pay has cut deeply into their already thin profit margins.
IndyCar Fans React To Danica Patrick's 'Most Disliked' Title
Danica Patrick was named the "most disliked" driver in IndyCar history. A new poll, conducted by IndyCar's official Reddit page, announced that Patrick, who retired from full-time racing in 2018, was named the most detested driver in the history of the sport. She didn't have much competition. ...
Buc-ee's set to debut in 6 new states in major expansion push across US
The popular Buc-ee’s chain is set to debut in six new states, bringing its oversized stores, clean restrooms and fuel hubs to more drivers nationwide.
Sen. Joni Ernst presents Small Business Award to Boone River Financial Friday
In celebration of National Small Business Week, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, presented an official document on Friday to Webster City’s Boone River Financial. Owned by Andy Hejlik and his wife Tami, the document recognized their business as Hamilton County’s Small Business of the Week. “This is an official document of the United States Senate,” […]
Politics Now: May 9, 2026
This week on Politics Now with host John Langeler: Kamala Harris campaigns in Las Vegas How is Southern Nevada doing on creating affordable housing? Nevada tries to save Colorado River water, and a…
MBPD: Driver arrested after crashing into cars, causing business damage
A person was taken into custody after a police chase in Myrtle Beach.
LC’s Fire Science Program Hosts “Burn ‘n’ Learn” STEM Experience for Educators
LC Community College’s Fire Science program and ROE 40 host "Burn 'n' Learn," engaging educators with hands-on firefighting and STEM activities in Bethalto, Illinois.
Costco is a big winner as drivers flock to cheaper gas
With gas above $4.50 per gallon, more drivers are stopping off at warehouse clubs like Costco to top up — and they're going inside to shop, too.
Monroe Avenue kicks off annual Second Saturday series with local businesses, live entertainment
Monroe Avenue’s Second Saturday series returns for the summer, bringing local businesses, yard sales, live entertainment and a Jordan River Cafe ribbon-cutting to the neighborhood. READ MORE: https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/business/local-business/monroe-avenue-kicks-off-annual-second-saturday-series-with-local-businesses-live-entertainment/
Impact of Social Media Use on Mental Health, Academic Performance, and Procrastination Among Medical College Students in Aruba
Background Social media platforms (SMPs) have become an integral part of students' lives, influencing learning behaviors, time management, and mental well-being. However, there is limited evi...
Myrtle Beach police: Driver arrested after chase, crashes into cars and business
A reckless driving stop in Myrtle Beach ended with a crash involving multiple vehicles, damage to a local business and three people taken to the hospital.
How MAGA Sheriff Chad Bianco is shaking up the 2026 California gubernatorial primary
Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco's says he will restore law and order to California if he is elected governor. Critics say his record proves otherwise.
Parking Wars: Beaverton to crackdown as residents, businesses debate enforcement
Crowded streets, double-parked cars and drivers circling for spaces in Beaverton have sparked debate over how the city should address parking problems.
Arts and entertainment throughout the region
A listing of arts and entertainment events throughout the region.
Arts and entertainment throughout the region
A listing of arts and entertainment events throughout the region.
GM will pay California $12.75M for selling driver location and behavior data
The settlement requires the Detroit automaker to stop selling driver data to consumer reporting agencies for five years
Car strikes local business after driver has medical episode
An older man has been taken to a local hospital after police said he had a medical episode behind the wheel.
CarPlay now works with three top AI chatbot apps
CarPlay continues to give drivers more choice than ever when it comes to which services to use on the road....
Weird Science: Research using everyday trash to figure out how litter travels from city streets to the ocean.
Led by NC State and NC Sea Grant, the study involves releasing GPS-equipped plastic bottles into the Neuse River to track their movement in real time. The goal is to solve the mystery of how land-based waste transforms into the marine debris that clutters our coastlines.
Multi-use clinic River City Health & Wellness finds its solo space in Scott's Addition
“People can do their workout, do their recovery aspect, and they’ve got their providers all on-site,” owner Helen Robertson said. “I do think this model’s going to really start taking off…I know we’re the first ones in Virginia doing all of the things under one roof.”
Trends in Female First Authorship in Anatomical Science International: A 24-Year Analysis (2002-2025)
In recent years, the promotion of gender equity and diversity in academic research has attracted increasing international attention. However, studies examining gender differences in authorship w...
Scientists uncover hidden parasite diversity in barb fish from the Sea of Galilee
When most people think about biodiversity in lakes and rivers, they imagine fish, plants, or perhaps birds and amphibians. But beneath the surface exists another world that often goes unnoticed: microscopic ...
Journalist Maria Shriver visits Cleveland to promote women’s health
A new era for women’s health took center stage in downtown Cleveland Thursday as over a thousand women gathered for the Cleveland Clinic Global Women’s Health Forum at the Huntington Convention Cen…
Cleveland Clinic Releases New National Report on the State of Women’s Health in the U.S.
Findings show many women are more concerned about affording care than developing serious diseases — with gaps in prevention and clear information shaping their decisions
Maria Shriver highlights new survey on women’s health, financial strain
Women’s Health Watch: Maria Shriver explains the gender disparity in Alzheimer’s research
Science diplomacy lessons from a North Korean volcano
Mount Paektu, a mythic, active volcano on the border between North Korea and China, is almost the epitome of a scientific challenge that crosses political lines. In 946 CE, it erupted in one of the five biggest volcanic events of the past 10,000 years, kicking up huge quantities of ash and sending destructive mud flows down river channels for hundreds of kilometres. Should this happen again, the entire region, including easternmost Russia, South Korea and even Japan could be hit. “It’s definitely got the potential to be big,” said James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London. An eruption on the scale of 946 would have “huge regional impact.” For the past 15 years, Hammond has helped lead a groundbreaking collaboration with North Korean scientists to study the volcano, navigating scientific sanctions, tough export controls on scientific equipment and a long, pandemic-enforced exodus from the country. Although he seems more at home on far-flung research expeditions – before speaking to Science|Business, Hammond was camping out on a Greenland ice sheet – he has also advised the European Commission on its changing science diplomacy strategy. His long experience with North Korea has made Hammond sceptical of blanket bans on science collaboration, no matter the country.This is a live question in Europe, where in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, institutional ties with Russian universities were almost entirely severed, although some scientists fear this could undermine our understanding of climate change’s impact on the Arctic. Here, Hammond tells the story of the Mount Paektu mission and the policy lessons he takes from it. Ominous rumblingsThe genesis of Hammond’s collaboration came in 2002, when Mount Paektu began to rumble ominously. Earthquake activity picked up and the volcano began to emit unusual gases. North Korean scientists took notice. “People felt we need to know more about this volcano,” said Hammond. In 2011, North Korean vulcanologists put out a request for international expertise to help them learn more. At the time, Hammond and his collaborator, Clive Oppenheimer, were working on a vulcanology project in another sanctioned country, Eritrea, and so decided to answer the call. Within a month, they had flown into Pyongyang. “It was pretty incredible,” recalls Hammond (left). “We were made to feel like honoured guests, and invited to official celebrations.” The scientific opportunity was huge. Paektu is unusually positioned, a thousand kilometres from where tectonic plates rub against each other in the Pacific. “It was an incredibly interesting volcano, but not much research had been done, at least not in the international community,” he said. “There was so much we felt we could do. And we had these partners that were super keen to engage.”The mission received an unusual visitor in the form of volcano-obsessed filmmaker Werner Herzog, who accompanied Hammond and Oppenheimer while directing his 2016 film Into the Inferno about volcanos across the world. Four days into the trip, the German director delivered a long speech about reunification to his North Korean hosts, recalls Hammond. “He got to the heart of the Koreans and how they felt, and how they thought, in a way that I'm not sure I ever will,” he said. UN sanctionsHowever, Hammond realised he’d been “naïve” about how difficult it would be to collaborate with North Korea, which was sanctioned far more heavily than Eritrea. “We didn’t fully appreciate the all-encompassing nature of restrictions,” he said. In 2016, as tensions escalated over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, a United Nations resolution banned all joint scientific work with North Korea. However, the UN sanctions did allow countries to request carve outs, and the UK successfully requested an exemption for Hammond’s work. Related articlesEU pushes for joint science diplomacy, but care needed to avoid gridlock, experts sayRussia severs its last ties with German scienceAnchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateExport controls have also delayed Hammond’s work. In one case, it took 18 months to get approval from the UK government to take seismometers, which measure earthquakes, to North Korea. “It was frustrating,” he said. “But they didn’t just say no.” However, one instrument, called an induction coil, used to measure how the earth conducts electricity, was blocked entirely because it can in theory be used to detect submarines. Karaoke bondingSince the collaboration started in 2011, Hammond has visited the country around 15 times, although the pandemic closed off North Korea for more than five years. A trip last November was Hammond’s first since the outbreak. Despite this lengthy interlude, Hammond has deep bonds in the country. The North Korean scientists Hammond works with are somewhat isolated, as they struggle to access the latest research papers and travel to international conferences. That said, they are “excellent geophysicists” and are “very well trained in the field,” he said. Over karaoke and chats about their families, “we’ve made friendships, for sure,” he said. The authorities have to sign-off things like the placement of seismometers, for example, but Hammond said these requests have been approved. “Everything that we've asked for within a scientific context has been delivered.”Scientific backchannels? These kind of personal links between scientists across political lines are one purported benefit of science diplomacy. During the Cold War, some historians argue, scientific contact between the US and Soviet Union laid a groundwork of trust for other cooperation, such as on arms control. Hammond agrees that backchannel contacts to North Korean geophysicists are hardly likely to defuse a military crisis on the Korean peninsula, but the simple fact of the scientific collaboration makes contacts between diplomats that little bit easier. “It creates opportunities to understand each other a little bit better,” he said. “When maybe you have those more difficult discussions as diplomats, it's coming from a slightly better place.” Cutting tiesDrawing lessons from the Mount Paektu mission for today’s links with Russian science isn’t simple. The analogy is far from exact, Hammond said, “because one is essentially a Cold War, versus a pretty hot war in the case of Russia.” But Hammond’s broader argument is that the challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution and so on, have globalised in an unprecedented way, making blanket shutdowns in collaboration with any country unwise.He’s somewhat critical of the UN scientific sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016, even though they did allow for exceptions. “I think a blanket halt to some of these things, when we face big global challenges [. . .] that’s quite a risky thing to do,” he said.Institutional endorsement?European academics are still by and large free to work individually with Russian counterparts. However, official, institutional partnerships have largely ended. Shortly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian university rectors wrote a public letter endorsing the war, meaning European universities fear official collaboration could also be seen as a kind of endorsement. Hammond acknowledges there is a risk of legitimising regimes, and state-controlled universities, through scientific cooperation. “That’s the trade off you have to make,” he said. Strategic projectsWith Russia, instead of giving a green light to restart all Arctic science, a middle ground might be firing up a few carefully selected “strategic” projects, said Hammond. After all, European countries are still collaborating with Russia on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an experimental nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. However, even if Europe did try to revive Arctic science with Russia, there’s no guarantee Russian scientists would play ball. A series of high-profile arrests of physicists in Russia accused of sharing their findings with the outside world has made collaboration fraught. Even before the invasion of 2022, “the Russian regime made it increasingly difficult, and this sort of discouraged people,” Dag Rune Olsen, rector of the Arctic University of Norway, told Science|Business last year.
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