In the capital of Saudi Arabia, Nora screamed out loud, leaning against the microphone. During a recent gig, she performed a set with her bandmates. It would have been impossible to imagine a performance by the all-female psychedelic rock band Seera combining traditional Arabic melodies and the psychedelia of bands like Tame Impala years ago. Seera is a symbol of how women in Saudi Arabia, a country long associated with strict gender segregation and ultraconservative Islam, are finding their voice and expressing themselves through the arts as the country liberalises certain areas of its so
India-born Gopi Thotakura made history by being the first and second Indian to travel into space as a space tourist. He joined Blue Origin on its NS-25 mission, which marked the successful completion of the programme's 25th flight and its seventh human spaceflight. Thotakura, an Andhra Pradesh native, travelled with Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, and retired Air Force Captain Ed Dwight as one of the six members of the crew. Senior Vice President of New Shepard Phil Joyce expressed gratitude to the astronaut clients for advancing Blue Origin's goal of const
A herd of 170 European bison reintroduced to Romania’s Țarcu Mountains could significantly mitigate CO2 emissions, equivalent to removing 43,000 US cars annually. Rewilding Europe and WWF Romania brought back European bison in 2014, after being extinct in Romania for more than 200 years. Currently, there are over 170 of these animals in one of the largest free-roaming populations in Europe. Using a model created by the Yale School of the Environment and supported by the Global Rewilding Alliance, the study calculates how the bison affects ecological interactions that store carbon in soi
Japan's industry ministry has started talks to develop the country's next basic energy plan, which will be in line with the ambitious objective of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. This action follows a significant policy change by PM Kishida in 2022 when he emphasised the need to quickly restart nuclear units to address energy issues, some of which were a result of the situation in Ukraine. Approximately 70% of Japan's electrical generation currently comes from fossil fuels, on which the country is largely dependent. Japan's government updates its energy policy on average every three to
Serena Williams will serve as host of The ESPYS, which is an annual sports awards programme on ESPN, scheduled for July. The 23-time major winner, who is now retired, will take the lead for the fourth time as the event honours the achievements, athletes, and noteworthy moments of the previous year. On July 11, a live broadcast of the ceremony from Hollywood's Dolby Theatre will take place. Expressing her excitement, Williams stated, "This is a long-held aspiration for me, and I am thrilled for the opportunity." She emphasised an exceptional year in sports as well as the outstanding acco
The giant blue-grey sei whales have reappeared off Argentina's Patagonian coast after over a century of absence due to intense hunting during the 1920s and 1930s. Over the past century, as a result of worldwide prohibitions on commercial whaling, their population has been gradually increasing. The astonishing comeback of sei whales, who breed every two to three years, is evidence of the effectiveness of conservation measures. Researchers implanted some whales with satellite trackers to trace their migration patterns in response to recent sightings, which revealed the whales' return to once
The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi (DoH) and M42 have launched the Abu Dhabi Biobank, the region's largest hybrid cord blood bank, at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week 2024. Through this partnership, Abu Dhabi will be established as a leading hub for life sciences, which will improve the accessibility and effectiveness of healthcare. With the goal of personalised healthcare, the Abu Dhabi Biobank functions as a fundamental bioasset that supports therapeutic interventions, research, drug discovery, and disease prevention. Stem cells from cord blood offer promise in treating
Nepal's renowned mountaineer, Kami Rita, has scaled Mount Everest for the 29th time, surpassing his own remarkable achievement, confirmed expedition organisers. Taking advantage of the wonderful weather, Kami Rita and the Sherpas from Seven Summits Treks accomplished this achievement early on Sunday morning. Posting on Instagram from base camp last week, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to fulfil his dream once again. When Kami Rita successfully climbed Everest twice in a week last year, he set the first record. With 27 summit ascents to his credit, fellow Sherpa guide Pasang
After the strongest solar storm in more than 20 years, the northern lights adorned the skies, giving the entire planet a beautiful show. Due to a strong G4 geomagnetic storm, weather journalist Nahel Belgherze reported hundreds of reports of Northern Lights across Europe. Experts explained this remarkable phenomenon as the result of an "extreme" geomagnetic storm that struck Earth, leading to safety measures to prevent possible disruptions to electrical systems, satellites, and aeroplanes. With 6.7 million views, the breathtaking auroras—which could be seen all the way to northern Ita
Alok Shukla's lifelong dedication to preventing coal mining in the lush forests of central India was a result of his strong ties to these regions. Shukla was awarded the esteemed Goldman Environmental Prize. His small victories and unwavering determination have characterised his journey. The 657-square-mile Hasdeo Aranya forest was in imminent danger due to coal mining, putting precious animals and native tribes at risk. Shukla responded with determination and speed. He educated the neighbourhood's residents about their legal rights and established the Save Hasdeo Aranya Resistance Committ