Ronin the rat sets new landmine-sniffing record
A landmine-detecting rat in Cambodia has set a new world record to become the first rodent to uncover more than 100 mines and other deadly war remnants.
Ronin, an African giant pouched rat, has uncovered 109 landmines and 15 items of unexploded ordnance since 2021, charity Apopo, which trains the animals, said in a statement.
Cambodia remains littered with millions of unexploded munitions following about 20 years of civil war that ended in 1998.
The Guinness Book of World Records said that Ronin's "crucial work" is making a real difference to people who have had to live with the "fear that one misstep while going about their day-to-day lives could be their last."
Apopo, which is based in Tanzania, currently has 104 rodent recruits, or HeroRATS, as the non-profit likes to call them.
The rats are trained to sniff out chemicals that are found in landmines and other weapons abandoned on battlefields. Because of their small size, the rats are not heavy enough to detonate the mines.
The rats can check an area the size of a tennis court in about 30 minutes, the charity says, whereas a human with a metal detector might take four days to clear the same land.
They can also detect tuberculosis, an infectious disease that commonly affects the lungs, far quicker than it would be found in a lab using conventional microscopy, Apopo says.
Ronin's impressive work in Cambodia's northern Preah Vihear province has surpassed the previous record held Magawa, a rat who sniffed out 71 mines and was presented with a gold medal for his heroism in 2020.
Since Apopo's work began 25 years ago, the organisation has cleared 169,713 landmines and other explosives worldwide - more than 52,000 have been in Cambodia. The charity also works in other countries affected by war, including Ukraine, South Sudan and Azerbaijan.
There are still an estimated four to six million landmines and other exploded munitions buried in Cambodia, according to the Landmine Monitor.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
5 benefits Africa's new space agency can deliver
The African Space Agency was officially inaugurated in Cairo's Space City in April 2025. The event marked a milestone in a process that had been in the works since the early 2000s. Drawing inspiration from the European Space Agency, it unites African Union (AU) member states to harness space technology for development. This is in line with the AU's Agenda 2063, aimed at advancing Africa into a prosperous future. Read more: The agency's goal is to: coordinate and implement Africa's space ambitions by promoting collaboration among the AU's 55 member states harness space technologies for sustainable development, climate resilience and socio-economic growth oversee the African Space Policy and Strategy to enhance access to space-derived data foster partnerships with international space agencies like the European Space Agency and others. Over 20 African countries operate space programmes and more than 65 African satellites have been launched. It is my view as a global space diplomacy expert that the agency can help ensure that Africa isn't a bystander in the space economy. This sector is projected to be worth US$1.8 trillion by 2035. The space agency positions Africa to address pressing challenges and take advantage of opportunities in the global space economy. These include using satellite data, boosting connectivity, driving economic growth, fostering global partnerships and training future leaders. Valuable eyes in the sky Space assets, particularly Earth observation satellites, offer a number of advantages. The continent faces significant climate risks like droughts, fires and floods. This is particularly problematic as the agricultural sector is approximately 35% of Africa's GDP and employs about half of its people across over 1 billion hectares of arable land. Satellite data optimises crop yields, supports climate-resilient farming, and enhances sustainable fisheries and port modernisation. Nigeria's National Space Research and Deveopment Agency, for example, has used satellites like the NigSat-2 to monitor crop health and predict yields. Beyond agriculture, satellites assist in project planning in cities across Africa. Kenya uses a satellite to track urban development trends and enhance municipal urban planning capacities. Satellites also keep an eye on Africa's resource-abundant territories while tackling problems like armed conflict, deforestation, and illegal migration and mining. The African Space Agency will help provide access to AI-enhanced satellite data. This will enable even nations with constrained resources to tackle local needs. For instance, Côte d'Ivoire's first locally made satellite, launched in 2024, shows how African nations are building their own capabilities. Read more: By making it easier to share data, the African Space Agency also positions the continent to generate revenue in the global space data market. That fuels innovation. Enhancing connectivity and enabling cutting-edge technology Africa's digital divide is stark. Only 38% of its population was online in 2024, compared to the global average of 68%. The African Space Agency aims to bridge this gap through satellite-based communications. This technology can deliver broadband to remote regions where cell towers and undersea cables are impractical. Connectivity enables education, e-commerce and telemedicine. Satellite services, like those provided by SpaceX's Starlink in 21 African countries, will drive digital inclusion. In turn this promises to reduce unemployment and help entrepreneurs. The African Space Agency is also positioning Africa to embrace new space technologies. Examples include Japan's 2025 demonstration of beaming solar power from space, following a US achievement in 2023. This could revolutionise energy access. Space-based solar power captures solar energy in orbit via satellite and transmits it as microwaves to Earth. This offers a solution to Africa's energy poverty. It could provide reliable power to remote areas without extensive grid infrastructure. The African Space Agency's role in coordinating satellite launches and data sharing will make these technologies more accessible and cost-effective. Driving economic growth and innovation Africa's space sector, now worth over US$20 billion, is growing rapidly. The industry has seen an increase of private companies and investor support, moving beyond sole dependence on government funding. Investment is being fuelled by 327 NewSpace firms, a term used for the new emerging commercial space industry in nations such as Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa. These firms often excel in satellite communication, Earth observation and component manufacturing. But many African nations lack resources. The agency will lower barriers by fostering collaboration, coordinating national space programmes, and reducing example, the African Space Agency's efforts to streamline satellite development and launches will spur local manufacturing and tech hubs. This means that smaller economies will be able to participate. Strengthening regional and global connections Africa's space sector relies on partnerships with space agencies and commercial space companies based in the 'space powers'. These include the US, Russia, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. These institutions provide launch services, satellite development and ground stations. An example is Senegal's GaindeSAT-1A, a CubeSat launched in 2024 via America's SpaceX with French collaboration. Meanwhile, countries like South Africa are exploring local rocket programmes to enhance the agency's self-reliance. Africa's space ground stations are already located across the continent, supporting the European Space Agency and commercial missions. They will soon host a deep space ground station for America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Funding remains a challenge. African nations allocated just US$426 million to space programmes in 2025. That's less than 1% of global spending. The European Space Agency has an US$8 billion budget. However, initiatives like the €100 million Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme (2025–2028) aim to boost Africa's space sovereignty and innovation. The agency's vision extends beyond Earth, with an eye on the Moon. Some members, notably Angola, Nigeria and Rwanda, have already signed the US-led Artemis Accords for lunar exploration. For their part Egypt and South Africa are collaborating with China and Russia on the International Lunar Research Station. Read more: Training the next generation A skilled workforce is critical to Africa's space industry. The Africa Space Agency Space City plans to host a training academy. It will build on Egypt's programmes in space project management, satellite design, and orbital simulation. Partnerships like the Africa-EU programme offer scholarships, while private initiatives, such as the Pathways to Space programme by Boeing and the Future African Space Explorers STEM Academy, engage students in 63 schools in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Scott Firsing, University of South Africa Read more: Australia should stand up for our feta and prosecco in trade talks with the EU Starlink is transforming Pacific internet access – but in some countries it's still illegal Nigerian children don't imagine women as political leaders: what shapes their view Scott Firsing does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
With Rick Perry's backing and $50 million from the state, Texas set to become a leader in psychedelics research
As Texas sets to crack down on the recreational use of cannabis, state leaders are opting to invest $50 million in another plant with purported medicinal benefits – a psychedelic called ibogaine. For several years, people have silently traveled to clinics in Mexico to take ibogaine. The extract of an ancient African shrub has been used across the Texas border to alleviate addiction and brain trauma. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is set to sign Senate Bill 2308 on Wednesday, creating a consortium of universities, hospitals, and drug developers to conduct clinical trials on an ibogaine drug, with the hopes of receiving U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. Lawmakers approved $50 million in taxpayer dollars to support this effort, making Texas the global leader in psychedelic research investment. Since Texas is trying to be the first to develop the drug, the legislation ensures Texas retains control of the research and development process. The goal of this investment is to ensure Texans reap the economic benefits from an ibogaine treatment program, not a pharmaceutical company. The investment entitles Texas to at least 20% of any successful ibogaine drug resulting from the trials, with a quarter of that revenue allocated to a fund for state veterans. After a failed attempt in Kentucky to start a state-funded ibogaine drug, Texas has picked up the effort under the leadership of a familiar statewide figure-turned psychedelics cheerleader — former Gov. Rick Perry. 'None of this is possible without Perry,' said Bryan Hubbard, the former chair of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission and current executive director of the American Ibogaine Initiative. 'He made it happen in Texas. That is a big deal and catches the attention of the nation.' Ibogaine is an illegal drug that has found itself in a unique position where Republicans champion it. This comes as some of them, led by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, have made it a mission this session to ban recreational use of THC, which awaits Abbott's approval. Katharine Neill Harris, a drug policy fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, said it's easy for Republicans to sign on to ibogaine because the intent of it is to medicinally treat addiction. 'Also, this bill doesn't grant public access to ibogaine, and there's nothing in the bill that could really be construed as soft on drugs,' she said. For that reason seemingly, Patrick has publicly thrown his support toward ibogaine as he fends off critics from the left and right for his hardline views on THC. Patrick did not respond to a request for a comment for this story. Harris said Texas' investment in ibogaine could kickstart a trend across states to invest in drug research to address addiction, as private funds have become inconsistent. 'In 2024, the FDA rejected a proposal to approve MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD is one of the more studied alternative psychedelic treatment protocols, and the FDA rejection was a huge blow to private industry, likely leading some to rethink investment in this area,' she said. It was early 2022, and the only thing former Army Ranger Chase Rowan could think about was killing himself. Sixteen years prior, his parachute failed to fully deploy during a nighttime training exercise as his body careened toward the ground at 60 miles per hour. To cope through the pain from the severe brain injury that resulted, the Lubbock resident turned to opioids which morphed into a fentanyl addiction that eventually dissolved his family. 'I was stuck alone. I had no money and no vehicle, just white knuckling sobriety,' Rowan said. When Rowan got to Mexico to test out a novel drug called ibogaine in August of 2022, he wasn't scared, but determined to heal. Upon taking the ibogaine pill, Rowan started seeing images — one of a devil with wings and another of roads leading to childhood memories. The psychedelic journey on his first night opened his eyes to past trauma and the pain he caused to those around him, like a movie. He woke up the next day feeling the happiest he had been in 20 years. 'It felt like a weight was lifted off of me,' he said. 'I got that stuff out of me.' What Rowan was dealing with is a particular high that comes from ibogaine that is often referred to as a 'spiritual awakening' or a greater sense of self. Stanford Medicine conducted a study in 2024 that found 'ibogaine, when combined with magnesium to protect the heart, safely and effectively reduces PTSD, anxiety and depression and improves functioning in veterans with' traumatic brain injury. Hubbard sees no threat of ibogaine becoming recreationally used or abused since it does not provide an enjoyable high and leaves the user in a state of temporary paralysis. Because of this, most never go back for another dose. 'There is no street economy for this drug,' Hubbard said. Ibogaine also comes with potential dangers. Harris calls it one of the 'more complicated psychedelics to administer' because it brings risks of cardiac issues and sudden death. The risks make it more expensive to study and to provide as a treatment, drawing out the years that ibogaine becomes more widely available, Harris said. 'If the FDA were to approve ibogaine for opioid use disorders or other disorders…the treatment could be quite costly,' Harris said. Since leaving his two-year stint as U.S. Energy Secretary during the first Trump administration, Perry has thrown the weight of his reputation behind psychedelics, becoming one of the most high-profile advocates of its research nationally. But the journey to this point started when he still occupied the Governor's Mansion in Austin. 'It's the question I hear the most,' Perry said with a laugh. 'What is a right-wing anti-drug governor doing associated with psychedelics?' In 2006, Perry became close with Navy SEAL veteran Marcus Luttrell who struggled from a brain injury, PTSD and addiction, without access to effective treatments. He recalls Luttrell sleeping with the TV and lights on, trying to comfort his battered mind. When Luttrell told him he was planning to go to Mexico with several other veterans to try ibogaine, Perry was skeptical. 'I remember the first time he told me, and I looked at him the same way a dog does when they hear a funny noise. I remember telling him to be careful with that because I still had my beliefs on drugs at the time, but at the same time, people that I trusted were going to Mexico for this, I had to listen,' Perry said. The data was indisputable to Perry. He unequivocally believes ibogaine takes away addiction and he is ready to tell anyone who will ask him about it. He has since gone on to the Joe Rogan podcast to wax poetic about the drug and other psychedelic treatments. He is a scheduled speaker for a psychedelic conference in Denver. He is also planning to reach out to officials in Israel and Ukraine to initiate ibogaine treatment programs there. 'I have always been open to new knowledge. The same thing with criminal justice reform and in-state tuition, as a Republican, I have my beliefs, but I am willing to change them once looking at the data and science,' Perry said. Hubbard cautioned that ibogaine is not a drug to be taken without medical supervision and Texas is probably at least six years away from seeing any movement on FDA approval for clinical trials. However, he is hopeful that the drug qualifies for a Breakthrough Therapy designation, a pathway that accelerates the regulatory review of drugs showing early promise in treating severe conditions. As of June 30, 2024, the FDA has only granted 587 designations out of the 1,516 requested since 2012. Hubbard believes the current presidential administration will see the momentum in Texas and help expedite the process with the FDA. 'If Texas can create a treatment plan for ibogaine, it might be the most significant achievement in modern medicine for nearly a century,' said Hubbard. Disclosure: Rice University and Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Oxford University to host global climate and human rights summit launch event
A panel of speakers from global climate leadership has been announced for a launch event in Oxford ahead of a climate summit. The University of Oxford will host the launch of the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit 2025 at the Sheldonian Theatre on Wednesday, June 4. Featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, and performances, the event will bring together leading voices from policy, activism, business, and academia to explore the relationship between climate change and human rights. The launch event will take place ahead of a 24-hour global online plenary extending into World Environment Day on June 5. The evening will begin with introductory remarks from Professor Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Professor Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford (Image: Contributed) The event will be hosted by Justin Rowlatt, climate editor at the BBC, and will include a rotation of speakers discussing how climate change impacts human rights and how these rights can inform responses to the climate crisis. The panel of speakers will include Lord Alok Sharma, a former COP26 president known for leading international negotiations resulting in the Glasgow Climate Pact. Vanessa Nakate, a climate justice activist and founder of the Rise Up Movement, who advocates for equitable climate solutions focusing on African communities, will also speak. Kate Raworth, an economist and co-founder of the Doughnut Economics Action Lab, whose work explores sustainable development within planetary boundaries, and Paul Polman, a business leader and former CEO of Unilever, known for championing responsible corporate climate action, will speak too. The audience will also hear from Professor Lavanya Rajamani, professor of international environmental law at Oxford, whose research and legal work supports climate-vulnerable nations in international negotiations, Emma Pinchbeck, chief executive of the Climate Change Committee, who leads the UK's independent advisory body on reaching net zero, and Dr Omnia El Omrani, a medical doctor and climate-health policy advocate, who has represented youth voices at recent UN climate summits and focuses on the health impacts of climate change. The event will be livestreamed and will conclude with a handover to partners at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji to begin the global programme at 10pm. The 24-hour plenary will include contributions from university hubs around the world, partners at UN Human Rights, and the International Universities Climate Alliance. The Oxford Mail and Oxford City Council are looking to find Oxford's climate heroes with this year's Oxford Climate Awards. Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon at the Oxford Climate Awards 2024 (Image: Joe Baker) They are looking for individuals or groups who champion environmental sustainability across categories including innovation in climate action, sustainable business, and green transport.
