Latest news with #SRM
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 days ago
- Science
- Business Standard
Plan B for the planet depends on oversight, not technology alone
Not too long ago, the idea of cooling Earth by bouncing sunlight back into space would have seemed like a fringe fantasy — equal parts sci-fi and geopolitical taboo. These days, it's inching into the heart of serious climate conversations. This is no coincidence. Climate forecasts, once laden with caveats, are now sounding more like sirens. The World Meteorological Organization has warned that global temperatures could rise as much as 2°C above pre-industrial levels in the next five years, breaching a climate red line. At that mark, we're looking at shrinking crop yields, collapsing ecosystems, and more than a third of the global population potentially exposed to extreme heat. In this climate of urgency, Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), a subfield of solar geoengineering, is garnering attention. The concept is simple: Reflect a small portion of sunlight back into space to artificially cool the planet. The methods vary wildly — from injecting sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere to spreading reflective glass particles over Arctic ice. Elegant in theory but risky in practice. Tinker with the global thermostat to cool one region, and you might cause drought in another. The models are incomplete, risks planetary, and governance nearly absent. Still, money is flowing in. According to SRM360, a non-profit tracking developments in the field, funding between 2020 and 2024 reached $112.1 million — over 3x the $34.9 million spent between 2010 and 2014. And the momentum isn't slowing: $164.7 million has already been committed for the next phase, from 2025 through 2029. A key player in this new wave is the UK's Advanced Research and Innovation Agency (ARIA), which has pledged roughly $80 million towards real-world SRM experiments. Its 'Exploring Climate Cooling' initiative is pushing boundaries: Researchers under the programme aim to test whether they can thicken Arctic ice, brighten marine clouds, or even simulate the effects of orbital mirrors. Mark Symes, ARIA's programme director, put it bluntly in a recent BBC interview: 'There is a critical missing gap in our knowledge on the feasibility and impacts of SRM, and to fill that gap requires real-world outdoor experiments.' But that approach carries reputational risks. Over the past decade, several respected institutions— including Harvard and a UK university consortium involving Oxford — have launched SRM projects, only to pause or cancel them in the face of political backlash and scientific hesitation. But not everyone is waiting for academic approval. Since 2017, the Arctic Ice Project — a privately run effort — has scattered tiny reflective glass beads across 17,500 square metres of Arctic sea ice. The move drew protests from Native Alaskan leaders. It now hopes to scale up its deployment across 100,000 square kilometres. Then there's the do-it-yourself crowd. In 2022, a British independent researcher launched a weather balloon that released sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere, dubbing the project SATAN — Stratospheric Aerosol Transport and Nucleation. Around the same time, Silicon Valley-backed startup Make Sunsets began launching similar balloons while planning to sell 'cooling credits' to fund the operation. Critics argue that such experiments, if conducted without rigorous review, may violate international environmental laws, including the 1985 Vienna Convention, which protects the ozone layer. Some participants point to a lack of national regulation as justification. That legal vacuum, however, doesn't equal a green light. SRM360 has also flagged $1.1 million in anonymous donations to SRM efforts, raising concerns about transparency in a field with potential global consequences. And then, there's the spectre that haunts every SRM debate: Fossil fuel interests. Critics worry that solar geoengineering could offer a convenient excuse to avoid the harder — and more politically painful — task of cutting emissions.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SRM Entertainment Announces Closing of $5 Million Private Placement
Winter Park, Florida, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SRM Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq: SRM) ('SRM' or the 'Company'), a leading provider of creative and high-quality licensed media-themed merchandise, announces today the closing of its previously announced private investment in public equity ('PIPE') financing with an institutional investor for gross proceeds to the Company of $5,000,000, before deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses. Pursuant to the terms of the securities purchase agreement, the Company sold an aggregate of 5,000 shares of its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, convertible into an aggregate of 8,928,571 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $0.56 per share (not at $0.50 per share as previously reported), and warrants, each having the right to purchase one share of common stock, to acquire up to an aggregate of 8,928,571 shares of common stock, subject to beneficial ownership limitations. The purchase price for one unit (consisting of one share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock convertible into approximately 1,785 shares and the same number of warrants) was $1,000. The warrants issued at the closing of the offering are exercisable immediately at an exercise price of $0.65 per share and will expire two years from the date of issuance. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital. Dominari Securities LLC acted as the sole placement agent for the PIPE financing. The securities being offered and sold by the Company in the private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. The securities were offered only to accredited investors. The Company has agreed to file one or more registration statements with the SEC covering the resale of the unregistered shares issuable upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and the shares issuable upon exercise of the unregistered warrants. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About SRM Entertainment, Inc. SRM Entertainment designs, develops, and manufactures custom merchandise which includes toys and souvenirs for the world's largest theme parks and other entertainment venues. Many of SRM's creative products are based on award winning multi-billion-dollar entertainment franchises that are featured in popular movies and books. SRM products are distributed worldwide at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Universal Parks and Destinations, United Parks and Resorts – SeaWorld, Six Flags and other attractions. SRM's products are offered alongside popular rides and attractions in theme parks, zoos, aquariums, and other entertainment venues. SRM's design team developed specialty dolls, plush and toys for one of New York City's landmarks that features a popular holiday show. SRM's design team is credited with creating popular products which have been successfully sold at specialty theme park events. SRM's exclusive-patented Sip With Me cups feature fun, kid friendly Zoo, Sea and animal themed characters as well as licensed characters from Smurfs, ICEE and Zoonicorn. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as 'may,' 'will,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'aim,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'believe,' 'is/are likely to,' 'potential,' 'continue' or other similar expressions. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the risk factors discussed in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our Forms 10-K, 10-Q and other reports filed with the SEC and available at Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company's registration statement and other filings with the SEC. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations that arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. Media and Investor Relations Info@ in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
L3Harris breaks ground on new rocket motor plant in Virginia
CULPEPER, Va. — L3Harris has begun clearing forest and carving out roads deep in the Virginia countryside, breaking ground on a major expansion at its Orange County facility to produce small and medium solid rocket motors – key components for the Javelin antitank weapon. As part of the Defense Production Act used to boost the replenishment of weapons sent to Ukraine, L3Harris' Aerojet Rocketdyne is building state-of-the art facilities for solid rocket motor production, such as casting and assembly, and for mixing and grinding operations while upgrading its testing plant. The U.S. has sent Ukraine over 10,000 shoulder-fired Javelin systems since Russia invaded in February 2022 and is now working to replenish its depleted stock. Javelin is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Aerojet Rocketdyne supplies the rocket motors for the weapon. Lockheed Martin aims to boost annual production from 2,400 Javelin missiles to nearly 4,000 by 2026, and Aerojet will need to contribute to meet the demand. Aerojet is constructing five new buildings that will move all work it does to build small and medium rocket motors, primarily Javelin, from Camden, Arkansas, to Orange county. It is primarily funded using a portion of the $215 million in Defense Production Act funding the company received for capacity ramp up efforts. The aim is to complete construction in the third or fourth quarter of 2026 and then begin moving into production in early 2027, Scott Alexander, L3Harris' missile solutions president, told reporters. The company has been tucked in the Shenandoah hills for 30 years, making a number of rocket motors for major programs including the Standard Missile, the Trident II D5 and the jettison motor for NASA's Artemis program. The area is also home to its center of excellence for propellant research and SRM production and has a robust testing facility that includes work on ramjet and scramjet technology development. L3Harris has also broken ground on new facilities in Camden, Arkansas, including a 60,000 square foot setup to concentrate on ramping up production of the rocket motors used in the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System that is fired from the Army's High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, another critical weapon sent to Ukraine to help it beat back the Russian invasion. And it is shifting all of its inert components like motor cases to Huntsville, Alabama. Overall, the company has doubled its internal investment in Aerojet's SRM production since acquiring it in 2023, Alexander said. The new buildings will leverage 'a lot of automation, robotics,' Julie Wikete, Aerojet's Orange site director, told reporters May 21 at the facility. 'How do we improve the overall experience here? And especially with building these new, we're able to leverage a lot of that more future factory approach that's going to lend ourselves directly to increasing the overall output of Javelin.' The new facilities will allow the company to increase its overall production capacity for Javelin solid rocket motors by 20% through strategic building and production line designs that cut the distance traveled across the facility during various stages of the process by 90%, Wikete said. 'We are reducing the overall time to build, which just immediately translates to faster out the door,' she noted. The expansion represents significant growth, although the number of new employees that will be needed at the facility is still being evaluated. 'We're always hiring,' Wikete said. 'Javelin is one program that is coming here … we are also growing in other areas,' she said. 'We'll continue to evaluate that as programs come online and more and more jobs will be opened up at that point.' With the addition of new production practices like robotics and automation that will enhance the process, the benefits include 'statistical reliability in what you're building and how you're building,' Alexander said. 'You take a lot of the human factor out of that, but also it is more efficient and so ultimately that is going to affect the cost per round in terms of it being economical.'
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Manjari Fadnis on 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na' co-star Imran Khan leaving Bollywood
Actress Manjari Fadnis was seen as Meghna Pariyar in Imran Khan and Genelia D'Souza-led " Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na ". During an exclusive conversation with IANS, Manjari opened up about Imran bidding goodbye to Bollywood . When asked if it is tough to survive in the industry, she told IANS, "Whatever Imran chose to do was his personal decision. He had great opportunities, and he still has a strong fan base. People are eagerly waiting for his return. I'd love to work with him again, but this question is better directed to him." The diva further revealed that she had met Imran a couple of times after the shoot of "Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elevate Your Career with SRM Online MBA SRM Online MBA Learn More Undo Revealing if she is in touch with her co-stars, Meghna shared, "I'm in touch with Abbas, Pakhi, and occasionally with Imran-we've met a few times after the shoot. I bump into Genelia at events. On some sets, like for 'Warning', I've made real friends-Varun Sharma, Jitin Gulati, Gurmeet Singh (our director), Madhurima Tuli-we all bonded really well and are still close." 'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na' Reunion: Imran Khan and Genelia D'Souza Hit the High Notes! Talking about her journey in the tinseltown, the 'Grand Masti' actress stated, "My journey so far has been beautiful. I chose what I wanted to do in life, and luckily, even though I didn't come from a film background, I received many opportunities and got the chance to work with some really good people. It's been a steady journey, but I'm still here-and I love being here." Manjari, who has worked in several languages, disclosed which industry she enjoyed working in the most. "I've worked in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, and Marathi. Marathi was the easiest for me because it's my mother tongue. I've heard it since childhood, although I sometimes make grammatical errors due to growing up in different parts of the country-my father was in the army," the 'Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon' actress revealed. In the meantime, Imran last graced the big screen with the 2015 drama "Katti Batti," alongside Kangana Ranaut . Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu's Srihari becomes India's 86th Grandmaster
Tamil Nadu's L.R. Srihari became India's latest and 86th Grandmaster on Thursday. The Chennai-based player, who had crossed the 2500 Elo rating (live) last May at the Dubai Open, got his first GM norm at the Sixdays Budapest GM Round-Robin in August 2023 and the second at the 2023 Qatar Masters. For one year and nearly nine tournaments, Srihari struggled to get the final GM norm before he gained it in the ongoing Asian individual championships in Al-Ain (Abu Dhabi). 'It was a huge huge relief. In the 8-9 tournaments last year, I came close to getting my final GM norm only to lose it. For some reason or the other, there was some hurdle in my way,' the 19-year-old, a B. Com student of SRM (Vadapalani), told Sportstar from Al-Ain. In the run-up to the Asian championships, Srihari, by his own admission, was not in great form. 'Honestly, I didn't expect much from the tournament. In the last three to four tournaments, I was not in good form. In Abu Dhabi, I wanted to take one round at a time,' he said, while thanking his parents and coach GM Shyam Sundar. Related Topics Dubai Open
