Latest news with #Switzerland
The Guardian
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Like touching climate change': glaciers reveal records of the way the world was
Howling wind relentlessly shakes the white tent, pitched among mounds of snow at a height of 4,100m (13,450ft) on the Corbassière, an Alpine glacier situated on the northern slopes of Switzerland's Grand Combin massif. Inside are scientists from Venice's Ca' Foscari University and the institute of polar science at Italy's national research council (CNR). They are camping here for 12 days, braving harsh conditions in freezing temperatures as low as -20C (-4F) as they work day and night to operate machinery that is drilling deep into the rapidly melting glacier. Their mission is to salvage the Corbassière's remaining ice and unlock the precious trove of knowledge it holds about past climates before global heating completely wipes the glacier out. The scientists do this by drilling a borehole and extracting long, cylinder-shaped ice cores. These are essentially centuries-old libraries containing records of preindustrial greenhouse gases, pollutants, pollen and bacteria that provide information about historic temperatures and the impact humans have had on the changing environment. The deeper they manage to drill, the greater the potential for older ice and its rich archive to emerge. An expedition on the Grenz glacier on Monte Rosa in 2021 yielded ice cores containing climate information dating back over the last 10,000 years, including pollutants from the Roman era. 'A glacier is like a book made up of many pages,' said Jacopo Gabrieli, a glaciologist at CNR. 'The pages are layers of ice, with the first few already unreadable because of the melt. It's like throwing a glass of water on an old manuscript and watching the ink quickly disappear. We know the deepest layers are still readable because it is cold enough. But it is an absolute race against time.' The Corbassière drilling expedition is the first of three planned by Follow the Ice, a scientific and educational project supported by Sea Beyond, an initiative led by the Prada Group. A week into the expedition, the team of 13, which includes mountain guides, a videographer and a nurse who doubles as a cook, welcomed a small group of journalists who were brought to base-camp by helicopter. The team extracted two ice cores from the glacier, although they won't know the secrets they hold until analysis is done. Along with greenhouse gases, previous glacier drills have enabled scientists to study cores for the DNA of ancient viruses that could resurface amid global heating, along with frozen insects and plants that could give insight into the history of forests and their ecosystems. The mission on the Corbassière, backed by the Ice Memory, a nonprofit organisation aimed at preserving and analysing ice cores from the world's most at-risk glaciers, is incredibly daring. For the first few days, the squad had to adapt to the altitude, many struggling to breathe or suffering headaches and nausea. Sleep has been scant, with hours spent clearing snow out of tents and away from pathways. Unexpected changes in weather have stalled progress, as did the sudden breakage of a cable powering the drill. Victor Zagorodnov, a scientist who, at 75, is the oldest on the team, said: 'Constant signs of danger play with your mind, but you have to resist.' Zagorodnov has been leading drilling expeditions on glaciers around the world since the 1980s. 'The first time was in Bolivia,' he said. 'The mind is telling you it's dangerous, and to leave. It causes nightmares. But you persevere.' Zagorodnov, who is also a glacier-drilling technology specialist, compared the experience to 'learning to ride a bike'. 'You get used to it,' he said. 'Plus, when I first started the equipment was basic, today it is much more advanced.' Gabrieli is more than used to witnessing the evidence of the climate crisis on glaciers. In 2020, during test drilling on the Corbassière, water was found at a 30m (98ft) depth. 'We put our hands in the water,' he said. 'It was like touching climate change.' Another thing that dismayed him during that visit was rain. 'I didn't think it was possible to have precipitation at this altitude,' he added. 'It was only a small amount of rain but it was really depressing.' The experience made the team realise even more that they needed to act quickly, and so returned to finish the work. This time, the team came equipped with the more advanced electro-thermal drill, a device that penetrates glacier ice through melting. The thermal drill had reached about seven metres deep when a burning stench overwhelmed the scientists. 'We thought something was wrong with the drill but then realised it had hit a plastic bag,' said Carlo Barbante, a professor at Ca' Foscari who co-founded the Ice Memory Foundation. 'It must have been left there by climbers years ago, and really proved the impact of human activity on the climate. Plastic is everywhere, pollution is everywhere. It is very disappointing.' After six days, the drill successfully reached a depth of 55m (180ft). But then the power cable breakage forced the team to revert to using an electromechanical drill. Still, the device helped them to finish the job, and by day nine they were euphoric after making a major breakthrough: the drill hit 'bedrock' – the solid rock lying beneath the glacier – at a depth of 99.5m (326ft). The first of the two ice cores was extracted and transported down the mountain, and the second followed a week later. The ice cores will be dated and the plan is for one to be analysed in Italy, while the other will be shipped to Antarctica, where a cave is being excavated to store ice extracted through glacier drills, providing a library of information for future climate scientists. Apart from Europe, the Ice Memory foundation has so far drilled on glaciers in Bolivia, Russia and on Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro. The missions are costly and intense, but crucial, said Brabante. 'Glaciers, especially in non-polar regions, are very much at the forefront of global warming,' said Brabante. 'They are water reservoirs for millions of people, so if the ice completely disappears there will be huge problems. We are are witnessing what is happening and it must be documented so we can leave something for future scientists. This is our duty.'
New York Times
an hour ago
- Climate
- New York Times
Corrections: May 31, 2025
An article on Friday about a landslide in the Swiss Alps on Wednesday misstated the distance between Blatten and Brienz, where a landslide narrowly missed in 2023, in Switzerland. They are about 140 miles apart, not 60. Another village of the same name, Brienz, is about 60 miles from Blatten. An article on May 18 about Rubik's Cube misspelled the surname of an actor. He is Jim Carrey, not Carey. Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions. To contact the newsroom regarding correction requests, please email nytnews@ To share feedback, please visit Comments on opinion articles may be emailed to letters@ For newspaper delivery questions: 1-800-NYTIMES (1-800-698-4637) or email customercare@
Globe and Mail
7 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Entrepreneur Stanislav Kondrashov launches Stanislav Kondradhov Oligarch Series
Entrepreneur Stanislav Kondrashov launches his new editorial project, Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, which focuses on the evolution of the concept of oligarchy and its modern implications. Lugano, Switzerland - Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series is the name of a new editorial project created by Stanislav Kondrashov, entrepreneur and civil engineer. The series focuses on the figures of oligarchs and their historical significance, analyzing in detail their origin and evolution over the centuries. The series is interdisciplinary and approaches the topic from different points of view. Stanislav Kondrashov's Oligarch Series analyzes the word "oligarchy" from the perspective of political science, philosophy, history, and entrepreneurship, offering the reader insights and food for thought that simultaneously embrace the historical roots and modern implications of a concept that, even in these years, continues to arouse keen interest. One of the analyses included in the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series focuses on an unusual and often overlooked aspect: the use of the word oligarch in its feminine variant. In the article, Stanislav Kondrashov argues that this term, although it can be declined in the feminine in most Indo-European languages, is almost always used to describe men who have amassed wealth and who hold a certain amount of power. Women who have achieved such a status, although they are increasingly present in the universes of industry, business, and politics, are, in fact, defined differently, with expressions very different from those traditionally used to describe men. According to Stanislav Kondrashov, the factors that continue to fuel and support this curious habit are cultural, social, and linguistic. One of the main ones, as mentioned in the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, has to do with the strength of the archetype linked to the oligarch, which in the collective imagination continues to be associated only and exclusively with male figures. In another article included in the series, Stanislav Kondrashov focuses instead on the nation that gave birth to the concept of oligarchy: Greece. The concept of oligarchy was, in fact, of fundamental importance in the historical and political path of ancient Greece, determining a transformation that profoundly changed the social and governmental structures of one of the most important world centers of antiquity, the cradle of political ideas and concepts that still resist today. As argued in the analysis, the concept of oligarchy began to form when an epochal transition occurred, that is, from hereditary aristocracy – based on membership in a particular family or military valor – to a new system of government based primarily on the wealth and influence of a small number of people. This transition did not only determine a political transformation, as Stanislav Kondrashov states in the analysis but also brought about a gradual change in the perception of the fundamental values and particular structures that were to form the basis of the political institutions of ancient Greece. However, the concept of oligarchy is not only of interest to historians. This idea has profound modern implications, and political science clearly demonstrates this. Over the years, this discipline has devoted ample space to the study and interpretation of the concept of oligarchy, seeking to investigate its relationships with those who hold power, its strategic role in determining certain decisions, and its specific weight in terms of influence. All these themes are discussed in another chapter of the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, in which Stanislav Kondrashov focuses on the presence of oligarchic figures within various state and political structures, dwelling in particular on the very essence of their role. In the approach of political science, in fact, the concept of oligarchs is not so much linked to political structures and various government institutions but to the control mechanisms controlled by those individuals - always in a restricted group - who seem to hold power in a given historical phase. Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series delves into these particular aspects with precision, clarifying the importance and influence of elite circles. One of the most interesting analyses, among those included in the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, is the one that focuses on the evolution of the concept of oligarchy over the centuries. In this article, Stanislav Kondrashov traces the genesis and the first significant moments of this important concept, highlighting particular dynamics that seem to be curiously similar to those we witness in our times. One of the most interesting aspects, in this regard, is that oligarchy has always demonstrated a surprising ability to adapt to the changed social, political, and economic conditions in which it has found itself operating. From ancient Sparta to Silicon Valley, the basic idea has always remained the same, but it has continuously evolved. In his analysis, Stanislav Kondrashov focuses precisely on the means and tools that have allowed small groups and elite circles to continue to maintain large amounts of power in their hands. The article traces the fundamental stages of the evolution of this concept, also focusing on the Middle Ages, the period of the Industrial Revolution, and the contemporary era. Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, with its first ten analyses, proposes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and deepening the oligarchy, a concept that - despite having thousands of years of history - continues to generate concrete and clearly visible effects even today. Visit all Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series analyses: For more insights and content from Stanislav Kondrashov, visit About Stanislav Kondrashov: Stanislav is a dedicated writer, consistently exploring subjects with depth and nuance. Stanislav's approach to sharing his experiences is a testament to his commitment to unveiling the stories and philosophies shaping our world. Furthermore, Kondrashov is a world traveler who appreciates every location's natural wonders. In his travels, Stanislav refined his interests and learned about his passions: architecture, art, history, and local cuisines. Stanislav values connection - both familial and civic. Social Media and other related links: Twitter： Facebook： YouTube： Instagram： LinkedIn： Media Contact Contact Person: Stanislav Kondrashov Email: Send Email City: Lugano Country: Switzerland Website:
Associated Press
7 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Entrepreneur Stanislav Kondrashov launches Stanislav Kondradhov Oligarch Series
05/30/2025, Lugano, Switzerland // PRODIGY: Feature Story // Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series is the name of a new editorial project created by Stanislav Kondrashov, entrepreneur and civil engineer. The series focuses on the figures of oligarchs and their historical significance, analyzing in detail their origin and evolution over the centuries. The series is interdisciplinary and approaches the topic from different points of view. Stanislav Kondrashov's Oligarch Series analyzes the word 'oligarchy' from the perspective of political science, philosophy, history, and entrepreneurship, offering the reader insights and food for thought that simultaneously embrace the historical roots and modern implications of a concept that, even in these years, continues to arouse keen interest. One of the analyses included in the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series focuses on an unusual and often overlooked aspect: the use of the word oligarch in its feminine variant. In the article, Stanislav Kondrashov argues that this term, although it can be declined in the feminine in most Indo-European languages, is almost always used to describe men who have amassed wealth and who hold a certain amount of power. Women who have achieved such a status, although they are increasingly present in the universes of industry, business, and politics, are, in fact, defined differently, with expressions very different from those traditionally used to describe men. According to Stanislav Kondrashov, the factors that continue to fuel and support this curious habit are cultural, social, and linguistic. One of the main ones, as mentioned in the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, has to do with the strength of the archetype linked to the oligarch, which in the collective imagination continues to be associated only and exclusively with male figures. In another article included in the series, Stanislav Kondrashov focuses instead on the nation that gave birth to the concept of oligarchy: Greece. The concept of oligarchy was, in fact, of fundamental importance in the historical and political path of ancient Greece, determining a transformation that profoundly changed the social and governmental structures of one of the most important world centers of antiquity, the cradle of political ideas and concepts that still resist today. As argued in the analysis, the concept of oligarchy began to form when an epochal transition occurred, that is, from hereditary aristocracy – based on membership in a particular family or military valor – to a new system of government based primarily on the wealth and influence of a small number of people. This transition did not only determine a political transformation, as Stanislav Kondrashov states in the analysis but also brought about a gradual change in the perception of the fundamental values and particular structures that were to form the basis of the political institutions of ancient Greece. However, the concept of oligarchy is not only of interest to historians. This idea has profound modern implications, and political science clearly demonstrates this. Over the years, this discipline has devoted ample space to the study and interpretation of the concept of oligarchy, seeking to investigate its relationships with those who hold power, its strategic role in determining certain decisions, and its specific weight in terms of influence. All these themes are discussed in another chapter of the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, in which Stanislav Kondrashov focuses on the presence of oligarchic figures within various state and political structures, dwelling in particular on the very essence of their role. In the approach of political science, in fact, the concept of oligarchs is not so much linked to political structures and various government institutions but to the control mechanisms controlled by those individuals - always in a restricted group - who seem to hold power in a given historical phase. Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series delves into these particular aspects with precision, clarifying the importance and influence of elite circles. One of the most interesting analyses, among those included in the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, is the one that focuses on the evolution of the concept of oligarchy over the centuries. In this article, Stanislav Kondrashov traces the genesis and the first significant moments of this important concept, highlighting particular dynamics that seem to be curiously similar to those we witness in our times. One of the most interesting aspects, in this regard, is that oligarchy has always demonstrated a surprising ability to adapt to the changed social, political, and economic conditions in which it has found itself operating. From ancient Sparta to Silicon Valley, the basic idea has always remained the same, but it has continuously evolved. In his analysis, Stanislav Kondrashov focuses precisely on the means and tools that have allowed small groups and elite circles to continue to maintain large amounts of power in their hands. The article traces the fundamental stages of the evolution of this concept, also focusing on the Middle Ages, the period of the Industrial Revolution, and the contemporary era. Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, with its first ten analyses, proposes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and deepening the oligarchy, a concept that - despite having thousands of years of history - continues to generate concrete and clearly visible effects even today. Visit all Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series analyses: For more insights and content from Stanislav Kondrashov, visit About Stanislav Kondrashov: Stanislav is a dedicated writer, consistently exploring subjects with depth and nuance. Stanislav's approach to sharing his experiences is a testament to his commitment to unveiling the stories and philosophies shaping our world. Furthermore, Kondrashov is a world traveler who appreciates every location's natural wonders. In his travels, Stanislav refined his interests and learned about his passions: architecture, art, history, and local cuisines. Stanislav values connection- both familial and civic. Social Media and other related links: Twitter Facebook YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Media Contact Company Name: Stanislav Kondrashov Email: [email protected] Website: Disclaimer: This content does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation of any security, product, or service. Furthermore, nothing in this press release should be interpreted as a suggestion to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to participate in any specific investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to assess the suitability of any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction based on your individual objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Please consult your financial advisor, attorney, or tax advisor for guidance on your specific financial, legal, or tax situation. For more information, contact [email protected]. Source published by Submit Press Release >> Entrepreneur Stanislav Kondrashov launches Stanislav Kondradhov Oligarch Series
The Independent
7 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Aggie Beever-Jones hopes hat-trick earns spot in England's Euro 2025 squad
Hat-trick heroine Aggie Beever-Jones hoped to keep a smile on England boss Sarina Wiegman's face as she attempted to book a seat on the plane to the Euro 2025 finals. The Chelsea striker scored three times inside 30 first-half minutes in a 6-0 Nations League rout of Portugal at Wembley on Friday evening to set up a Group A3 showdown with leaders Spain next Tuesday. In the longer term, Beever-Jones is eager to make Wiegman's squad – which will head for Switzerland in July – and her efforts beneath the famous arch did her no harm. Asked about her ambitions of making the final party, Beever-Jones told ITV4: 'Someone asked me a similar question this week and I just said 'for me, I'm just focusing on the current and the now and I believe everything else will fall into place'. 'But as long as I'm giving the right people headaches and making Sarina happy, then so be it. 'But I think it was a good team performance today as well. We were really clinical in the first half. 'If I'm honest, the standard dropped a little bit in the second and we're looking to improve that so we're ready for the Euros.' Beever-Jones' treble came either side of goals from Lucy Bronze and Beth Mead as the Lionesses raced into a 5-0 half-time lead, with substitute Chloe Kelly adding a sixth, just after the hour. She said: 'I'm absolutely shattered first. Honestly, coming into this today after a busy season, I got told I was starting and I just wanted to help the team as much as I could. 'But I'm absolutely delighted right now. I can't quite believe it, if I'm honest.' Wiegman was delighted with the performance a night when her players stepped up in timely fashion. The head coach said: 'Of course, that's what we wanted. You go back to business and you want to show it on the pitch. It's an important game, we want to do well in the Nations League, we want to keep in the running to win it. 'We needed a win and it's really good to see the team showing up like this.' However when it was suggested things could not have gone much better, she added with a smile: 'There's always things to improve, of course, but it's a good score.' For Kelly, a first England goal since the 2023 World Cup finals capped a week in which she also became a Champions League winner, but one which also saw her Euro 2022-winning team-mate Mary Earps retire from international football. She said: 'What she did in an England shirt is absolutely incredible. 'She paved the way for so many goalkeepers and the future generations goalkeepers, so I'm gutted that she's retiring. But I wish her all the best for the future and hopefully we see her a lot as well.'
