Latest news with #equator
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The surprising science behind the colour of your eyes - and what it reveals about your personality
A viral TikTok video has revealed the remarkable science and deep symbolism behind eye colour - suggesting your eye shade might say more about you than you think. The clip, posted by user @snappybits2, explores how brown, blue and green eyes are shaped not only by biology but by history and light itself. According to the video, brown eyes are caused by a high concentration of melanin - the pigment responsible for colouring the skin, hair and eyes. In the iris, melanin acts as a shield that absorbs light rather than scattering it. 'Brown eyes pull light inward,' the narrator of the video explains. 'This is why brown eyes seem deeper, darker and more grounded.' The earliest humans had brown eyes, having evolved near the equator where the sun was most intense. 'Melanin wasn't just pigment. It was protection. Brown eyes were nature's built-in sunglasses, filtering out UV rays and reducing glare long before Ray Bans existed.' Today, over 70 per cent of the global population has brown eyes - a striking reminder of their evolutionary significance. The video describes the colour as 'not just a colour, but a legacy'. Culturally, brown eyes are often associated with warmth and reliability, but they've also been viewed as 'mysterious, serious, even intimidating.' This, it claims, is because 'brown eyes are hard to read. They don't change with the light. 'They don't flash with emotion the way lighter eyes sometimes do. They absorb rather than reveal.' But under certain lighting - low sun, candlelight, late afternoon haze - something remarkable can happen. 'Brown eyes start to glow… amber, honey, liquid gold,' the narrator continues. 'It's the melanin, again, scattering light just enough to reveal what's been hiding underneath 'In those moments, they feel ancient, like they're not just seeing you, they're remembering you. Unlike brown, blue eyes contain almost no melanin at all. Instead, what we perceive as blue is actually an optical illusion created by light scattering through layers of transparent iris tissue, a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering. 'There's no blue pigment inside the iris,' the narrator explains. 'What you're seeing is the light scattering through layers of tissue. 'It's the same reason the sky looks blue and sunsets bleed orange.' Every blue-eyed person on Earth, around 8 per cent of the population, shares a common ancestor. 'They trace their eye colour back to a single genetic mutation that occurred 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, somewhere near the Black Sea, in one human.' The mutation, found in the OCA2 gene, limited melanin production in the iris. 'Suddenly the eye didn't absorb light anymore, it scattered,' the video says. 'That one mutation spread from person to person, generation to generation, until millions now carry the glitch.' The result is eyes that aren't truly blue, but instead 'the colour of light's confusion.' Green eyes are the rarest of all, seen in just 2 per cent of the global population, making them less common than red hair or even being born with 12 fingers. They're described as a 'chemical contradiction, a perfect storm between biology and light'. To achieve green eyes, the body must produce just the right balance of melanin and a yellowish pigment called lipochrome, along with the scattering effect of light. 'Most people have too much melanin and their eyes come out brown. Some people have almost none, and their eyes appear blue,' the narrator explains. 'But green eyes need just enough melanin to darken the iris and just enough lipochrome to tint the light that bounces off it.' The video calls green eyes 'a rendered illusion so delicate that the smallest tweak in pigment breaks the effect entirely.' And they don't stay the same. 'Green eyes don't sit still. They shift in different lights - gold, jade, moss, steel. 'They look calm in the shade, then snap with energy and sunlight, like they've got a secret loaded behind the iris waiting to be triggered.' Green eyes, it says, are 'unstable beauty, an optical accident.' Whether a product of melanin's shielding power, a 10,000-year-old genetic glitch, or a collision of pigment and light, your eye colour might be revealing more about you than you ever realised.
CNA
26-05-2025
- Health
- CNA
Skincare-infused sunscreens that fight UV damage and boost skin health – can they really do it all?
When it comes to sunscreens, our demands are pretty high. It has to be lightweight (no one wants to deal with a tacky finish especially in Singapore's heat and humidity), leave no white cast (an ashy-grey hue is a big no), and have high SPF protection (Singapore sits near the equator where UV intensity is at its strongest). But these days, sunscreens are promising even more than just efficient UV protection. These are often packed with skincare ingredients that claim to help improve skin health and enhance skin repair, too. According to Dr Rachel Ho, an aesthetic doctor at La Clinic, evidence for sunscreen's role in preventing or delaying signs of ageing, such as hyperpigmentation and fine lines, is well established. Dr Angeline Yong, a dermatologist and medical director at Angeline Yong Dermatology, added: 'While sunscreen itself does not actively rejuvenate the skin in the way treatments like retinoids or lasers do, its role in preventing further damage is foundational for skin repair.' Think of the use of sunscreen as playing a 'supportive role for skin barrier functions and physiological repair mechanisms and any ongoing treatments to reduce signs of ageing', said Dr Ho. In short, regular sunscreen application is crucial as it not only prevents further skin damage but also allows skin to recover and maintain its health, which promotes a more youthful appearance over time, emphasised Dr Yong. These sunscreens can be also seen as multi-tasking products that can offer additional benefits because of the ingredients in them. And with consumers becoming savvier and more demanding, sunscreens – like serums and moisturisers – have also gone down the skinification (incorporating skincare ingredients) route. The new generation of sunscreens offer not just UV protection, they now come complete with efficient formulations that are designed to care for our skin inside and out by including skin-loving ingredients like hydrating and anti-ageing actives that can improve skin texture and appearance. Thus, these sunscreens can be also seen as multi-tasking products that can offer additional benefits because of the ingredients in them, added Dr Ho. CAN NEW-GEN SUNSCREEN REPLACE SKINCARE? Now that new-gen sunscreens are packed with skincare ingredients, does that mean that we can simplify our skincare routine by omitting other skincare products, like serums and moisturisers? 'If you would like to replace your skincare steps with a new-gen sunscreen, it's important to remember that while sunscreens with added skincare ingredients – like antioxidants like Vitamin E, niacinamide or reparative peptides – can support skin health, there are still limitations so you should manage your expectations,' said Dr Yong. The extent of benefits is variable and formula-dependent, as sunscreens with niacinamide listed at the bottom of its ingredient list are not the same as niacinamide serums that contain 5 per cent of the key active ingredient, added Dr Ho. This is because the benefits of these actives are secondary to the primary goal of UV blocking, explained Dr Yong. Thus, 'while some sunscreens may offer hydration or brightening properties, they shouldn't replace dedicated treatments for specific concerns'. Instead, assess your skin's needs and specific concerns to determine whether you can simplify your routine or if additional products are necessary for optimal skin health. SKIP YOUR SERUM OR MOISTURISER If your sunscreen is highly moisturising and you have normal, combination or oily skin. If your skin concerns are mild – a sunscreen with niacinamide and Vitamin E may replace a serum step as it can offer light hydration and a slight brightening effect, which is sufficient for general skin health maintenance. DON'T SKIP YOUR SERUM OR MOISTURISER If you have dry or dehydrated skin as most sunscreens don't provide enough long-term moisture. If you have specific skin issues like acne, hyperpigmentation or signs of ageing. This is because skincare actives in sunscreens are usually at lower concentrations and using a dedicated serum may be more effective. If your sunscreen delivers a matte finish because oil-free mattifying sunscreens can be drying. If you're dealing with a colder or drier climate. Layering a moisturiser not only helps with skin hydration, but can also protect the skin barrier as well. Consider these skincare ingredients in your new-gen sunscreen to boost skin health: Niacinamide: Soothes inflammation, brightens and supports skin barrier function. Antioxidants (Vitamin E, ferulic acid): Boosts UV protection by scavenging free radicals, providing an extra layer of protection against skin ageing. 6 SUNSCREENS THAT GO BEYOND UV PROTECTION 1. Re:erth Radiance Defense SPF50+/PA++++, S$65 This lightweight sunscreen also works hard to suppress the inflammation from the release of DAMPs (damage-associated molecular pattern) molecules that cause skin ageing. The secret lies in its blend of Japanese spring turmeric, carnosine, chestnut rose fruit, bilberry leaf and rose myrtle fruit extracts to brighten the skin tone, soothe the skin and reduce ROS (reactive oxygen species) that can damage skin's collagen and elastin. 2. Paula's Choice 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer SPF50, S$65 A sunscreen that doubles up as an anti-ageing moisturiser, it contains high SPF properties to protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays while also visibly brightening a dull complexion at the same time thanks to the 5 per cent vitamin C. Plus, the inclusion of algae-derived amino acids also helps strengthen the skin for a healthier complexion. Available at 3. Shiseido Perfect Sun Protector Lotion SPF50+/PA++++, S$70 Enriched with a new SynchroShieldRepair technology, this sunscreen strengthens its protective abilities when exposed to heat, water and even sweat, keeping you well-protected. In addition, it contains a unique Profesnse CEL complex that also helps firm the skin for a plumped and more youthful looking you. Available at Shiseido store and counters. 4. Bobbi Brown Intensive Serum UV Fluid SPF50+/PA++++, S$88 A skincare-packed sunscreen, it protects against UV, blue light and pollution while also helping to improve fine lines and skin firmness with the help of narcissus tazetta bulb extract and argireline peptides. In addition, it has cordyceps and ginseng to boost skin's vitality and reveal a brighter and more radiant complexion over time. Available at Bobbi Brown store and counters. 5. Lancome UV Expert Xtreem Shield SPF50+/PA++++, S$155 Leveraging on over two decades of expertise and inspired by advanced sport conditions, this sunscreen features a unique self-recovery UV technology that reforms UV protection even with friction or mechanical stress like rubbing, so skin stays well-protected. But that's not all, it also helps reduce the appearance of dark spots, enlarged pores and skin dullness too. Available at Lancome counters. 6. Augustinus Bader The Sunscreen SPF50/PA++++, S$205 Besides UV protection, this also helps boost skin's repair from external environmental stressors at the same time. Its exclusive TFC8 complex that's packed with vitamins and amino acids together with microalgae extract restore the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while antioxidant-rich actives like raspberry seed and buriti oils, pomegranate flower, perilla leaf and Kakadu plum, to further enhance its photoprotective properties.
Malay Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Malaysia has potential to thrive in space economy, leveraging talent and geography, says Mosti deputy sec-gen at LIMA 2025
LANGKAWI, May 22 — Malaysia has the capacity to capture the rapidly evolving space economy industry, with the country's large local talent pool, ample resources, good infrastructure and technology. Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) deputy secretary-general (Technology Development) Datuk Dr Mohd Nor Azman Hassan said Malaysia's geography is very suitable for the country to play an important or significant portion of the space economy. 'If you want to launch a rocket launcher for satellites, Malaysia's equatorial location presents a huge advantage in terms of sustainable rocket launch, for example. 'Because when you launch it from the equatorial line of the globe, of the world, you essentially use less resources and fuel and also time that translates to more money and cost savings,' he told Bernama after delivering the opening speech at the Space Conference — Space Economy Revolution: Trends, Technologies And Strategies event today. The half-day conference was held on the sidelines of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2025 exhibition and successfully gathered 150 participants, including senior officers from Southeast Asian space agencies, industry players, academia, ministries, departments and agencies, and international organisations. During the event, Mohd Nor Azman also witnessed the exchange of letters of intent (LOIs) between UZMA Bhd and Global Systemes Asia Sdn Bhd; SpaceIn Sdn Bhd and Global Systemes Asia Sdn Bhd; International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and Ocullospace Sdn Bhd; the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) and Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA); and MYSA and Ocullospace Sdn Bhd. The conference, organised by Global Exhibitions & Conferences Sdn Bhd (GEC) and supported by MYSA, served as a strategic platform, bringing together experts from the space sector to address challenges at the national, regional, and international levels, among others. Also present at the event were GEC strategy advisor Datuk Nonee Ashirin Mohd Radzi and MYSA director-general Datuk Azlikamil Napiah. — Bernama
The Guardian
07-05-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Two-thirds of global heating caused by richest 10%, study suggests
The world's wealthiest 10% are responsible for two-thirds of global heating since 1990, driving droughts and heatwaves in the poorest parts of the world, according to a study. While researchers have previously shown that higher income groups emit disproportionately large amounts of greenhouse gases, the latest survey is the first to try to pin down how that inequality translates into responsibility for climate breakdown. It offers a powerful argument for climate finance and wealth taxes by attempting to give an evidential basis for how many people in the developed world – including more than 50% of full-time employees in the UK – bear a heightened responsibility for the climate disasters affecting people who can least afford it. 'Our study shows that extreme climate impacts are not just the result of abstract global emissions; instead we can directly link them to our lifestyle and investment choices, which in turn are linked to wealth,' said Sarah Schöngart, a climate modelling analyst and the study's lead author. 'We found that wealthy emitters play a major role in driving climate extremes, which provides strong support for climate policies that target the reduction of their emissions.' It has been clearly established that wealthier individuals, through their consumption and investments, create more carbon emissions, while poorer countries located near the equator bear the brunt of the resulting extreme weather and rising temperatures. The new research attempts to specifically quantify how much that inequality in emissions feeds into climate breakdown. To produce their analysis, the researchers fed wealth-based greenhouse gas emissions inequality assessments into climate modelling frameworks, allowing them to systematically attribute the changes in global temperatures and the frequency of extreme weather events that have taken place between 1990 and 2019. By subtracting the emissions of the wealthiest 10%, 1% and 0.1%, they modelled the changes to the climate and frequency of extreme weather events that would have taken place without them. By comparing those with the changes that have occurred, they believed they would be able to calculate their responsibility for the crisis the world finds itself in today. In 2020, the global mean temperature was 0.61C higher than 1990. The researchers found that about 65% of that increase could be attributed to emissions from the global richest 10%, a group they defined as including all those earning more than €42,980 (£36,472) a year. That includes all those on the UK median salary for full-time employees, which is £37,430. Wealthier groups bore more disproportionate responsibility still, with the richest 1% – those with annual incomes of €147,200 – responsible for 20% of global heating, and the richest 0.1% – the 800,000 or so people in the world raking in more than €537,770 – responsible for 8%. 'We found that the wealthiest 10% contributed 6.5 times more to global warming than the average, with the top 1% and 0.1% contributing 20 and 76 times more, respectively,' the write in their paper, published on Wednesday in the journal Nature Climate Change. Co-author Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, said: 'If everyone had emitted like the bottom 50% of the global population, the world would have seen minimal additional warming since 1990.' On the other hand, if the whole world population had emitted as the top 10%, 1% or 0.1% had, the temperature increase would have been 2.9C, 6.7C or a completely unsurvivable 12.2C. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion The researchers said they hoped the analysis would inform policy interventions that recognise the unequal contributions to climate breakdown made by the world's wealthiest, and foster social acceptance of climate action. The research comes amid intense pushback from countries such as the US, and even cuts from the UK and other European countries, to providing finance for poorer countries to adapt to climate breakdown and mitigate its worst effects. 'This is not an academic discussion – it's about the real impacts of the climate crisis today,' added Schleussner. 'Climate action that doesn't address the outsize responsibilities of the wealthiest members of society risks missing one of the most powerful levers we have to reduce future harm.'
Gizmodo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
53-Year-Old Soviet Spacecraft Will Plummet Back to Earth This Week
Kosmos 482 has been trapped in Earth's orbit for 53 years but its wandering journey is coming to an end. The failed Venus mission is expected to reenter through the atmosphere in a dramatic fall toward its home planet, where it may remain intact or scatter its bits across a still unknown location on either side of the equator. The Soviet-era spacecraft will plunge through Earth's atmosphere sometime between May 8 to 12. As of now, the exact location of where Kosmos 482 will crash-land on Earth is still unknown, with a preliminary estimate that stretches across large parts of the world on either side of the equator. It's also unclear whether the spacecraft will remain in one piece or if it will break apart during reentry, raining down bits of debris. Kosmos 482 launched on March 31, 1972 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome spaceport in what is know Kazakhstan. The mission was an attempt by the Soviet space program to reach Venus, but it failed to gain enough velocity to enter a transfer trajectory toward the scorching hot planet. A malfunction resulted in an engine burn that wasn't sufficient to reach Venus' orbit, according to NASA. Since then, the spacecraft has been stuck in an elliptical orbit around Earth. The spacecraft entered a higher orbit measuring 130 by 6,089 miles (210 by 9,800 kilometers). Astrophotographer Ralf Vandebergh recently captured images of Kosmos 482 in space ahead of its projected descent, and made a note of what appeared to be a parachute deployed from the spacecraft. 'At this point nothing is sure,' Vandebergh told Gizmodo in an email. 'In 2014 I had a first sign of this in my images but I didn't think seriously about this possibility. But when I processed the 2024 images taken 10 years later and saw the same thing, I thought I needed to report this possibility.' #Cosmos482 Note about the parachute possibility. Although still speculation as mentioned before, technically the images are correct. There are no tracking issues, scope issues and I not expect a similar atmosperic effect in images taken 10 years apart, if that would be the case. — Ralf Vandebergh (@ralfvandebergh) May 6, 2025 Even if the spacecraft's exposed parachute is hanging out in space, it's unlikely that it would still do its job of slowing down Kosmos' descent toward Earth. After failing to reach Venus, the spacecraft broke apart into four different pieces, with two of the smaller fragments reentering over Ashburton, New Zealand, two days after its launch. The two remaining pieces are a carrier bus and a lander probe, which together form a spherical pressure vessel weighing more than 1,000 pounds (495 kilograms). Today, it's hard to determine where the remainder of the heat-resistant spacecraft will reenter Earth's atmosphere. Its current orbit indicates it should be anywhere between latitude 52 degrees north and 52 degrees south, according to Marco Langbroek, a satellite tracker based in Leiden, the Netherlands. That barely narrows it down as this area includes the United States, South America, Africa and Australia, and most of Europe and Asia south of the Arctic Circle. The spacecraft's landing zone will become more clear as it approaches its doomed reentry. Another question is how much of it will survive the heat of atmospheric reentry. 'As this is a lander that was designed to survive passage through the Venus atmosphere, it is possible that it will survive reentry through the Earth atmosphere intact, and impact intact,' Langbroek wrote in a blog update. Langbroek suggests an impact speed of around 150 miles per hour (242 kilometers per hour) if the lander does not break apart or largely burn up during reentry. The kinetic energy at impact is similar to that of a 15- to 21-inch-long (40- to 55-centimeter) meteorite fragment, according to Langbroek. Since our planet is mostly made up of water, the spacecraft will likely end up at the bottom of an ocean floor. The chances of it impacting an inhabited area, however, are not zero so it does pose some form of risk especially as its reentry date and location remain uncertain.
