It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Urban gardens are perfect spaces for communing with nature and building social bonds. Such places can also be important for climate change mitigation. Does urban gardening in Warsaw have potential and how to develop related initiatives? Researchers from the SWPS University, Warsaw University of Technology and the Warsaw University of Life Sciences investigated this issue.
The role of urban gardening in the development of green areas and, thus, in improving adaptation to climate change in urban areas has been discussed in many scientific works. Urban gardens contribute to better carbon dioxide absorption, air pollution reduction and the mitigation of the urban heat-island effect. They also allow residents to use organic waste, which helps to reduce GHG emissionsand conserve energy. Other significant benefits include improved water efficiency, reduced flood risk and better rainwater infiltration and retention.
The development of urban gardening depends on social factors. Such activities affect the creation of social capital, and some studies indicate that this is not only about gardening, but also about community building. The motivations of urban gardeners vary. The most important ones are: reconnection to nature, positive contribution to the environment, social relations and mutual learning between gardeners, says Piotr Majewski, PhD, a professor at SWPS University, cultural expert and sociologist from the SWPS University Faculty of Humanities in Warsaw, co-author of the study.
A city with gardening potential
Researchers from the Warsaw University of Technology, the SWPS University and the Warsaw University of Life Sciences analysed whether the Warsaw community had the potential to develop urban gardens to foster adaptation to climate change. In addition to conducting the scientific literature review, they characterized local gardeners and their initiatives, and asked them about the function of gardens not only in the context of environmental protection, but also community building. A total of over 250 interviews were conducted for the purposes of the study. The results were described in the paper "Urban garden communities’ social capital as a support for climate change adaptations – a case study of Warsaw”, published in Miscellanea Geographica.
The capital of Poland offers residents great opportunities to develop gardening activities. The researchers identified areas that could potentially serve as places for establishing new recreational, social and educational gardens. In total, such areas (meadows, orchards, parks, housing estate greenery, wasteland and post-industrial areas) cover 1,864 hectares. They are located 600 metres or less from residential development areas, and only few of them are further than 300 metres away.
Urban gardening brings together all social groups
It turns out that urban gardening is widespread in Warsaw. This social movement includes individual groups of residents, more or less formal teams, associations and foundations, as well as public institutions such as schools and cultural institutions.
By engaging in urban gardening, residents want to create a friendly life space around them that will ensure their well-being, contact with nature, a sense of responsibility for the environment, help to build social bonds and exchange knowledge.
On average, Warsaw gardens associate 10-15 people who are the core of the group. There are also people who work in the gardens occasionally, as well as visitors who simply spend their free time there. Members of all social groups can be found in the gardens, although - as the researchers admit - senior citizens (usually women with higher education) and families (middle class with higher education) are the most active.
The leaders of such gardening groups are usually institutional employees (employed in institutions where gardens are created), social activists (both amateur and professional ones, e.g. affiliated with NGOs), as well as "hero" activists who are tirelessly committed urban gardens.
Ecology and education
According to the leaders, the main purpose of urban gardening is not food production, but pro-ecology activities (in the broadest sense of protection of biodiversity and management of biowaste), education, and building an active, cooperative society. Gardeners also mention therapeutic functions of gardens.
The potential and wide scale of urban gardening allows us to conclude that the system of community gardens should also be considered as a tool to support climate change adaptation solutions in urban policies in spatial planning – provided that they are considered an important link in the urban green infrastructure system, Majewski believes.
The scientists emphasise the need to better explore where the boundaries lie when urban gardening becomes relevant for climate change adaptation, and what risks and challenges this poses for gardening activists, and for city authorities and policymakers.
They recommend the introduction of systemic support for urban gardening by administrative authorities, treating urban gardens as an important aspect of spatial management, and promoting them among residents as an important branch responsible for the environment and climate.
A recent study of outcomes in infants and young deaf children with cochlear implants (implanted electronic hearing device), suggests that socioeconomic status (SES) plays a major role in whether spoken language becomes their primary communication mode. The researchers found that communication primarily using spoken language occurred in 85 percent of commercially insured children with cochlear implants compared to 33 percent of Medicaid-eligible children. Results were published in the journal Laryngoscope.
“We know from previous research that early implantation of children born with severe to profound hearing loss for whom hearing aids don’t provide access to spoken language is advantageous. Our study shows that socioeconomic status also is a very important influence on spoken language after implantation,” said lead author Nancy M. Young, MD, Medical Director of Audiology and Cochlear Implant Programs at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “For many reasons, socioeconomic status affects language and literacy in hearing children, so it's not surprising that it is also a major factor for children with cochlear implants.”
The study also examined whether family language (English only, bilingual English/Spanish or Spanish only) impacts acquisition of spoken language in implanted children. Results show that family language was not a significant contributor to the primary use of speech.
“Implant programs should not view family language other than English to be a negative factor in terms of spoken language development. However, in our study these families are more likely to have lower socioeconomic status. For this reason, the child’s language therapy needs to emphasize effective ways for parents to engage their child to encourage spoken language,” noted Dr. Young. “For most typical hearing and developing children bilingualism is no longer considered a negative influence on language development. Our study supports that this may be true of children receiving a cochlear implant as well.”
The study included medical records data on 176 children who received cochlear implants before their third birthday. The average age at follow-up was 5.8 years.
“More research is needed on how to best intervene to improve language outcomes in children from low socioeconomic backgrounds,” said Dr. Young. “There is evidence that targeted coaching of parents on interactive multimodal (visual and verbal) communication strategies to encourage spoken language is effective. How to best mentor lower socioeconomic families in these strategies and whether they are effective when provided virtually needs to be studied.”
This work was supported by the Lillian S. Wells Foundation and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (R01DC019387).
Dr. Young holds the Lillian S. Wells Professorship in Pediatric Otolaryngology.
Lurie Children’s Cochlear Implant Program is one of the largest and most experienced in the world, with more than 2,000 cochlear implant procedures performed since its inception in 1991.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is the only independent, research-driven children’s hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children’s resources are devoted to serving their needs. Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
In the vast vacuum of space, Earth-bound limitations no longer apply. And that’s exactly where UF engineering associate professor Victoria Miller, Ph.D., and her students are pushing the boundaries of possibilities.
“We want to build big things in space. To build big things in space, you must start manufacturing things in space. This is an exciting new frontier,” said Miller.
An associate professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Miller said the project called NOM4D – which means Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials, and Mass-efficient Design – seeks to transform how people think about space infrastructure development. Picture constructing massive structures in orbit, like a 100-meter solar array built using advanced laser technology.
“We’d love to see large-scale structures like satellite antennas, solar panels, space telescopes or even parts of space stations built directly in orbit. This would be a major step toward sustainable space operations and longer missions,” said team member Tianchen Wei, a third-year Ph.D. student in materials science and engineering.
UF received a $1.1 million DARPA contract to carry out this pioneering research over three phases. While other universities explore various aspects of space manufacturing, UF is the only one specifically focused on laser forming for space applications, Miller said.
A major challenge of the NOM4D project is overcoming the size and weight limitations of rocket cargo. To address these concerns, Miller’s team is developing laser-forming technology to trace precise patterns on metals to bend them into shape. If executed correctly, the heat from the laser bends the metal without human touch; a key step toward making orbital manufacturing a reality.
“With this technology, we can build structures in space far more efficiently than launching them fully assembled from Earth,” said team member Nathan Fripp, also a third-year Ph.D. student studying materials science and engineering. “This opens up a wide range of new possibilities for space exploration, satellite systems and even future habitats.”
Miller said laser bending is complex but getting the correct shape from the metal is only part of the equation.
“The challenge is ensuring that the material properties stay good or improve during the laser-forming process,” she said. “Can we ensure when we bend this sheet metal that bent regions still have really good properties and are strong and tough with the right flexibility?”
To analyze the materials, Miller’s students are running controlled tests on aluminum, ceramics and stainless steel, assessing how variables like laser input, heat and gravity affect how materials bend and behave.
“We run many controlled tests and collect detailed data on how different metals respond to laser energy: how much they bend, how much they heat up, how the heat affects them and more. We have also developed models to predict the temperature and the amount of bending based on the material properties and laser energy input,” said Wei. “We continuously learn from both modeling and experiments to deepen our understanding of the process.”
The research started in 2021 and has made significant progress, but the technology must be developed further before it’s ready for use in space. This is why collaboration with the NASA Marshall Space Center is so critical. It enables UF researchers to dramatically increase the technology readiness level (TRL) by testing laser forming in space-like conditions inside a thermal vacuum chamber provided by NASA. Fripp leads this testing using the chamber to observe how materials respond to the harsh environment of space.
“We've observed that many factors, such as laser parameters, material properties and atmospheric conditions, can significantly determine the final results. In space, conditions like extreme temperatures, microgravity and vacuums further change how materials behave. As a result, adapting our forming techniques to work reliably and consistently in space adds another layer of complexity,” said Fripp.
Another important step is building a feedback loop into the manufacturing process. A sensor would detect the bending angle in real time, allowing for feedback and recalibration of the laser’s path.
As the project enters its final year, finishing in June of 2026, questions remain -- especially around maintaining material integrity during the laser-forming process. Still, Miller’s team remains optimistic. UF moves one step closer to a new era of construction with each simulation and laser test.
“It's great to be a part of a team pushing the boundaries of what's possible in manufacturing, not just on Earth, but beyond,” said Wei.
European high school students emerge from isolation after groundbreaking explore analog space exploration mission
International Science Council Committee on Space Research
This pioneering mission is part of the EXPLORE project, an EU co-funded Erasmus+ program launched in 2023. EXPLORE, short for EXpeditionary Program for Learning OppoRtunities in analog space Exploration, aims to inspire a passion for STEAM subjects in the next generation by bringing the thrill of space exploration into classrooms through immersive simulations of Mars and Moon environments.
A collaborative effort of leading organizations in space education and research, namely the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), NUCLIO, Ellinogermaniki Agogi (EA), and OLA – Observatório do Lago Alqueva, it provides an exceptional opportunity for students to leave their comfort zones and experience life in an extreme, isolated environment.
Project lead Gernot Grömer (OeWF) said: “A simulated Mars mission presents unique challenges – from the cognitive and mental workload to challenges of working in an international, interdisciplinary and intercultural environment, whilst embedded in an immersive tech-dominated setting. Yet these nine students not only faced these conditions head-on but actually thrived on that learning journey with self-discipline, resilience, and a truly impressive level of dedication and enthusiasm. Watch out for this generation of future explorers: they will be the ones that will realize the first actual human Mars mission."
Analog missions, like this one, are critical for preparing for actual space missions. They provide realistic simulations of the extreme conditions found on Mars or the Moon, allowing for the testing of equipment, procedures, and the study of the psychological and physiological effects of isolation on crews. The barren, reddish landscape of the Monsaraz site in summer almost perfectly replicates the terrain of Mars, making it an ideal location for such a simulation.
Rosa Doran (NUCLIO, Chair of COSPAR’s Panel on Education) commented on the mission's impact: “The transformation we observed in these students throughout the mission was remarkable. This type of hands-on, immersive learning experience is crucial for developing essential skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability. I am looking forward to following the progress of these young people. And let’s not forget their classmates, working behind the scenes to support them, following from a distance, as much a vital part of the mission as the analog astronauts themselves.”
Student analog astronaut Pedro (from Escola Secundária Frei Gonçalo de Azevedo in Cascais, Portugal) shared his experience: "At first in the habitat I was a little nervous, but afterwards it was great. I learned that it is important to follow procedure, and when we work as a team, everything is easier.” He and his teammate Patricia (Portugal) agree: “Science is a topic which connects people, even if they have different opinions on everything else, we can relate to each other easily because of our passion, and EXPLORE is all about that."
Teresa Sousa, a teacher from Escola Secundária Frei Gonçalo de Azevedo in Cascais, Portugal, added: “The EXPLORE project inspires dreams and makes us believe in the best that young people have to give.The students not only deepened their understanding of science and engineering but also developed critical life skills. This extraordinary educational adventure provided them with a first-hand look at the challenges and rewards of space exploration, and I have no doubt it will shape their future paths."
The mayor of the municipality of Reguengos Monsaraz, Marta Prates, was present at the closing of the mission to meet the students that emerged from their habitat, and she visited the Mission Support Centre. Media representatives present had the opportunity to interact with the EXPLORE 1 team, examine the mission toolkits and experience for themselves a little of the life of an analog astronaut through various hands-on activities, including trying on parts of the space suits, as used by the students.
EXPLORE 1 has already received extensive coverage in Portugal’s leading press, such as Público and Forbes Portugal, as well as other major media, including the highest-rated television channel, SIC.
The next EXPLORE mission is scheduled for early summer 2026. Teachers eager to offer their students this life-changing experience in the world of analog missions are encouraged to apply through the EXPLORE website: https://explore-project.eu/join-explore/ .
Opportunities for sponsorship and support are still available for companies seeking visibility in Europe's only open-field Mars simulation station. Innovative companies and institutions can also leverage this unique setting for team-building events, offering clients or employees an unforgettable analog mission experience. Contact alquevahab@oewf.org for more information.
Pedro (a student from Escola Secundária Frei Gonçalo de Azevedo, Portugal) in the habitat, trying to find a solution for a malfunction in the helmet ventilation system.
Please note that photos should be used only in connection with the EXPLORE – EXpeditionary Program for Learning OppoRtunities in analog space Exploration project – an Erasmus+ funded project under Action Type: KA220-SCH – Cooperation partnerships in school education. Grant Agreement nº 2023-1-AT01-KA220-SCH-000154094. Period: September 2023 – August 2026
For any photo used, credit should be given to Erasmus+ project EXpeditionary Program for Learning OppoRtunities in analog space Exploration (EXPLORE).
Meteorological satellites observe temperatures on Venus
The forecast is bright for future, long-term multiband monitoring of planets
Imaging data from Japan’s Himawari-8 and -9 meteorological satellites have been successfully used to monitor temporal changes in Venus’ cloud-top temperature, revealing unseen patterns in the temperature structure of various waves. A team led by the University of Tokyo collated infrared images from 2015–25 to estimate brightness temperatures on day to year scales. The results demonstrate that meteorological satellites can serve as additional eyes to access the Venusian atmosphere from space and complement future observations from planetary missions and ground-based telescopes.
The Himawari-8 and -9 satellites, launched in 2014 and 2016, respectively, were developed to monitor global atmospheric phenomena through use of their multispectral Advanced Himawari Imagers (AHIs). The University of Tokyo team led by visiting researcher Gaku Nishiyama saw the opportunity to use the cutting-edge sensor data for spaceborne observations of Venus, which is coincidentally captured by the AHIs near the Earth’s rim.
Observing temporal temperature variations in the cloud tops of Venus is essential to understand its atmospheric dynamics and related phenomena, such as thermal tides and planetary-scale waves. Obtaining data for these phenomena presents multiple challenges, as Nishiyama explained. “The atmosphere of Venus has been known to exhibit year-scale variations in reflectance and wind speed; however, no planetary mission has succeeded in continuous observation for longer than 10 years due to their mission lifetimes,” he said. “Ground-based observations can also contribute to long-term monitoring, but their observations generally have limitations due to the Earth’s atmosphere and sunlight during the daytime.”
Meteorological satellites on the other hand appear suited to fill this gap with their longer mission lifetimes (the Himawari-8 and -9 satellites are scheduled for operation until 2029). The AHIs allow multiband infrared coverage, which has been limited in planetary missions to date, essential for retrieving temperature information from different altitudes, along with low-noise and frequent observation. Aiming to demonstrate this potential to contribute to Venus science, the team investigated the observed temporal dynamics of the Venusian atmosphere and provided a comparative analysis with previous datasets. “We believe this method will provide precious data for Venus science because there might not be any other spacecraft orbiting around Venus until the next planetary missions around 2030,” said Nishiyama.
The team first established a data archive by extracting all Venus images from the collected AHI datasets, identifying 437 occurrences in total. Taking into account background noise and apparent size of Venus in the captured images, they were able to track the temporal variation in cloud-top temperature during the periods where the geostationary satellite, Venus and the Earth lined up in a row.
The retrieved temporal variations in brightness temperatures were then analyzed on both year and day scales and compared for all infrared bands to investigate variability of thermal tides and planetary-scale waves. Variation in thermal tide amplitude was confirmed from the obtained dataset. The results also confirmed change in amplitude of planetary waves in the atmosphere with time, appearing to decrease with altitude. While definitive conclusions on the physics behind the detected variations were challenging due to the limited temporal resolution of the AHI data, variations in the thermal tide amplitude appeared possibly linked to decadal variation in the Venus atmosphere structure.
In addition to successfully applying the Himawari data to planetary observations, the team was further able to use the data to identify calibration discrepancies in data from previous planetary missions.
Nishiyama is already looking at implications of the study beyond Venus’ horizon. “I think that our novel approach in this study successfully opened a new avenue for long-term and multiband monitoring of solar system bodies. This includes the moon and Mercury, which I also study at present. Their infrared spectra contain various information on physical and compositional properties of their surface, which are hints at how these rocky bodies have evolved until the present.” The prospect of accessing a range of geometric conditions untethered from the limitations of ground-based observations is clearly an exciting one. “We hope this study will enable us to assess physical and compositional properties, as well as atmospheric dynamics, and contribute to our further understanding of planetary evolution in general.”
The University of Tokyo is Japan's leading university and one of the world's top research universities. The vast research output of some 6,000 researchers is published in the world's top journals across the arts and sciences. Our vibrant student body of around 15,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students includes over 5,000 international students. Find out more at www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @UTokyo_News_en.
Temporal variation in the cloud-top temperature of Venus revealed by meteorological satellites
Article Publication Date
30-Jun-2025
Hungarian astronaut arrives at ISS aboard SpaceX Crew Dragon
Tibor Kapu has become the second Hungarian astronaut to travel into space
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By bne IntelliNewsJune 30, 2025
The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying the crew of the Ax-4 mission, including Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, docked with the International Space Station on June 27.
The mission, organised by Axiom Space, SpaceX and NASA, is planned to take 14 days and is headed by US astronaut Peggy Whitson. The two other crew members are India's Shubhanshu Shukla and Poland's Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski.
The crew is scheduled to complete nearly 60 scientific experiments during their journey for 31 countries, with special regard to the study of micro-gravity on low Earth orbit. Experiments will also be conducted in the areas of cancer and diabetes research. Fully 25 experiments will be completed under Hungary's Hunor scientific programme to learn more about space and its impacts on humans and various materials.
The 33-year-old astronaut has become the second Hungarian to travel to space, following in the footsteps of Bertalan Farkas, who flew in 1980. Unlike Charles Simonyi, who, as a private space tourist, does not count as part of Hungary’s official astronaut lineage, Kapu's mission marks a significant milestone in Hungary’s state-supported space ambitions.
His journey was made possible by the Hunor Programme, the country’s ambitious national space initiative, launched in early 2020, designed to develop domestic space capabilities and foster international cooperation. It represents a strategic move by Hungary to deepen its role within the European Space Agency and international space missions.
"The space business isn’t out of reach for Hungary," Viktor Orban said commenting Kapu’s mission, adding that the sector that’s growing and offers more and more opportunities, so it’s good if Hungarian private businesses are present and demonstrate with certain symbolic things, like our astronaut, that we Hungarians have a presence in the industry of the future.”
On Sunday, June 29, Hungary’s veteran leader spoke via video link with Tibor Kapu.
