SCI-FI-TEK 70 YRS IN THE MAKING

Expanding America’s role in fusion systems in France and Japan

PPPL’s Luis Delgado-Aparicio will lead a project to provide essential measurement equipment for two doughnut-shaped fusion devices: WEST and JT‑60SA

Princeton University

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From left: James Barton, Luis Delgado-Aparicio, Kajal Shah, Masayuki Ono, Sunny Nyhus and Jasmine Thomas pose with the shipping crates containing PPPL's X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer before the system is flown to Japan. 

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Credit: Michael Livingston / PPPL Communications Department

Harnessing fusion energy requires seeing deep inside the plasma that fuels the reaction to understand its behavior. But it’s challenging to catch a glimpse. Custom technology is needed to measure particles hotter than the sun, many times per second.

A new international project will add powerful new X‑ray imaging systems to fusion experiments in France and Japan, along with a multi‑energy camera system in France, to make those measurements and help guide the design of future fusion systems. 

The effort is led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), a global leader in fusion research, working with partners at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) and host laboratories overseas. R-V Industries, a private company based in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, built and tested many of the system’s parts, including the vacuum chambers, stands, mounts and bellows.

“This investment marks a critical step toward advancing our U.S. Fusion Science & Technology Roadmap and the Genesis Mission,” said Jean Paul Allain, Director of the Office of Fusion at DOE. “The high-quality data generated will be invaluable for model validation and verification, while also advancing our efforts to converge artificial intelligence and fusion data, supporting the DOE’s Genesis Mission through the AI-Fusion Digital Convergence Platform.”

DOE has provided $12.5 million in funding for the project, with PPPL staff stationed abroad for several years. International partners often turn to PPPL for the Lab’s unparalleled theory, computation and diagnostic techniques, adding rich value to the overall fusion landscape. As PPPL marks its 75th anniversary this year, the project highlights how the Lab’s legacy of discovery continues to shape the future of fusion energy around the world. 

“This is a strong example of scaling up the capability of the Lab and the U.S. program through international partnership on a major international facility," said Matthew Lanctot, acting research division director for the DOE’s Fusion Energy Sciences.

Seeing the whole plasma

At the tungsten (W) Environment in Steady-state Tokamak (WEST), PPPL and MIT are adding two new X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer (XICS) systems to look through the top and bottom of the plasma, adding to an existing French system that looks through the center. Because these new views avoid the central axis of the doughnut-shaped plasma, scientists call them ‘off-axis’ — and they’re essential for seeing the full picture. The additional systems will let researchers look at the plasma from more angles and with greater precision. Such a view is critical for understanding how plasma behaves and, ultimately, how to produce a sustained fusion reaction.

“If you think of the plasma like a human body, if you only look at the belly button, then you don’t know what’s happening with the head or the feet,” said PPPL’s head of advanced projects Luis Delgado-Aparicio, who leads the project. “Now we will be completing the picture, so we can study the entire body.”

What is XICS? XICS measures X-rays emitted by plasma to determine critical information, including temperature, flow speed and direction, along with the density of unwanted particles that can cool the plasma. These measurements are essential to keeping the fusion reaction stable. There are other systems that can gather such measurements, but they can sometimes provide inaccurate measurements if the temperature shifts. XICS’ advanced calibration system ensures every measurement is highly accurate.

Ultimately, the expanded and improved view provided by XICS will allow for a better understanding of how plasma behaves inside a fusion system like WEST, which is operated by France’s Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission in partnership with the EUROfusion consortium. It is one of many fusion systems worldwide known as a tokamak: a doughnut-shaped device that confines a plasma using magnetic fields. WEST is particularly interesting to study because its walls are made of tungsten, a material many fusion researchers believe is the best choice in terms of longevity and plasma management.

MIT is implementing the two off-axis XICS systems, which will show how temperature, rotation and tungsten impurity levels vary across the entire plasma — not just at one point, but mapped from the plasma’s core to edge. “This is crucial information for all heat, momentum and impurity transport studies,” said John Rice, a senior research scientist at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center.

Managing heat for future fusion systems

Delgado‑Aparicio and PPPL staff research scientist Tullio Barbui are also designing a new vertical multi-energy soft X-ray camera to pair with an existing horizontal camera on WEST. Much like XICS, the vertical multi-energy camera will provide insights into managing the heat inside a tungsten-clad tokamak. 

“Using the data produced by the multi-energy suite and by XICS, we’re going to all work together to understand particle transport, plasma confinement and radiation management and, ultimately, manage power loss so that fusion systems can run efficiently,” said Delgado‑Aparicio.

Livia Casali, an assistant professor, Zinkle Fellow and ITER scientist fellow at UTK, will design and execute experiments to test impurity behavior. The measurements from the new PPPL spectrometer will provide detailed constraints on radiation and impurity transport. Casali will then use her novel computer code, SICAS, to analyze the experimental data gathered in WEST and the tokamak JT-60SA which is in Naka, Japan. “Impurities affect radiation and temperature, which, in turn, modify plasma conditions that then alter impurity behavior,” Casali said. “SICAS captures this feedback loop consistently, producing a clear and unified view of the whole plasma system.” Casali’s code simulates ion and impurity transport across the entire plasma system within an integrated framework that allows each region to dynamically influence the others. 

Testing advanced scenarios on JT‑60SA

JT‑60SA, a tokamak operated by Japan’s National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology in collaboration with Europe’s Fusion for Energy, will also receive a 3.3‑metric‑ton XICS system designed and built by PPPL. The XICS system has already been packed into seven large crates for shipment and will be installed and tested over the next two years, with the first data expected in September 2026.

The project will involve significant international collaboration and data sharing, with PPPL researchers working in Japan for the next four years. The project is just one way that PPPL continues to amplify its impact through partnerships with companies, universities and labs across the U.S. and the world.

“This project ties together what we learn on WEST and JT‑60SA and feeds it directly into PPPL’s broader tokamak program,” said Rajesh Maingi, head of tokamak experimental science at PPPL, who serves as the project’s formal monitor. “It’s a model for how U.S. laboratories can contribute high‑impact diagnostics to international facilities.”

Livia Casali, an assistant professor, Zinkle Fellow and ITER research scientist fellow at WEST, is pictured in Cadarache, France. 

Credit

Photo courtesy of Livia Casali / UTK

DOE Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil is pictured (fifth from left) in Japan, with the opened crates containing PPPL’s X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer. 

Credit

Sunny Nyhus / PPPL

PPPL, QST and RVI staff meet to do final vacuum tests of the X‑ray imaging system at RVI in Honey Brook, PA.

Credit

Sunny Nyhus / PPPL

About PPPL

PPPL is mastering the art of using plasma — the fourth state of matter — to solve some of the world’s toughest science and technology challenges. Nestled on Princeton University’s Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, New Jersey, our research ignites innovation in a range of applications, including fusion energy, nanoscale fabrication, quantum materials and devices, and sustainability science. The University manages the Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which is the nation’s single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences. Feel the heat at https://energy.gov/science and https://www.pppl.gov.

 

NORAD Chief: F-35 “Not Needed” for North American Defense — Canada’s Fighter Jet Review Just Got Tougher?

By

 Sakshi Tiwari

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March 31, 2026

The Commander of NORAD (North American Air Defence) has said that the American F-35 Lightning II is “not needed” for the North American defence at a time when Canada is dealing with its own F-35 predicament and reviewing the purchase of the American stealth fighter.

NORAD is a bi-national initiative between the United States and Canada and includes missions such as aerospace warning, control, and the defence of North American airspace, which depend on an integrated network of radar, satellites, and fighter aircraft on both sides of the border.

NORAD’s structure ensures the closest available aircraft, regardless of which side of the border it’s on, can respond first to threats, enabling faster intercepts.

Earlier this month, the US commander of NORAD, US Air Force (USAF) General Gregory M. Guillot, told a US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35 aren’t needed to defend North America.

“Frankly, we don’t need fifth (generation) to defend our borders,” Guillot told the committee. “Those capabilities are better used overseas where their stealth, air-to-ground weapons, and penetration capability are needed,” Guillot added, emphasising that fifth-generation fighters have a role to play in attacking overseas targets.

The US and Israel have shown that the F-35, with its stealth capabilities, allows it to operate with greater impunity in contested environments and can be a critical asset for offensive operations. 

The comments come as the F-35s are currently deployed to West Asia to support the US-Israel “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran. This deployment comes less than a year after the jets were deployed to escort the B-2 stealth bombers that struck Iran’s nuclear facilities as part of “Operation Midnight Hammer” in June 2025. And before the ongoing Iran war, the jets were deployed to the Caribbean ahead of the raid in Venezuela that led to the extraction of former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

However, General Guillot’s statement dismisses the role of the stealth fighter in defending the North American airspace. 

He emphasised that NORAD’s role focuses on defensive interception and the protection of continental sovereignty, which often involves quick-reaction alerts against aircraft entering air defence identification zones (ADIZ). This typically does not demand the F-35’s full stealth and sensor-fusion advantages, which are more useful in high-threat, offensive scenarios far from home bases. 

F-35 Canada: Image for Representation

In contrast, Canadian defence policymakers and military officials have repeatedly stated that the F-35 is needed to defend Canadian sovereignty and airspace, contribute to NORAD, and meet NATO obligations.

In fact, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has linked the F-35 to NORAD modernisation, citing the need for advanced sensor fusion and situational awareness that would be useful in the Arctic against evolving threats posed by Russian bombers, cruise missiles, or potential hypersonic or low-observable threats.

The service has also often stressed seamless interoperability with US forces, including data-sharing networks central to NORAD operations, as well as the long-term capability to counter higher-end threats.

The US and Canadian forces used F-35s alongside F-16s and F-18s in actual NORAD intercepts. For instance, NORAD scrambled US F-35s and F-22s and Canadian CF-18s to intercept Russian military aircraft over Alaska as recently as March 4, 2026.

Speaking to the Senate committee, General Guillot said NORAD needs more advanced fourth-generation (not fifth-generation) fighters, citing the Boeing F-15EX—the most advanced variant of the Eagle that has formed the backbone of US air superiority missions for decades. The F-15EX is currently being integrated into the USAF and has been purchased by Israel, but has seen limited export success overall.

Intriguingly, the statement comes as Canada sits on a review of its purchase of 88 F-35A stealth fighters. In fact, in January 2026, the US Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, warned there would be “significant consequences” for NORAD if Canada did not complete the purchase of 88 F-35As as initially planned. Additionally, the ambassador said, “If Canada is no longer going to provide that [capability], then we have to fill those gaps,” adding that the US military will intervene more frequently in Canada. 

For now, it is not clear whether the Pentagon will decide to replace the F-35s with F-15EXs or other aircraft for NORAD duties, in line with General Guillot’s opinion. However, the timing of this statement is impeccable as it comes amid discussions about Canada’s long-debated plan to acquire F-35s to replace its ageing CF-18s and contribute to NORAD.

Canada’s F-35 Quandary 

The Canadian government inked a CAD19 billion (US$14.2 billion) deal with Lockheed Martin in January 2023 to acquire 88 F-35 fighter jets in four tranches by 2032 to replace the ageing CF-18 jets. However, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, put the acquisition under review in March 2025 amid escalating tensions with the Trump administration, as previously explained in detail by EurAsian Times.

The government has since clarified that the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will induct the 16 jets that have already been paid for, while reviewing the remaining 72.

While the review was expected to be published by the end of summer 2025, it has been pushed indefinitely with no clarity on when a decision will be made.

As of now, the Canadian government has the option to buy 72 Gripen E/F 4+-generation fighter jets from the Swedish company SAAB. Earlier this year, SAAB offered 72 Gripens and 6 GlobalEye surveillance aircraft to the Canadian Armed Forces, adding that it would create 12,600 jobs locally.

“The government is interested in all major projects that can not only protect Canada’s security and sovereignty, but also create jobs across the country,” Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly told CBC News after SAAB’s offer. ”We certainly can’t control President Trump, but … we can control our defence investments, who we award contracts to, and how we are ultimately able to create jobs in Canada. So we’re going to focus on that.”

Officials and experts in Canada are currently studying the proposals for both aircraft, i.e., the F-35 and the Gripen, to assess the defence and economic feasibility of procuring them. However, amid sustained political differences and the Trump administration’s persistent high-handedness toward Ottawa, this has complicated decision-making.

According to reports in the Canadian media, RCAF officials have urged the Carney government to complete the purchase, arguing that the F-35 is pivotal to the integration and cooperation of the two NORAD partners. Some have also cited the November 2025 leak, which revealed that the F-35 received a 95% rating while the Gripen received just 33% in a 2021 evaluation conducted by Canada’s Department of National Defence.

RCAF officials and veterans have warned against operating a mixed fleet comprising the American F-35 and the Swedish Gripen, labelling it a logistical nightmare. The RCAF commander, Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet earlier said, “Both China and Russia have fifth-generation fighter aircraft and fifth-generation missiles that can go at much greater speeds and with much more that are holding Western allies at risk at this moment in time.” Thus, indicating a clear inclination towards the F-35.

In fact, the commander travelled to Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth production facility earlier this year to sign the fuselage bulkhead for the first Canadian F-35. The jets will be handed to the RCAF sometime later this year.

On its part, the Canadian government has been sending out mixed signals about its position on the F-35 purchase. Last month, for instance, it began making payments for key components for 14 additional F-35s. These expenses were allegedly intended for the purchase of “long-lead items,” or essential components such as avionics, structural assemblies, and other parts that must be ordered years in advance due to the intricate, worldwide production line run by Lockheed Martin. These parts must be purchased far in advance of the delivery of a finished aircraft.

The indefinite F-35 review in Canada and the payments for extra parts, according to some analysts, indicate that Canada may have reached a “no return” threshold. Others, though, think Ottawa is simply being cautious.

While the NORAD Commander has dropped a bombshell, saying NORAD does not need F-35s, one thing is certain: Canada will eventually pledge the F-35s it has purchased for North American defence. Whether it completes the purchase of all 88 F-35s, however, remains to be seen.

• Contact the author at sakshi.tiwari13 (at) outlook.com

LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment: Search results for F35 BOONDOGGLE

 

A natural molecule present in the human body protects against the flu, Fisabio study reveals

Dermcidin, an antimicrobial peptide of the innate immune system, exhibits antiviral activity against the influenza virus

Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche

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From left to right Dr. Álex Mira, Dr. María D. Ferrer and Dr. Paula Corell from Fisabio

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Credit: Fundación Fisabio

A research team led by the Fisabio Foundation has demonstrated that dermcidin, an antimicrobial peptide produced constitutively by the human body, also exhibits antiviral activity against the influenza virus. The study also shows that people who do not develop flu-like symptoms have higher baseline levels of this molecule, which could be associated with lower susceptibility to infection.

Researchers from CIBERESP, the Institute of Biomedicine of Valencia (IBV-CSIC) and CIBERER, the Institute of Research, Development and Innovation in Healthcare Biotechnology of Elche (IDiBE) of the University Miguel Hernández, the University of Valencia, and Margarita Salas Biological Research Center (CIB-CSIC), among other national and international centers have also contributed to the study.

“Dermcidin, which is present in sweat and known for its antibacterial and antifungal activity, also exhibits antiviral activity against the influenza virus and can interfere with infection, as we have observed in in vitro and in vivo models”, explains Dr. María D. Ferrer, Miguel Servet researcher and head of the Antimicrobial Peptides and Glycobiology group at Fisabio, who led this study.

“These results show that our own bodies have natural mechanisms capable of curbing viral infection, which opens the door to the development of new, more effective antivirals”, notes Dr. Álex Mira, researcher at Fisabio and head of the Oral Microbiome group, who co-directed the study.

A completely new mechanism of action

The study has demonstrated that dermcidin acts by binding to hemagglutinin—a protein essential for the influenza virus to enter the cell—at a key, highly conserved region involved in the fusion process. This interaction induces a conformational change in the viral protein that impairs the virus’s ability to fuse with the cell membrane and, therefore, initiate infection. In this way, dermcidin inactivates the virus before it can infect the cell, through a previously unknown mechanism of action.

This mode of action contrasts with that of most available antivirals, which target neuraminidase, another viral protein, and against which resistance is emerging.

“By acting on regions of the virus that hardly change between subtypes—known as highly conserved regions—dermcidin could contribute to defense against different variants of the influenza virus”, explains Dr. Ferrer.

In this sense, Dr. Mira adds that “this same principle could be extended to other respiratory viruses, such as the measles virus and coronaviruses associated with the common cold, suggesting a possible broad-spectrum effect.”

Present in the nose, saliva, and tears

The team has found that dermcidin is present not only in sweat but also in the main entry points for respiratory viruses into the body, such as the nasopharynx, saliva, and tears.

“The results show that baseline levels of dermcidin are up to six times higher in people who do not develop flu-like symptoms, compared to susceptible individuals”, explains Dr. Paula Corell, the study’s first author and a member of the team. Furthermore, during a respiratory infection, its concentration increases significantly. “Altogether, these findings reinforce the idea that dermcidin is part of the innate immune system’s first line of defense against this type of infection,” adds Dr. Corell.

Toward new antiviral treatments

Researchers note that dermcidin represents a promising candidate for the development of new strategies to combat respiratory viral infections. In addition to its direct antiviral activity, the team is investigating whether dermcidin may also play an immunomodulatory role, helping regulate the immune system’s response to infection.

These findings open new research paths for the development of antivirals based on the body’s own natural molecules that act on highly conserved viral regions, which could reduce the probability of developing resistance and enhance their effectiveness against various respiratory viruses.

This research has received funding from the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI) through grants INNVAL20/18/005 and INNVAL20/19/006, as well as grant INNVA2/2021/3 also funded by the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI) and by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Moreover, this research has received support from the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), under grant code CP22/00036, based on the Resolution of the Directorate of the Carlos III Health Institute, O.A., M.P., dated December 7, 2022, granting Miguel Servet contracts and additional grants, and co-funded by the European Union. The study has been also funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through file SAF2013-505553-EXP.

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Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI

10.1073/pnas.2424461123 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Dermcidin has antiviral activity and protects against influenza

Article Publication Date

30-Mar-2026

 

From simulation to strategy: climate modeling motivates action at the top

Climate simulation tools can help close the gap between global leaders’ climate knowledge and real-world decision-making, first-of-its-kind-research from the MIT Sloan School of Management and collaborators finds

MIT Sloan School of Management

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New research by MIT Sloan School of Management finds that global leaders who participate in facilitated engagements using an interactive climate policy simulator, En-ROADS, demonstrated a stronger understanding of climate solutions, felt more personally connected to the issue, and were more likely to take climate-related action or advocate for change in their governments, businesses, organizations, or communities.

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Credit: ARTIS-Ulli Deck

New research by MIT Sloan School of Management finds that global leaders who participate in facilitated engagements using an interactive climate policy simulator, En-ROADS, demonstrated a stronger understanding of climate solutions, felt more personally connected to the issue, and were more likely to take climate-related action or advocate for change in their governments, businesses, organizations, or communities. Most reported that the interactive aspects of simulations enhanced learning compared to conventional, more passive approaches.

Conducted by MIT Sloan faculty and staff members John D. Sterman, Bethany Patten, and Krystal Noiseux, in collaboration with MIT Sloan research affiliates Juliette-Rooney Varga (UMass Lowell), Florian Kapmeier (ESB Business School), and Andrew Jones (Climate Interactive), the research is the first large-scale study to assess impact of the En-ROADS climate solutions simulator — a free, online, system dynamics model co-developed by Climate Interactive and MIT Sloan — on leaders, including Members of Congress, mayors, C-suite leaders, and nonprofit professionals. 

Their paper, “Interactive simulation with En-ROADS spurs climate action among decision-makers,” published in the journal npj Climate Action, comes at a critical time, as the world remains far from meeting climate targets. Current policies are projected to drive roughly 3.3°C of warming by 2100.

What can climate simulations show?

En‑ROADS gives leaders the opportunity to test out how dozens of climate change solutions — like pricing carbon, electrifying transport, and improving agricultural practices — impact dozens of factors, like energy prices, air pollution, drought, and sea level rise. It is built using the best available science, calibrated to and tested against historic data and other models, and updated regularly. Available in 22 languages, and along with its sister model, C-ROADS, En-ROADS has been used by nearly 500,000 people around the world, including about 25,000 leaders through the MIT Climate Pathways Project — a collaborative effort of MIT Climate Policy Center, MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative, Climate Interactive.

“Responsibility is increasingly falling on community, business, and government leaders to help reduce emissions,” said Rooney‑Varga, the study’s lead author. “But misinformation, greenwashing, and widespread misconceptions about climate solutions often stand in the way of effective action.”

How are leaders using climate change modeling?

The researchers engaged 949 decision-makers—including state representatives, foreign service officers, and executives in the technology, energy, and finance sectors—to participate in facilitated interactive En‑ROADS simulations. Across 37 sessions, facilitators invited leaders to test their climate solution ideas to explore which could have the biggest impact, in time to make a difference. 

Researchers analyzed results from surveys administered before and after the simulation; about 32% of participants completed both. Survey questions included: “How important is the issue of climate change to you personally?” and “How do you feel about being able to contribute personally to addressing climate change?”

The results showed that leaders emerged with a stronger understanding of the scale and urgency of the climate challenge and of high-impact solutions, along with a greater drive to take action. The benefits were similar whether simulations were conducted in person or virtually, and even individuals already engaged in sustainability efforts found value in the experience.

After the simulation, participants also identified low-impact climate solutions more accurately, even when those solutions are strongly favored by public opinion or political leaders, such as tree-planting programs and increasing R&D for new zero-carbon technologies, like nuclear fusion. They also better understood that high-impact policies—such as carbon pricing and improving buildings’ energy efficiency—are among the most effective ways to reduce emissions.

“What really stood out from our results was the emotional impact,” said Kapmeier. “Leaders left the simulations better informed, more motivated, and often more hopeful about the problem.”

The researchers also interviewed participants after the simulations. Interviewees highlighted the importance of social interactions, with a quarter of them describing these interactions as influential in shaping what they learned and how they planned to act. Many said engaging with others made them feel part of a group capable of making a difference, motivating them to share En‑ROADS as a tool for shaping decisions.

What do leaders need to take action on climate change?

“When leaders can explore climate policy options in a safe, simulated environment, they learn for themselves which solutions work and become more motivated to act,” said Sterman. 

Study participants also reported pushing past feelings of overwhelm to take action. Many said they had taken or planned to take steps such as cutting their own carbon emissions, advocating for climate action in personal networks, sharing En‑ROADS with others, and supporting pro-climate decisions in their governments or organizations—from shifting investments toward clean energy to advancing internal carbon pricing and electrifying company fleets.

The study’s findings show that “Expanding the use of En‑ROADS and similar interactive simulations in training sessions, corporate strategy, and public forums could help bridge the gap between climate pledges and real-world implementation,” said Jones.

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Journal

npj Climate Action

DOI

10.1038/s44168-026-00348-4 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Interactive simulation with En-ROADS spurs climate action among decision-makers

Article Publication Date

21-Mar-2026