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)
Monday, April 20, 2026
Shrink, remove and modify: IPK team ‘trims’ wheat chromosomes
Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research
While the targeted manipulation of entire chromosomes is well established in model organisms such as Arabidopsis thaliana, it has posed a significant challenge in crops with large genomes, such as wheat. The IPK research team has now set out to determine whether highly repetitive DNA sequences known as satellite DNA are suitable targets for the CRISPR gene-editing system. The idea was that cutting many of these identical sequences simultaneously could affect the entire chromosome. The team introduced CRISPR components into the plants using a virus-based system. This approach bypasses lengthy traditional transformation processes and enables highly efficient chromosomal modifications.
“In our study, we were actually able to demonstrate for the first time that chromosomes can be efficiently reduced in size by making targeted cuts in satellite DNA,” says Dr. Jianyong Chen, the study’s first author. This is a significant breakthrough, as such changes had previously only occurred by chance. You can think of it like a rope. If you cut a rope in several places at once, it becomes unstable and eventually snaps. The same thing happens to chromosomes when many cuts are made simultaneously.
In some cases, the method resulted in the loss of entire chromosomes. “If too many breaks occur, the cell can no longer repair the chromosome efficiently - it is lost entirely,” explains Prof. Dr. Andreas Houben, head of the IPK’s research group ‘Chromosome Structure and Function’.
Faulty repair processes can also create new forms of chromosomes, called isochromosomes. “These changes can generate new genetic variants, opening pathways for breeding resistant wheat and other crops," explains Prof. Dr. Andreas Houben. This innovation potential should inspire optimism about future crop improvements.
The study shows that plant genomes can be modified with unprecedented precision. Notably, satellite DNA, once considered ‘genetic ballast’, is now an effective target for modern breeding tools. “This approach enables efficient manipulation of chromosomes, paving the way for transferring valuable traits from wild relatives into cultivated wheat,” say the IPK scientists, encouraging a sense of empowerment in future crop development.
CLEVELAND—Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), has devoted his life to advocating for basic human rights for all people—not only in his home country, but globally.
A recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award and Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize, Mugisha has been recognized internationally for his activism and courage. He was a 2014 nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, chosen one of Fortune magazine's 2017 World's Greatest Leaders, and named among the 100 Most Influential People of 2024 by TIME magazine.
"It is truly humbling to be recognized alongside the inspiring work of previous Inamori Ethics Prize recipients,” Mugisha said. “This recognition inspires me greatly and means so much—not only to me personally but also to the communities I have the privilege to serve. It strengthens our resolve to continue advancing human rights, equality and ethical leadership.”
Mugisha will be awarded the prize, deliver a free public lecture about his work, and participate in a symposium panel discussion during the 2026 Inamori Ethics Prize events Sept. 17-18 on the Case Western Reserve campus.
“Mr. Mugisha’s dedication to and advocacy for human rights is inspiring. Driven by impact and propelled by purpose, Mr. Mugisha is changing lives around the world,” said Case Western Reserve President Eric W. Kaler. “We look forward to hearing about his life’s work this fall and honoring him as the 2026 Inamori Ethics Prize winner.”
The Inamori Ethics Prize has been awarded since 2008 to honor outstanding international ethical leaders whose actions and influence have greatly improved the condition of humankind.
“Frank Mugisha reflects the very spirit of the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence—grounded in human dignity, global awareness, and moral courage. His leadership challenges us to see beyond differences and to strengthen our common humanity,” Provost and Executive Vice President Joy K. Ward said.
Grassroots movement
Mugisha has led the grassroots movement to save thousands of LBGTI Ugandans from persecution, incarceration, and death.
During his undergraduate studies, Mugisha founded Icebreakers Uganda in 2004, an organization created as a support network for LGBTI people who are out or in the process of coming out to family and friends.
Icebreakers Uganda offers counseling, suicide-prevention, and education services to those who are sexual minorities and open about their identity—because it is viewed by law and some public opinion in that country as criminal.
Mugisha has expanded his efforts while at SMUG, now an umbrella organization of over 40 groups, including the first and only LGBTI health center in Uganda.
In addition to promoting equality for the LGBTI community in Uganda, Mugisha and his team at SMUG have been fighting legal and ideological battles with Ugandan Parliament and championed legal efforts in U.S. District Court against anti-LGBT activists for years.
Mugisha has led the movements to abolish Uganda’s anti-homosexuality and sexual-offense legislation which makes it a crime to identify as queer, considers all same-sex conduct to be nonconsensual, and allows for the death penalty in certain cases.
Ugandan courts upheld the large majority of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2024. However, SMUG’s advocacy efforts did convince legislators to eliminate sections that restricted healthcare access for LGBTI people, criminalized renting premises to LGBTI people, and required alleged acts of homosexuality to be reported. Mugisha and advocates continue to seek a full annulment of the Act before the Supreme Court of Uganda.
Mugisha was 14 when he told his brother he was gay. Both brothers were born and raised in a strict Catholic family in suburban Kampala, the capital of Uganda, where anti-LGBTI laws are among the harshest in the world. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say “coming out” in the East African country could draw a beating, land you in prison, or even cost your life.
“Frank Mugisha embodies moral courage in its highest form,” said Inamori Center Director Eileen Anderson, Inamori Professor in Ethics and the Anne Templeton Zimmerman, MD Professor of Bioethics at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. “For more than two decades, he has led the fight for human dignity and equality in Uganda, transforming personal risk into global impact.”
###
As one of the fastest-growing research universities in the United States, Case Western Reserve University is a force in career-defining education and life-changing research. Across our campus, more than 12,000 students from around the world converge to seek knowledge, find solutions and accelerate their impact. They learn from and collaborate with faculty members renowned for expertise in medicine, engineering, science, law, management, dental medicine, nursing, social work, and the arts. And with our location in Cleveland, Ohio—a hub of cultural, business and healthcare activity—our students gain unparalleled access to academic, research, clinical and entrepreneurial opportunities that prepare them to join our network of more than 125,000 alumni worldwide. Visit case.edu to see why Case Western Reserve University is built for those driven to be a force in the world.
Satellite data reveal hidden crop planting timelines
A new satellite-based analytical framework enables accurate estimation of crop sowing and emergence dates at the field scale. By integrating daily synthetic satellite imagery with machine-learning models, researchers reconstructed vegetation dynamics and extracted key crop phenological stages. The approach allows agricultural monitoring systems to infer early growth events that are difficult to detect directly, offering improved tools for crop management, yield forecasting, and large-scale agricultural monitoring.
Understanding crop phenology—the timing of key developmental stages such as germination, growth, and senescence—is essential for agricultural management. Accurate knowledge of crop calendars helps optimize irrigation, fertilization, disease monitoring, and yield prediction. Traditional approaches rely on field observations or ground-based monitoring systems, but these methods are often limited in spatial coverage and require intensive labor. Satellite remote sensing provides large-scale monitoring capabilities, yet detecting early crop stages such as sowing and emergence remains difficult because satellite pixels capture mixed signals from soil and sparse vegetation. Cloud cover and data gaps further complicate time-series analysis. Due to these challenges, there is a need to develop new methods capable of accurately estimating sowing and emergence dates using satellite observations.
Researchers from Mississippi State University and collaborating institutions reported a new framework for estimating crop sowing and emergence dates using satellite observations. The study, published (DOI: 10.34133/remotesensing.0878) on March 11, 2026 in the Journal of Remote Sensing, integrates daily synthetic Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) imagery with machine-learning models to reconstruct vegetation dynamics across agricultural fields. By analyzing vegetation index time series, the framework infers early crop development stages that are typically difficult to detect from space. The technology addresses a major challenge in remote sensing–based agricultural monitoring: identifying the start of the crop growth cycle accurately at large spatial scales.
The research introduces an operational pipeline that combines satellite time-series reconstruction with phenological modeling to estimate crop planting timelines. The method first reconstructs continuous vegetation index data from Landsat and Sentinel-2 imagery, filling gaps caused by cloud cover. From the reconstructed time series, six phenological stages—greenup, mid-greenup, maturity, senescence, mid-greendown, and dormancy—are extracted using an asymmetric double-sigmoid model. Machine-learning algorithms then infer sowing and emergence dates based on the relationships between these phenological stages.
Among the tested models, elastic net regression achieved the best performance, predicting sowing and emergence dates with an average error of about ±10 days. The approach successfully estimated crop calendar events across large corn and soybean fields in the United States, demonstrating strong agreement with ground observations from PhenoCam monitoring sites.
The researchers built the framework using daily synthetic time series derived from Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 (HLS) data, which combine observations from Landsat 8/9 and Sentinel-2 satellites at a spatial resolution of 30 meters. Because satellite observations are frequently affected by cloud contamination, the team tested four gap-filling approaches—median interpolation, polynomial regression, harmonic modeling, and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM)—to reconstruct continuous vegetation index signals.
The polynomial method produced the most accurate reconstructions, preserving seasonal vegetation dynamics while minimizing noise in the time series. These reconstructed data were then used to calculate the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and derive phenological curves representing crop growth cycles.
To validate the approach, the researchers compared satellite-derived phenological stages with ground observations from 20 PhenoCam monitoring sites across 13 U.S. states. The comparison showed strong agreement between satellite and ground measurements, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.94 and a bias of approximately 12 days.
Using the phenological stages as predictors, machine-learning models were trained to estimate sowing and emergence dates. The best model was then applied to thousands of agricultural fields, successfully mapping planting timelines across large agricultural regions.
"Our framework demonstrates that early crop development stages can be inferred indirectly from later phenological signals," the researchers noted. "Even though sowing and emergence are difficult to observe directly from satellite imagery, the seasonal growth trajectory contains enough information to reconstruct these dates." The team emphasized that the approach enables scalable monitoring of crop calendars across large regions, which could significantly improve agricultural forecasting and management strategies.
The study used daily synthetic vegetation index time series derived from Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 imagery collected between 2021 and 2023. After cloud removal, four gap-filling algorithms were tested to reconstruct missing data. Crop phenological stages were extracted using an asymmetric double-sigmoid model applied to Enhanced Vegetation Index curves. Ground observations from 20 PhenoCam sites were used to validate satellite-derived phenology. Three machine-learning models—multiple linear regression, elastic net regression, and support vector machines—were trained using leave-one-out cross-validation to estimate sowing and emergence dates.
The proposed framework could significantly enhance large-scale agricultural monitoring and decision-making. Accurate knowledge of sowing and emergence dates enables better crop growth modeling, yield forecasting, and climate risk assessment. The system could also support early detection of crop stress, disease outbreaks, and extreme weather impacts. With further refinement, the method could be integrated into global agricultural monitoring platforms and precision agriculture systems. As satellite observations and artificial intelligence technologies continue to advance, such data-driven tools may become essential for ensuring food security and improving agricultural sustainability worldwide.
This work is supported by the Data Science for Food and Agricultural Systems program, project award no. 2024-67021-42530, and Soil Health program, project award 2023-67019-39169, from the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. U.R.V.A., L.B.F., and V.S.M. were partially supported by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (nos. 58-0200-0-002 and 58-6060-3-005). Y.Y. is partially supported by the NASA Acres project (80NSSC23M0034). I.D.A.S. was grateful to the Brazilian National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for the Research Productivity Fellowship (310042/2021-6).
Journal of Remote Sensing, an online-only Open Access journal published in association with AIR-CAS, promotes the theory, science, and technology of remote sensing, as well as interdisciplinary research within earth and information science.
eusable SAW sensor for selective PM10 and PM2.5 detection. Schematic overview of the reusable surface acoustic wave (SAW) particulate matter sensor system. The figure shows the porous membrane filter, sensor assembly, and sensing mechanism for particle-size-selective detection. A microperforated membrane is mounted above the SAW resonator to separate airborne particles by size, allowing simultaneous monitoring of particulate matter (PM) in the PM10 and PM2.5 ranges. The lower panel illustrates microheater-assisted particle detachment, which restores the sensor surface after dust exposure and enables repeated use. The frequency-shift curves on the right show the sensor response during particle capture and its recovery after heating.
Air pollution is often monitored using instruments that are accurate but can be bulky, costly, or difficult to reuse continuously after particle accumulation. A new sensor system offers a compact alternative by combining surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensing with a porous membrane for particle-size separation and an integrated microheater for sensor recovery. In laboratory tests, the device simultaneously and selectively detected particulate matter in the PM10 and PM2.5 size ranges and then recovered toward its baseline after heating under vacuum. The study demonstrates a reusable sensing platform that may support future compact air-quality monitoring systems.
Fine airborne particles are especially challenging to monitor because particle size affects both how long they remain suspended in air and how deeply they can penetrate into the respiratory system. PM2.5 is of particular concern because of its association with adverse health effects. Existing techniques, including beta-ray absorption, gravimetric methods, and light-scattering approaches, can provide useful measurements, but they may also involve tradeoffs such as system size, cost, humidity sensitivity, or reduced reliability under some conditions. Earlier SAW-based particulate sensors showed high sensitivity, but many relied on one-time particle attachment and did not provide a practical reusable format with clear size selectivity. Against this background, reusable and size-selective PM sensing remains an important research need.
Researchers from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Intelligence Semiconductor Engineering at Ajou University in Suwon, Republic of Korea, reported the study inMicrosystems & Nanoengineering, published (DOI: 10.1038/s41378-025-01137-5) on 24 March 2026. Their system integrates two acoustic sensing channels, porous microstructured membranes, and an on-chip microheater to measure airborne particles and restore the sensor after particle buildup. The study presents the first SAW-based particulate matter sensor integrating a porous microstructure membrane for particle separation with an on-board microheater for particle detachment, enabling sensor reusability.
The design uses two porous filter membranes: one with pore diameters of approximately 11 μm for the PM10 channel and one with pore diameters of approximately 3 μm for the PM2.5 channel. These membranes were placed above two-port SAW resonator sensors operating at a center frequency of 222 MHz on 128° YX LiNbO₃ substrates. Simulations and experiments indicated that the 11 μm membrane allowed both larger and smaller particles to pass, while the 3 μm membrane preferentially passed smaller particles. In chamber tests, the PM2.5 sensor showed a sensitivity of 0.11 kHz/(μg/m³) to PM2.5 particles, while the PM10 channel showed 0.246 kHz/(μg/m³) to PM2.5 and, after subtraction-based calibration, 0.218 kHz/(μg/m³) to particles in the 2.5–10 μm range. When particles accumulated on the sensing surface, the integrated microheater was driven at 12 V, raising the device temperature to approximately 100 °C and enabling recovery under vacuum conditions. Over five days, the PM10 channel retained more than 90% of its relative response, while the PM2.5 channel remained above 80%.
The broader significance lies in integrating size-selective filtration and recovery into the chip itself. By combining particle separation and thermal recovery within a single SAW-based platform, the system may reduce reliance on conventional external separation components used in some particulate matter sensing setups. This approach could support the development of smaller, more reusable sensors for portable and continuous particulate matter monitoring. With further validation in real operating environments, such devices may be useful in a range of air-quality monitoring applications.
Microsystems & Nanoengineeringis an online-only, open access international journal devoted to publishing original research results and reviews on all aspects of Micro and Nano Electro Mechanical Systems from fundamental to applied research. The journal is published by Springer Nature in partnership with the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, supported by the State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology.
Advanced reusable SAW-based particulate matter sensor with microheater and porous microstructured filter membrane for simultaneous PM10 and PM2.5 detection
Giant Magellan Telescope and Coquimbo Regional Government sign strategic partnership to strengthen Chile’s astronomy industry
New partnership advances regional economic growth through astronomy and positions Coquimbo region as Chile’s global hub for science, technology, and innovation
From left to right: Chilean Consul in Los Angeles, Mr. Francisco Leal; Governor of Coquimbo, Mr. Cristobal Juliá; Giant Magellan Telescope President, Daniel Jaffe; Giant Magellan Telescope Vice President and Representative in Chile, Oscar Contreras.
PASADENA, CA – April 17, 2026 – Today, the Giant Magellan Telescope and the Coquimbo Regional Government announced a strategic collaboration to advance Chile’s astronomy industry, drive regional economic growth, and position the Coquimbo region as a global hub for science, technology, and innovation. At the heart of this partnership is Chile’s first national visitor and education center for astronomy, designed in partnership with Exploratorium to bring the excitement of discovery, technological innovation, and astrotourism directly to the public.
“This partnership positions the Coquimbo Region at the forefront of an industry that is shaping the future of science, technology, and opportunity,” said Governor Cristóbal Juliá. “By working with the Giant Magellan Telescope, we are creating high-quality jobs, advancing innovation, and establishing our region as a leader in one of the most important industries in the world, all while connecting Chileans with the incredible discoveries happening from our skies.”
To support public engagement and communicate the progress of the partnership, the Giant Magellan Telescope and the Coquimbo Regional Government have launched a dedicated website at coquimbo.giantmagellan.org. The site will serve as a central platform to share updates, highlight regional impact, and showcase the significance of the collaboration.
The agreement was formalized during the Governor’s official visit to the Giant Magellan Telescope’s headquarters in Pasadena, where he met with the observatory’s international leadership, including President Daniel Jaffe, and with the attendance of the Chilean Consul in Los Angeles, Mr. Francisco Leal. The signing reflects a growing alignment between regional leadership and one of the most significant international scientific infrastructure projects underway today.
Chile is home to the majority of the world’s astronomical infrastructure and, by the 2030s, will host nearly 70 percent of it. The Coquimbo Region plays a central role in that leadership, hosting major observatories and operational centers, including the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, the world’s newest and most advanced survey telescope. The region’s growing infrastructure, observatory operators, and scientific workforce will also be celebrated through the proposed national visitor and education center, providing public access to Chile’s astronomy industry, technological innovations, and scientific discoveries.
“The Giant Magellan Telescope represents a multi-billion-dollar international investment in Chile, and this partnership ensures that its benefits extend well beyond the observatory site,” said Daniel Jaffe, President of the Giant Magellan Telescope. “Together, we are establishing a long-term foundation that supports scientific leadership, economic growth, expanded opportunity across the region, and a public-facing hub that will connect people directly with Chile’s world-class astronomy industry.”
Located at Las Campanas Observatory, the Giant Magellan Telescope is part of a new generation of “extremely large telescopes” that support a world-class scientific, engineering, and industrial ecosystem. Over nearly a century of operations, the observatory will anchor sustained demand for expertise in engineering, construction, data systems, and scientific research.
As part of this partnership, the Giant Magellan Telescope will establish its primary operations base in the Coquimbo Region, creating a central hub for telescope operations, data systems, and scientific activity. Within this campus is a flagship visitor and education center, a first-of-its-kind national landmark in Chile, developed in collaboration with the Exploratorium, a global leader in interactive science education. Envisioned as a world-class destination, the center will showcase technological innovation, and scientific discoveries, support workforce development, and promote astronomy tourism, making Chile’s leadership in the industry visible and inspiring to all.
“Together we’re creating a place where people can gather and directly experience the power of science and engineering,” said Anne Richardson, Chief Experience Officer at the Exploratorium. “Drawing on decades of experience creating spaces that spark curiosity and learning, we’re proud to partner on this effort. This center will connect communities to Chile´s astronomy research, inspire future generations and make discovery tangible and accessible to all.”
For regional commerce, the partnership will also establish the Port of Coquimbo as the main logistics hub for the project, supporting the transport of major telescope components and infrastructure from international partners as the observatory is constructed over the next few years. This coordinated approach strengthens regional supply chains and positions the Coquimbo region as a critical entry point for global scientific infrastructure.
“This is about connecting the development of the telescope with regional growth,” said Oscar Contreras, Vice President and Chile Representative for the Giant Magellan Telescope. “Through this partnership, we are strengthening local capabilities, expanding opportunities for Chilean talent, and ensuring that the benefits of this global scientific investment are realized within the communities closest to it.”
A central pillar of the partnership is the protection of Chile’s astronomical observing conditions as a strategic national resource, one that is becoming increasingly rare worldwide. Ensuring long-term astronomical site protection is essential for maintaining Chile’s leadership in a global industry that depends on stable, high-quality skies.
This strategic partnership establishes the Coquimbo Region as a global hub for astronomy, linking the operations center, the first-of-its-kind national landmark visitor center, and the protection of Chile’s world-class observing sites, while engaging the public in Chile’s astronomy industry. Together, these efforts will expand Chile’s leadership in the astronomy for generations to come.
