June 16: Foundation Day of the Akal Takht (Sikhism) James Joyce 632 – The final king of the Sasanian Empire of Iran, Yazdegerd III, ascended the throne at the age of eight. 1819 – A strong earthquake in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India, caused a local zone of uplift that dammed the Nara River, which was later named the Allah Bund ('Dam of God'). 1904 – Irish author James Joyce (pictured) began a relationship with Nora Barnacle, and subsequently used the date to set the actions for his 1922 novel Ulysses, commemorated as Bloomsday. 1936 – A Junkers Ju 52 aircraft of Norwegian Air Lines crashed into a mountainside near Hyllestad, Norway, killing all seven people on board. 1997 – The English rock band Radiohead released their landmark third album OK Computer in the United Kingdom. John Cheke (b. 1514)Tomás Yepes (d. 1674)Helen Traubel (b. 1899)Tony Gwynn (d. 2014) More anniversaries: June 15 June 16 June 17 Archive By email List of days of the year About

Earlier this month, the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur was abducted in Paris while walking his dog. The attackers, wearing balaclavas, forced him into a van, later severing one of his fingers and sending a video of the mutilation to his son alongside a demand for millions of euros in ransom. The incident joined a growing list of violent crimes in France linked to crypto wealth. Victims have included a prominent entrepreneur and his wife who were held hostage, a man doused in petrol, and a child targeted in an attempted abduction. As fear spreads within France’s crypto community, some industry figures are accusing the EU’s landmark digital asset regulations of exposing holders to greater risk. Their concerns centre on the transparency requirements, which could make it easier to track down crypto owners. However, other insiders argue that the EU rules make a convenient scapegoat. Stanislas Barthélemi, president of the French crypto lobbying group ADAN, told the New York Times this week that the rules may inadvertently have put holders in danger. By creating a traceable digital footprint, he said, criminals could potentially monitor blockchain activity to identify wealthy targets. Alexandre Stachchenko, director of strategy at French crypto exchange Paymium, echoed the concern. He said the industry “wants to be discrete and anonymous,” but EU law “tells us it’s criminal.” Register Now Yet others in the industry dispute the claim that the EU’s regulations have played a role in the surge in attacks. ‘Strategic deflection’ Marit Rødevand, CEO & co-founder of Norwegian anti-money laundering firm Strise, said there was “little evidence” of a connection between the union’s rules and crypto kidnappings.  “While it is easy for champions of crypto to postulate that the increased physical attacks on those operating in the space are a product of regulations, this is both reductive and a strategic deflection away from legitimate security concerns,” she said. According to Rødevand, it is just as likely that information about potential targets was accessed through hacks, social media exposure, or publicity. Many crypto entrepreneurs are also prominent influencers.  Christopher Whitehouse, a crypto expert and solicitor at London-based law firm RPC, also made no connection. Instead, he said those holding high amounts of cryptocurrency were “obvious targets.” “The recent surge in crypto-motivated kidnappings in France is alarming but not surprising,” Whitehouse told TNW.  He noted that cryptocurrencies have several features that make them attractive for ransom. They can be transferred instantly, are difficult to trace if moved by sophisticated criminals, and lack the safeguards of traditional bank accounts. Traditional currency, in contrast, can be tracked via serial numbers.  Exploiting human vulnerability The recent violence in France, while brutal, is also not anything new. According to data compiled by crypto security advocate Jameson Lopp, over 200 physical attacks against Bitcoin and cryptocurrency holders have been reported since 2014. Some have been fatal.   Matt Green, head of blockchain technology disputes at London law firm Lawrence Stephens, contends that the violence boils down to criminals exploiting the weakest link in the crypto chain: people.    “The only thing stopping criminals [from] gaining access is human error or force, so kidnapping aims to break down the integrity of that human-led security,” he told TNW. To protect themselves, some high-wealth crypto holders have beefed up their personal security, including hiring bodyguards.  Green suggests another layer of protection: multisignature wallets, a type of crypto wallet that requires multiple users to perform certain tasks, such as making transfers.  Just as some shops display signs saying no cash is kept on premises, crypto holders would do well to make it clear that a single individual cannot access funds, Green said. Story by Siôn Geschwindt Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehic (show all) Siôn is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy. From nuclear fusion breakthroughs to electric vehicles, he's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. He has five years of journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. When he's not writing, you can probably find Siôn out hiking, surfing, playing the drums or catering to his moderate caffeine addiction. You can contact him at: sion.geschwindt [at] protonmail [dot] com Get the TNW newsletter Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

The UK is deploying AI to keep a watchful eye on Arctic security threats from hostile states amid growing geopolitical tensions. This will be underscored by Foreign Secretary David Lammy during his visit to the region, which kicks off today.The deployment is seen as a signal of the UK’s commitment to leveraging technology to navigate an increasingly complex global security landscape. For Britain, what unfolds in the territories of two of its closest Arctic neighbours – Norway and Iceland – has direct and profound implications.The national security of the UK is linked to stability in the High North. The once remote and frozen expanse is changing, and with it, the security calculus for the UK.Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “The Arctic is becoming an increasingly important frontier for geopolitical competition and trade, and a key flank for European and UK security. “We cannot bolster the UK’s defence and deliver the Plan for Change without greater security in the Arctic. This is a region where Russia’s shadowfleet operates, threatening critical infrastructure like undersea cables to the UK and Europe, and helping fund Russia’s aggressive activity.”British and Norwegian naval vessels conduct vital joint patrols in the Arctic. These missions are at the sharp end of efforts to detect, deter, and manage the increasing subsea threats that loom over vital energy supplies, national infrastructure, and broader regional security.Russia’s Northern Fleet, in particular, presents a persistent challenge in these icy waters. This high-level engagement follows closely on the heels of the Prime Minister’s visit to Norway earlier this month for a Joint Expeditionary Force meeting, where further support for Ukraine was a key talking point with allies from the Baltic and Scandinavian states.During the Icelandic stop of his tour, Lammy will unveil a UK-Iceland tech partnership to boost Arctic security. This new scheme is designed to harness AI technologies for monitoring hostile activity across this vast and challenging region. It’s a forward-looking strategy, acknowledging that as the Arctic opens up, so too do the opportunities for those who might seek to exploit its vulnerabilities.As global temperatures climb and the ancient ice caps continue their retreat, previously impassable shipping routes are emerging. This is not just a matter for climate scientists; it’s redrawing geopolitical maps. The Arctic is fast becoming an arena of increased competition, with nations eyeing newly accessible reserves of gas, oil, and precious minerals. Unsurprisingly, this scramble for resources is cranking up security concerns.Adding another layer of complexity, areas near the Arctic are being actively used by Russia’s fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers. Putin’s vessels are crucial to his “High North” strategy, carving paths for tankers that, in turn, help to bankroll his illegal war in Ukraine.Such operations cast a long shadow, threatening not only maritime security but also the delicate Arctic environment. Reports suggest Putin has been forced to rely on “dodgy and decaying vessels,” which frequently suffer breakdowns and increase the risk of devastating oil spills.The UK’s defence partnership with Norway is deeply rooted, with British troops undertaking vital Arctic training in the country for over half a century. This enduring collaboration is now being elevated through an agreement to fortify the security of both nations.“It’s more important than ever that we work with our allies in the High North, like Norway and Iceland, to enhance our ability to patrol and protect these waters,” added Lammy.“That’s why we have today announced new UK funding to work more closely with Iceland, using AI to bolster our ability to monitor and detect hostile state activity in the Arctic.”Throughout his Arctic tour, the Foreign Secretary will be emphasising the UK’s role in securing NATO’s northern flank. This includes the often unseen but hugely significant task of protecting the region’s critical undersea infrastructure – the cables and pipelines that are the lifelines for stable energy supplies and telecoms for the UK and much of Europe.These targeted Arctic security initiatives are part and parcel of a broader, robust enhancement of the UK’s overall defence posture. Earlier this year, the Prime Minister announced the most significant sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. This will see UK defence expenditure climb to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, with a clear ambition to reach 3% in the next Parliament, contingent on economic and fiscal conditions.The significance of maritime security and the Arctic is also recognised in the UK’s ambitious new Security and Defence Partnership with the EU, agreed last week. This pact commits both sides to closer collaboration to make Europe a safer place.In today’s interconnected world, security, climate action, and international collaboration are inextricably linked. The turn to AI isn’t just a tech upgrade; it’s a strategic necessity.(Photo by Annie Spratt)Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

It’s not only Instagram users and holiday makers snapping selfies — even robots are getting in on the action. This new image from the NASA Perseverance rover shows a selfie that’s out of this world, captured as the rover collected its latest sample of martian rock. Taken on May 10, the selfie was devised to celebrate the rover’s 1,500th day on Mars. As a day on Mars is just a little bit longer than an Earth day, at around 24 hours and 39 minutes, NASA measures its Mars missions in “sols” or martian days. As well as being a fun image for scientists and the public to enjoy, it gives the engineering team on the ground the chance to check the look and the status of the rover as it has been exploring since it landed in February 2021. Recommended Videos You can see plenty of red dust covering the rover, as the surface of Mars is covered in a dusty material called regolith which gives the planet its famous red color. Dust can be quite the challenge for Mars missions, as it gets everywhere when it is whipped up by huge dust storms and can cause problems by gumming up electronics and covering solar panels. But fortunately for Perseverance, the rover may look a little grubby on the outside but its essential functions are all still working well. “After 1,500 sols, we may be a bit dusty, but our beauty is more than skin deep,” said Art Thompson, Perseverance project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “Our multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator is giving us all the power we need. All our systems and subsystems are in the green and clicking along, and our amazing instruments continue to provide data that will feed scientific discoveries for years to come.” Even with all the instruments working correctly, though, getting the rover to take a selfie isn’t a quick job. The image was captured using Perseverance’s WATSON (Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering) camera, which is located at the end of its robotic arm. As the rover was working on capturing the selfie, it also caught an unexpected photobomber: a wind feature called a dust devil which popped up in the background. “To get that selfie look, each WATSON image has to have its own unique field of view,” explained Megan Wu, a Perseverance imaging scientist from Malin Space Science Systems. “That means we had to make 62 precision movements of the robotic arm. The whole process takes about an hour, but it’s worth it. Having the dust devil in the background makes it a classic. This is a great shot.” With its celebrations well in hand, the rover is now moving on to investigate a new area of Mars: a region called “Krokodillen” after a Norwegian mountain ridge. This area is particularly exciting because it is thought to contain some of the oldest rocks on Mars, which could help to unlock the secrets of how the solar system formed. Here on Earth, our planet has a system of tectonics in which parts of the planet’s crust are gradually pulled down toward the mantle when they meet at a fault line. That means that the rocks on Earth are essentially recycled in an ongoing cycle of melting down toward the planet’s interior then rising up and cooling to become part of the surface. That’s why there are very few extremely old rocks on Earth. On Mars, however, it’s a different story. Mars doesn’t have plate tectonics, so very old rocks can stay on its surface for billions of years. Some of these are up to 4 billion years old, or even older, so studying them can help scientists learn about how the rocky planets formed in our solar system around 4.5 billion years ago. To study these very old rocks, though, Perseverance needs to find them first. There are thought to be extremely old rocks along the edge of the huge crater in which the rover landed, called Jezero. The Jezero Crater is almost 30 miles across, likely created by a huge meteorite impact billions of years ago. When this object slammed into the martian surface, it threw up large amounts of material like huge chunks of rock which landed nearby and are still there to this day. That means that by looking along the rim of the crater, Perseverance can search for these ancient chunks of rocks and use its instruments to study them. That can also help to answer one particularly important question that scientists want to understand, which is how long there was water on Mars. They know that, although Mars is dry and arid today, it once had plentiful liquid water on its surface. It may even have looked a lot like Earth at one point — and we know that water is essential for the formation of life. What scientists don’t agree on is exactly how long there was water on Mars, and whether it would have been around for long enough to give potential life the chance to develop there. So knowing exactly when Mars lost is water is a key part of understanding the planet and whether it could ever have supported life. To that end, Perseverance will be keeping a lookout for clay minerals which form in the presence of water, perhaps even formed before the impact which created the crater. These could contain potential indications of life, called biosignatures, such as organic compounds. “If we find a potential biosignature here, it would most likely be from an entirely different and much earlier epoch of Mars evolution than the one we found last year,” said NASA scientist Ken Farley. “The Krokodillen rocks formed before Jezero Crater was created, during Mars’ earliest geologic period, the Noachian, and are among the oldest rocks on Mars.”

Johan Helberg is a retired museum director living out his days on the idyllic shores of Trondheim Fjord in Central Norway.That relaxation was interrupted early Thursday morning, when he awoke to discover the bow of a 9,990-ton cargo ship had rammed through his backyard garden.The vessel, registered as the NCL Salten out of Cyprus — a common legal tactic for shipping companies — was passing through the Trondheim when its helmsman allegedly fell asleep on the job, according to The New York Times.Helberg slept soundly as the 135-meter ship ran aground, missing the cabin he calls home by mere meters. He didn't even realize what had happened until a neighbor woke him up."I was sleeping soundly, deeply," Helberg told local press, "and then I heard a dinging sound, which I wondered might be my doorbell. I thought, who in the world rings the doorbell at 5:45 in the morning? I looked out the window, and he said: 'Haven’t you seen the ship?'""It's completely surreal," the retiree reflected.Luckily, the ship was at a crawl when it ran aground. No one was hurt on land, and the ship's crew — a complement of 16 Russian and Ukrainian sailors, along with one Norwegian captain — were no worse for the wear."There [was] some commotion, but a slow rumble and not a bang," Halberg told Norsk rikskringkasting AS (NRK), a Norwegian state media company.The Salten is what's known as a Baltic "feeder," a short-range cargo vessel meant to navigate narrow waterways that larger ships can't.Of course, even feeders tend to stick to the deeper portions of the fjord, according to Helberg. "We don't usually see ships right outside our living room window, so this is especially strange," he said.The ship's second mate, a Ukrainian man, has been charged with negligence, according to NRK. The ship's captain is also being questioned as a criminal suspect.The Salten remains grounded at the time of writing, and maritime authorities say they're working with geological engineers to assess the prospects of freeing it from the muddy shore. An evacuation notice was issued to three residents nearby, as the ships crash triggered landslides.As the grounding happened at high tide, refloating the Salten will be easier said than done. A tugboat pull has already failed to make a dent, and authorities are reportedly considering whether to offload the cargo for the beginning of a long-term operation."It's stood on the land quite emphatically, it went ashore at high tide, and it's not close to being lifted off. There will be no higher tide," Helberg told NRK of the situation. "So here it will stay."Still, the retiree was in high spirits, all things considered."No irreparable damage has been done, so I can enjoy the absurdity of the situation," he said. "It's not often you see a ship stuck on the shore where you've been swimming your whole life."More on Maritime Disasters: After Elon Musk Promised Cybertrucks Could Function as Boats, One Fell Into a Harbor for a Perfect TestShare This Article

The island of Bolga, just visible off the starboard bow during the trial voyage onboard ‘Skårungen’ in May 2022, is an important traditional landmark that may have featured in Viking Age seafaring itineraries from the Arctic towards southern Scandinavia and mainland Europe. Credit: Journal of Archeological Method and Theory / Jarrett Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Greer Jarrett has spent the past three years sailing Scandinavia’s waterways in historically accurate Viking ships. The voyages aren’t part of some reenactment fantasy or preparation for an upcoming film role. Instead, the archeologist wants to show that exploration based on historical knowledge can help us better understand how an ancient culture lived, explored, and interacted with the world around them. Last year, Jarrett contributed to research suggesting the Vikings participated in more complex trading routes with Indigenous Arctic tribes than previously believed. After his latest excursions along the eastern coasts of Norway, Jarrett now says his team believes that rather than solely relying on concentrated trading outposts, Norse sailors frequently utilized a decentralized network of ports on the region’s numerous islands and peninsulas. Their argument is detailed in a study published earlier this month in the Journal of Archeological Method and Theory. Over 3,100 miles at sea Since 2022, Jarrett and his intrepid crews have navigated multiple voyages aboard an open, square-rigged clinker boat built in the style of those used during the Viking Age (roughly 800–1050 CE). Their first trip traveled to and from the Arctic Circle from Trondheim, a common route for sailors after the Norwegian city’s founding in 997 CE. The researchers have since sailed more than 3,100 miles along historic Viking trade routes, as well as into the Baltic Sea and the Kattegat waterway separating Sweden from Denmark. These expeditions, coupled with interdisciplinary analysis and evidence, has provided substantial evidence that the original Viking travelers journeyed further from land than historians long theorized. However, these trips weren’t undertaken with the aid of a compass, sextant, or even a map. Instead, the Norse relied on mental maps informed by cultural myths tied to coastal landmarks. “Examples include Viking stories about the islands Torghatten, Hestmona and Skrova off the Norwegian coast,” Jarrett explained in a Lund University profile. “The stories serve to remind sailors of the dangers surrounding these places, or of their importance as navigation marks.”  These tales were passed down through generations to help seafarers, or what Jarrett refers to as a “Maritime Cultural Mindscape.” He also conducted interviews with present-day fishermen and sailors about various routes known to have been utilized in the 19th and early 20th century, before motorized boats were common. The Norðvegr, with the coastal regions mentioned in the text, the tracks of the project’s two trial voyages (black and white dashed lines), and the traditional sailing corridor along the west coast of Norway (blue shaded zone), known in Old Norse as leið. Credit: Journal of Archeological Method and Theory Coastal trips After previously demonstrating that Viking vessels can handle open oceanic waters even in tough conditions, Jarrett was determined to explore their capabilities close to land and among the fjords. He and his team sailed two trips along Norway’s western coast towards the Lofoten Islands, an archipelago in the Arctic Circle. While their rigging and ship were modeled after ancient technology, researchers also utilized digital geospatial reconstructions of the region to envision the surrounding landscapes as they would have existed at the time of the Vikings. According to Jarrett, the daily challenges are “just as great, but not as obvious” as ocean sailing. These included underwater currents and katabatic winds—the wind generated as a mountain’s dense, cool, high-altitude air flows into a lower elevation. Weather proved an additional challenge, particularly the cold temperatures in the Lofoten Islands. “Our hands really suffered. At that point I realized just how crucial it is to have a good crew,” Jarrett said. Extensive socio-cultural knowledge also didn’t keep the voyages free from danger, either. At one point, the boat’s mainsail yard snapped, forcing Jarrett and his crew to improvise a solution using only Viking-era materials. “We had to lash two oars together to hold the sail, and hope that it would hold,” he said. After returning home, Jarrett and colleagues combined their data with historical documentation and cultural knowledge. It was clear to them that the numerous environmental and oceanographic variables made coastal journeys difficult in their own special set of ways. “With this type of boat, it has to be easy to get in and out of the harbor in all possible wind conditions. There must be several routes in and out,” he said. “Shallow bays are not an issue because of the shallow draft of the boats. Getting far up the narrow fjords, however, is tricky. They are difficult to sail upwind with a square rig, and the boats are sensitive to katabatic winds.” Continuities in boatbuilding traditions from the Viking Age are evident in the shape and rig of this fyring, a smaller type of Åfjord boat similar to the vessels associated with non-elite Viking Age farmsteads. Credit: Tora Heide Viking havens His resulting study argues it is highly unlikely that Vikings only docked at well-established, populated towns and harbors. Instead, sailors probably relied on a decentralized network of smaller port hubs located farther out to sea that Jarrett refers to as “havens.” “A lot of the time, we only know about the starting and ending points of the trade that took place during the Viking Age. Major ports, such as Bergen and Trondheim in Norway, Ribe in Denmark, and Dublin in Ireland,” said Jarrett. “The thing I am interested in is what happened on the journeys between these major trading centers.” Jarrett has now identified four potential sites along the Norwegian coast that could have served as Viking havens. He hopes that archeological teams may soon investigate these areas to see what they might unearth. Evidence could include jetty and mooring post remnants, ballast stones, boatbuilding pits, temporary shelters, and artifacts indicating local commerce. At the same time, he acknowledges that these suggestions are starting points, not necessarily final destinations. “Due to the nature of the evidence, the methodology presented here can uncover potentials, but not realities,” Jarrett and the study’s co-authors write. “The list of possible Viking Age havens… is intended as a working document, which can shape and be shaped by future archaeological surveys and excavations.”

Trawl net bycatch from shrimp fishery, Sea of Cortez, Mexico. (Photo by: Mark Conlin/VW PICS/UIG via ... More Getty Image)Universal Images Group via Getty Images Beneath the placid surface of the global seafood market, a material financial risk is quietly escalating—one rooted deep within the industry's supply chain. It's not climate volatility or ESG scrutiny grabbing the headlines —but the fragile economics of what we’re feeding our farmed fish. A new report from the FAIRR Initiative—an $80 trillion-backed investor network focused on ESG risks in protein production—exposes a growing contradiction at the heart of the global salmon farming industry: a sector that markets itself as sustainable yet increasingly relies on a shrinking, finite resource—wild fish—for its survival. Released ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, the report follows a four-year engagement with seven of the world’s largest publicly listed salmon producers and delivers a stark warning: without urgent reform, the industry’s feed supply chain could buckle under its own expansion. These companies represent 58% of global farmed salmon production, with over 1.2 million tonnes produced in 2023. FAIRR’s analysis reveals systemic environmental, regulatory, and financial risks tied to dependence on wild-caught fish, exposing a deep disconnect between sustainability claims and operational reality. Supply Chain Risk from Finite Fish Resources The industry’s dependence on fishmeal and fish oil (FMFO), both derived from wild-caught fish, is a growing vulnerability. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, 90% of global fisheries are already overexploited or at capacity. Yet salmon producers continue to lean heavily on this strained input to support projected production increases of 40% by 2033. FMFO is also used across aquaculture species like sea bass and sea bream, as well as in pet food. In 2023, when Peru cancelled its anchovy fishing season, fish oil prices surged by 107%. Mowi, the world’s largest salmon producer, reported a 70% rise in feed costs between 2021 and 2023 due to that single event. Some companies temporarily switched to algae oil during the price spike, only to revert once fisheries opened—highlighting a reactive approach that favors short-term cost savings over long-term resilience. “We are relying on a finite input to fuel infinite growth projections,” said Laure Boissat, Oceans Programme Manager at FAIRR. “That’s not resilience—it’s a recipe for collapse.” We’re Literally Feeding Fish to Fish Between 2020 and 2024, five of the seven companies in FAIRR’s study increased their absolute use of FMFO made from whole wild fish—by as much as 39%. Despite sustainability claims, only three firms reduced the proportion of FMFO in their feed, and none by more than three percentage points. In response, many companies have turned to fish trimmings—by-products from fish processing—as an alternative. While six producers have increased their use, the supply is inherently limited. One company reported purchasing all available trimmings in its operating region, raising concerns that rising demand could incentivize additional fishing. This exposes a fundamental flaw in the industry’s growth narrative. Farmed salmon production is projected to grow by 40% by 2033, yet fishmeal and fish oil production is forecast to rise by only 9% and 12% respectively over roughly the same period. These numbers are irreconcilable. Without scalable alternatives, or a drastic shift in feed formulation, the industry’s expansion plans appear unsustainable. FAIRR’s report notes that none of the seven companies assessed have set absolute reduction targets for fish-based feed, even as five aim to scale up salmon output. This disconnect exposes investors to long-term risk: if feed supply can't match growth, either costs will skyrocket, margins will shrink, or the environmental impact will intensify. Feed Frenzy: The Domino Effect Across Industries This feed dependency has broader implications. Aquafeed producers face rising costs and raw material uncertainty. The pet food industry, reliant on salmon oil and trimmings, is also vulnerable to volatility. As wild fish availability declines, disruptions in one part of the supply chain can ripple across sectors, amplifying risk. The diversion of edible fish into feed also raises ethical concerns. Over 90% of fish used in FMFO could be eaten by people. Feedback’s Blue Empire report found that in 2020, Norwegian salmon farms used nearly 2 million tonnes of wild-caught fish for feed, including up to 144,000 tonnes harvested off West Africa, enough to feed 2.5 to 4 million people for a year. Novel Feeds: Big Hype, Small Bite Novel ingredients like insect meal, algae oil, and single-cell proteins were once seen as game-changers. Four years later, their use remains limited as challenges abound including high production costs, scalability issues, nutritional limitations, and consumer skepticism. Only three companies have set targets to increase their inclusion, which average just 4%. One aims for 10–15% by 2030—a modest target given the urgent need for action. “In essence, the sector is stalling,” said Boissat. “There’s no silver bullet ingredient on the horizon. What we’re seeing instead is short-term thinking packaged as long-term strategy.” Investors Sound the Alarm FAIRR’s report quantifies a growing financial risk. Feed price volatility, as demonstrated by the Peru example, threatens margins across the sector. That being the case, it’s arguable that the salmon industry’s dependence on wild-caught fish is not just environmentally unsustainable—it’s economically reckless. “As investors, we believe the aquaculture industry must shift towards sustainable feed solutions. Diversifying feed ingredients is not only an environmental imperative, but also a strategic necessity for long-term resilience,” Thekla Swart of FAIRR participant Steyler Ethik Bank said in a statement. Salmon producers often lead the protein sector in disclosure, but FAIRR warns that transparency alone is not enough. “Companies disclose intensity-based metrics, but those don’t show the absolute pressure on fish stocks,” Boissat explained. “This is the gap between reporting and reality—the system is unsustainable even as it appears progressive on paper.” A Fork in the Water: From Carnivores to Mussels? FAIRR’s recommendations are clear. Companies should set absolute reduction rather than efficiency targets for FMFO and invest in scalable alternative feed ingredients—but deeper transformation may be needed. That means shifting away from carnivorous species like salmon toward unfed aquaculture options—such as mussels and oysters—which require no external feed inputs. FAIRR also encourages exploration of plant-based seafood, mirroring moves by the meat industry into alternative proteins. “Fed aquaculture is simply inefficient,” Boissat emphasized. “We must rethink what seafood production looks like in the 21st century.” Ocean Governance on Trial: What the UN Must Confront In Nice FAIRR’s report arrives ahead of the June UN Ocean Conference in Nice, where global leaders will gather to address ocean sustainability. A key issue is the gap between marine protection policy and practice. Many marine protected areas (MPAs) still allow bottom trawling and industrial fishing, undermining conservation goals. “Even in protected waters, the absence of enforceable restrictions allows destructive practices to persist,” said Boissat. “Until regulation catches up with science, these so-called protections offer a false sense of security—for ecosystems and for markets.” Campaigners and investors hope the conference will lead to stronger governance—not just symbolic declarations. Without enforceable protections, risks to marine biodiversity and the industries that depend on it will only grow. Is The Supply Chain Eating Itself? Stakeholder must decide: continue with business as usual, risking biodiversity collapse, food insecurity, and supply chain disruption—or rethink how the aquaculture sector operates. “The industry has been talking about risk and resilience for years,” said Boissat. “But if your entire business model is based on a disappearing input, that’s not resilience. That’s denial.”

Fenix Art Museum / MAD ArchitectsSave this picture!© Iwan BaanMuseum, Refurbishment•Rotterdam, The Netherlands Architects: MAD Architects Area Area of this architecture project Area:  8000 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2025 Photographs Photographs: Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers:  Goppion Project Contractors: Products translation missing: en-US.post.svg.material_description More SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! Text description provided by the architects. Fenix is a major new museum that explores migration through the lens of art, opening on a landmark site in Rotterdam's City Harbor, developed by internationally acclaimed architects MAD. With a rapidly expanding collection of historic and contemporary objects, Fenix tells the story of migration through a series of encounters with art, architecture, photography, food, and history. Located in what was once part of the world's largest transshipment warehouse, on a peninsula in Rotterdam's historic port district, Fenix overlooks the docks where millions of migrant journeys began and ended. The monumental 16,000 square meter warehouse has been transformed to become Fenix by MAD Architects with restoration consultation by Bureau Polderman. This is MAD Architects' first commission for a public cultural building in Europe, as well as the first museum to be built by a Chinese firm in Europe. The project was initiated by the Droom en Daad Foundation, founded in 2016. The Foundation is helping redefine Rotterdam for the 21st century - developing new kinds of arts and culture institutions and fostering new creative talent that reflects the city's diversity, its spirit, and its historySave this picture!Restoration of the 172-meter-long façade of the former shipping and storage warehouse began in 2018, led by Bureau Polderman, and took a year and a half to complete. Some architectural details date back to 1923 when the warehouse opened, while others were part of the 1948-1950 reconstruction plan. In the past 60 years, many additions were made and the building's function changed many 4mes. The façade lacked uniformity. Fronts and frames were rusty. All elements along the façade have now been restored, refurnished, or rebuilt. The characteristic windows were restored to reflect the style of 1923. The 2,200 sqm expanse of the south façade was blast-cleaned and cement stucco was reapplied. The characteristic sliding doors at street level have been restored to their original post-war state, with doors and frames repainted in their original green color. A serene rhythm of columns, windows, and fronts has emerged that emphasizes the horizontal quality of the building.Save this picture!Save this picture!A defining new feature of the building is the Tornado - a double helix staircase evocative of rising air that climbs from the ground floor and flows up and out of the rooftop onto an outdoor platform offering spectacular panoramic views across Rotterdam and the Maas River, 24 meters above ground level. The dynamic structure is cladded in 297 polished stainless-steel panels, made in Groningen, Netherlands. The canopy that sits at the top of the structure is 17m in length and was transported by boat from Groningen to Rotterdam in pieces before being assembled and lifted into place. Inside the Tornado is a 550m long double-helix wooden staircase which emerges onto the platform, which can also be accessed via a central shaft.Save this picture!Inside the building are a series of vast gallery spaces spread over two floors, housing Fenix's growing art and historical collection, as well as a series of commissions by emerging artists from across the world. The ground floor contains exhibition and programming spaces, while the upstairs galleries are dedicated to the Fenix Collection. The museum is accessed via entrances in the centre of the north façade on the riverfront and the south façade. On arrival, visitors are immediately drawn to the base of the Tornado, whose dynamic, twisting form is lit by the glass roof above the central atrium that allows natural light to filter into the lobby. The entrance atrium features a welcome desk, museum shop, and café. At 2,275 sqm, Plein is a vast, flexible space for events and performances and will host a constantly changing programme of activity curated for and with Rotterdam's communities. Located on the ground floor on the Eastern side of the building, it features doors on three sides which can be opened out to create a welcoming covered public space. Fenix offers a number of dining options located throughout the building where visitors can encounter food cultures that have travelled the world.Save this picture!The top of the warehouse features a 6,750 sqm 'green roof', featuring sedum plants arranged in a concentric pattern, in line with the shape of the Tornado. As well as supporting biodiversity, green roofs provide insulation and store rainwater in the plants and substrate, releasing it back into the atmosphere through evaporation. This significantly reduces the burden on the sewerage system, reducing the risk of flooding and the burden on water treatment. The building uses a Thermal Energy System (TES), which stores excess heat from the building in the soil. A heat pump is connected to the TES to produce the correct temperature for the building. The aquifer serves as the source for the heat pump. By using the heat pump and passive cooling, it is possible to save up to 60 percent in heating energy and 80 percent in cooling energy. The staircase of the Tornado is made from sustainable Norwegian wood called Kebony, a leading modified wood brand established in Oslo, Norway, that uses a proven, innovative, patented technology to enhance traditional 4mber. Biobased modified wood is a sustainable building material with a significantly lower environmental impact than other building materials. Fenix repurposes a 100-year-old warehouse, restored as much as possible to its original state in the 1950s, with interventions in line with the original architecture from 1923.Save this picture!Save this picture!The building has been designed in consultation with VGR, an association specializing in making buildings as accessible and welcoming as possible. Plein and the Atrium will be publicly accessible spaces that are free to enter.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Rotterdam, The NetherlandsLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeMAD ArchitectsOffice••• MaterialsSteelConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on May 21, 2025Cite: "Fenix Art Museum / MAD Architects" 21 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030328/fenix-art-museum-mad-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Magnus Carlsen is considered one of the greatest chess players that ever lived. Credit: Deposit Photos / Hindustan Times Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Magnus Carlsen is an undisputed titan in the world of chess. In 2011 at the age of 19, the Swedish grandmaster became the youngest person to ever top the International Chess Federation (FIDE) world rankings—a position he’s occupied ever since. Carlsen holds the record for the highest official rating level in history, and currently trails only Gary Kasparov for the longest time spent as the sport’s highest ranking player. So what would it take for the everyday chess enthusiast to give him a run for his money? Coordinating with more than 143,000 other players from around the world, apparently. On May 20, Chess.com’s “Magnus vs. The World” event finally ended in a draw between Carlsen and his competitors. Beginning on April 4, the online match enabled the public to discuss, debate, and ultimately vote on each subsequent move against the international grandmaster. It took 32 moves, but over 143,000 participants ultimately forced an end to the match on Day 46, after selecting a threefold repetition of pieces during a queen endgame. Carlsen played as white with the world representing the black side of the board, each earning a half-point as per official match rules. Participants had 24 hours to vote on the next move against Carlsen. Credit: Chess.com “Overall, the world has played very, very sound chess,” Carlsen said near the game’s conclusion. “Kind of from the start, maybe not going for the most enterprising options, but keeping it in the vein of normal chess. It’s not always the best strategy, but it seemed like it worked fine this time.” As CNN notes, “very, very sound chess” required over 508,000 votes cast and 30,000 forum posts throughout the six-week-long game. Over the course of the match, the public also received advice from a panel of five of the sport’s top players including World Grandmaster Dina Belenkaya. Even beyond the competitors, “Magnus vs. The World” wasn’t a standard game of chess. Instead, both sides played by the rules of Chess960. Developed by Bobby Fischer, Chess960 is intended as a way to introduce more variety and complexity to the ancient game. The starting positions for back row pieces are randomized while the pawns remain the same, allowing for a spontaneity that chess veterans sometimes find lacking in the classic variation. The number of participants more than doubled from last year’s similar event, “Vishy vs. The World,” which saw five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan “Vishy” Anand battle around 70,000 players. In that case, however, Anand managed to secure a checkmate after 29 days of play. To the credit of his 143,000 opponents, this wasn’t the first time Carlsen played against so many people. Chess.com cites a 2002 crowdsourced online game hosted by the Norwegian website Nettavisen that also ended in a draw when Carlsen was 11 years old. In 2014, however, he managed a checkmate against his home country during a similar match.