May 2023 | Page 3 of 5 | The Dubai Headlines

Education

Dubai private schools ranked in top 10 globally for reading skills

head dubai May 19, 2023 No Comments

UK curriculum schools in Dubai performed best, followed by IB curriculum and Indian schools.

Dubai private schools have been ranked sixth in the world for reading and literacy skills.

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) assessment, which is done every five years to measure the reading and literacy skills of grade four pupils worldwide, found that private schools in Dubai scored 566 points in the 2021 study – significantly higher than the global average of 500 points.

The latest results show Dubai schools, which feature in the top 10 for the first time, have increased their score by 76 points since 2011. In 2016, when the previous study was carried out, Dubai schools scored 527.

Schools rated Outstanding scored 631 points, while Very Good and Good schools scored 588 points and 564 points respectively.

UK curriculum schools in Dubai performed best in the assessment, scoring 588 points, followed by IB curriculum schools with 583 points and Indian schools with 567.

“These results are significant not just because they exemplify the world-class teaching and learning happening across our schools every day,” said Dr Abdulla Al Karam, KHDA director general.

“They are also an acknowledgement of how our school community worked together to overcome the restrictions in place at the time PIRLS was conducted.”

The PIRLS assessment found 27 per cent of pupils in Dubai private schools achieved the Advanced International Benchmark of 625 points, compared with 12 per cent in 2016.

A questionnaire in the study found that 87 per cent of Dubai private school pupils are confident in reading.

“The results from the latest PIRLS assessments reflect the performance of the school inspections, with Outstanding and Very Good schools outperforming global averages,” said Fatma Belrehif, chief executive at Dubai Schools Inspection Bureau.

“We are proud of our school community’s dedicated approach to supporting students through the pandemic and continuing to offer high-quality education during challenging times.”

The PIRLS assessment, which has been running since 2001, requires nine and 10-year-olds from grade four or year five to complete comprehension tests.

It provides internationally comparative data on how well children read by assessing students’ reading achievement in different countries.

PIRLS, which is run by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) in Amsterdam and Boston College in the US, assessed about 400,000 pupils in 57 countries.

On Sunday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, praised the success of the UAE’s annual Arab Reading Challenge, which he said has become the largest such event in the world.

Sheikh Mohammed said 24.8 million school pupils from 46 countries had taken part in this year’s competition, the finals of which are expected to be held towards the end of the year.

The annual challenge, launched by Sheikh Mohammed in 2015, aims to encourage a million young people to read at least 50 books in a year.

The Arab Reading champion is selected based on the pupil’s ability to articulate general knowledge, critical thinking and communication skills, plus the diversity of books they have selected.

Fashion Model

‘Don’t restrict the sari’: Here are some unique ways to drape the Indian garment

head dubai May 18, 2023 No Comments

Blogger and sari influencer Kamal Kapur, on introducing the sari into our daily lives and the changing trajectory of the garment.

The sari has done it. It finally made its way to the global Met Gala red carpet as supermodel Naomi Campbell flaunted a sari-inspired gown from Chanel’s spring/summer 2010 couture collection. A silky salmon flowy fabric draped in visual cadence, covered by silver metallic embellishments for the blouse, the beauty icon gave hope that the sari may now be an international redcarpet staple, as argued by a wknd. cover story a few weeks ago. The sari also made an appearance recently at King Charles III’s coronation concert at the Windsor Castle as businesswoman Natasha Poonawalla wore a sheer nude sari and a bodysuit in a fusion twist.

But the sari has had a more robust legacy than what we see on stage and red carpets around the world. Just think of women with toddlers on their backs as they worked in fields and factories as well as homes. Their saris were laced in dyes, extracted from indigo, lac, red madder and turmeric. These are women who we now see painted across cave walls, ancient scriptures, and who became the muses of poetry, fables, and doe-eyed characters in black-and-white films. Kamal Kapur, an expat living in Dubai since 2001, likes to call the sari a working garment, and believes the traditional rigidity must be removed from the garment and should be embraced in diverse settings — be it daily life errands or parties. The blogger, who goes by the username ‘desibychoice’ on Instagram, has around 29.2k followers and is on a mission to normalise the sari within the desi community while removing the so-called traditional or ‘reserved for a Diwali function’ aspect from it. She goes on to tell wknd. about this dynamic relationship she has with the six-yards of elegance.

Journey along the drapes

Originally hailing from Chandigarh, India, when Kamal landed in Dubai, she went through the same dilemma that many expats do. What clothes to keep here? And the dawning realisation that many of her Banarasi and Jamdani saris would be collecting dust behind the closet’s doors. Every time she would go back home, bidding her saris farewell would be a downhearted affair. But it just so happened that in one of her social gatherings, she noticed how every Indian woman was wearing a gown and realised she wanted to break that system. From that day onwards, she made a conscious effort to wear saris in all her events and garnered some raised eyebrows and amused attention. “People would ask if I was dressing up for a fancy show, but later I realised they all started following me, saying, ‘Oh Kamal is going to be there, so I can wear a sari now, or wear a sharara. She is coming, I’m sure there will be some company’,” says Kamal. The power of a community has had a great impact on strengthening her purpose. “We downplay our tradition. Once we stand up for ourselves, the entire community will follow.”

On Kamal’s Instagram, one can see her donning saris in different locations, taking us back to Sridevi’s yellow chiffon sari moment as she ran amongst the green meadows in the Swiss Alps in Bollywood film Chandni. The blogger has also made a travelling sari, which has been to places like Switzerland, Scotland, Georgia, Banaras, and South Africa with her. “My first time was in Switzerland, and it was freezing cold, but I wanted to drape a sari. I wore a jacket and went, and then removed it once we reached the spot.”

Sari in the 21st century

“In ancient India, women were breaking bricks while wearing a sari and holding a child on their backs. We have complicated it in today’s world and reserved it for traditional occasions,” says Kamal, who believes in the modern world, a sari can be draped in any way, and infused with different cultures and styles to make it adaptable. “It is especially important for today’s young generation to embrace the sari. Just because mum told you to wear it a certain way and without showing your ankles, doesn’t mean it has to be worn that way. It is a fluid garment with drapes, do not restrict it,” says the influencer, who is often seen pairing a shirt with a sari, making it a modern fit for the workplace. Kamal doesn’t believe in stitching up a sari, as it ruins the concept at its core, and rather prefers to wear it in a drape. For a red-carpet sort of event, she prefers gown-like glamorous drapes, whereas for a causal lunch, she opts to wear an airy cotton sari. “I pick up whatever reflects my mood. All my saris are inspired by traditional and rural drapes.”

With the NMACC red carpet, where global stars like Gigi Hadid and Zendaya walked the soft baby pink ‘red’ carpet in sparkling saris, the spotlight shifted onto this versatile drape and now the trajectory of sari seems to be shifting. “Big stars wearing saris gives a comfort factor that what I have been wearing was right. People call me crazy sometimes, with the way I center my drapes and how different they can be.”

Overhyping of ‘empowerment’

To Kamal, empowerment is what comes from within, rather than external means. “When you start believing in yourself, that is when empowerment comes, and you become comfortable in your own skin. Being an expat here, we are so confused as to what we do or do not want,” says Kamal. The blogger often organises desibychoice meetups, where all the women turn up wearing saris, sometimes with a certain theme from a state of India. With the community that she has built, the women who were once hesitant to meet up in a mall with her wearing saris, can now be found in nightclubs and evening dinners draped in different styles of saris. “I call myself desi by choice because I am not desi by root because of my mother who is Indian. It’s because I want to be desi and have empowered myself to say that with the stamp. We do not want a reason to be this.”

Fashion

Dresses made of chocolate hit Dubai runway: fashion

head dubai May 18, 2023 No Comments

Models sashayed down the catwalk wearing unique, show stopping creations put together as a tribute to fashion and pastry.

Long veils with chocolate trimmings, solid chocolate headpieces, and belts made of macarons made a splash on the runway as a unique chocolate festival kicked off in Dubai.

The Salon Du Chocolate trade show, which has been running in different parts of the world for the last 29 years, returned to Galeries Lafayette at Dubai Mall for three days of chocolate extravaganza.

Models sashayed down the runway wearing creations made out of chocolate in a tribute to fashion and pastry. The dresses were put together by designers and pastry chefs who worked for months to bring the pieces alive. Here are some of the key moments:

1. Rihanna: The fashion show kicked off with this piece designed by Chef Charles Azar and fashion designer Michelle Kisaayke Aber. With flowers, stones, and, of course, chocolate, the dress paid homage to award-winning singer Rihanna and the major trends she has set through her career.

2. Josephine Baker: The French dancer known for her banana skirt was the inspiration behind this creation by Jumeriah Al Naseem executive pastry chef Julien Jacob and fashion designer Deanthe Somaiah.

3. Audrey Hepburn: This dress was created by chef Brice Konan-Ferrand from Ecole Valrhona Pastry Chef and designer Raghida Tabch. It was inspired by the floral prints worn by actress Audrey Hepburn in the movie Funny Face.

4. Queen Elizabeth the First: Chef Edmond Roukoz and designer Yasmaman Tarazi. The queen was a great follower of fashion and is thought to have greatly influenced the style of her time. A solid chocolate wand and butterfly wings have added a touch of royalty to this piece.

5. Madonna: Truly like the singer herself, this piece was an eye-popping, show-stopping creation. Made with hundreds of chocolate balls, the dress was designed by Chef Christiane S. Trilck and fashion designer Juliane Knips. The ensemble was complete with an edible chocolate mic.

6. Marie Antoinette: The fashionable queen Marie Antoinette was the inspiration for this piece with its flowing trail and iconic hat. Designed by Chef Ashwani Pathania Kumar and fashion designer Takwa Alfaisal, the piece was an homage to the queen’s heavily decorated dresses

7. Lady Di: The final showstopper was designed by award-winning chef Karim Bourgi and designer Lynn Accad. The piece was worn by Jihane Daghar of Maman chocolate as a mark of respect to the late Princess Diana who is still considered a fashion icon with her impeccable taste

health health and fitness

Don’t Use Sugar Substitutes for Weight Loss

head dubai May 17, 2023 No Comments

People trying to lose weight should not use sugar substitutes known as non-sugar sweeteners, the World Health Organization said in a new report.

There is no evidence that sugar substitutes help people reduce body fat, and they may even help increase the risks of diabetes or cardiovascular problems, WHO experts said.

Non-sugar sweeteners are often added by manufacturers to beverages and packaged foods, and are also added to foods and beverages directly by consumers, such as adding a packet to a cup of tea or coffee. The sweeteners that the WHO now advises against using are “all synthetic and naturally occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars,” the new guideline stated. They include the sweeteners acesulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and stevia derivatives.

“Replacing free sugars with [non-sugar sweeteners] does not help with weight control in the long term. People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages,” Francesco Branca, MD, PhD, director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at the World Health Organization, said in a statement. “[Non-sugar sweeteners] are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value. People should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to improve their health.”

Four in 10 people in the world are overweight or obese, according to the WHO, which along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that people get less than 10% of their daily calories from sugar. The substitutes are used by many people as a way to sweeten their drinks and food while still meeting that recommendation for limited sugar intake.

The most recent U.S. dietary guidelines, published in 2020 by the Department of Agriculture, note that “replacing added sugars with low- and no-calorie sweeteners may reduce calorie intake in the short-term and aid in weight management, yet questions remain about their effectiveness as a long-term weight management strategy.”

The new WHO recommendation does not apply to people who already have diabetes and use non-sugar sweeteners to manage blood sugar levels. Advising people with diabetes on the use of sweeteners is “beyond the scope” of the new recommendation, the report authors wrote.

health

Whole-Foods, Plant-Based Diet: A Detailed Beginner’s Guide

head dubai May 17, 2023 No Comments

Whole-foods, plant-based diets prioritize plant foods and minimize processed ingredients and animal products. This eating pattern is environmentally friendly and may be associated with several health benefits.

There are many arguments about which diet is best for you.

Nevertheless, health and wellness communities agree that diets emphasizing fresh, whole ingredients and minimizing processed foods are superior for overall wellness.

The whole-foods, plant-based diet does just that.

It focuses on minimally processed foods and prioritizes plants. Studies show that plant-based diets are effective at stimulating weight loss and improving health.

This article reviews everything you need to know about the whole-foods, plant-based diet, including its potential health benefits, foods to eat, and a sample meal plan.

What is a whole-foods, plant-based diet?

There is no clear definition of a what constitutes a whole-foods, plant-based diet (WFPB diet). The WFPB diet is not necessarily a set diet — it’s more of a lifestyle.

This is because plant-based diets can vary greatly depending on the extent to which a person includes animal products in their diet.

Nonetheless, the basic principles of a whole-foods, plant-based diet are as follows:

emphasizes whole, minimally processed foods
limits or avoids animal products
focuses on plants, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts, which should make up the majority of what you eat
excludes refined foods, like added sugars, white flour, and processed oils
pays special attention to food quality, with many proponents of the WFPB diet promoting locally sourced, organic food whenever possible

For these reasons, this diet is often confused with vegan or vegetarian diets. Yet although similar in some ways, these diets are not the same.

People who follow vegan diets abstain from consuming any animal products, including dairy, meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and honey. Vegetarians exclude all meat and poultry from their diets, but some vegetarians eat eggs, seafood, or dairy .

The WFPB diet, on the other hand, is more flexible. Followers eat mostly plants, but animal products aren’t off limits.

While one person following a WFPB diet may eat no animal products, another may eat small amounts of eggs, poultry, seafood, meat, or dairy.

It can help you lose weight and improve your health

Obesity is an issue of epidemic proportions. In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 31% of adults have overweight, while over 42% have obesity.

Fortunately, making dietary and lifestyle changes can facilitate weight loss and have a lasting impact on health.

Many studies have shown that plant-based diets are beneficial for weight loss.

The high fiber content of the WFPB diet, along with the exclusion of processed foods, is a winning combination for shedding excess pounds.

A review of 12 studies that included more than 1,100 people found that those assigned to plant-based diets lost significantly more weight — about 4.5 pounds (lbs), or 2 kilograms (kg), over an average of 18 weeks — than those assigned to non-vegetarian diets

Adopting a healthy plant-based eating pattern may also help keep weight off in the long run.

A study in 65 people with overweight or obesity found that those assigned to a WFPB diet lost significantly more weight than the control group and were able to sustain that weight loss of 25 lbs (11.5 kg) over a 1-year follow-up period .

However, it’s unclear whether the control group received nutrition advice or made any changes to their diet

Regardless, simply cutting out the processed foods that aren’t allowed on a WFPB diet like soda, candy, fast food, and refined grains is a powerful weight loss tool itself .

It benefits a number of health conditions

Adopting a whole-foods, plant-based diet not only benefits your waistline, but it can also lower your risk and reduce symptoms of certain chronic diseases.

Heart disease

Perhaps one of the most well-known benefits of WFPB diets is that they are heart-healthy.

However, the quality and types of foods included in the diet matter.

A large study in over 200,000 people found that those who followed a healthy plant-based diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and nuts had a significantly lower risk of developing heart disease than those following non-plant-based diets

However, less nutritious plant-based diets that included sugary drinks, fruit juices, and refined grains were associated with a slightly increased risk of heart disease

Similarly, several other studies suggest that people following a healthy plant-based diet may have a lower risk of heart disease compared to meat eaters

Consuming the right kinds of food is critical for heart disease prevention when following a plant-based diet, which is why adhering to a WFPB diet is the best choice.

Cancer

Research suggests that following a plant-based diet may reduce your risk of certain types of cancer.

A study in over 76,000 people found that following a healthy plant-based diet could be associated with a lower risk of breast cancer Similarly, another recent study showed that greater consumption of nutritious plant-based foods was linked to a lower risk of aggressive forms of prostate cancer, especially in men under 65 years

Furthermore, a 2022 review concluded that plant-based diets could be tied to a lower risk of digestive system cancers, including pancreatic, colon, rectal, and colorectal cancers

Cognitive decline

Some studies suggest that diets rich in vegetables and fruits may help slow or prevent cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease in older adults.

Plant-based diets have a higher number of plant compounds and antioxidants, which may help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and reverse cognitive deficits, according to some test-tube and animal studies

In many studies, higher intakes of fruits and vegetables have been strongly associated with a reduction in cognitive decline.

A review of nine studies including over 31,000 people found that eating more fruits and vegetables led to a 20% reduction in the risk of developing cognitive impairment or dementia

Other studies in older adults have found that plant-based eating patterns may be associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment, along with a slower decline in brain function

Diabetes

Adopting a WFPB diet may be an effective tool in managing and reducing your risk of developing diabetes.

A study in more than 200,000 people found that those who adhered to a healthy plant-based eating pattern had a 34% lower risk of developing diabetes than those who followed unhealthy, non-plant-based diets

Another study demonstrated that plant-based diets could be beneficial for the prevention of type 2 diabetes, especially when they included nutritious plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes .

Plus, plant-based diets have been shown to improve blood sugar control, body weight, and cholesterol levels in people with diabetes

health

Understanding Cognitive Decline: How Your Brain Changes as You Age

head dubai May 17, 2023 No Comments

As you get older, you may experience a gradual loss of some thinking abilities. A significant changes may indicate another health condition.

Your mind is central to your identity. The sharpness of your thinking, your ability to communicate and connect with others, and the rich trove of memories you’ve collected over a lifetime all have enormous value.

As you get older, you may notice changes in some of your thinking skills, including cognitive decline. Cognitive decline is the gradual loss of thinking abilities such as:

learning
remembering
paying attention
reasoning

For some peopleTrusted Source, a small amount of cognitive decline occurs with age. But more significant changes can be a sign of a cognitive disorder. Injury, illness, and health habits can influence how much and how fast your cognitive abilities change over time.

This article explores how your cognitive abilities can change later in life. It also provides some practical guidance to help you keep your brain healthy as you age.

What are the signs of cognitive decline?

Cognitive decline looks different from person to person. That may be because people vary in their health profiles, life circumstances, and capabilities. Still, some patterns have emerged from the research.

People with mild cognitive decline might:

have trouble finding the right words to express themselves, especially when compared with others of the same age
lose or misplace things
forget appointments and scheduled events
become overwhelmed by complex tasks and projects

Keep in mind that typical forgetfulness is not the sameTrusted Source as cognitive decline. It’s not helpful to assume that regular forgetfulness is necessarily a sign of cognitive decline. Such worrying can affect your well-being.

How do doctors detect cognitive decline?

A doctor can help you determine whether you’re experiencing typical signs of aging or symptoms of cognitive decline. They may assign you a brief self-screening test to check for symptoms of cognitive decline.

Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination (SAGE) and other screening tests

There are several screen tests that you can use to check for signs of cognitive decline. These tests usually take about 3 to 15 minutes. They include:

Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination (SAGE)
AD8 Dementia Screening Interview
Quick Dementia Rating System (QDRS)
Mini-Cog

SAGE is one of the most common screening tests. You can download the test online and complete it at home. You can also take it to a doctor’s office to complete.

SAGE differs from the other tests in that it is slightly more complex. A 2022 studyTrusted Source found that SAGE detected cognitive decline in people with MCI 6 months sooner than MMSE, another common test. According to a 2021 reviewTrusted Source, SAGE produces a correct result 79% of the time.

Note that these quick tests are not enough to diagnose cognitive decline or dementia on their own. If your score shows some decline, it may be a sign for a doctor to do a more thorough evaluation.

Neuropsychological tests

In an evaluation, doctors often use neuropsychological tests to see whether your thinking and memory skills are changing. Some of the most common tests are:

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Sahlgrenska Academy Self-Reposed Cognitive Impairment Questionnaire (SASCI-Q)
Subjective Cognitive Decline Questionnaire (SCD-Q)
Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MCQ)
Everyday Cognition (ECog)
Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Scale
6-Item Cognitive Impairment Test (6-CIT)
Hong Kong Brief Cognitive Test (HKBC)

Some of these tests are relatively new. More research is needed to understand how well they predict or measure cognitive decline.

Other tests

A doctor might order a blood test to see if something else — like hypothyroidism or a B12 deficiency — may be causing a change in your thinking abilities.

Brain imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may help a doctor determine whether something like a stroke or brain tumor is at the root of your symptoms.

Experimental tests

Researchers are also looking into blood or spinal fluid testsTrusted Source that look for proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. These proteins are called beta-amyloid and tau.

In studies, brain imagingTrusted Source like MRI and PET scans can show changes in some parts of the brain.

The above tests may be able to detect changes in your brain up to 20 yearsTrusted Source before symptoms appear. But they’re often too costly, invasive, or complex to use for screening purposes. There’s ongoing research into simpler and more cost-effective screening tests.

What causes cognitive decline?

There are many reasons you may experience age-related changes in thinking and memory. Sometimes, another health condition may be the cause. Examples include:

high blood pressure
vascular (blood vessel) disease
depression
sleep deprivation
diabetes

Sometimes, a neurological condition such as Alzheimer’s Disease or frontotemporal dementia is the underlying cause.

Your genes and family history also play a role in whether you will experience cognitive decline as you get older. Genes may be responsible for up to 60% to 70%Trusted Source of the various ways cognition declines due to aging.

At what age does cognitive decline usually start?

Each person is different. Your health behaviors have some influence on your brain function as you age.

A 2020 analysisTrusted Source of the Health and Retirement Study, which involved around 29,000 participants, found that women first experienced cognitive impairment around age 73. Those women who went on to develop dementia did so at about 83 years old. Men, the study found, experienced cognitive decline near age 70 and dementia at 79 years.

It’s important to know that not everyone with cognitive decline will later have dementia.

The study also found that race and education level affect the age of onset.

For many Black and Latinx people in the United States, cognitive decline may begin 3 to 6 yearsTrusted Source earlier than for white people. Researchers think this disparity could be related to differences in healthcare access and accumulated stress (“weathering”) over a lifetime.

People with higher education levels tend to experience cognitive decline at a later age. This may be because they stay active mentally and have more social connections later in life, researchers said. They may also have greater access to healthcare and earlier treatment of medical problems.

Are there risk factors linked to faster cognitive decline?

Genes and family history are major risk factors for cognitive decline. But other factors may also lead to faster or more noticeable decline. These include:

diabetes
high blood pressure
stroke
smoking
high cholesterol
hearing loss

Some of these factors you can control, and some you can’t. Try working with a healthcare team to create a plan to stay healthy — mentally and physically.

Science & Tech

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi conducts space experiment to cure Alzheimer’s disease

head dubai May 16, 2023 No Comments

Sultan of Space works on Ring Sheared Drop experiment for neuro-degenerative diseases.

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, who is on the longest Arab space mission on the International Space Station (ISS), on Monday conducted a space experiment to cure Alzheimer’s disease, US space agency NASA has revealed.

Giving updates about the activities of the seven-member Expedition 69 crew onboard the ISS, NASA said Al Neyadi and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, who are flight engineers of Expedition 69, worked throughout Monday on experiment hardware supporting advanced space biology research.

“Al Neyadi installed a syringe filled with a protein solution inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) for the Ring Sheared Drop (RSD) experiment that may provide potential treatments for neuro-degenerative diseases,” stated NASA.

“Rubio and Al Neyadi also assisted NASA Flight Engineer Woody Hoburg as he worked throughout the day on the Destiny laboratory module’s carbon dioxide removal assembly,” the agency added.

RSD experiment

The Ring Sheared Drop investigation examines the formation and flow of amyloids without the complications associated with the solid walls of a container, because in microgravity, surface tension provides containment of the liquid.

In microgravity, it is possible to observe liquids without the influences of the solid walls of containers. As a crewed microgravity laboratory and test bed, the ISS offers a platform for research on liquids with a variety of applications, from human health to materials, contributing to the ongoing commercialisation of the orbiting lab.

Amyloids are fibrous, extracellular protein deposits found in organs and tissues. They are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Results of such experiments could contribute to better understanding of these diseases as well as to development of advanced materials.

MSG operation

The Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) is a rack-level facility on the ISS that provides resources and containment for research investigations. It has an airlock, avionics, and a work volume with gloves for crew manipulation. The facility is used for physical science and biological research and offers two levels of containment.

The MSG is operated from the Payloads Operations Integration Center (POIC) and can be remotely controlled from different tele-science centers worldwide. It has transparent walls, cameras for monitoring, and video downlink for real-time observation by scientists on Earth.

Crew members can safely manipulate items inside the sealed work volume by inserting their hands into gloves attached to any of four glove ports on the front and sides of the facility located in the US Laboratory module on ISS.

The orbital lab’s main purpose is gaining scientific knowledge not possible in Earth’s gravity to gain new insights benefitting humans on and off the Earth. Human research and physics are a key part of the microgravity science programme helping NASA and its international partners plan missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Al Neyadi’s NASA SpaceX Crew-6 members are conducting over 200 science experiments during the six-month space mission that began in March. He has been assigned 19 experiments by universities in the UAE. In April, Al Neyadi had announced his participation in space research to improve the efficiency of treating diabetic foot ulcers through the Maleth project.

Science & Tech

Astronomers reveal largest space explosion

head dubai May 16, 2023 No Comments

Explosion has lasted three years and happened nearly 8 billion light-years away.

A colossal cosmic explosion that took place nearly 8 billion light-years away is the largest ever witnessed, astronomers said on Friday.

Scientists think the blast could have been caused by a cloud of mostly hydrogen gas many times bigger than the sun being sucked into a supermassive black hole.

The gas being swallowed is thought to have sent shock waves through the remaining gas, causing an explosion 10 times brighter than an exploding star, called a supernova.

Although first spotted in 2020 by a facility in California, the scale of the explosion, called AT2021lwx, was previously unknown.

It took place when the universe was about six billion years old.

Scientists from the University of Southampton in the UK used a selection of telescopes run by European nations and Nasa to view and measure the size of the blast.

They concluded it to be the largest on record, having lasted more than three years. Most supernovae are only visibly bright for a few months.

“We came upon this by chance, as it was flagged by our search algorithm when we were searching for a type of supernova,” said research leader Philip Wiseman, research fellow at the University of Southampton.

“Most supernovae and tidal disruption events only last for a couple of months before fading away. For something to be bright for two-plus years was immediately very unusual.”

How was the blast measured?

Measuring the size of an explosion occurring so far away is not as easy as just getting out the ruler.

The team had to analyse the spectrum of light emitted from the blast in great detail to work out distances.

“Once you know the distance to the object and how bright it appears to us, you can calculate the brightness of the object at its source,” said Sebastian Hoenig of the University of Southampton, a co-author of the research.

Some of the telescopes used were at the European Space Agency’s La Silla Observatory.

“Once we’d performed those calculations, we realised this is extremely bright,”

There is so much more to be measured about the blast, including temperature,

Emerging technology may also help the team to test their theory on the causes behind AT2021lwx.

“With new facilities, like the Vera Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time, coming online in the next few years, we are hoping to discover more events like this and learn more about them, said Dr Wiseman.

“It could be that these events, although extremely rare, are so energetic that they are key processes to how the centres of galaxies change over time.”

Politics

Emirates Red Crescent delivers food and clothing to Syria earthquake relief teams

head dubai May 13, 2023 No Comments

Donations are to thank hundreds of workers for contribution to clean-up operation.

The UAE has donated food and clothing to more than 500 Syrians who lent a vital helping hand to the major clean-up operation following February’s devastating earthquake.

The Emirates Red Crescent, the charitable arm of the UAE government, distributed the supplies in Latakia governorate, in north-western Syria, state news agency Wam reported on Friday.

This was part of an initiative called We Did Not Forget You, set up to thank those who helped clear rubble after the deadly natural disaster which damaged and destroyed large numbers of buildings.

The death toll from the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks in Syria and Turkey approached 60,000, with millions more affected.

The UAE has delivered crucial assistance to residents in both Syria and Turkey since the earthquake struck on February 6.

It established the Operation Gallant Knight 2 mission, a humanitarian operation to support those affected.

An Emirati ship containing more than 2,000 tonnes of aid — including food supplies, medical equipment and clothing — was sent to the port of Latakia in April.

The UAE built 1,000 prefabricated homes in Latakia at a cost of Dh65 million ($17.7) to shelter families displaced by the earthquake, it was announced last month.

The Emirates Red Crescent oversaw the project to house up to 6,000 people, on the directive of President Sheikh Mohamed.

The solar-powered homes have two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom.

The ERC formed a committee with representatives of the local development authority, the Latakia Governorate Council, the Syrian Red Crescent and other authorities to select eligible families to receive the housing units.

Politics

Ninth evacuation plane from Sudan arrives in UAE

head dubai May 13, 2023 No Comments

The UAE continues to provide hosting and care services to the evacuees.

Four evacuation planes carrying 253 nationals from several countries have arrived in the UAE over the past two days from Sudan, which has experienced clashes since mid-April, bringing the total number of planes arriving from Sudan to nine.

The UAE prioritised the evacuation of the most vulnerable groups, including the sick, children, the elderly, and women.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) confirmed the success of the evacuation operation, which has been carried out by the UAE as part of its humanitarian efforts and commitment to strengthening global cooperation and solidarity, and in continuation of its humanitarian approach based on providing protection for civilians and facilitating aid and assistance to countries in times of need.

The Ministry affirmed the UAE’s commitment to working with its partners and the international community to achieve all that serves the interests of the Sudanese people, stressing the importance of intensifying efforts aimed at a ceasefire, a return to the political framework and dialogue, and advancing in the transitional phase to reach the desired political stability and security in Sudan.

The UAE continues to provide hosting and care services to the evacuees after their evacuation and stay in the city of Port Sudan. Moreover, the UAE has hosted nationals from approximately 26 different countries after being evacuated on these planes, which have carried 997 people since 29 April. The UAE has provided all necessary care services while they are in the UAE prior to returning to their home countries.