Author: Neel Achary

Five-Man Crew Complete 2,000 Mile Row Around Great Britain Setting a New World Record

July 24: Team Rowmads has successfully completed an extraordinary unsupported circumnavigation of Great Britain by rowing boat, covering approximately 2,000 miles in one of the world’s most demanding endurance challenges. 

The team is the first and fastest team of five to complete the GB Row Challenge unsupported, completing the row in 32 days, 30 minutes and 58 seconds. They crossed the finish line underneath Tower Bridge, London, yesterday afternoon (16 July). 

Made up of three military doctors, two brothers serving as a trauma surgeon and a firefighter, and a fitness coach, the team battled relentless tides, unpredictable weather, sleep deprivation and physical exhaustion over the course of their journey. Every mile was powered solely by human effort, with no outside assistance or resupply.

Royal Navy trauma and orthopaedic registrar, Stefano Capella, said:

“The biggest highlight was seeing just how extraordinary our country is from the water. We had dolphins following the boat, and saw otters, whales and incredible stretches of coastline. Scotland was beautiful, even if the weather did not always let it show its true colours.

“There were some brutally hard moments, like being on the oars at two in the morning for the fifth night in a row, rationing water and dealing with no power. But morale stayed remarkably high because we had such a fantastic team.”

The achievement places team Rowmads among an elite group, with fewer than 40 people ever having completed a continuous, unsupported circumnavigation of Great Britain by rowing boat.

Stefano added:

“There were rare days when the boat seemed to fly and rowing felt almost like piloting a fighter jet. Those moments were incredibly special. More than anything, though, it was the chance to share the experience with some of my best friends and my twin brother.

“We amazingly never ran out of things to talk about. I think we could probably launch our own Loose Women equivalent. That’s what got us through. We had no power in the end. Our speakers died, our radios died as well, so it relied on us to make our own entertainment for quite long periods. It’s amazing how you can while away 24 hours on the oars just by talking.”

Beyond their sporting achievement, the expedition has made a significant contribution to marine science. Throughout the journey, the crew collected environmental data on microplastic pollution, biodiversity, underwater noise pollution, sea temperature and salinity.

The information will now be analysed by scientists at the University of Portsmouth before being shared through The Crown Estate’s Marine Data Exchange, one of the world’s largest open-access collections of marine industry data. 

The research contributes to a growing long-term record of the health of UK coastal waters and will help scientists better understand the effects of human activity on marine ecosystems.

The GB Row Challenge is widely regarded as one of the toughest rowing races in the world. Crews must navigate approximately 2,000 miles around the coastline of Great Britain without external support, relying entirely on their preparation, teamwork and determination to overcome some of the most challenging waters in Europe.

Skipper Mike Eager said:

 “If anybody reading this is thinking of doing it, I’d say go for it. You wouldn’t even be looking at a challenge like this if you weren’t the right sort of person in the first place. It’s hard, and it takes a huge amount of planning. In many ways, just getting to the start line is probably the hardest part. But it will be an experience like no other, and I don’t think you’ll ever regret it.

“Coming home has made me appreciate all the simple things you take for granted, like sitting on a sofa, walking more than four metres, sleeping in a proper bed, using a proper toilet and eating with cutlery.

“It was actually quite nice to be taken away from the real world for a while. You don’t have to worry about emails or any of the day-to-day distractions. I’m looking forward to getting back to reality and society, but if I’m honest, it’s a bit of a double-edged sword. I loved the simplicity of life on the boat.”

The team’s Guinness World Record is subject to verification by the Ocean Rowing Society. This year’s joint headline sponsors are Cleaner Seas Group and Simply Sustainable – two organisations focused on advancing practical solutions to environmental challenges.

Suicidal Thoughts Among U.S. Veterans Increased Nearly 50 percentage Over Five Years, National Study Finds

July 24: Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among U.S. military veterans, claiming more than 6,000 lives each year. Although suicide prevention efforts have expanded in recent years, it has remained unclear whether the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors has changed as the prevention landscape and veteran population has evolved.

A new nationally representative study led by researchers at the National Center for PTSD and Yale School of Medicine found that the prevalence of recent suicidal thoughts among U.S. veterans increased by nearly 50% over the past five years. The findings, published July 20 in JAMA Network Open, show that while suicidal thoughts have become more common, the prevalence of suicide planning and suicide attempts has remained relatively stable.

Researchers analyzed data from the 2025–2026 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study, a population-based survey of 2,636 U.S. military veterans. The study updated national estimates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, identified factors associated with suicide risk, and examined mental health treatment use among veterans with a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

“Effective suicide prevention depends on having accurate, up-to-date information about who is at greatest risk,” said lead author Ian C. Fischer, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and assistant professor of psychiatry. “The veteran population has become younger, and there have been increases in the proportion of women veterans and shifts in its racial and ethnic composition over the past five years, making it essential to monitor changes in suicidal thoughts and behaviors and identify the veterans who may benefit most from prevention and early intervention.”

The study found that 13.4% of U.S. veterans reported suicidal thoughts during the previous two weeks, compared with 9.0% in the last nationally representative survey conducted in 2019–2020. Rates of lifetime suicide planning and suicide attempts, however, remained largely unchanged (8.0% and 4.9% vs 7.3% and 3.9%, respectively). Younger veterans and female veterans reported substantially higher rates of suicidal thoughts, suicide planning, and suicide attempts than older and male veterans.

The researchers also identified several factors associated with suicide risk. Functional disability, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder were among the strongest correlates of suicidal thoughts and suicide planning, while adverse childhood experiences emerged as the strongest correlate of lifetime suicide attempts.

The study further examined mental health treatment among veterans reporting suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In general, veterans who relied on the VA as their primary source of healthcare were more likely than veterans who primarily received care outside the VA to have ever received mental health treatment and to be currently engaged in treatment.

More specifically, among veterans reporting suicidal thoughts during the previous two weeks, 75.2% of VA-primary users had received lifetime mental health treatment and 53.6% were currently receiving treatment, compared with 46.2% and 25.6%, respectively, among non-primary VA users. Similar differences were observed among veterans with past-year suicidal thoughts, lifetime suicide planning, and lifetime suicide attempts: current treatment rates were 53.8%, 55.1%, and 65.3% among VA-primary users relative to 25.8%, 29.0%, and 36.8% among non-primary VA users.

While promising, these findings also indicate that many veterans experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors, particularly those who do not rely primarily on the VA, have not been recently engaged in mental health treatment, highlighting opportunities to strengthen outreach and engagement.

“These findings suggest that the VA is playing an important role in connecting veterans at elevated suicide risk with mental healthcare,” said Brandon Nichter, PhD, visiting scholar in Yale’s Department of Psychiatry. “At the same time, many veterans with recent suicidal thoughts are still not engaged in treatment. Expanding outreach and reducing barriers to care across both VA and community health systems will be essential to reaching these individuals.”

The study’s authors note that continued national surveillance of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among veterans will be critical for evaluating the impact of suicide prevention efforts and ensuring that resources are directed toward veterans at greatest risk.

Other study authors include Peter J. Na, MD, MPH, of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and Yale School of Medicine; Melanie L. Hill, PhD, of Yale School of Medicine; John H. Krystal, MD, of the National Center for PTSD and Yale School of Medicine; and Robert H. Pietrzak, PhD, MPH, of the National Center for PTSD, Yale School of Medicine, and Yale School of Public Health.

SKKU Develops Technology for Mass-Producing Eco-Friendly Hydrogen Peroxide Without Electricity, Dramatically Cutting Energy Costs

July 24: A research team led by Professor Sunghak Park of the Department of Future Energy Engineering of Sungkyunkwan University, working jointly with research teams from Korea University and Northwestern University, has developed an innovative electrochemical system capable of producing eco-friendly hydrogen peroxide in large quantities and with high efficiency, without any external power supply. The findings were published in Energy & Environmental Science, a leading international journal in the energy and environment field.

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical widely used across the paper and pulp industry, medicine and bio-related fields, and semiconductor cleaning, among others. However, most current production relies on large-scale anthraquinone processes, which demand high energy consumption and complex procedures. As a result, developing decentralized, eco-friendly methods for producing hydrogen peroxide has become an important challenge.

Electrochemical methods that convert oxygen directly into hydrogen peroxide have recently drawn attention, but existing systems suffer considerable energy loss due to the high potential and slow reaction rate required for the oxygen evolution reaction. Research to date has focused mainly on catalyst development, while the effect of gas bubbles forming inside the electrolyzer has largely been overlooked.

To address this limitation, the research team focused on the movement of gas bubbles generated at the electrode surface where the chemical reaction takes place. Using ultra-high-speed camera imaging to observe the microelectrode surface, the team found that furfural, an organic reactant, lowers the surface tension of the solution and promotes the formation of microbubbles on the electrode surface. This was shown to significantly restrict mass transfer at the electrode surface.

The team introduced a strategy to precisely control electrolyte flow in order to facilitate bubble removal, achieving roughly a threefold increase in current density compared to existing conditions. In particular, in an optimized membrane electrode assembly system, the team achieved an industrial-level current density of 331 mA cm⁻² without any external power supply, while maintaining hydrogen peroxide selectivity of about 90%. The system also recorded a hydrogen peroxide production rate of 5.617 mmol cm⁻² h⁻¹.Selectivity: refers to the yield of a specific desired product among the various products generated by a reaction.

This is a breakthrough achievement that enables the large-scale simultaneous production of eco-friendly hydrogen peroxide, along with hydrogen – a clean energy source for the future – and furoic acid, a high-value chemical feedstock, using only a spontaneous chemical reaction (a galvanic process) with no external electrical energy. Notably, electricity consumption was estimated at approximately 236 kWh per tonne of H2O2, markedly lower than that of existing electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production technologies.

Professor Sunghak Park said,

 “This study is significant in that it scientifically analyzes the long-overlooked problem of bubbles on the electrode surface in electrochemical processes, and secures a commercially viable production rate through the eco-friendly and simple method of controlling fluid flow.” He added that the research “is expected to contribute to presenting new strategies applicable to sustainable, carbon-free electrochemical processes in the future.”

This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT’s programs for building a cooperation platform among top-tier research institutions and supporting joint research, as well as its Basic Research Laboratory and Outstanding Young Researcher programs.

Glasgow Opens CWG 2026; Mirabai, Lovlina Lead India’s Medal Hopes

Glasgow, July 24: The Commonwealth Games 2026 officially began in Glasgow with a colourful opening ceremony, as King Charles III declared the event open and welcomed athletes from across the Commonwealth.

India will look to its star performers, including Olympic medallists Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain, to lead the country’s medal charge at the Games.

With a strong mix of experienced athletes and young talents, the Indian contingent aims to make a mark across various sporting disciplines and add more medals to the nation’s Commonwealth Games legacy.

As competition begins, athletes are ready to showcase their hard work, passion and determination on one of the biggest sporting stages.

Viswanathan Anand Vows to Ensure Continuity and Serve Global Chess Community

New Delhi, July 24: Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand has said that his focus will be on ensuring continuity and serving the global chess community as he takes on greater responsibilities in chess administration.

Anand emphasised the importance of strengthening the sport’s global ecosystem, supporting players, and maintaining the progress achieved in recent years. He said his priority would be to work in the interest of the entire chess family and contribute towards the continued growth and development of the game worldwide.

The Indian chess legend, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, highlighted the need for collaboration among players, federations and stakeholders to further promote chess at all levels.

Anand’s comments come as the chess world continues to witness rapid growth, with increasing participation among young players and expanding global interest in the game.

Known for his achievements on the board and his contribution to promoting chess in India and beyond, Anand said he remains committed to using his experience to support the sport’s future.