Immunosenescence and related therapies Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Ageing and its association with immune decline Last updated: 24/02/25, 11:28 Published: 20/02/25, 08:00 Immunosenescence and related therapies Introduction Ageing is a profoundly complex and integral part of human life. As pharmaceutical developments have occurred, introducing new medicines and therapies such as biologics and antibiotics within the last 100 years, research has begun to look at malignancy at a more macro scale. To be clear, while it has become easier to combat infectious diseases in recent times, the combating of diseases tied to our genetic composition is far more complicated, whether it be autoimmune diseases or onset conditions such as cases of dementia. Ageing is one such case of a process that is hard to combat because the mechanisms that cause it are diverse and currently not fully understood. Strides have been made under a concept known as senescence, which continues to enlighten researchers and the anti-ageing pharmaceutical industry. This article provides a short summary of what immunosenescence is and how we can utilise our understanding to develop therapies for human immunity. What is immunosenescence? Immunosenescence is the change from a healthy, active immune cell phenotype to one that is no longer conventionally active and begins to secrete inflammatory chemical messengers known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) ( Figure 1 ). A most important aspect of senescence is that a cell undergoes cell cycle arrest, meaning it cannot proliferate. You may now question why cells are programmed to senesce if the outcomes are detrimental to the host? It prevents the continued proliferation of old or damaged cells, including cells with uncontrolled proliferation (such as cancer cells). If we stop senescence altogether, we run the risk of accumulating damaged and/or mutated cells, increasing the chances of disease progression, such as through fibrosis and tumorigenesis, so specific targeting and dosage of drug interventions have to be considered. The immune system in particular, displays biological changes that are indicative of senescent progression. These include thymic involution (shrinking of the thymus associated with a decrease in T cell production), inflammaging (chronic inflammation associated with SASP), an increase in mitochondrial stress through metabolic changes, and an increase in differentiated memory T cells (EMRA T cells). Knowledge of these changes can give insight into potential mechanisms to target for therapeutics. Current and developing therapies for immunosenescence Given our expanding understanding of senescence, as of the time of writing, there are no clinically approved drugs for senescence specifically. The development of therapies for diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes (diabetic patients tend to exhibit increased levels of cellular senescence owing to “accelerated ageing”) have been implicated with suppressing senescence. These drugs would be mTOR inhibitors such as Rapamycin, statins, P13K inhibitors, as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors for T cells, such as anti CTLA-4 PD-L1 and PD-L2, and the anti-diabetic metformin, which have all shown in vitro to be effective against high levels of senescent cells. There was also the development of the recent first senolytic drugs dasatinib and quercetin in 2015 that kill senescent cells selectively against non-senescent cells and stand to provide a proof of concept for targeting disease through senescent mechanisms. Conclusion The field of senescence is certainly one to keep an eye on, with a bibliometric analysis in 2023 showing an increase every year in the number of published papers ( Figure 2 ). It may be sooner rather than later that we see this become a trending topic of discussion for treating an array of disease states. Continuous research into specific immune cell subtypes (B, T and NK cells) and their relation to a decline in immunity in response to age can tell us more about potential therapeutic pathways or lifestyle choices that can improve the health of the immunocompromised elderly. One such example of this is Treg-mediated increased glucose consumption in the tumour microenvironment leading to an increase in cell senescence in effector T cells, suggesting that high sugar diets can accelerate tumorigenesis. Our understanding of ageing through senescence will help reduce the mortality rates of elderly groups in decades to come through knowing that mechanisms such as the SASP and altered immune cell function, which can promote disease states. Written by Yaseen Ahmad Related articles: Genetics of ageing and longevity / Accelerated ageing REFERENCES Henson, S.M. and Aksentijevic, D. (2021) ‘Senescence and type 2 diabetic cardiomyopathy: How young can you die of old age?’, Frontiers in Pharmacology , 12. doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.716517. Wang, R. et al. (2017) ‘Rapamycin inhibits the secretory phenotype of senescent cells by a NRF2-independent mechanism’, Aging Cell , 16(3), pp. 564–574. doi:10.1111/acel.12587. Henson, S.M. et al. (2012) ‘Reversal of functional defects in highly differentiated young and old CD8 T cells by PDL blockade’, Immunology , 135(4), pp. 355–363. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2567.2011.03550.x. Islam, M.T. et al. (2023) ‘Senolytic drugs, dasatinib and quercetin, attenuate adipose tissue inflammation, and ameliorate metabolic function in old age’, Aging Cell , 22(2). doi:10.1111/acel.13767. Li, C., Liu, Z. and Shi, R. (2023) ‘A comprehensive overview of cellular senescence from 1990 to 2021: A machine learning-based bibliometric analysis’, Frontiers in Medicine , 10. doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1072359. Herranz, N. and Gil, J. (2018) ‘Mechanisms and functions of cellular senescence’, Journal of Clinical Investigation , 128(4), pp. 1238–1246. doi:10.1172/jci95148. Li, L. et al. (2019) ‘TLR8-mediated metabolic control of human Treg function: A mechanistic target for cancer immunotherapy’, Cell Metabolism , 29(1). doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2018.09.020. Project Gallery

Beginning with the positives, there are reasons why future pandemics may be less serious compared to previous ones like the Spanish Flu (1918-1920), which killed approximately 500 million people or the Black Death (1346-1353), which eliminated half of Europe’s population. Go Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Are pandemics becoming less severe? Last updated: 13/11/24 Published: 25/04/23 Ever since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020, many people have become more aware of future pandemics and best management strategies for these health disasters. For example, an online article from 2022 discussed ways to prepare for the next pandemic such as surveilling zoonotic diseases and planning for faster vaccine production; these can be effective in overcoming another pandemic in the future, though it is important to consider factors that may inhibit the above strategies aside from exacerbating future pandemics. With this said, this article will compare the reasons for pandemics becoming less severe and the reasons why they can become worse. Beginning with the positives, there are reasons why future pandemics may be less serious compared to previous ones like the Spanish Flu (1918-1920), which killed approximately 500 million people or the Black Death (1346-1353), which eliminated half of Europe’s population. Firstly, vaccinations reduced the spread of and prevented serious symptoms of many infectious diseases ranging from the eradicated smallpox to the seasonal influenza. Therefore, undermining the success of vaccines during pandemics is not ideal since this has negative consequences, mainly prolonging pandemics and killing more people. Secondly, there are antimicrobial treatments for a person infected with either a viral, bacterial, protozoal, or fungal infection. For instance during World War 2, penicillin has decreased bacterial pneumonia’s death rate from 18% to 1% in soldiers as well as saving 14% of the UK’s injured soldiers. Therefore, this event prevented bacterial spread and a potential pandemic that could have occurred without penicillin or other antibiotics. Another important treatment is for malaria. A review and meta analysis from Ethiopia showed that for artemether-lumefantrine in 10 studies involving 1179 patients, 96.7% did not have a fever and 98.5% did not have the malaria parasite after they were treated for 3 days. Again, artemether-lumefantrine with other antiparasitic drugs reduced the possibility of a malarial pandemic. Additionally, there are non-medical interventions that may decrease the severity of pandemics. For instance, a cross-panel analysis discovered that enforcing a lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic saw new cases declining around 10 days after execution and this benefit grows after 20 days of the lockdown. Similarly, a review highlighted that social distancing of more than 1 metre between individuals led to reduced COVID-19 transmission risk by 5 times while the impact of protection two-fold for each extra 1 metre. Considering both of these methods, re-using them for future pandemics can reduce infectious disease spread in combination with vaccinations and antimicrobial drugs. On the other hand, it is crucial to consider the counter argument of why pandemics may worsen in the future. To illustrate, there is the possibility that diseases could resurge into more fatal variants similar to COVID-19, which lead to more deaths and vaccines becoming less effective. Alternatively, there may a current contagious pathogen that can combine with another one to form a new disease; this is how HIV/AIDS become virulent since the 1980s to present day as researchers uncovered that the virus collaborates with non-viral diseases like malaria and tuberculosis and viral diseases such as hepatitis C to harm/kill the patient. These instances can occur for viral pathogens along with other types (protists, bacteria and fungi). As for non-viral pathogens, it is likely that future pandemics originate from them with a review discussing bacteria like MRSA or ones causing water-borne and unsanitary food infections infecting humans and animals. It elaborated that multi-drug resistant bacteria would be arduous to destroy opposed to non-resistant ones, resulting in higher: mortalities, medical logistics, costs and hospitalisations. Going back to penicillin with other antibiotics, although it was used since World War 2 for bacterial infections, resistance towards them has exponentially increased whereby countless types of bacteria overpower their effects because antibiotics have been overprescribed and their use in agriculture has made bacteria stronger. Another reason to consider pandemics becoming worse is the counter-effectiveness of lockdowns. An article stated that comparing them between countries is insufficient because there is a lack of evidence for them tackling COVID-19 and the 1918-1920 Spanish Flu. Also, it found that it is expensive to enforce them and suggested a 20 fold death rate, indicating that a cost-benefit analysis is needed before utilising lockdowns to stop the spread of infectious diseases. Additionally, COVID-19 not only had detrimental impacts on health, it influenced non-health factors such as economics, culture and politics. For example, lots of Iranian people went to crowded places and business centres as the government did not have the finances during their lockdown to protect citizens from the virus. Overall, everyone should collaborate to prepare for the inevitability of future pandemics because historically, using a multitude of methods: lockdowns, vaccines, social distancing and antimicrobial drugs in order to minimise the time span and consequences of the pandemics. Referring back to deadliest pandemics from the past like the Black Death and Spanish Flu, it is our responsibility to prevent history from repeating itself. Written by Sam Jarada Related article: Rare zoonotic diseases REFERENCES Sridhar D. Five ways to prepare for the next pandemic. Nature. 2022 Oct 26;610(7933):S50–0. Jarus O. 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history. livescience.com. 2020 Mar 3. Rayner C. How the discovery of penicillin has influenced modern medicine - The Oxford Scientist. The Oxford Scientist. 2020 June 1. Ayalew MB. Therapeutic efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Infectious Diseases of Poverty. 2017 Nov 15;6(1). Alfano V, Ercolano S. The Efficacy of Lockdown Against COVID-19: A Cross-Country Panel Analysis. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy. 2020 Jun 3;18(4):509–17. Sun KS, Lau TSM, Yeoh EK, Chung VCH, Leung YS, Yam CHK, et al. Effectiveness of different types and levels of social distancing measures: a scoping review of global evidence from earlier stage of COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Open. 2022 Apr 1;12(4):e053938. Singer M. Pathogen-pathogen interaction. Virulence. 2010;1(1):10–8. Salazar CB, Spencer P, Mohamad K, Jabeen A, Abdulmonem WA, Fernández N. Future pandemics might be caused by bacteria and not viruses: Recent advances in medical preventive practice. International Journal of Health Sciences. 2022;16(3):1–3. Ventola CL. The Antibiotic Resistance crisis: Part 1: Causes and Threats. P & T : a peer-rev10. Yanovskiy M, Socol Y. Are Lockdowns Effective in Managing Pandemics? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022 Jul 29;19(15):9295. Yoosefi Lebni J, Abbas J, Moradi F, Salahshoor MR, Chaboksavar F, Irandoost SF, et al. How the COVID-19 pandemic effected economic, social, political, and cultural factors: A lesson from Iran. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 2020 Jul 2;67(3):002076402093998.

Your brain is truly an extraordinary structure, and it’s the reason you can do all the amazing things you do. This mass of wrinkly material weighs only about 1.3 kilograms, yet it controls every single thing you will ever do. It’s the engine that drives our behaviour and allows us to interact with the world.  Go Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Discovering the Wonders of the Human Brain Last updated: 08/03/26 Published: 13/04/23 Your brain is truly an extraordinary structure, and it’s the reason you can do all the amazing things you do. This mass of wrinkly material weighs only about 1.3 kilograms, yet it controls every single thing you will ever do. It’s the engine that drives our behaviour and allows us to interact with the world. Despite its relatively small size — the brain makes up only 2% of our body mass — it’s an incredibly energy-intensive organ. In fact, it consumes more than 20% of our oxygen supply and blood flow and uses more energy than any other tissue in the body. This is because it has a dense network of neurons, specialised cells that transmit signals throughout the nervous system. There are around 100 billion neurons in the human brain, each connected to thousands of other neurons, passing signals to each other via trillions of synapses. The human brain has more connections than there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy and it can process information at a speed of up to 120 metres per second! Even when you are asleep your brain never really “shuts off”! While you’re snoozing away, your brain is busy consolidating memories, processing emotions, flushing out harmful toxins and keeping your mind sharp and healthy. One more key feature that sets our brain apart is the cortex, the outer layer of the brain responsible for many of the higher cognitive functions that are unique to humans, such as abstract reasoning and language. While all mammals have a cerebral cortex, the human cortex is disproportionately large, accounting for 80% of our total brain mass, and it’s much more complex than any other animal. Now, have you ever wondered how the human brain compares to the brains of other animals? Some animals have much larger brains than we do. For instance, the brain of a sperm whale weighs around 8 kilograms, making it the largest brain of any animal on Earth. To put it into perspective, that’s about five times the size of a human brain! Similarly, the brains of elephants are also much larger than ours, weighing in at around 5 kilograms. Comparative neuronal morphology of the cerebellar cortex in afrotherians, carnivores, cetartiodactyls, and primates We might not have the largest brain compared to other species however, the human brain is larger than most animal brains relative to body size. Why did humans evolve such large brains in the first place? The question has puzzled scientists for years, but there are a few theories that have gained traction. The Social Brain Hypothesis (SBH) suggests that our large brains evolved as a result of our ancestors’ increasingly complex social structures. As early humans began to live in larger groups, they needed to be able to navigate the complex social dynamics of their communities, for example cooperating for resources and maintaining social relationships. Another theory known as “ecological intelligence”, suggests that the pressure for larger brains was driven by environmental conditions. Our ancestors had to adapt to the challenges posed by the environment, such as finding food and shelter. Finally, the Cultural Intelligence (CQ) hypothesis emphasises the challenge of learning from different cultures and teaching their own. While each of these theories has some evidence to support it, there is still much debate among scientists about which theory (if any) is the most accurate. It is likely that all three theories played a role in the evolution of the human brain, to varying degrees. The human brain is a fascinating organ that has captivated scientists and researchers for centuries. Despite all our advances in neuroscience, however, there is still so much that we don’t know about how the brain works and what it is truly capable of. Written by Viviana Greco Related article: The brain-climate connection REFERENCES González-Forero, M., & Gardner, A., 2018. Inference of ecological and social drivers of human brain-size evolution. Nature, 557(7706), Article 7706. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0127-x Jacobs, B., Johnson, N. L., Wahl, D., et. al, 2014. Comparative neuronal morphology of the cerebellar cortex in afrotherians, carnivores, cetartiodactyls, and primates. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnana.2014.00024

Can we quantify choices? Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Mathematical models in cognitive decision-making 10/07/25, 11:21 Last updated: Published: 19/11/23, 17:33 Can we quantify choices? The simple answer to this question is yes because even if you do not know it, we rank different choices in our heads all the time. Whether it's deciding what to have for breakfast, choosing a route to work, or evaluating job offers, our minds are constantly engaged in the intricate process of decision-making. In this article, we cover some of the mathematical techniques we use to make these decisions. Bayesian statistics Bayesian statistics, named after Thomas Bayes, is a branch of statistics that employs probability theory to quantify and update our beliefs or degrees of certainty about events or hypotheses. At its core is Bayes' Theorem, which is a fundamental principle in Bayesian inference. Bayes' Theorem provides a framework for updating our initial beliefs (prior probabilities) with new evidence (likelihood) to arrive at revised beliefs (posterior probabilities). One of the main reasons for the theorem’s popularity is the validity of what it was proposing. At its essence, Bayes' Theorem acknowledges that our beliefs and understanding of the world are not fixed but can and should change as we learn more information. Hence, the likeliness of events changes as new information surfaces which makes perfect sense now but was incredibly revolutionary when the theorem was first introduced. This technique is undeniably used as core cognitive decision-making process helping us make choices based on the likelihood of events. Game theory and utility theory Game theory and utility theory serve as essential mathematical tools in our exploration of cognitive decision-making. Game theory reveals the strategic thinking behind decisions and their consequences, shedding light on complex interactions that influence our choices in various contexts, such as economics and social behaviour. The study of Game theory includes evaluating and optimising payoff matrices which are the framework to model the payoff from the combination of different decisions. An example is shown below where Alice is the row choices and Bob are the column choices. Alice and Bob’s payoffs are dependent on each other’s actions so decision making becomes difficult which is one of the reasons studying game theory is so interesting. Utility theory, which has ties to Game theory, quantifies how individuals assess the desirability of options. The more you desire an outcome, the higher amount of utility you assign to it. The theory plays a pivotal role in understanding decision preferences and trade-offs. By analysing utility functions, we gain insights into how individuals optimize their choices to maximize satisfaction, aligning our understanding of human decision-making with mathematical precision. Other mathematical frameworks and applications In addition to Bayesian statistics, game theory, and utility theory, several other mathematical frameworks enrich our understanding of cognitive decision-making. These include: - Markov Decision Processes (MDPs): Essential for sequential decision-making and reinforcement learning, used in robotics, artificial intelligence, and operations research. - Prospect Theory: Crucial for understanding how individuals make decisions involving risk and uncertainty, particularly in fields like economics and behavioural psychology. - Decision Trees: Widely used for visualizing complex decision-making processes and often applied in data analysis and operations research. - Neural Networks: Critical for modelling complex cognitive decision-making processes, particularly in machine learning and deep learning applications. I would like to thank you for reading. Be sure to check out other mathematics articles on the site! Written by Temi Abbass Related articles: Behavioural economics I , II and III ; Markov Chains Project Gallery

How physical appearance shapes judgement Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The Psychology of the Halo Effect Last updated: 29/06/26, 12:09 Published: 29/06/26, 11:51 How physical appearance shapes judgement Physical attractiveness often shapes how we perceive traits like intelligence, success, and kindness. This common tendency is explained by a psychological bias known as the halo effect. The halo effect is a type of cognitive bias where a single positive trait, such as attractiveness, influences how we judge an individual’s other characteristics. This occurs unconsciously, serving as an automatic mental shortcut. Our brains process large amounts of information daily, hence they rely on shortcuts to make quick judgements, with physical attractiveness serving as one such shortcut, leading to the generalisation from one positive trait to form a broader judgement. Gulati et al. (2024) investigated the halo effect using artificial intelligence-based beauty filters. In this online study, participants rated facial images in two conditions: original and attractive after applying a filter. A 7-point Likert scale was provided for seven attributes: attractiveness, intelligence, trustworthiness, sociability, happiness, femininity and unusualness. Findings illustrated that the same individuals receive significantly higher ratings of attractiveness and other traits, like intelligence, in the attractive condition. This illustrates that people perceive attractive individuals as more sociable and trustworthy, even when there is no evidence of such traits, illustrating the halo effect in place. Similarly, findings from Lenoir & Stocks (2020) illustrated that attractive individuals are judged to behave more positively and to exhibit fewer negative behaviours. Together, these studies highlight how one characteristic can form general perceptions of personality. However, Gulati et al. (2024) also concluded that although faces with the filter received higher ratings, the strength of the link between attractiveness and trait judgements became weaker in the filter condition – attractiveness still influenced trait judgements, but had a weaker influence on participants’ judgments of personality traits. This may be because when people use beauty filters, attractiveness becomes artificial, and therefore, people place less weight on physical attractiveness when forming trait judgments. All in all, ratings increased in the filter condition, but the predictive power of attractiveness on trait judgments slightly weakened. In social settings, this becomes evident, as attractive individuals may be treated more favourably or receive greater opportunities and trust from others. As a result, this reinforces the bias over time, as others respond more positively to them, supporting the idea that they possess desirable traits. The halo effect not only shapes opinions but also influences outcomes too, as attractive people may receive more job opportunities or less harsh punishments in court, as outlined by Yang et al. (2019). The researchers concluded that attractive and trustworthy-looking defendants were judged more favourably, while unattractive or untrustworthy defendants received harsher punishments, such as longer prison sentences and greater fines. In contrast, what is less discussed is the opposite of the halo effect: the horn effect. The horn effect occurs when a single negative trait leads us to form a general negative impression of an individual. Research by Nisbett & Wilson (1977) suggests that negative first impressions can form evaluations, as global judgements influence how certain traits are perceived. This cognitive bias means that a negative trait, such as untidiness, can lead individuals to judge a person as less trustworthy or capable. All in all, both the halo and horn effects illustrate how first impressions can influence our thinking and, through a psychological lens, highlight how our judgements are not solely rational but are influenced by mental shortcuts that simplify social information. Delving into these cognitive biases can help us become aware of how we evaluate and perceive others, consider our assumptions carefully, and thus make more accurate and fair judgements. Written by Shreya Dhaliwal Related articles: The endowment and nudge effects REFERENCES Gulati, A., Martínez-Garcia, M., Fernández, D., Lozano, M. A., Lepri, B., & Oliver, N. (2024). What is beautiful is still good: The attractiveness halo effect in the era of beauty filters. Royal Society Open Science, 11 (11). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240882 . Gupta, P. (2020, September 21). Falling in love at first sight easily? The halo and horn effect. Medium. https://parulgupta-40907.medium.com/falling-in-love-at-first-sight-easily-heres-what-you-should-know-about-halo-and-horn-effect-16c7236aeaf6 . Lasky, J. (2024). Halo Effect . EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/halo-effect . Lenoir, K., & Stocks, E. (2019). Attractiveness norm violations and the halo effect. Undergraduate Journal of Psychology, 31 (1). Nisbett, R. E., & Wilson, T. D. (1977). The halo effect: Evidence for unconscious alteration of judgments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35 (4), 250–256. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.35.4.250 . Yang, Q., Zhu, B., Zhang, Q., Wang, Y., Hu, R., Liu, S., & Sun, D. (2019). Effects of male defendants’ attractiveness and trustworthiness on simulated judicial decisions in two different swindles. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02160 . Project Gallery

Unlocking the potential to tackle plastic pollution in oceans Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Genetically-engineered bacteria break down plastic in saltwater 09/07/25, 15:14 Last updated: Published: 29/09/23, 21:19 Unlocking the potential to tackle plastic pollution in oceans Groundbreaking discovery in the fight against plastic pollution North Carolina State University researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against plastic pollution in marine environments. They have successfully genetically engineered a marine microorganism capable of breaking down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a commonly used plastic found in water bottles and clothing, contributing to the growing problem of ocean microplastic pollution. Introducing foreign enzymes to V. natriegens The modified organism, created by incorporating genes from the bacterium Ideonella sakaiensis into the genome of Vibrio natriegens , can effectively degrade PET in saltwater conditions. This achievement marks the first time foreign enzymes have been successfully expressed on the surface of V. natriegens cells, making it a significant scientific breakthrough. PET microplastics pose a significant challenge in marine ecosystems, and current methods of removing them, such as extracting and disposing of them in landfills, are not sustainable. The researchers behind this study aim to find a more environmentally friendly solution by breaking down PET into reusable products, like thermoformed packaging (takeaway cartons) or textiles (clothing, duvets, pillows, carpeting). The team worked with two bacteria species, V. natriegens and I. sakaiensis . V. natriegens , known for its rapid reproduction in saltwater, served as the host organism, while I. sakaiensis provided the enzymes necessary for PET degradation. The researchers first rinsed the plastics collected from the ocean to remove high-concentration salts before initiating the plastic degradation process. Challenges ahead While this breakthrough is a significant step forward, three key challenges are still ahead. The researchers aim to incorporate the DNA responsible for enzyme production directly into the genome of V. natriegens to enhance stability. Because DNA is the genetic material responsible for the production of enzymes, and enzymes are proteins that are responsible for carrying out various chemical reactions in the body, by incorporating the DNA responsible for enzyme production into the genome of V. natriegens , the researchers can enhance the stability of the enzyme production. Thus, this DNA is essential for producing the enzymes necessary for PET degradation, as it contains the genetic information vital for encoding the proteins needed for PET breakdown. Additionally, the research team plans to modify V. natriegens further to feed on the byproducts generated during PET degradation. Lastly, they seek to engineer V. natriegens to produce a desirable end product from PET, such as a molecule that can be utilised in the chemical industry. Collaboration with industry groups Collaboration with industry groups is also crucial in determining the market demand for the molecules that V. natriegens can produce. The researchers are open to working with industry partners to explore the vast production scale and identify the most desirable molecules for commercial use. By introducing the genes responsible for PET degradation into V. natriegens using a plasmid, the researchers successfully induced the production of enzymes on the surface of the bacterial cells. The modified V. natriegens demonstrated its ability to break down PET microplastics in saltwater, providing a practical and economically feasible solution for addressing plastic pollution in marine environments. This research represents a significant advancement in the field, as it is the first time that V. natriegens has been genetically engineered to express foreign enzymes on its cell surface. This breakthrough opens up possibilities for further modifications, such as incorporating the DNA from I. sakaiensis directly into the genome of V. natriegens to make the production of plastic-degrading enzymes a more stable feature of the organism. The researchers aim to modify V. natriegens to feed on the byproducts produced during the breakdown of PET and create a desirable end product for the chemical industry. The researchers are open to collaborating with industry groups to identify the most desirable molecules to be engineered into V. natriegens for production. This groundbreaking research, published in the AIChE Journal with the support of the National Science Foundation under grant 2029327, paves the way for developing more efficient and sustainable methods for addressing plastic pollution in saltwater environments. Conclusion The research has made a breakthrough in the fight against plastic pollution in marine environments. By incorporating genes from the bacterium I. sakaiensis into the genome of V. natriegens , they created a genetically modified marine microorganism capable of breaking down PET. This achievement provides a practical and economically feasible solution to address plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems. The researchers are now looking into further modifications to the organism to enable it to feed on byproducts and to produce a desirable end product that can be used in the chemical industry. This research highlights the potential of genetic engineering to create sustainable solutions to the growing problem of plastic pollution. Written by Sara Maria Majernikova Related article: Plastics and their environmental impact Project Gallery

The emperor penguin's life cycle is intertwined with sea ice freezing and melting over the year Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Emperor penguins, the kings of the ice Last updated: 29/03/26, 16:57 Published: 24/04/25, 08:00 The emperor penguin's life cycle is intertwined with sea ice freezing and melting over the year This is article no. 6 in a series on animal conservation. Next article: Protecting rock-wallabies in Australia . Previous article: Gorongosa National Park . In November 2024, a malnourished emperor penguin was spotted in Australia, over 2000 miles from its home in Antarctica. It is said to be the furthest north a wild emperor has ever been seen. While scientists do not know why or how the penguin ended up there, it sparked conversations about climate change and the survival of this fascinating species. This article will describe the characteristics of the emperor penguin, and how climate change could affect it. Introduction to emperor penguins Emperor penguins ( Aptenodytes forsteri ) are the largest living penguin species, weighing 20-40 kilograms and standing about 1 metre tall. It is estimated that there are around 260,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins across 61 colonies, which are spread out along the entire coast of Antarctica. Their diet consists of krill, fish, and squid - and they can dive over 500m deep to find food. Emperor penguins are the only warm-blooded animal to breed during the Antarctic winter, one of the world's coldest and darkest times of the year. Therefore, they are adapted to the cold days, harsh winds, and high water pressure in which they live. For example, they have over 20 kinds of feathers - some of which help with waterproofing while swimming, and others help with thermal insulation. Many penguin species huddle together as juveniles to conserve body heat, but emperors are the only species to do so as adults. Thus, emperor penguins are a unique and ecologically fascinating species. Life cycle and fast ice The emperor penguin's life cycle is intertwined with sea ice freezing and melting over the year ( Figure 1 ). For most of the year, emperors live on fast ice, which are ice sheets floating on the sea but attached to the coast. The first reason they need fast ice is moulting, when emperor penguins replace all their feathers in late summer. They moult on ice because they cannot swim until their new layer of waterproof feathers has grown. Emperor penguins return to fast ice at the onset of winter to mate, lay eggs, and raise chicks. While one parent stays on the fast ice to look after the chick, the other parent goes to sea to find food for the family. The chick grows waterproof adult feathers for fast ice to break up in summer. At this point, the penguins live at sea until moulting time. This way, emperor penguin survival is linked to fast ice availability. Threat from climate change Because emperor penguins are so heavily dependent on fast ice, scientists are concerned about the potential impacts of global warming. Rising sea surface temperatures mean fast ice may not form long enough in the year for emperor penguins to complete their life cycle. In late 2022, sea ice was dramatically reduced in the Bellingshausen Sea in Antarctica, and 4 of the 5 nearby emperor penguin colonies had a failed breeding season. These failed seasons may become more common in the future with climate change. A 2020 study predicted that in the worst case climate scenario, 80% of penguin colonies will see population declines of over 90% by 2100. If international climate targets are met, only 19% of colonies are expected to decline that badly ( Figure 2 ). Because the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified emperors as Near Threatened, they do not meet Antarctica's criteria for being a protected species. Scientists have requested this conservation status be upgraded to better reflect the inability of emperor penguins to adapt or disperse away from the effects of climate change. Emperor penguins face no threats from humans other than global warming, so reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to protect them. Conclusion Emperor penguins are charismatic creatures with unique adaptations to live during the cold Antarctic winter. Their survival is strongly linked to the availability of sea ice because they moult, breed, and care for their offspring on ice sheets. Global warming is making these ice sheets disappear, so emperor penguins must be monitored and protected to ensure survival through a changing climate. Written by Simran Patel Related articles: The Arctic Springtail / California Condors / Brain-climate connection REFERENCES CBS News. (2024) Malnourished emperor penguin that swam ashore in Australia 2,000 miles from home a quandary for rescuers. CBS News . Available from: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/emperor-penguin-australia-2000-miles-from-antarctic-ice-melting-climate-change/ (Accessed 11th November 2024). Fretwell, P.T., Boutet, A. & Ratcliffe, N. (2023) Record low 2022 Antarctic sea ice led to catastrophic breeding failure of emperor penguins. Communications Earth & Environment . 4 (1): 1–6. Garnier, J., Clucas, G., Younger, J., Sen, B., Barbraud, C., Larue, M., Fraser, A.D., Labrousse, S. & Jenouvrier, S. (2023) Massive and infrequent informed emigration events in a species threatened by climate change: the emperor penguins . Available from: https://hal.science/hal-03822288 (Accessed 10th November 2024). Hooper, S. (11th November 2024) Experts baffled after penguin shows up on beach 2,200 miles away from home Metro . Available from: https://metro.co.uk/2024/11/11/experts-baffled-penguin-shows-beach-2-200-miles-away-home-21970144/ (Accessed 11th November 2024). Fretwell, P. (2024) Four unreported emperor penguin colonies discovered by satellite. Antarctic Science , 36(4), 277–279. Jenouvrier, S. et al. (2020) The Paris Agreement objectives will likely halt future declines of emperor penguins. Global Change Biology . 26 (3): 1170–1184. Labrousse, S., Nerini, D., Fraser, A.D., Salas, L., Sumner, M., Le Manach, F., Jenouvrier, S., Iles, D. & LaRue, M. (2023) Where to live? Landfast sea ice shapes emperor penguin habitat around Antarctica. Science Advances . 9 (39): eadg8340. LaRue, M. et al. (2024) Advances in remote sensing of emperor penguins: first multi-year time series documenting trends in the global population. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences . 291 (2018): 20232067. Le Maho, Y. (1977) The Emperor Penguin: A Strategy to Live and Breed in the Cold: Morphology, physiology, ecology, and behavior distinguish the polar emperor penguin from other penguin species, particularly from its close relative, the king penguin. American Scientist . 65 (6): 680–693. Trathan, P.N. et al. (2020) The emperor penguin - Vulnerable to projected rates of warming and sea ice loss. Biological Conservation . 241: 108216. Williams, C.L., Hagelin, J.C. & Kooyman, G.L. (2015) Hidden keys to survival: the type, density, pattern and functional role of emperor penguin body feathers. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences . 282 (1817): 20152033. Project Gallery

How kidney damage can be detected Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link NGAL: A Valuable Biomarker for Early Detection of Renal Damage 10/07/25, 11:22 Last updated: Published: 04/04/24, 17:20 How kidney damage can be detected Nestled under the ribcage, the kidneys are primarily responsible for the filtration of toxins from the bloodstream and their elimination in urine. In instances of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), however, this vital function is compromised. AKI is the sudden loss of kidney function, which is commonly seen in hospitalised patients. Because patients don’t usually experience pain or distinct symptoms, AKI is difficult to identify. Early detection of AKI is paramount to prevent kidney damage from progressing into more enduring conditions such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). So, how can we detect AKI promptly? This is where Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NAGL), a promising biomarker for the early detection of renal injury, comes into focus. Until recently, assessing the risk of AKI has relied on measuring changes in serum creatinine (sCr) and urine output. Creatinine is a waste product formed by the muscles. Normally, the kidney filters creatinine and other waste products out of the blood into the urine. Therefore, high serum creatinine levels indicate disruption to kidney function, suggesting AKI. However, a limitation of the sCr test is that it is affected by extrarenal factors such as muscle mass; people with higher muscle mass have higher serum creatinine. Additionally, an increase in this biomarker becomes evident once the renal function is irreversibly damaged. NGAL’s ability to rapidly detect kidney damage hours to days before sCr, renders it a more fitting biomarker to prevent total kidney dysfunction. Among currently proposed biomarkers for AKI, the most notable is NGAL. NGAL is a small protein rapidly induced from the kidney tubule upon insult. It is detected in the bloodstream within hours of renal damage. NGAL levels swiftly rise much before the appearance of other renal markers. Such characteristics render NGAL a promising biomarker in quickly pinpointing kidney damage. The concentration of NGAL present in a patient's urine is determined using a particle-enhanced laboratory technique. This involves quantifying the particles in the solution by measuring the reduced transmitted light intensity through the urine sample. In conclusion, the early detection of AKI remains a critical challenge, but NGAL emerges as a promising biomarker for promptly detecting renal injury before total loss of kidney function unfolds. NGAL offers a significant advantage over traditional biomarkers like serum creatinine- its swift induction upon kidney injury allows clinicians and healthcare providers to intervene before renal dysfunction manifests. Written by Fozia Hassan Related article: Cancer biomarkers and evolution REFERENCES Bioporto. (n.d.). NGAL . [online] Available at: https://bioporto.us/ngal/ [Accessed 5 Feb. 2024]. Branislava Medić, Branislav Rovčanin, Katarina Savić Vujović, Obradović, D., Duric, D. and Milica Prostran (2016). Evaluation of Novel Biomarkers of Acute Kidney Injury: The Possibilities and Limitations. Current Medicinal Chemistry , [online] 23(19). doi: https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867323666160210130256 . Buonafine, M., Martinez-Martinez, E. and Jaisser, F. (2018). More than a simple biomarker: the role of NGAL in cardiovascular and renal diseases. Clinical Science , [online] 132(9), pp.909–923. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs20171592 . Giasson, J., Hua Li, G. and Chen, Y. (2011). Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) as a New Biomarker for Non – Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Diseases. Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets , [online] 10(4), pp.272–282. doi: https://doi.org/10.2174/187152811796117753 . Haase, M., Devarajan, P., Haase-Fielitz, A., Bellomo, R., Cruz, D.N., Wagener, G., Krawczeski, C.D., Koyner, J.L., Murray, P., Zappitelli, M., Goldstein, S.L., Makris, K., Ronco, C., Martensson, J., Martling, C.-R., Venge, P., Siew, E., Ware, L.B., Ikizler, T.A. and Mertens, P.R. (2011). The Outcome of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin-Positive Subclinical Acute Kidney Injury. Journal of the American College of Cardiology , [online] 57(17), pp.1752–1761. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2010.11.051 . Moon, J.H., Yoo, K.H. and Yim, H.E. (2020). Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase – Associated Lipocalin: A Marker of Urinary Tract Infection Among Febrile Children. Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics . doi: https://doi.org/10.3345/cep.2020.01130 . Vijaya Marakala (2022). Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in kidney injury – A systematic review. International Journal of Clinical Chemistry and Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine , [online] 536, pp.135–141. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2022.08.029 . www.nice.org.uk . (2014). Overview | The NGAL Test for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury | Advice | NICE . [online] Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/mib3 [Accessed 6 Feb. 2024]. Project Gallery

Peering into the mind Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Neuroimaging and spatial resolution 10/07/25, 11:24 Last updated: Published: 04/11/24, 14:35 Peering into the mind Introduction Neuroimaging has been at the forefront of brain discovery ever since the first ever images of the brain were recorded in 1919 by Walter Dandy, using a technique called pneumoencephalography (PET). Fast-forward over a decade and neuroimaging is more than just blurry singular images. Modern techniques allow us to observe real time changes in brain activity with millisecond resolution, leading to breakthroughs in scientific discovery that would not be possible without it. Memory is a great example - with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques we have been able to demonstrate that more recent long-term memories are stored and retrieved with brain activity in the hippocampus, but as memories become more in the distant past, they are transferred to the medial temporal lobe. While neuroimaging techniques keep the doors open for new and exciting discoveries, spatial limitations leave many questions unanswered, especially at a cellular and circuit level. For example - within the hippocampus, is each memory encoded via complete distinct neural circuits? Or do similar memories share similar neural pathways? Within just a millimetre cubed of brain tissue we could have up to 57,000 cells (most of them neurons), all of which may have different properties, be part of different circuits, and produce different outcomes. This almost makes revolutionary techniques such as fMRI, with almost unparalleled image quality, seem pointless. To truly understand how neural circuits work, we have to dig as deep as possible to record the smallest regions possible. So that begs the question, how small can we actually record in the human brain? EEG 2024 marks a decade since the first recorded electroencephalography (also known as EEG) scan by Hans Berger in Germany. This technique involves placing electrodes all around the scalp to record activity throughout the whole outer surface of the brain ( Figure 1 ). Unlike the methods we see later on, EEG scans provide a direct measure of activity in the brain, by measuring electrical activity when the brain is active. However, because electrodes are only placed across the scalp, EEG scans are only able to pick up activity from the outer cortex, missing important activity in deeper parts of the brain. In our memory example, this means it would completely miss any activity in the hippocampus. EEG resolution is also quite underwhelming, typically being able to resolve activity with a few centimetres’ resolution - not great for mapping behaviours to specific structures in the brain. EEG scans are used in a medical environment to measure overall activity levels, assisting with epilepsy diagnosis. Let's look at what we can use to dig deeper into the brain and locate signals of activity… PET Position emission tomography (PET) scans offer a chance to record activity throughout the whole brain by ingesting a radioactive tracer, typically glucose labelled with a mildly radioactive substance. This tracer is tracked and uptake in specific parts of the brain is a sign for greater metabolic activity, indicating a higher signalling rate. PET scans already offer a resolution far beyond the capacities of EEG scans, distinguishing activity between areas with a resolution of up to 4mm. With the use of different radioactive labels, we can also detect activity of specific populations of neurons such as dopamine neurons to diagnose Parkinson's disease. In fact, many studies have reliably demonstrated the ability of PET scans to detect the root cause of Parkinson's disease, which is a reduced number of dopamine neurons in the basal ganglia, before symptoms become too extreme. As impressive as it sounds, a 4mm resolution can locate activity in large areas of the cortex, but is limited in its resolving power for discrete cortical layers. Take the human motor cortex for example - all 6 layers have an average width of only 2.79mm. A PET scan would not be powerful enough to determine which layer is most active, so we need to dig a little deeper… fMRI Since its inception in the early 90's, fMRI has gained the reputation of becoming the gold standard for human neuroimaging, thanks to its non-invasiveness, lack of artefacts, and reliable signalling. fMRI uses Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to measure changes in oxygenated blood flow, which is correlative of neural activity, known as BOLD signals. In comparison to EEG, measuring blood oxygen levels cannot reach a highly impressive temporal resolution, and is also not a direct measure of neural activity. fMRI makes up for this with its superior spatial resolution, resolving spaces as small as 1mm apart. Using our human motor cortex example, this would allow us to resolve activity between every 2-3 layers - not a bad return considering it doesn’t even leave a scar. PET, and especially EEG, pales in comparison to the capabilities of fMRI that has since been used for a wide range of neuroimaging research. Most notably, structural MRI has been used to support the idea of hippocampal involvement during spatial navigation from memory tasks ( Figure 2 ). Its resolving power and highly precise images also make it suitable to be used for mapping surgical procedures. Conclusion With a resolution of up to 1mm, fMRI takes the crown as the human neuroimaging technique with the best spatial resolution! Table 1 shows a brief summary of each neuroimaging method. Unfortunately though, there is still so much more we need to do to look at individual circuits and connections. As mentioned before, even within a millimetre cubed of brain, we have 5 figures worth of cells, making the number of neurons that make up the whole brain impossible to comprehend. To observe the activity of a single neuron, we would need an imaging technique with the power of viewing cells in the 10’s of micrometre range. So what can we do to get to the resolution we desire while still being suitable for humans? Maybe there isn't a solution. Instead, maybe if we want to record singular neuron activity, we have to take inspiration from invasive animal techniques such as microelectrode recordings. Typically used in rats and mice, these can achieve single-cell resolution to look at neuroscience from the smallest of components. It would be unethical to stick an electrode into a healthy human's brain and record activity, but perhaps in the future a non-invasive form of electrode recording could be developed? The current neuroscience field is foggy and shrouded in mystery. Most of these mysteries simply cannot be solved with the current research techniques we have at our disposal. But this is what makes neuroscience exciting - there is still so much to explore! Who knows when we will be able to map behaviours to neural circuits with single-cell precision, but with how quickly imaging techniques are being enhanced and fine-tuned, I wouldn't be surprised if it's sooner than we think. Written by Ramim Rahman Related articles: Neuromyelitis optica / Traumatic brain injuries REFERENCES Hoeffner, E.G. et al. (2011) ‘Neuroradiology back to the future: Brain Imaging’, American Journal of Neuroradiology, 33(1), pp. 5–11. doi:10.3174/ajnr.a2936. Maguire, E.A. and Frith, C.D. (2003) ‘Lateral asymmetry in the hippocampal response to the remoteness of autobiographical memories’, The Journal of Neuroscience, 23(12), pp. 5302–5307. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.23-12-05302.2003. Wong, C. (2024) ‘Cubic millimetre of brain mapped in spectacular detail’, Nature, 629(8013), pp. 739–740. doi:10.1038/d41586-024-01387-9. Butman, J. A., & Floeter, M. K. (2007). Decreased thickness of primary motor cortex in primary lateral sclerosis. AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology, 28(1), 87–91. Loane, C., & Politis, M. (2011). Positron emission tomography neuroimaging in Parkinson's disease. American journal of translational research, 3(4), 323–341. Maguire, E.A. et al. (2000) ‘Navigation-related structural change in the hippocampi of taxi drivers’, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 97(8), pp. 4398–4403. doi:10.1073/pnas.070039597. [Figure 1] EEG (electroencephalogram) (2024) Mayo Clinic . Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/eeg/about/pac-20393875 (Accessed: 18 October 2024). [Figure 2] Boccia, M. et al. (2016) ‘Direct and indirect parieto-medial temporal pathways for spatial navigation in humans: Evidence from resting-state functional connectivity’, Brain Structure and Function, 222(4), pp. 1945–1957. doi:10.1007/s00429-016-1318-6. Project Gallery

Beyond sugarcane fields and dreamy beaches, Mauritius secures first place in mobile connectivity Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Mauritius's rise as African leader of mobile networks Last updated: 11/04/26, 16:04 Published: 05/06/25, 08:00 Beyond sugarcane fields and dreamy beaches, Mauritius secures first place in mobile connectivity Background: GSMA ranking In the bustling capital city of Port Louis, commuters check the latest news updates using mobile data on their phones. Across the busy, connecting streets, a handful of tourists video call their family back home, asking them what souvenirs they would like- also on mobile data. Apart from idyllic holiday scenes and solid sugar exports, the island nation of Mauritius has become number one in Africa for mobile connectivity- as scored by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA). The small island is now at the forefront of telecommunication development, with the increasing rollout of 5G networks. How did this touristic country become a leader in mobile connectivity? On the 13th of August 2024, the GSMA announced its yearly index for mobile connectivity. The GSMA looks at 41 African countries and ranks them based on: internet accessibility, prices of mobile devices, relevant services and political environments. Scoring 62.7 points out of the possible 100, Mauritius took the first spot, in front of South Africa. This result also places the island country 76th in the world. Remarkably, this is the third consecutive year that Mauritius is leading in mobile connectivity in Africa. Moreover Mauritius, with a population of 1.26 million, boasts an average of 1.7 phones per person, compared to only 1.2 phones per person in the US (according to 2023 data). Connecting the island: 5G is nearly everywhere Three companies provide mobile phone networks on Mauritius island: Emtel, MTML (Chili) and state-owned My.t. At present, 5G is widely available in Mauritius, thanks to Emtel supplying it to approximately 80% of the island for both residential and commercial usage. Though Emtel is the biggest network in the country, My.t is the most popular provider currently, and it also offers 5G to its users. A closer look at 4G and 5G 3G (and 3G High-Speed Packet Access, HSPA), 4G (Long Term Evolution, LTE) and 5G are wireless mobile networks, where the ‘G’ in these networks means ‘generation’ and indicates the strength of the signal on the mobile device. Hence, each mobile network is an improvement since the last generation of network. These mobile networks aim for high quality, reliable communication, and are based on radio signals. Each generation has evolved to achieve this. Table 1 compares the differences between all of these networks. The original 1G network from 1979 used analogue radio signals, while subsequent network generations use digital radio signals. Table 1: A comparison of 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G mobile networks 2G 3G HSPA+ 4G LTE 5G Speed 64Kbps 8Mbps 50Mbps 10Gbps Bandwidth 30- 200 kHz 15- 20 MHz 100 MHz 30- 300 GHz Features Better quality video calls than before Can send and receive larger emails Higher speeds and capacities Much faster speeds and capacities; high resolution video streaming SMS and MMS Larger capacities Low cost per bit Low latency Interactive multimedia, voice, video Allows remote control of operations e.g. vehicles, robots, medical procedures It is evident from Table 1 that not only have speeds and capacities increased with each generation, but new features have also been implemented such as video calls, interactive multimedia, streaming, and remote control of operations. Introduced in 2019, 5G is thought to be the most ambitious mobile phone network- almost revolutionary in its benefits since 1G. Usually, mobile carriers operate on a 4G LTE and 5G coexistence. This means that 5G phones can switch to 4G if 5G isn’t available in the region. Top of the tower- how? Since the 5G rollout in 2021, Mauritius has been enjoying the larger capacities and speeds of the network. The same question arises: how did this touristic country become a leader in mobile connectivity? There are several factors: - Tourist hotspot - Government initiatives - Improving local infrastructure - General advancements in mobile network technologies - High penetration rates and mobile ownership - Increasing number of connections - Geography Each factor will be considered in turn. Factor 1- Tourist hotspot Every year, Mauritius attracts visitors far and wide to enjoy its mesmerising beaches, luscious escapes and tantalising wildlife. Therefore, over time, mobile network technology has had to improve to meet the communicative needs of tourists. Put differently, tourism significantly supports the telecom industry on the island. Factor 2- Government initiatives As well as providing free, public WiFi hotspots around the island, the government is committed to bridging the digital divide and increasing access to all of its population. Thus, it was announced that, eligible citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 will receive a free, monthly mobile data package (with 4G and 5G capabilities)- starting from the 1st of September 2024. It is an endeavour to include young people in the government’s digital plans, i.e. digital inclusion. Factor 3- Improvements in local infrastructure In recent years, My.t and EmTel have been upgrading their equipment to ensure better coverage and access to 5G in the country. Infrastructure must have improved so that the three mobile operators on the island were granted the license for 5G rollout in June 2021. The current goal is to fully expand 5G coverage in Mauritius. Factor 4- General advancements in mobile network technologies Since its inception in 2019, 5G has had a profound impact on consumers around the globe with its low latency, high resolution streaming, and insanely high speeds and capacities. This pioneering mobile network has rolled out to millions of people, including the citizens of Mauritius island. The government has utilised this new technology to empower its people and pave a way for the country to become a leader in mobile connectivity. Factor 5- High penetration rates and mobile ownership Early 2025 data shows that the East African nation has over 2.1 million active mobile connections, when its population is half of that, a mere 1.261 million. (More mobile connections is not an usual thing as people may have separate connections for personal and work use, for example. Embedded SIMs – eSIMs- have made this possible recently). With this statistic, Mauritius has a high degree of mobile ownership and network connection density. Factor 6- An increase in the number of connections Another recent event is that the number of mobile connections in the nation has been increasing gradually: between 2024 and 2025, the number has increased by 1.9%. Factor 7- Geography It is known that less land- especially less rural land- makes deployment of cell phone towers and installation of masts much easier. Therefore, spanning an area of 2,040 squared kilometres, the main island of Mauritius can enjoy adequate mobile coverage- being one of the smallest African countries. Small island, big signal. To summarise, the above factors contribute to the number one ranking in mobile connectivity for Mauritius. What does Mauritius’s rise mean for the future? If these advancements in infrastructure and technology continue on the island, then there is a brighter outlook for the future. 5G coverage in Mauritius is on its way to completion, ensuring all districts have access to the latest mobile network. Geography, government initiatives, improvements in infrastructure by mobile operators, high number of mobile connections and ownership, are some of the factors that enabled 5G rollout in Mauritius in the first instance. Mauritius is leading by example to the other countries in Africa and is additionally performing well on the global stage for mobile networks. This small island country, usually known for its exotic sights and sugarcane landscape, is quickly overtaking its African neighbours in the race to become the leader in mobile phone connectivity. Written by Manisha Halkhoree Related articles: The future of semiconductor manufacturing / Wireless electricity Project Gallery