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Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Straits Times
Explainer-What is a 'heat dome' and how does it power heatwaves?
FILE PHOTO: A woman uses a hand fan with a slogan as she walks along a street on a summer day with high temperatures, a day before the start of a heatwave forecast by Spain's AEMET (State Meteorological Agency), in downtown Ronda, Spain, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo A man catches the sun next to a pile of deck chairs in Green Park as an amber heat warning was issued in London, Britain, June 30, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs Tourists stand in front of a cooling fan installed outside the Colosseum in during the heatwave in Rome, Italy, June 30, 2025. REUTERS/Remo Casilli FILE PHOTO: A tourist drinks water during his visit at the Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill, as a heatwave hits Athens, Greece, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas/File Photo Explainer-What is a 'heat dome' and how does it power heatwaves? BRUSSELS - Large parts of Western Europe were in the grip of a severe heatwave on Monday, with temperatures breaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in Spain and wildfires breaking out in France. Scientists said the extreme temperatures in the region - with Britain and the Netherlands among the countries affected - were related to a "heat dome" over continental Europe. Here's what that means: WHAT IS IT? A heat dome is an area of high-pressure air in the atmosphere which gets stuck in place over a region because atmospheric dynamics around it block it from moving. It works like putting a lid on a boiling pot. The high-pressure system traps hot air below it, which heats up and compresses to form a "dome". This intensifies heat and prevents the formation of clouds, allowing even more radiation from the sun to reach the ground below. A heat dome results in clear, sunny days, and still conditions with little cooling wind. It builds up over time - the longer the "dome" is stuck over one area, the more that dark surfaces below, such as roads and buildings, absorb and retain heat, and the more that the ground dries out. It also makes wildfires more likely, because the heat dries out vegetation. Such systems can last for days to weeks. Forecasts suggest this one will dissipate in a few days, which happens when another weather system, such as a storm or a low-pressure system of cooler conditions, pushes the high-pressure system away. IS IT LINKED TO CLIMATE CHANGE? Heat domes are not a new type of weather pattern. A specific attribution study would be needed to confirm in what ways the heat dome Western Europe is currently experiencing was specifically affected by climate change. But scientists said the severity of the temperatures and the early timing of the current heatwave in Western Europe tally with how climate change is known to affect heatwaves. Scientists have already confirmed that climate change is making heatwave events more intense, more frequent and more widespread. The build-up of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere - which mostly come from burning fossil fuels - means the planet's average temperature has increased over time. This increase in baseline temperatures means that when a heatwave comes, temperatures can surge to reach higher peaks. Spain has likely just had its hottest June on record, according to national meteorological service AEMET, while the southeastern town of Mora in Portugal on Sunday set a new national record-high temperature for June, of 46.6 C. Today, the planet's long-term global average temperature has risen nearly 1.3 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, when countries began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale. Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, heating up at twice the global average. WILL WE GET MORE? Climate change is making extreme heatwaves like the current one occur earlier in the year, and persist into later months. Parts of the United States also faced extreme temperatures caused by a heat dome in the last two weeks. While it is hard to predict specific heatwaves months in advance, current seasonal forecasts for July, August and September indicate Europe is highly likely to experience a warmer than average summer, Dr Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, told Reuters. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Straits Times
Wildfires burn in Turkey and France as early heatwave hits
People swim in the sea during warm weather, as temperatures continue to rise across the region, in Brighton, Britain, June 29, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso People walk along The Serpentine in Hyde Park in the evening as an amber heat alert was issued in London, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs A woman uses a hand fan to cool off during the first summer heatwave in Seville, southern Spain June 29, 2025. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo ISTANBUL/PARIS - Firefighters battled wildfires in Turkey and France on Monday as an early heatwave hit the region. In Turkey, the wildfires raged for a second day in the western province of Izmir, fanned by strong winds, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said, forcing the evacuation of four villages and two neighbourhoods. Media footage showed teams using tractors with water trailers and helicopters carrying water, as smoke billowed over hills marked with charred trees. Turkey's coastal regions have in recent years been ravaged by wildfires, as summers have become hotter and drier, which scientists say is a result of human-induced climate change. In France, where temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday, wildfires broke out on Sunday in the southwestern Aude department, where temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), burning 400 hectares and forcing the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey, authorities and local media said. The fires were under control but not yet extinguished, authorities said on Monday. Weather service Meteo France put a record 84 of the country's 101 departments on an orange heatwave alert from Monday until midweek. About 200 schools will be at least partially shut over the next three days because of the heat, the Education Ministry said. HEATWAVE IMPACTS RHINE SHIPPING The heatwave has lowered water levels on Germany's Rhine River, hampering shipping and raising freight costs for cargo owners, commodity traders said. The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities such as grains, minerals and oil products. Forecasters said temperatures as high as 40 C are possible in Cologne. In Seville, southern Spain, where global leaders were gathering for a United Nations conference, temperatures were expected to hit 42 C. Tourists were trying to deal with the heat. "Really hard currently," Mehrzad Joussefi, from the Netherlands, said. Spain is on course for its hottest June on record, the national meteorological service AEMET said. Most of the country remains under alert for heat, with AEMET forecasting the peak of the heatwave on Monday. "Over the next few days, at least until Thursday, intense heat will continue in much of Spain," said Ruben del Campo, a spokesperson for the weather agency. Italy's Health Ministry issued heatwave red alerts for 21 cities, including Rome and Milan. Weather forecast website said temperatures on Monday would go as high as 41 C in Florence, 38 C in Bologna and 37 C in Perugia. The Lombardy region, part of Italy's northern industrial heartland, is planning to ban open-air work in the hottest times of the day, heeding a request from trade unions, its president said on Monday. Heat can affect health in various ways, and experts are most concerned about older people and babies, as well as outdoor labourers and people struggling economically. Globally, extreme heat kills up to 480,000 people annually, surpassing the combined toll from floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, and poses growing risks to infrastructure, the economy and healthcare systems, Swiss Re said earlier this month. Global surface temperatures last month averaged 1.4 C higher than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale, the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said earlier this month. Scientists say the main cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Last year was the planet's hottest on record. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Associated Press
10-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Theralase(R) Releases Latest Research on Inactivation of Herpes Simplex Viruses
University of Manitoba independent research verifies that RuvidarTM is more effective than acyclovir in the inactivation of Herpes Simplex Viruses post infection. TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / February 10, 2025 / Theralase® Technologies Inc. ('Theralase®" or the 'Company') (TSXV:TLT)(OTCQB:TLTFF), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light, radiation, sound and/or drug-activated small molecules and their formulations, intended for the safe and effective destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses, is pleased to announce that independent research conducted at the University of Manitoba has demonstrated that non-light activated RuvidarTM is much more effective in the inactivation of Herpes Simplex Viruses ('HSV') post infection than the gold standard treatment acyclovir. Infectious agents account for millions of deaths every year1. Currently, the most effective way to protect against infection involve the use of vaccines and anti-microbials. Vaccines are known to be useful, when administered prior to infection; whereas, antibiotics and anti-virals are most useful after infection or before immunity to a vaccine has had time to develop. The primary disadvantages of vaccines are that knowledge of the agent is required in advance to manufacture an effective vaccine and substantial time is needed to produce relevant vaccines. Furthermore, the developed vaccine may not match the eventual strain that circulates2. A growing number of anti-viral agents have been developed and some are effective against numerous viruses; however, because viruses replicate and many lack genome proof-reading capabilities, resistance to the anti-viral agent may develop rapidly3,4,5. HSV are large double-stranded DNA viruses that infect more than 90% of the human population and can establish life-long latency in human hosts.6 Currently, effective FDA approved anti-herpetic drugs include acyclovir and later-generation derivatives (penciclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir and ganciclovir), which inhibit viral DNA synthesis. In previous work, Dr. Kevin Coombs, a professor of virology at the University of Manitoba demonstrated that the small molecule, RuvidarTM could inhibit numerous pathogenic human viruses, when added to solutions of viruses, both with and without light-activation. In these latest experiments, Dr. Coombs evaluated the ability of RuvidarTM to restrict HSV-1 replication in Vero cells, both by itself and in combination with acyclovir in the absence of light-activation to mimic deep tissue application. Light-activated RuvidarTM has been previously demonstrated to be even more effective in the inactivation of HSV versus non-light-activated RuvidarTM. RuvidarTM successfully inhibited HSV-1 replication at significantly lower concentrations and more effectively than did the gold standard acyclovir alone. Dr. Coombs also discovered additive and synergistic, anti-HSV-1 effects, when combinational therapy was tested. Figure 1. Effects of RuvidarTM versus acyclovir on HSV-1 yields when added 24 hours post infection ('hpi'). Vero cells were infected with HSV-1 at Multiplicity of infection ('MOI') (the number of virions that are added per cell during infection) ~ 1.5, incubated for 24 hours, then treated at 24 hpi with indicated concentrations of drugs for an additional 44 hours. Virus yields were then determined and reductions in virus yields compared to non-treated controls. Error bars represent the Standard Error of Mean from at least three replicates. Kevin Coombs, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases at the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba (retired) stated, 'I have been very impressed in the numerous experiments I have conducted with the ability of both light-activated and non-light-activated RuvidarTM to inactivate numerous viruses. In my latest research, RuvidarTM has been more effective than the gold standard acyclovir in the inactivation of HSV, post infection. Since the majority of the world population is currently infected with one form or another of HSV, RuvidarTM could be game changing as a therapeutic in the treatment of HSV lesions.' Arkady Mandel, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Theralase® stated, 'Kevin's work has been instrumental in helping to uncover the efficacy of RuvidarTM in the inactivation of numerous enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. This work will lay the groundwork for both vaccines and therapeutics in the inactivation of viruses that could be used as a platform to prevent and treat the next global pandemic.' Roger DuMoulin-White, President and Chief Executive Officer, Theralase® stated, 'Based on Kevin's ground-breaking work, Theralase® plans to develop a vaccine and therapeutic for the prevention and treatment of HSV. Preclinical development is currently underway, with clinical development to commence thereafter.' 2 Chan, M.C.W., Wang, M.H., Chen, Z.G., Hui, D.S.C., Kwok, A.K., Yeung, A.C.M., Liu, K.M., Yeoh, Y.K., Lee, N., Chan, P.K.S., 2018. Frequent genetic mismatch between vaccine strains and circulating seasonal Influenza viruses, Hong Kong, China, 1996-2012. Emerging Infect. Dis. 24, 1825-1834. 3 Colman, P.M., 2009. New antivirals and drug resistance. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 78, 95-118. 4 Krol, E., Rychowska, M., Szewczyk, B., 2014. Antivirals - current trends in fighting influenza. Acta Biochim. Pol. 61, 495-504. 5 Monto, A.S., McKimm-Breschkin, J.L., Macken, C., Hampson, A.W., Hay, A., Klimov, A., Tashiro, M., Webster, R.G., Aymard, M., Hayden, F.G., Zambon, M., 2006. Detection of influenza viruses resistant to neuraminidase inhibitors in global surveillance during the first 3 years of their use. Antimicrob Agents Ch 50, 2395-2402. Herpesviridae - Wikipedia About Theralase® Technologies Inc.: Theralase® is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light, radiation, sound and/or drug-activated small molecule compounds, their associated drug formulations and the light systems that activate them, with a primary objective of efficacy and a secondary objective of safety in the destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses. Additional information is available at and Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains Forward-Looking Statements ('FLS') within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such statements include; but, are not limited to statements regarding the Company's proposed development plans with respect to small molecules and their drug formulations. FLS may be identified by the use of the words 'may, 'should', 'will', 'anticipates', 'believes', 'plans', 'expects', 'estimate', 'potential for' and similar expressions; including, statements related to the current expectations of the Company's management regarding future research, development and commercialization of the Company's small molecules; their drug formulations; preclinical research; clinical studies and regulatory approvals. These statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions; including, the ability of the Company to fund and secure the regulatory approvals to successfully complete various clinical studies in a timely fashion and implement its development plans. Other risks include: the ability of the Company to successfully commercialize its small molecule and drug formulations; the risk that access to sufficient capital to fund the Company's operations may not be available on terms that are commercially favorable to the Company or at all; the risk that the Company's small molecule and drug formulations may not be effective against the diseases tested in its clinical studies; the risk that the Company fails to comply with the terms of license agreements with third parties and as a result loses the right to use key intellectual property in its business; the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property; the timing and success of submission, acceptance and approval of regulatory filings. Many of these factors that will determine actual results are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Readers should not unduly rely on these FLS, which are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that FLS will prove to be accurate as such FLS involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results or future events to differ materially from the FLS. Although the FLS contained in the press release are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these FLS. All FLS are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update such FLS. (5273)
