Latest news with #Kon-Tiki
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Ancient canoe replica recreates a 30,000-year-old voyage
Instead of putting the pedal to the metal, a team of scientists from Japan and Taiwan are putting the paddle to the water–for science. The team used time-period-accurate tools to create canoes and used them to test the methods that ancient people would have used to travel across the sea in East Asia 30,000 years ago. Their results of these test paddles and findings are detailed in two new studies published June 25 in the journal Science Advances. Archaeological evidence suggests that about 30,000 years ago, humans first made a crossing from present-day Taiwan to islands in southern Japan. This journey could have ranged from 138 to about 450 miles and was accomplished without metal tools, maps, or modern boats. While the timeline of when East Asia's earliest modern human populations set sail and where they landed is fairly clear, how they did it has been more difficult to pin down. That's where these replica canoes come in. A team led by anthropologist Yousuke Kaifu from the University of Tokyo created various simulations, experiments, and replica canoes to recreate how this feat may have been achieved. 'We initiated this project with simple questions: 'How did Paleolithic people arrive at such remote islands as Okinawa?' 'How difficult was their journey?' 'And what tools and strategies did they use?'' Kaifu said in a statement. 'Archaeological evidence such as remains and artifacts can't paint a full picture as the nature of the sea is that it washes such things away. So, we turned to the idea of experimental archaeology, in a similar vein to the Kon-Tiki expedition of 1947 by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl.' One of the new studies details the construction and testing of a real boat, which the team successfully used to paddle between islands. The team constructed the 24-foot-long dugout canoe called Sugime in 2019. It was built from one Japanese cedar trunk, and with replicas of 30,000-year-old stone tools. 'A dugout canoe was our last candidate among the possible Paleolithic seagoing crafts for the region. We first hypothesized that Paleolithic people used rafts, but after a series of experiments, we learned that these rafts are too slow to cross the Kuroshio and are not durable enough,' said Kaifu. The team paddled Sugiume about 140 miles from eastern Taiwan to Yonaguni Island in southern Japan's Ryukyu group, which includes Okinawa. They navigated only by the sun, stars, swells, and their instincts. In total, the team paddled for more than 45 hours across open sea, without a lot of visibility of the island. In the six years since, the team is still unpacking some of the data they collected during the experiment, and are using it to inform or test new models about various aspects of Paleolithic sea crossings. [ Related: Southeast Asian sailors possibly mastered seafaring before Polynesians. ] 'We now know that these canoes are fast and durable enough to make the crossing, but that's only half the story,' said Kaifu. 'Those male and female pioneers must have all been experienced paddlers with effective strategies and a strong will to explore the unknown.' However, the team does not think that a return journey towards Taiwan was possible at the time. 'If you have a map and know the flow pattern of the Kuroshio, you can plan a return journey, but such things probably did not take place until much later in history,' explained Kaifu. The team also used advanced ocean models to simulate hundreds of virtual voyages, in an effort to understand if a journey like the one the modern scientists tried could have been made in different circumstances. These simulations tested several variables, including different starting points, seasons, and paddling strategies under both ancient and modern ocean conditions. Additionally, one of the new papers used numerical simulations to show how they may have crossed the Kuroshio Current–one of the strongest currents in the world. This simulation showed how boats made using tools of the time, and the right know-how, could have navigated the Kuroshio Current. 'The Kuroshio Current is generally considered dangerous to navigate,' Yu-Lin Chang, a study coauthor and oceanography student from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, said in a statement. 'I thought if you entered it, you could only drift aimlessly. But the results of our simulations went far beyond what I had imagined. I'm pleased this work helped illuminate how ocean voyages may have occurred 30,000 years ago.' These various simulations helped fill in some gaps that a simple one-time experiment could not. They also revealed that launching a vessel from northern Taiwan offered seafarers a better chance of success than from points further south. Additionally, paddling slightly southeast instead of directly towards the destination was essential for compensating against the powerful ocean current. All in all, these findings suggest that the early modern humans in the area must have had a high level of strategic seafaring knowledge. 'Scientists try to reconstruct the processes of past human migrations, but it is often difficult to examine how challenging they really were. One important message from the whole project was that our Paleolithic ancestors were real challengers. Like us today, they had to undertake strategic challenges to advance,' said Kaifu. 'For example, the ancient Polynesian people had no maps, but they could travel almost the entire Pacific. There are a variety of signs on the ocean to know the right direction, such as visible land masses, heavenly bodies, swells and winds. We learned parts of such techniques ourselves along the way.'
United News of India
19-06-2025
- Science
- United News of India
KriSHE Carbon Transforms Rural India with SoilBox Climate Action
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 18: In the dry farmlands of Gujarat, a quiet revolution is taking root. Between January and March 2025, KriSHE Carbon, a climate-tech startup with deep soil in regenerative agriculture, turned what was once burned waste—cotton stubble—into a carbon-sequestering solution powered by women. KriSHE Carbon was founded with the vision of transforming this broken system. The startup is pioneering a new model by connecting smallholder farmers to global carbon markets and providing the right incentives to adopt sustainable practices for the long term. Through this approach, KriSHE Carbon is not only reducing agricultural emissions but also restoring soil health and stabilizing farmer incomes. With the support of the SoilBox program, KriSHE Carbon secured a ₹12.5 lakh grant to accelerate its mission. This funding has helped create tangible impact in several farming communities. The pilot project aimed to tackle three major rural challenges—soil degradation, stubble burning, and women's livelihood insecurity—and in just three months, the numbers speak for themselves: 500 women farmers trained in biochar production using low-tech Kon-Tiki kilns. 501 soil samples tested to benchmark soil health. Over 21 tonnes of biochar produced from cotton residue. Biochar applied to farms of all 501 participating farmers. Around 40 tonnes of CO₂ effectively sequestered from the atmosphere. 500 households surveyed to create a robust baseline for long-term impact assessment. The women now operate kilns independently, with many offering paid services to neighboring farms. Residue burning has stopped entirely in these communities, reversing years of harmful environmental impact. In place of ash and smoke, the fields now show early signs of healthier soil structure and improved topsoil. Rekhaben Gamar from Sandhosi shared, 'Operating the kiln gave me confidence and income. I now earn ₹2,500 extra every month.' Jayaben Parmar from Matarvada added, 'After using biochar, the soil feels alive again. We've stopped burning.' With this success, KriSHE Carbon isn't slowing down. The roadmap ahead includes: Scaling to 1,000 women farmers in 2025. Deploying 10 more kilns to achieve 100 tonnes of biochar production. Registering for carbon credits under Climate Standard Initiative. Initiating carbon credit sales worth ₹50 lakh. By 2026–27, the goal is ambitious but grounded: 10,000 women farmers empowered, 15,000 tonnes of CO₂ sequestered, and a blueprint for climate-positive rural transformation ready to replicate across India. The Gujarat pilot has proven that climate solutions don't need high-tech labs or billion-dollar investments — they can begin with women, waste, and wisdom. KriSHE Carbon also places a strong emphasis on gender inclusion. Women play a crucial yet often unrecognized role in agriculture, carrying the dual burden of food production and household responsibilities. By actively involving women in its sustainability programs, KriSHE Carbon acknowledges them not just as participants, but as leaders and key drivers of change in their communities. 'When farmers are paid not only for what they grow but also for the carbon they help sequester — and when women lead the charge in adopting climate-resilient practices — it becomes more than a solution, it becomes a transformation,' said Rushva Parihar, Head of OmniActive Improving Lives Foundation. The support provided by SoilBox goes beyond financial assistance. Selected startups like KriSHE Carbon benefit from access to real-world pilots, expert mentorship, and peer-learning networks, enabling them to refine their solutions and scale impact sustainably. 'KriSHE Carbon is not just fighting climate change; it is rebuilding agriculture with long-term thinking, scientific tools, and a deep respect for the people working the land,' said Bhavna Pandya, Innovation Catalyst at riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University, which has supported over 300 startups and more than 1,000 jobs and internships over the last 15 years. Across India, SoilBox is fostering a new generation of startups committed to rural innovation, environmental restoration, and economic dignity. In Southern India, KriSHE Carbon is emerging as a powerful example of what's possible when agriculture is reimagined — not just as a means of production, but as a pathway to prosperity, resilience, and hope. About SoilBox: SoilBox is a catalytic initiative by OmniActive Improving Lives Foundation, in partnership with Bioriidl – riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University and funded by OmniActive Health Technologies. With a vision to reimagine rural resilience, SoilBox supports startups building farmer-first solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and rooted in local realities. From productivity and market access to circular economy models, the program nurtures ideas that go beyond innovation—forging a future where science, soil, and community come together to transform how India grows, earns, and thrives. The goal: reach 200,000+ farmers and create a lasting ecosystem of rural prosperity. About OmniActive Improving Lives Foundation OmniActive Improving Lives Foundation is the social impact arm of OmniActive Health Technologies, committed to building healthier, more resilient communities across India. Through high-impact programs in health, education, agriculture, and sustainability, the foundation has touched over 230,000 lives across nine states. It partners with mission-driven startups, grassroots organizations, and local governments to co-create scalable solutions that drive long-term change. With a focus on innovation, inclusivity, and systems thinking, the foundation empowers underserved communities to thrive—unlocking new pathways to well-being, livelihood, and environmental stewardship for current and future generations. About riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University: riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University has been bestowed with the National Award for the year 2020 in the Emerging Technology Business Incubator category by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University supports the creation and incubation of early-stage companies from ideation to commercialization by providing them with resources, labs, facilitating government grants, investor connections, funding and mentorship. Business incubators of riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University are supported by the Department of Science & Technology; BIRAC, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and Maharashtra State Innovation Society, Government of Maharashtra. It has incubated over 300 startups and facilitated in creating 1000+ jobs and internship opportunities while the total revenue generated by the startups is over INR 400 Cr. Among these, our bio-incubator has supported 74 life sciences startups with 3 successful exits and over 30 research projects. If you have any objection to this press release content, kindly contact to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 24 hours.
Business Standard
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Farming Carbon, Growing Change: KriSHE Carbon Reinvents Rural India's Future through SoilBox-Backed Climate Action
PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 18: In the dry farmlands of Gujarat, a quiet revolution is taking root. Between January and March 2025, KriSHE Carbon, a climate-tech startup with deep soil in regenerative agriculture, turned what was once burned waste--cotton stubble--into a carbon-sequestering solution powered by women. KriSHE Carbon was founded with the vision of transforming this broken system. The startup is pioneering a new model by connecting smallholder farmers to global carbon markets and providing the right incentives to adopt sustainable practices for the long term. Through this approach, KriSHE Carbon is not only reducing agricultural emissions but also restoring soil health and stabilizing farmer incomes. With the support of the SoilBox program, KriSHE Carbon secured a ₹12.5 lakh grant to accelerate its mission. This funding has helped create tangible impact in several farming communities. The pilot project aimed to tackle three major rural challenges--soil degradation, stubble burning, and women's livelihood insecurity--and in just three months, the numbers speak for themselves: -500 women farmers trained in biochar production using low-tech Kon-Tiki kilns. -501 soil samples tested to benchmark soil health. -Over 21 tonnes of biochar produced from cotton residue. -Biochar applied to farms of all 501 participating farmers. -Around 40 tonnes of CO2 effectively sequestered from the atmosphere. -500 households surveyed to create a robust baseline for long-term impact assessment. The women now operate kilns independently, with many offering paid services to neighboring farms. Residue burning has stopped entirely in these communities, reversing years of harmful environmental impact. In place of ash and smoke, the fields now show early signs of healthier soil structure and improved topsoil. Rekhaben Gamar from Sandhosi shared, "Operating the kiln gave me confidence and income. I now earn ₹2,500 extra every month." Jayaben Parmar from Matarvada added, "After using biochar, the soil feels alive again. We've stopped burning." With this success, KriSHE Carbon isn't slowing down. The roadmap ahead includes: -Scaling to 1,000 women farmers in 2025. -Deploying 10 more kilns to achieve 100 tonnes of biochar production. -Registering for carbon credits under Climate Standard Initiative. -Initiating carbon credit sales worth ₹50 lakh. By 2026-27, the goal is ambitious but grounded: 10,000 women farmers empowered, 15,000 tonnes of CO2 sequestered, and a blueprint for climate-positive rural transformation ready to replicate across India. The Gujarat pilot has proven that climate solutions don't need high-tech labs or billion-dollar investments -- they can begin with women, waste, and wisdom. KriSHE Carbon also places a strong emphasis on gender inclusion. Women play a crucial yet often unrecognized role in agriculture, carrying the dual burden of food production and household responsibilities. By actively involving women in its sustainability programs, KriSHE Carbon acknowledges them not just as participants, but as leaders and key drivers of change in their communities. "When farmers are paid not only for what they grow but also for the carbon they help sequester -- and when women lead the charge in adopting climate-resilient practices -- it becomes more than a solution, it becomes a transformation," said Rushva Parihar, Head of OmniActive Improving Lives Foundation. The support provided by SoilBox goes beyond financial assistance. Selected startups like KriSHE Carbon benefit from access to real-world pilots, expert mentorship, and peer-learning networks, enabling them to refine their solutions and scale impact sustainably. "KriSHE Carbon is not just fighting climate change; it is rebuilding agriculture with long-term thinking, scientific tools, and a deep respect for the people working the land," said Bhavna Pandya, Innovation Catalyst at riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University, which has supported over 300 startups and more than 1,000 jobs and internships over the last 15 years. Across India, SoilBox is fostering a new generation of startups committed to rural innovation, environmental restoration, and economic dignity. In Southern India, KriSHE Carbon is emerging as a powerful example of what's possible when agriculture is reimagined -- not just as a means of production, but as a pathway to prosperity, resilience, and hope. About SoilBox: SoilBox is a catalytic initiative by OmniActive Improving Lives Foundation, in partnership with Bioriidl - riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University and funded by OmniActive Health Technologies. With a vision to reimagine rural resilience, SoilBox supports startups building farmer-first solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and rooted in local realities. From productivity and market access to circular economy models, the program nurtures ideas that go beyond innovation--forging a future where science, soil, and community come together to transform how India grows, earns, and thrives. The goal: reach 200,000+ farmers and create a lasting ecosystem of rural prosperity. About OmniActive Improving Lives Foundation OmniActive Improving Lives Foundation is the social impact arm of OmniActive Health Technologies, committed to building healthier, more resilient communities across India. Through high-impact programs in health, education, agriculture, and sustainability, the foundation has touched over 230,000 lives across nine states. It partners with mission-driven startups, grassroots organizations, and local governments to co-create scalable solutions that drive long-term change. With a focus on innovation, inclusivity, and systems thinking, the foundation empowers underserved communities to thrive--unlocking new pathways to well-being, livelihood, and environmental stewardship for current and future generations. About riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University: riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University has been bestowed with the National Award for the year 2020 in the Emerging Technology Business Incubator category by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University supports the creation and incubation of early-stage companies from ideation to commercialization by providing them with resources, labs, facilitating government grants, investor connections, funding and mentorship. Business incubators of riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar University are supported by the Department of Science & Technology; BIRAC, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and Maharashtra State Innovation Society, Government of Maharashtra. It has incubated over 300 startups and facilitated in creating 1000+ jobs and internship opportunities while the total revenue generated by the startups is over INR 400 Cr. Among these, our bio-incubator has supported 74 life sciences startups with 3 successful exits and over 30 research projects.
San Francisco Chronicle
30-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
This chef ran one of the Bay Area's best popups. Now he's opening his own spot
An Oakland popup known for late night eats is graduating into a full-blown bar and restaurant. Chisme is moving out of its sultry lair inside Oakland's Low Bar and over to 347 14th St., where the Kon-Tiki shook Mai Tais until its closing in December. Chef Manuel Bonilla said the new Bar Chisme will be more of a dive bar, with a small cocktail program with a few original drinks to complement his Filipino-Salvadoran cooking. Gone are the tropical trappings of the previous tiki bar for what will be a more casual, yet eclectic look. 'We're going for 'abuelita's house on acid'. Very homey and very chill,' he said. The owners of the Kon-Tiki, Christ Aivaliotis and Matt Reagan, shut down their popular spot late last year after seven years in business. Bonilla is familiar with the new location: He was the Kon-Tiki's opening chef. But his choice to return to the space amounts to a bet on the future of downtown Oakland, as Aiviolitis wrote in a profanity-laden screed that business in downtown Oakland was nearly impossible. Aivaliotis and Reagan approached Bonilla and his business partners to take over their old corner space. Bonilla is keeping the operation as minimal as possible to protect himself from increasing costs. Unlike its predecessor, there won't be any servers and all orders must be placed and picked up at the bar. The vision: 'Straight up no-frills, but with Chisme's food,' he said. Bonilla's resume isn't just dive bar food. It includes Oakland's two Michelin-starred Commis, and he currently works at modern Salvadoran restaurant Popoca. At Chisme, Bonilla's dishes have included yucca smothered in black beans, rich sisig pupusas and handmade chicken nuggets. Bar Chisme's menu will lean in a similar direction with the addition of a smashburger and a grilled burger. The house cocktails will feature ingredients like rums and agave distillates, also reflecting that influence. Chisme took over Low Bar's kitchen in March of last year after the venue's owners announced they were ending their kitchen program. Chisme had made appearances as a popup before settling into its residency. Bonilla's cooking and being the only open kitchen until close to midnight made Chisme a magnet for late night diners or an excuse to stick around for another drink. Chronicle restaurant critic Cesar Hernandez praised Bonilla's vision, which went from playful to layered. Dishes like tortas stuffed with lechon fuse cultural cues from his Filipino and Salvadoran background. 'His style is loose and fun but never misses a chance to impress, like the family member who steals the show on the dance floor,' he wrote. Chisme was ranked among the best new restaurants of 2024.
Miami Herald
17-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Andrew Cassell, daring sailor who won Paralympic gold, dies at 82
In the early 1950s, Andy Cassell, a 9-year-old boy on the Isle of Wight in England, read about the Kon-Tiki expedition, Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl's voyage across the Pacific Ocean on a primitive raft. Andy began to dream of sailing, although it seemed an unlikely prospect: He had been born with malformed hips and no legs. Still, he built a raft with pine logs he found on the beach, and his grandmother helped by fashioning a sail from a tablecloth and a mast from a clothesline pole. His mother allowed him on the raft, so long as he remained tied to the shore with a 60-foot rope. After a few weeks, he cut the rope. Soon enough, he was racing a secondhand Albacore dinghy that his grandmother bought him. And at 18, Cassel won a national dinghy-sailing championship. He went on to become a skilled competitor in national and international races in various classes, including keelboats and yachts. In August 1979, at the age of 37, he helmed a crew of six in the Fastnet Race, a roughly 700-mile yachting competition from southern England to Ireland and back, named for the Fastnet Rock, a rugged Irish islet in the middle of the course. They set out in sunshine, but it wouldn't last. A severe windstorm killed 15 sailors in what is now considered the deadliest race in modern yachting history. During those perilous hours, Cassell discovered that his youthful sailing experience -- the hardship of learning to sail without legs and the subtleties of piloting a rustic dinghy -- had prepared him to survive. After steering his boat to safety, he went on to lead the first crew to win a Paralympic gold medal in sailing. He later established a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping disabled sailors compete in races open to everyone. Cassell died March 18 at the age of 82, in a hospital on the Isle of Wight. The cause was sepsis following heart surgery, Matt Grier, director of the Andrew Cassell Foundation, said. It was about two days into the Fastnet Race when a fog descended, Cassell recalled in a 2018 post on his foundation's website. The wind picked up, eventually reaching over 55 knots, and the waves soared to 60 feet high. The boat's engine and radio malfunctioned, and a critical piece connecting the mast to the boom broke. Cassell's crew took down the mainsail to prevent the boat from capsizing. One man suggested that they head into the wind. Cassell objected, saying their rudder would be ripped off. They tried going downwind but then shot forward so fast that Cassell warned the boat was about to go under a wave and 'disappear forever.' Then he had an idea. He remembered a technique he had learned while sailing a dinghy: Frequently recalibrating the direction of a vessel at fine angles enabled smoother sailing. Trying that now, however, would require the finesse of handling his 30-foot sailboat as if it were just 6 feet long. For hours throughout the night, without stopping to sleep, and rejecting a tow from a lifeboat -- 'they told us that we were mad, rather more strongly than that,' Cassell remembered -- he steered the boat as he would have a dinghy, while his crew stayed below deck. His upper-body strength, gained from decades of moving around on crutches with prosthetic legs, was a matter of some lore; he was able to haul himself, hand grip by hand grip, up a mast to retrieve a rope. More than 24 hours after the storm began, Cassell skippered his boat into port at the coastal Irish village of Dunmore East. Local residents were waiting and broke into applause. Andrew Cassell was born July 14, 1942, in East Sussex, England. His father, Clarence Cassell, was a farmer who moved the family to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, where he had found work as an estate manager. His mother, Dulcie (Bull) Cassell, was a pianist. At 14, Andy Cassell left school to work as an apprentice at Ratsey & Lapthorn, a sail-making company, where he remained employed for the rest of his career. In the 1990s, he was convinced to join sailing races for people with disabilities. His crowning achievement came in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, where sailing was a trial event. Cassell won the gold and with it, growing acclaim. Local papers called him the 'legless helmsman' and the 'disabled yachting hero.' Propelled by his Paralympic victory, Cassell created a foundation with the goal of training disabled sailors to compete with everyone else on a 'level playing field.' Ian Wyllie, one of those sailors, had severely injured his spine during training with the British navy. Until he took up competitive sailing, he thought he had lost the chance at a life on the sea. But thanks to the Cassell Foundation, he said, he discovered that he could zip around a boat wearing his leg braces, by sliding, gripping rails and other handholds, and relying on his savvy and strength. 'I owe him, and the foundation he began, my second go at life,' he wrote in a memorial for Cassell. Cassell's first marriage, to Chris Wimball, ended in divorce. He is survived by his second wife, Sue Burgess, whom he married in 2001; a daughter from his first marriage, Zoe Barnes; three stepdaughters, Debbie Heryet, Vicki Lachlan and Lucie Banks; and several grandchildren and step-grandchildren. Another sailor mentored by Cassell, Duncan Byatt, recalled that before they sailed together for the first time, Cassell mentioned that he had just broken his leg. Concerned, Byatt asked how long it would take to heal. 'Oh, don't worry,' Cassell said. 'I'll get a new one in the post on Monday.' This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025
