Latest news with #UniversityofBarcelona
News18
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Caroline Garcia Ties The Knot With Borja Duran In Fairytale Wedding
Last Updated: The 31-year-old Frenchwoman wed her partner, Duran, a Spanish professor at the University of Barcelona on Sunday. French tennis ace Caroline Garcia, who is set to retire at the end of the 2025 season, tied the knot on Sunday with her partner, Borja Duran, a Spanish professor at the University of Barcelona. Compatriot Alize Cornet shared a clipping from the wedding ceremony as the duo who collaborate on the 'Tennis Insider Club' exchanged vows and rings. 🎊 VIVE LES MARIÉS👰♂️ Caroline Garcia a scellé son union avec Borja Duran hier Tous nos vœux de bonheur 💖 (🎥 emocionsdeblanc) — We Are Tennis France (@WeAreTennisFR) July 20, 2025 Garcia, who has won 11 titles in her career, first reached the No. 4 spot in September 2018, however, following several inconsistent years filled with doubts and injuries, she took a break from tennis in March 2022 to recover from a foot injury. The pause proved beneficial as she enjoyed a successful second half of the season, winning several titles, including the WTA Finals, and reaching the semifinals at the U.S. Open. Two years ago, Garcia revealed in an interview that she struggled with bulimia for a period, triggered by losses and the pain from her lingering foot injury, which affected her daily life. Garcia, who missed the Wimbledon due to a back injury, was shown the exit door early in the French Open 2025 as she wet down to Bernarda Pera in her opening fixture at the fabled red clay of the Roland Garros. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Star
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Spanish expert urges protection for elderly after 1,180 heat-related deaths in two months
Barcelona, Spain, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Extreme heat has a serious impact on health, especially for older people, a professor of Physical Geography at the University of Barcelona said in an interview with Xinhua on Friday, calling for more social support. "The main threat is that excessive and extreme heat kills. It has a serious impact on health, especially for older people - many of whom live alone and suffer from chronic illnesses," warned Javier Martin-Vide. His remarks come amid a troubling surge in heat-related deaths across Spain. According to the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, 1,180 people died from high temperatures between May 16 and July 13 - a staggering 1,300 percent increase compared to the same period last year, when 114 deaths were recorded. Martin-Vide emphasized that many elderly Spaniards live alone in poorly insulated dwellings without air conditioning, calling for urgent measures, including regular visits by social and healthcare workers to ensure seniors stay hydrated and live in safe conditions during heatwaves. Government data reinforces his concerns. The ministry reported that 95 percent of the victims were over the age of 65, and 59.2 percent were women. The intensity and duration of this summer's heat have been unprecedented. In the first week of July, heat-related deaths rose by 47 percent compared to the entire month of June. Temperatures in parts of Spain reached as high as 40 degrees Celsius, triggering 76 red alerts for extreme heat - a dramatic rise from zero during the same period in 2024. The regions most affected were in northern Spain, particularly Galicia, La Rioja, Asturias, and Cantabria. Spain's meteorological office, AEMET, registered an average national temperature of 23.6 degrees Celsius in June, 0.8 percent higher than the previous historical maximum set in 2017. It forecasts that July will continue the extreme heat trend, with a 70 percent probability that the average monthly temperature will exceed historical norms. Martin-Vide agreed with AEMET's forecast, noting that "the current temperatures resemble those of the hottest years in August, not (what's typically expected for) June or July."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Toxic ‘forever chemicals' have infiltrated Antarctic waters: Study
The frigid waters that surround Antarctica may be inhospitable to human inhabitance, but they are churning with the manmade relics of toxic chemical production, a new study has found. Certain types of 'forever chemicals' are present in ocean areas west of the Antarctic Peninsula at levels comparable to those in the North Atlantic, according to the study, published in Communications Earth & Environment. These findings, the study authors stated, underscore the importance of considering persistence when weighing environmental risk, while shedding light 'on the impact of the larger pool of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,' also known as PFAS. There are about 15,000 types of these so-called 'forever chemicals,' many of which are linked to cancers and other serious illnesses. Known for their ability to linger in the environment, PFAS are found in certain firefighting foams and in a variety of household products, such as waterproof apparel, nonstick pans and cosmetics. Although previous studies have suggested only a limited presence of PFAS in the Southern Ocean, the authors — from Spain's Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research and the University of Barcelona — were able to challenge this assumption. The prevailing notion, they explained, reasoned that the 'circumpolar current' that flows clockwise around the Antarctic prevented the transport of PFAS southwards. Yet at the same time, the researchers recognized that oceans have become 'a major reservoir' of a PFAS subgroup called perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) — and that certain precursors of PFAAs had been identified in the Southern Ocean's atmosphere. 'PFAAs are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical oceans and are extremely persistent in the environment,' the authors stated. Among the two most notorious types of PFAAs around the world are PFOA and PFOS — carcinogens that have largely been phased out of production but that remain in soil and water resources due to their longevity. To determine whether these persistent — and often toxic — types of PFAS had in fact infiltrated the Southern Ocean, the scientists conducted on-site water sampling in the area, accompanied by analytical procedures. In doing so, they identified PFAA concentrations in seawater at Antarctic latitudes of 71 degrees south comparable with those of 37 degrees north — in regions with known PFAS sources across Europe, the Mediterranean, Central Asia and the United States. Given the circumpolar current's likely role as 'a barrier for the north-south transport of PFAAs by oceanic currents,' the researchers focused on a possible mechanism called 'wet deposition,' when aerosolized pollutants fall from the atmosphere with rain or snow. The scientists ultimately determined that PFAA compounds are transported via ocean currents from the southern subtropical Atlantic to the sub-Antarctic — the zone immediately north of the Antarctic region. From there, what likely occurs is a phenomenon known as 'sea-spray mediated grasshopping,' in which PFAA-laden sea spray forms in the atmosphere and then deposits in the Southern Ocean, per the study. The Southern Ocean, the authors explained, is known for its high wind speeds, and the region in general endures 'incursions' of wet air masses from the north. Once the compounds have made it into the Antarctic region and have crossed a maritime barrier called 'the Antarctic divergence,' they are generally there to stay, the study found. This polar PFAS pileup, the authors warned, raises concerns about potential risks posed to the Antarctic ecosystem. They therefore stressed a need for further research into the prevalence of such 'persistent contaminants of emerging concern' across the region. 'This unexpected accumulation evidences the global risk posed by persistent chemicals,' the authors added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
6 days ago
- Science
- The Hill
Toxic ‘forever chemicals' have infiltrated Antarctic waters: Study
The frigid waters that surround Antarctica may be inhospitable to human inhabitance, but they are churning with the manmade relics of toxic chemical production, a new study has found. Certain types of 'forever chemicals' are present in ocean areas west of the Antarctic Peninsula at levels comparable to those in the North Atlantic, according to the study, published in Communications Earth & Environment. These findings, the study authors stated, underscore the importance of considering persistence when weighing environmental risk, while shedding light 'on the impact of the larger pool of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,' also known as PFAS. There are about 15,000 types of these so-called 'forever chemicals,' many of which are linked to cancers and other serious illnesses. Known for their ability to linger in the environment, PFAS are found in certain firefighting foams and in a variety of household products, such as waterproof apparel, nonstick pans and cosmetics. Although previous studies have suggested only a limited presence of PFAS in the Southern Ocean, the authors — from Spain's Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research and the University of Barcelona — were able to challenge this assumption. The prevailing notion, they explained, reasoned that the 'circumpolar current' that flows clockwise around Antarctic prevented the transport of PFAS southwards. Yet at the same time, the researchers recognized that oceans have become 'a major reservoir' of a PFAS subgroup called perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) — and that certain precursors of PFAAs had been identified in the Southern Ocean's atmosphere. 'PFAAs are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical oceans and are extremely persistent in the environment,' the authors stated. Among the two most notorious types of PFAAs around the world are PFOA and PFOS — carcinogens that have largely been phased out of production but that remain in soil and water resources due to their longevity. To determine whether these persistent — and often toxic — types of PFAS had in fact infiltrated the Southern Ocean, the scientists conducted on-site water sampling in the area, accompanied by analytical procedures. In doing so, they identified PFAA concentrations in seawater at Antarctic latitudes of 71 degrees south comparable with those of 37 degrees north — in regions with known PFAS sources across Europe, the Mediterranean, Central Asia and the United States. Given the circumpolar current's likely role as 'a barrier for the north-south transport of PFAAs by oceanic currents,' the researchers focused on a possible mechanism called 'wet deposition,' when aerosolized pollutants fall from the atmosphere with rain or snow. The scientists ultimately determined that PFAA compounds are transported via ocean currents from the southern subtropical Atlantic to the sub-Antarctic — the zone immediately north of the Antarctic region. From there, what likely occurs is a phenomenon known as 'sea-spray mediated grasshopping,' in which PFAA-laden sea spray forms in the atmosphere and then deposits in the Southern Ocean, per the study. The Southern Ocean, the authors explained, is known for its high wind speeds, and the region in general endures 'incursions' of wet air masses from the north. Once the compounds have made it into the Antarctic region and have crossed a maritime barrier called 'the Antarctic divergence,' they are generally there to stay, the study found. This polar PFAS pileup, the authors warned, raises concerns about potential risks posed to the Antarctic ecosystem. They therefore stressed a need for further research into the prevalence of such 'persistent contaminants of emerging concern' across the region. 'This unexpected accumulation evidences the global risk posed by persistent chemicals,' the authors added.
The Star
10-07-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Expert warns of rising heatwave, wildfire risks in Spain
BARCELONA, Spain, July 10 (Xinhua) -- People in Spain must strengthen their awareness of climate-related risks amid increasingly frequent and extreme events such as intense heatwaves and especially fierce wildfires driven by rising temperatures, a climate expert has warned. Javier Martin-Vide, professor of physical geography at the University of Barcelona, told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday that Spaniards need to prepare for worsening climate conditions. At the end of June and the beginning of July, temperatures soared to as high as 42 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country. This week, Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) warned of intense storms and flooding in some areas. The professor noted that these elevated temperatures also increase the risk of wildfires. More than 3,300 hectares burned this week in the northeastern region of Catalonia, just days after 6,000 hectares - mostly farmland - were scorched in the same area. "These conditions of extreme heat are usually very favorable for the development of large wildfires," Martin-Vide said. "We've already experienced one in Catalonia, a large fire that affected thousands of hectares, and it's possible that throughout the summer we will again see terrible images of fire affecting our forests and our crops." He warned that high temperatures followed by extreme weather events are likely to persist throughout the summer, with evidence suggesting this trend will become increasingly common each year. "Climate models tell us that in the coming decades the temperature will continue to rise, and this context of progressive warming helps make the episodes of extreme heat more frequent, more intense, more long-lasting, and also causes them to arrive earlier in the calendar," he said. Martin-Vide also cautioned about the health impacts of extreme heat, especially on the elderly. According to Spain's health ministry, 2,020 people, 90 percent of them over the age of 75, died from heat-related complications last summer.
