Gravitational waves, ripples in the fabric of time-space predicted by Albert Einstein more than a century ago, are permeating the universe at low frequencies, according to a multiyear National Science Foundation project led by Oregon State University scientists.
Pulsar timing array, gravitational waves. Image courtesy of NANOGrav
The findings appear in a collection of four papers authored by researchers from the NANOGrav Physics Frontier Center co-directed by Xavier Siemens, professor of physics in the OSU College of Science.
Evidence of the gravitational waves, whose oscillations are measured in years and decades, was published this week in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
“In the constant quest to advance human knowledge and understanding, this is a really important step along the journey,” Siemens said.
NANOGrav, which stands for North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves, is an international collaboration of nearly 200 astrophysics researchers whose mission is using radio pulsar timing to search for low-frequency gravitational waves.
Xavier Siemens, left, and Jeffrey Hazboun of the OSU College of Science.
Detecting a “chorus” of low-frequency gravitational waves, as NANOGrav has done, is a key to unlocking the mysteries of how structures are formed in the cosmos, said OSU astrophysicist Jeff Hazboun.
“We’ve opened up this new spectrum area for gravitational waves,” Hazboun said. “We’ve seen low-frequency waves, from a completely different part of the spectrum, which tells us that they’re a ubiquitous physical phenomenon and that we can look for them anywhere.”
Gravitational waves were first observed in 2015 by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO.
The discovery of those waves, with frequencies of around 100 cycles per second, was a milestone event in physics and astronomy. It confirmed one of the main predictions of Einstein’s theory of relativity and earned a Nobel Prize in Physics for LIGO’s founders.
Pulsars are the rapidly spinning remains of massive stars that exploded as supernovas. They send out pulses of radio waves with extreme regularity, and a group of them is known as a pulsar timing array, or PTA.
Siemens said that Sixty-eight pulsars were used to gather evidence that the Milky Way galaxy is awash in a sea of low-frequency gravitational waves.
Einstein’s 1915 theory of general relativity predicted how gravitational waves should affect pulsar signals: By stretching and squeezing the fabric of time-space, gravitational waves should alter the timing of each pulse in a predictable way, delaying some pulses while speeding up others.
“The large number of pulsars used in the NANOGrav analysis has enabled us to see what we think are the first signs of the correlation pattern predicted by general relativity,” Siemens said. “We can use those pulsars as clocks spread out through the sky, and we can see how the ticking of the clocks changes from gravitational waves passing through our galaxy.”
NANOGrav began in 2007 and eight years later launched as a Physics Frontier Center with a $14.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation when Siemens was at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Siemens joined OSU in 2019 and two years later the NSF awarded NANOGrav an additional $17 million over five years to search for gravitational wave signals with the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, the Very Large Array in New Mexico and the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.
Siemens said OSU receives about $600,000 annually in NANOGrav funding, with data analysis being Oregon State’s primary role in addition to project leadership and administration.
Co-directed by Maura McLaughlin, an astronomer at West Virginia University, NANOGrav combines the efforts of researchers at 18 universities, including approximately 20 graduate and undergraduate students at Oregon State.
“Searching for gravitational waves is like putting together a puzzle: Everyone has their own piece but they all fit together,” said Phia Morton of Bend, a senior majoring in applied physics and nuclear engineering. “It is a common misconception that scientific breakthroughs come from a lone genius. On the contrary, large-scale science projects require enormous amounts of collaboration and for everyone involved to believe in the goals of the group.”
Morton and other OSU undergraduates contribute by searching for new pulsars to add to NANOGrav’s array; the more pulsars at its disposal, the more sensitive the gravitational wave detection can be, she explains.
“Pulsars are actually very faint radio sources, so we require thousands of hours a year on the world’s largest telescopes to carry out this experiment,” McLaughlin said. “These results are made possible through the National Science Foundation’s continued commitment to these exceptionally sensitive radio observatories.”
Researchers with LIGO, also an NSF-funded international collaboration, in 2015 detected gravitational waves produced by the collision of two black holes using the twin LIGO interferometers in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington.
The gravitational waves that can be observed by LIGO, created by those types of “black hole binaries,” have frequencies of about 100 hertz, Hazboun said.
“NANOgrav searches for gravitational waves with frequencies 11 orders of magnitude below those LIGO is detecting,” he said.
Siemens explains that using a PTA to detect a chorus of gravitational wave signals from multiple super-massive black hole mergers – described as a stochastic background of gravitational waves – holds more promise for understanding the universe than detecting a single wave from a single black hole binary collision.
“Each signal is like a note, and we’re not just after one of these notes – we want to hear the whole choir,” he said. “We want to hear the collective chorus of all of the super-massive black hole binaries that are merging in the universe.”
Super-massive black holes are the biggest type of black holes, millions to billions of times the mass of the sun, and they reside in the centers of galaxies.
NANOGrav researchers say future studies of the signals super-massive black holes send out will enable scientists to view the gravitational wave universe through a new window, offering insight into titanic black holes merging in the centers of distant galaxies and potentially into other exotic sources of low-frequency gravitational waves.
“This is just the beginning of our work,” Siemens said.
The demonstrations began over what many Kenyans view as unfair tax hikes and rising inflation in the country, according to news reports.
OHCHR Spokesperson Jeremy Laurance issued a statement condemning the violence, expressing concern over “allegations of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force, including the use of firearms, by police”.
Reports estimate the number of people killed to be as high as 23, with dozens more being injured during the demonstrations.
Kenya’s opposition leader reportedly called for civil disobedience and nationwide protests against the Government, amid a rising cost of living and concerns over growing inequality.
Opposition groups argue that recent tax hikes the Government says are designed to pay off debt and fund job creation, have placed an increased tax burden on families already struggling to afford basic necessities and are reportedly calling for continued demonstrations against the new policies.
“We call for prompt, thorough, independent, and transparent investigations into the deaths and injuries”, said Mr. Laurence. “Those responsible must be held to account. Effective measures to prevent further deaths and injuries must be adopted.”
The right to peaceful demonstration is guaranteed under Kenya’s constitution, although authorities have reportedly declared the recent protests “illegal” and say they pose a threat to national security.
Right to peaceful assembly
“We call on the authorities to ensure the right to peaceful assembly as guaranteed by the Kenyan Constitution and international human rights law,” said Mr. Laurence.
“We appeal for calm and encourage open dialogue to address social, economic, and political grievances, with the aim of identifying lasting solutions in the interests of all Kenyans,” he added.
Known as ‘the island in the Sea of the Seven Colors’, San Andres is the biggest island in the Seaflower, containing part of one of the richest coral reefs in the world
San Andres itself is a coral island, meaning it was geologically built by organic material derived from skeletons of corals and numerous other animals and plants associated with these colonial organisms. These types of islands are low land, being mostly only a few metres above sea level, surrounded by coconut palms and white coral sand beaches.
It is no coincidence that this Colombian island is a world-class scuba diving destination with crystal clear waters, and a tourist hub visited by over a million people each year.
But being so ‘in demand’ has a key downside: San Andres’ unique ecosystems and natural resources have been deeply impacted. This is something that biologist and professional diver Maria Fernanda Maya has witnessed first-hand.
“I have seen San Andres change in the past 20 years; the decrease of fish and coral cover has been quite high. Just like the rest of the world, we have experienced a very large demographic explosion, and the pressure on our resources is increasing,” she tells UN News.
Ms. Maya has been diving and working most of her life to protect the treasures of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve. She is the director of Blue Indigo Foundation, a women-led community organization that works towards the sustainable development of the San Andres Archipelago, and the protection and restoration of its marine ecosystems.
She says she decided to create the foundation because she believes that the local community must lead the protection of its own resources.
“I have worked for many international and national-led environmental projects in the past, and what happens is that people come, do a timed project, and then leave. And then there is no way for the local community to continue it,” the biologist explains.
I am an islander. I formed a relationship with the ocean before I was even born.
Ms. Maya works alongside scientific coordinator Mariana Gnecco, who is her partner in the foundation.
“I am an islander; I formed a relationship with the ocean before I was even born. I’ve always known I never want to be far from the sea,” she tells UN News.
Ms. Gnecco has been freediving since she was just 10 years old, and, like Ms. Maya, got her scuba certification before the age of 14 and later graduated from university as a biologist. She is now also pursuing her PhD.
Blue Indigo
Blue Indigo women biologists pose with a coral table-type nursery in San Andres, Colombia.
Women in marine science
According to UNESCO, women engage in all aspects of ocean interaction, yet in many parts of the world, women’s contributions – both towards ocean-based livelihoods like fishing, and conservation efforts – are all but invisible as gender inequality persists in the marine industry as well as the field of ocean science.
“Men are the ones usually leading marine science and when there are women in charge they are always doubted. Somehow, it’s good to have them as assistants, or in the laboratory, but when women lead the projects, I have always felt there is some kind of pushback. When a woman speaks with passion ‘she is getting hysterical’; when a woman makes unconventional decisions, ‘she is crazy’, but when a man does it, it is because ‘he’s a leader’”, denounces Ms. Maya.
She says that because this has been an unwritten truth that women grapple with, she worked hard at the Foundation to create and nurture an atmosphere that is the opposite.
“We have been able to harmonize the work between women and men partners, recognizing, valuing and empowering the feminine forces, as well as what men have to offer,” Ms. Maya stresses.
“Our opinions, our expertise, and our knowledge have been overlooked for so many years that being able to lead a project like this now means a lot. It symbolizes a [a great deal] in terms of equality and inclusion. Although we still have a long way to go because women in science are still undermined a lot of the time, I think we are on the right path to tackle that problem for good,” echoes Ms. Gnecco.
Blue Indigo
Biologist Maria Fernanda Maya has been working her whole life to protect the Seaflower UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Saving the coral reefs
On the day the Blue Indigo biologists met with the UN News field reporting team, Ms. Maya and Ms. Gnecco braved a non-stop torrential downpour caused by a cold front in San Andres, a common occurrence during the Atlantic hurricane season.
That morning, we thought it might be impossible to report this story because the rain had turned the island’s streets into rivers, and some of the areas we needed to reach had been turned into mud pits.
“And they say women are scared to drive,” Ms. Maya said with a sly laugh when she picked us up on the way to one of the restoration sites they are working on as one of the local implementers of the nationwide project “One Million Corals for Colombia”, that aims to restore 200 hectares of reef across the country.
Earlier that morning, all diving on the island had been halted due to the weather, but conditions (at least on the water) did eventually improve, and authorities turned the red flag yellow.
That news sparked a mini celebration among a group of eager student divers who thought their day was ruined.
Meanwhile, the rest of us put on scuba gear and walked toward the shore in the (still) pouring rain.
“Once you’re underwater, you are going to forget about this grey day. You’ll see!” Ms. Maya said.
UN News/Laura Quiñones
A rope-type coral nursery growing the species Acropora in San Andres, Colombia.
And she couldn’t have been more right. After taking the plunge from the rocky (and slippery) coral coast on the west side of the island, we experienced incredible calm beneath the waves.
The visibility was extremely good, and the biologists took us through some of the rope-type coral nurseries they were working on where Acropora coral fragments are growing. We also saw some of the already-transplanted coral within the stunning reef of San Andres.
Blue Indigo Foundation works closely with diving schools on the island, and they contribute to their restoration efforts. The NGO also teaches specialized courses in restoration for international divers several times a year.
“People come over to see our project and learn and they get engaged easier because then they ask us for the coral. ‘Oh, how’s my coral doing? The one we planted on the reef, how’s it doing?’,” Mariana Gnecco explains, adding that when people see the organisms thriving, it helps to raise general awareness.
The corals within the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve have been declining since the 70s, fueled by the rise in the temperature and acidification of the water, caused by excessive carbon emissions and consequent climate change.
“Those are the global threats, but we also have some local threats that are harming the reef, for example, overfishing, bad tourism practices, boat collisions, pollution, and sewage disposal,” underscores Ms. Gnecco.
Blue Indigo Foundation
Transplanted Staghorn corals grown in nurseries.
Raizal people’s efforts and sustainable tourism
By definition, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are de facto centres for learning about sustainable development. They also provided an opportunity to examine up-close the changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including the management of biodiversity.
“When a biosphere reserve is declared, it means that it is a special place, not just because of its biodiversity, but also because there’s a community that has a special connection with that biodiversity, a connection that’s been going for decades with a cultural and historical value,” Ms. Gnecco explains.
The Seaflower is very special, she adds, telling us that it comprises 10 per cent of the Caribbean Sea, 75 per cent of Colombia’s coral reefs and that it’s a hotspot for shark conservation.
“The local community – the Raizal people, that have been living here for generations – have learned how to relate to these ecosystems in a healthy and sustainable way. This is our way of living for both Raizal and other residents. We depend completely on this ecosystem and on its biodiversity, that’s why it’s important and special”, the biologist adds.
The Raizal are an Afro-Caribbean ethnic group living in the islands of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina off the Colombian Caribbean Coast. They are recognized by the Government as one of the Afro-Colombian ethnic groups.
They speak San Andrés-Providencia Creole, one of many English Creoles used in the Caribbean. 20 years ago, the Raizal represented over half of the island’s population. Today, the general population is nearly 80,000, but the Raizal make up about 40 per cent, due to a high migration influx from the mainland.
UN News/Laura Quiñones
Raizal biologist Alfredo Abril-Howard working along Maria Fernanda Maya and Maria Gnecco from Blue Indigo Foundation.
Raizal Marine Biologist and researcher Alfredo Abril-Howard also works at Blue Indigo foundation.
“Our culture is closely tied to the ocean. The fishermen are the first to notice changes in the coral – for example, they notice that healthy reefs attract more fish. They can describe a vivid picture of the way the reefs looked in the past…no one understands the importance of our reefs better than them,” he underscores.
The expert says that he believes there is a major socioeconomic issue in San Andres: other than tourism, there are very few ways for his people to make a living.
“Tourism keeps growing and most economic activities revolve around it. So, we need more fish because there are more tourists, so now we catch fish of any size affecting the ecosystem”, he says, emphasizing that better tourism management could generate better economic opportunities for locals while letting the reef flourish at the same time.
Mr. Abril-Howard explains that diving, if sustainably managed, can also have an impact on the ecosystem. It can also help to raise awareness about restoration efforts and at the same time give back to the reef.
“We need a change in the way we do our tourism. Restoring our reefs is important, but we also need to make visitors aware that it is there, and that it is not a rock, It is a living being and that they shouldn’t step on it. These are small things that can benefit the future coral cover. We also need to show people that there is more to this island than coming to party and get drunk, so they can learn something,” he says.
UN News/Laura Quiñones
Raizal fisherman Camilo Leche just before setting off for a morning fishing expedition.
A job for ‘superheroes’
For Camilo Leche, also Raizal, coral restoration efforts are now a part of his life as a fisherman.
“I have been fishing for over 30 years. I remember seeing coral bleaching for the first time – you know when coral starts turning white – and thinking that it was because the coral was getting old, like we get white hairs. But now I understand it is because of climate change,” he told us just before going on his morning fishing expedition.
“Before I could see beautiful giant corals around here and it was so easy to find lobster and big fish, now we have to go further and further to find them”, he adds.
Mr. Leche says that he hopes that world leaders can put their ‘hands on their hearts and in their pockets’ to finance more restoration efforts such as the one undertaken by the Foundation, which he now helps.
“I have learned how to fragment corals, to put them in the ropes. We also go out to make the transplants. And those little pieces are now becoming so big and beautiful, when I see them, I feel so proud of it. I feel like a superhero”.
Blue Indigo
The Raizal community is actively involve in coral reef restoration efforts. Here two men are ready to install a table-type coral nursery.
Swimming against the tide
San Andres is not only losing its coral reef cover and fish banks, but the island also faces coastal erosion and is vulnerable to sea level rise and extreme weather events such as hurricanes.
All these are destroying infrastructure and reducing the island’s beautiful beach cover. In some areas, locals say that before they could play a football game in places where only a meter of beach is now seen.
The ecosystems Blue Indigo works to restore are essential to protect the community during extreme weather events.
For example, Colombian scientists were able to prove how the mangrove protected San Andres during hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020, among other ways by reducing wind speeds by over 60 km/h.
At the same time, coral reefs can reduce by nearly 95 per cent the height of the waves coming from the east of the Caribbean Sea, as well as reduce their strength during storms.
“We know our restoration efforts can’t bring back the coral reef in its totality, because it is such a complex ecosystem. But by growing certain species we can have a positive impact, bring back the fish and ignite these organisms’ natural capacity to restore themselves,” says Blue Indigo chief Maria Fernanda Maya.
Blue Indigo
Biologist Maria Fernanda Maya cleans a rope-type coral nursery.
For Mariana Gnecco, it is about aiding the reef to survive during a transformation of its environment happening due to climate change.
“What we need is a functional ecosystem. We are trying to at least give it a helping hand so it can adapt to climate change. The ecosystem is going to change, that’s going to happen, but if we help it will happen at least in a way that is not going to die completely”, she says.
According to UNESCO, mainstreaming gender equality throughout the Ocean Science Decade will help ensure that, by 2030, women as much as men will be driving ocean science and management, helping to deliver the ocean we need for a prosperous, sustainable and environmentally secure future.
“The women that are involved in this are paving the path for all the women that are coming behind. Indeed, the future is problematic, and we are swimming against the current, but I think anything that we can do is better than doing nothing.”
That’s Mariana Gnecco’s message to us all.
This is Part III in a series of features on ocean restoration efforts in Colombia. Read Part Ito learn how Colombia is planning to restore one million corals, and Part IIto transport yourself to the paradisiac island of Providencia, where we explain to you the connection between hurricanes and ecosystem restoration.
The Fundamental Rights Report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) for the year 2023 offers an insightful reflection on the progress made and the areas where human rights protection fell short within the EU during 2022.
A significant portion of the report focuses on the fundamental rights implications resulting from the aggression in Ukraine and the challenges that emerged as a consequence. One positive aspect highlighted is the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive, which granted access to vital resources such as employment, housing, social assistance, education, and healthcare. However, it is worth noting that a majority of those who sought refuge were women and girls, many of whom faced additional responsibilities caring for children or elderly relatives. This underscores the necessity for targeted support measures, including the following:
a) Ensuring the availability of affordable, safe, and suitable housing, particularly for women and children. b) Facilitating access to suitable employment opportunities that align with individuals’ skills and qualifications, while protecting against exploitation. c) Promoting the integration of children into regular schools and providing swift access to childcare facilities. d) Providing comprehensive support for women who have experienced sexual violence and exploitation.
FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty emphasizes that “women and girls are innocent victims of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine” and highlights the temporary protection offered by EU countries. However, he emphasizes the ongoing conflict necessitates longer-term solutions that give specific attention to women.
The report also addresses other key fundamental rights issues that arose in 2022, including:
a) Escalating child poverty: The pandemic and increasing energy costs pushed nearly one in four children into a state of poverty. The EU and national governments are urged to fulfill their commitments under the European Child Guarantee, which was initiated in 2022, and allocate funds to alleviate child poverty, particularly among disadvantaged households such as single-parent, Roma, and migrant families.
b) Prevalence of hate: Hate crimes and hate speech, particularly online, remained a significant concern in 2022, partly fueled by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. However, only half of the EU countries had developed national anti-racism action plans. The report calls for more countries to establish such plans and implement concrete local and regional measures to combat racism effectively.
c) Safeguarding rights amidst technological advancements: As the deployment of artificial intelligence and digital services continues to expand, ensuring effective protection of fundamental rights is becoming increasingly critical. The EU Digital Services Act enacted in 2022 acknowledged the necessity for robust rights protection, and adherence to its principles during implementation is essential. Furthermore, EU legislators must strive to establish similar robust safeguards within the proposed EU’s AI Act.
The report provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of major human rights developments in the EU during 2022. It also presents proposals for action, encompassing various areas such as the utilization of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights by Member States, promotion of equality and non-discrimination, combating racism and related forms of intolerance, inclusion and equality for the Roma community, asylum, borders, and migration policies, safeguarding privacy and data protection in the information society, promoting child rights, ensuring access to justice, and implementing the United Nations’ Disability Convention (CRPD).
This Friday afternoon, theplenary session of the European Parliamentaddressed the issue of the EU involvement in the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU. The participants included Commissioner Věra Jourová and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
Věra Jourová speaks at a debate on implementation of EU guidelines on FoRB
Commissioner Jourová, who is responsible for values and transparency, presented the views and actions of the Commission in this regard, highlighting the importance of respecting and promoting religious freedom. She emphasized that the EU is committed to protecting the rights of individuals to practice their religion freely and without discrimination. MEPs from various political groups took part in the debate and shared their perspectives on the issue. The most critical ones for the lack of proper action were MEP György Hölvényi and MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen.
Others emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation in promoting religious freedom both within the EU and externally. They highlighted the need to engage with religious communities and civil society organizations to address religious discrimination and intolerance.
György Hölvényi: “since 2021, people have been killed or kidnapped in 40 countries of the world because of their faith”
The free exercise of religion is primarily a human rights issue. Unfortunately, as the majority of EU decision-makers do not recognize the importance of this fundamental right for individuals and society, stated György Hölvényi, Christian Democrat MEP in the European Parliament’s debate on Thursday, organized on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief.
The vice-president of KDNP Hungary and Member of the European Parliament, reminded, various reports, scientific researches and field experiences show that we live in a time of unprecedented religious intolerance globally. About 84% of the world’s population identifies with some religious community. Meanwhile, since 2021, people have been killed or kidnapped in 40 countries of the world because of their faith. We have to underline that the most persecuted religion in the world today is Christianity. During the last year, according to international surveys, 5,621 Christians were killed because of their faith, 90% of the murders took place in Nigeria.
According to the EPP Group’s politician, the EU is struggling with a serious credibility problem: despite the dramatic situation, the protection of religious freedom is still not fully part of the EU’s external action. Despite the increasing persecution, the European Commission, for example, hesitated for three years to re-appoint the EU Special Envoy responsible for religious freedom outside the EU.
Real milestones are needed in the dialogue with religious communities active in the EU and in third countries. Although the legal framework is in place, no structural dialogue actually takes place before substantive EU decisions are made. MEP György Hölvényi pointed out that the joint action against increasing religious intolerance around the world cannot be delayed any longer.
Bert-Jan Ruissen: “EU actions on religious freedom must finally get off the ground“
The SGP wants the EU to finally take real action on religious freedom. The EU guidelines on freedom of religion have been in existence for 10 years now but have barely been put into practice.
“That we have these guidelines is of course a good thing. But I have serious doubts about the implementation there,” Bert-Jan Ruissen (SGP) said Thursday in an MEP debate he had requested.
In 10 years, the European Commission has never presented the promised reports or held consultations. The position of EU Envoy for Religious Freedom remained vacant for 3 years and support has always been very minimal.
“More really needs to be done, because religious persecution is only increasing worldwide,” Ruissen said. “Look at a country like Nigeria, where 50,000 Christians have been killed in the last 20 years because of their faith. Or look at the Indian state of Manipur where many churches have been destroyed and Christians killed this spring.”
On Thursday, the SGP therefore made three concrete requests to the European Commission:
1) Come up with a solid implementation report of the guidelines in the short term.
2) Give the EU Envoy for Religious Freedom a permanent mandate and provide additional staff so that he can do his job properly.
3) Come up with proposals to designate June 24, the date on which the guidelines were adopted, as the European Day for Combating Religious Persecution.
“We cannot leave the oppressed Church with millions of believers out in the cold,” Ruissen concluded. “I hope and pray that it does not drag on for another 10 years!”
The 18th European Congress of Psychology convened in Brighton between 3 and 6 July 2023. The overall theme was ‘Uniting communities for a sustainable world’. The British Psychological Society (BPS), through its Challenging Histories Group, hosted a symposium exploring the legacies of eugenics in psychology, past and present.
The symposium included a talk from Professor Marius Turda, Oxford Brookes University, on the relationship between eugenics, psychology, and dehumanisation. This was followed by two other papers, one by Nazlin Bhimani (UCL Institute of Education) who focused on the legacy of eugenic in British education, and the other, by Lisa Edwards, whose family had lived experience of institutions of mental care in Britain such as the Rainhill Asylum.
“This is first time that a symposium on eugenics took place at an international congress of psychology and the BPS Challenging Histories Group has been instrumental in making it happen,” Prof Marius Turda told The European Times.
The exhibition laid out that “eugenics aims to ‘improve’ the genetic ‘quality’ of the human population through the control of reproduction and, at its extremes, through the elimination of those considered by eugenicists to be ‘inferior’.”
Eugenics developed initially in Britain and the United States in the nineteenth century, but it became a globally influential movement by the 1920s. Eugenicists targeted people belonging to religious, ethnic, and sexual minorities, and those living with disabilities, leading to their institutional confinement and sterilization. In Nazi Germany, eugenic ideas of race improvement contributed directly to mass murder and the Holocaust.
Prof Marius Turda explained that “Victorian polymath, Francis Galton, was the first person to promote eugenics concepts within psychology as well as being a major figure in the development of the field as a scientific discipline. His influence on American and British psychologists such as James McKeen Cattell, Lewis Terman, Granville Stanley Hall, William McDougall, Charles Spearman and Cyril Burt was significant.”
“My aim was to put Galton’s legacy into its historical context, and to offer a discussion of how psychology and psychologists contributed to the eugenic dehumanisation of individuals with mental disabilities. My strategy was to encourage psychologists to come to terms with the discrimination and abuse promoted by eugenics, not least because the memories of this abuse are very much alive today,” Prof Marius Turda told The European Times.
Prof Marius Turda was delivering a talk onthe relationship between eugenics, psychology, and dehumanisation. The Exhibition he curated was also featured in the journal of the British Psychological Society. Photo credit: THIX Photo.
Eugenics and Psychology
The focus on the legacies of eugenics at the European Congress of Psychology was timely and welcomed. It’s important not the least considering that scientific disciplines such as psychology had been an important ground on which such arguments circulated and received acceptance. Yet, for years this had not been confronted or even perceived. The problematic history of eugenics as well as its still lingering existence in present time language and in some cases, practices are seen in arguments about heredity, social selection, and intelligence.
The scientific expertise provided by psychologists was used to stigmatise, marginalise and ultimately dehumanise those whose lives they controlled and supervised. These individuals who were seen as representing a different, and less- able, humanity was to be institutionalised in ‘special schools’ and ‘colonies’ and subjected to specific educational programmes.
Ideally now we should build a platform for sustained institutional reflection and seeded discussion amongst psychologists, with far reaching implications for the discipline itself, professor Marius Turda indicated.
As the scientific community witnessed the resurgence of essentializing eugenic rhetoric in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd and then with the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, it is clear that we must develop new ways of thinking and practicing psychology, if we are to meet the shared challenges we face, individually and collectively as well as nationally and globally.
Photo credit: Dr Roz Collings
Archives Manager of the British Psychological Society (BPS), Sophie O’Reilly told “We’re very excited to present this symposium at the European Congress of Psychology on a topic which still has wide ranging repercussions today. As well as giving a historical account of the relationship between psychology and eugenics, the story of a family’s lived experience of over a century of institutionalisation and stigmatisation will be vital to highlighting these repercussions.”
“Psychology has some dark histories, ones that may not have been challenged before,” Dr Roz Collings, Chair of the British Psychological Society’s Ethics Committee remarked.
Dr Roz Collings pointed out that, “This thought provoking and inspiring symposium allowed individuals their eyes and begin questioning. The symposium was well attended with healthy discussions and questions highlighting the inquisitive and curious mind of psychologists from around the world.”
She further added that “It is important to reflect, rather than forget, and to continue moving forwards in psychology to challenge any difficult futures that may lie ahead. This symposium allowed the space for many to do just that.”
Another attendee, professor John Oates, Chair of the British Psychological Society’s Media Ethics Advisory Group, and member of the BPS Ethics Committee, explained: ‘As part of our work in investigating troubling features of the work of past psychologists, the British Psychological Society Challenging Histories Group was pleased to have been able to work closely with Prof Turda to organise this symposium.”
Professor John Oates added, “It was gratifying not only to have a good-sized audience, but also to have an audience that engaged with our presentations and our calls to action. Our hope is that we have started a ripple of conversation that will spread and help to counter the enduring legacy of eugenic ideology which still infects public and private discourses.”
Defend human rights
Tony Wainwright, a clinical psychologist and a member of the BPS Climate Environment Action Coordinating Group, reflected in this way: “It was both a great pleasure and at the same time shocking to participate in the symposium on ‘The Legacy of Eugenics Past and Present’.”
“The shock was from being reminded of psychology’s past involvement in the formation of pernicious ideologies underlying racism and discrimination. Our language retains echoes of mental classifications – now used as insults – “moron”, “idiot”,” Tony Wainwright clarified.
He added, “The lived experience of her family that one of the speakers, Lisa Edwards, brought to the session showed how this was not an academic matter but had tragic consequences.”
Tony Wainwright finally noted, “The pleasure came from hoping that remembering our past will engage people in contemporary action as this legacy lives on. We are in a time when human rights are under threat in many parts of the world, and hopefully, symposia like this will reinforce our efforts to defend human rights wherever we can.”
On the occasion of the congress the BPS also featured parts of the exhibition ‘We are not Alone: Legacies of Eugenics’, curated by Professor Marius Turda. Panels of the exhibition can be viewed here:
Slower biological aging: People who live near green spaces were 2.5 years younger biologically.
Northwestern scientists have conducted a new study to see if living near green spaces, like parks and areas with many plants, can affect how our bodies age and contribute to overall healthy aging.
Exposure to green spaces were associated with slower biological aging, according to a Northwestern Medicine report. People who lived near more green spaces were biologically 2.5 years younger, on average, than those who live near less greenness. Image credit: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash, free license
According to a Northwestern Medicine report, more green spaces were associated with slower biological aging. People who lived near more green spaces were biologically 2.5 years younger, on average, than those who live near less greenness.
However, the benefits of green spaces were not equal, as scientists found variations in race, sex and socioeconomic status.
“When we think about staying healthy as we get older, we usually focus on things like eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep,” said Kyeezu Kim, first author on the study and a postdoctoral scholar in preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
“However, our research shows that the environment we live in, specifically our community and access to green spaces, is also important for staying healthy as we age.”
Staying in nature – illustrative photo. Image credit: Emma Simpson via Unsplash, free license
The study is the first to investigate the effect of long-term exposure (about 20 years of exposure) on urban green space and biological aging, specifically using DNA methylation-based epigenetic age.
DNA methylation-based epigenetic age refers to chemical changes in DNA that may influence various age-related health outcomes. Epigenetic age is a biomarker of aging associated with age-related disease and all-cause mortality.
The investigators discovered variations in the benefits of green spaces for biological aging based on race, sex and socioeconomic status.
The study involved more than 900 individuals residing in four cities across the U.S.: Birmingham, Ala.; Chicago; Minneapolis; and Oakland, Calif. This sample represents a subset of a larger-scale cohort study conducted in the U.S., the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA).
City aerial view. Image credit: Chung Kevin via Pxhere, CC0 Public Domain
Researchers evaluated the 20-year exposure to surrounding green spaces using satellite imaging, which allowed them to quantify the overall vegetation (greenness proportion) as well as the presence of major parks near the participants’ residences. To assess participants’ biological age, scientists analyzed their blood DNA methylation.
“Our study highlights that the natural environment, like green space, affects your health at a molecular level (changes in DNA methylation), which was detectable in blood,” said senior author Dr. Lifang Hou, professor of preventive medicine at Feinberg.
“Our research team has extensively investigated the molecular-level changes associated with various age-related health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive function and mortality. This particular study contributes to our understanding of how the natural environment influences these health outcomes.”
The disparities observed in the study based on race, sex and socioeconomic status underscore the importance of conducting future research to investigate the role of social determinants of health in relation to the surrounding environment and healthy aging, Hou said.
“We believe our findings have significant implications for urban planning in terms of expanding green infrastructure to promote public health and reduce health disparities,” Kim said.
“The continuous decline in water quality due to increased salinity levels in its composition is alarming. This situation significantly impacts vulnerable groups, such as children and adolescents, pregnant women and people suffering from chronic diseases,” they said in a statement.
Although health authorities have urged vulnerable groups to purchase bottled water, “this may create a risk of de facto water privatisation for human consumption,” they warned.
“We recognise the government’s efforts to reduce water taxes. However, measures must be deepened to ensure that all people can access the water necessary for life,” the experts said.
While the government has recommended reducing household water consumption, they said these restrictions do not apply to large-scale consumers, such as industries using water for production.
Uphold human rights
The experts added that the over-exploitation of water, particularly by some industries, is an underlying issue in the overall problem.
“Uruguay must put human consumption at the forefront, as indicated by international human rights standards,” they said.
Experts have been warning for years that the expansion of concessions to water-intensive industries was leading to water pollution and shortages in the country.
“Water for human consumption represents barely five per cent of the total supply of drinking water. Consequently, failure to prioritise its use is unacceptable,” they said.
They recalled that the human right to water implies that supply must be accessible, free of pollutants and managed sustainably,
“Businesses, including state-owned enterprises, have a responsibility to respect human rights at all times, and States have an obligation to ensure the protection of this right by guaranteeing universal access to safe drinking water, even during emergencies,” they added.
About UN rights experts
The five experts who issued the statement were appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
They include Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, and the members of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights.
Experts appointed by the Council serve in their individual capacity. They are not UN staff and are not paid for their work.
“Deporting migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers without conducting an individual and objective risk assessment of their exposure to human rights violations, including torture and enforced disappearance upon return, is refoulement.”
The principle of non-refoulement, enshrined in the Convention against Torture and other international human rights treaties, guarantees specific protection against all forms of expulsion, regardless of nationality or migration status.
“Immigration detention should be an exceptional measure of last resort, used only for adults, for the shortest period of time and for a legitimate purpose,” the experts said. “It also appears that the authorities are specifically targeting Eritreans, a practice that constitutes discrimination.”
According to data from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), as of the end of May, there were around 165,000 Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers in Ethiopia, having fled violence and hardship in their country.
The human rights experts said that several cases of separation were reported following the mass deportations, with parents forced back to Eritrea and children left behind in Ethiopia.
The Human Rights Council-appointed experts also called on Eritrean officials to ensure those forcibly deported are protected, amid report of serious rights violations against them, including torture, ill-treatment, enforced disappearance, trafficking and arbitrary detention.
“We urge the Eritrean authorities to provide information on their fate and whereabouts and to ensure that they can have access to their relatives, lawyers or anyone of their choice,” the experts said, calling on refugee protection organizations in Ethiopia to engage with the Ethiopian authorities to support access to the asylum system and relevant documentation for those on the move.
The experts are mandated to monitor and report on specific thematic issues or country situations and work on a voluntary basis. They serve in their individual capacity; are not UN staff and do not receive a salary.
That’s the message from UNAIDS, the UN agency dedicated to ending the epidemic, which said on Thursday that truly eradicating it boils down to a “political and financial choice”.
The agency’s Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, said that today’s leaders have the opportunity to save millions of lives and be “remembered by future generations” as those who put a stop to the world’s deadliest pandemic.
“They could save millions of lives and protect the health of everyone. They could show what leadership can do”, she said.
According to a new UNAIDS report, Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe have already achieved what is known as the “95-95-95” targets: 95 per cent of the people who are living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those who know that they are living with HIV are on lifesaving antiretroviral treatment, and 95 per cent of people in treatment are virally suppressed.
Steady progress
Progress has been strongest in the countries and regions that have spent most on tackling HIV/AIDS such as in eastern and southern Africa, where new HIV infections have been reduced by 57 per cent since 2010.
Following support and investment to end AIDS among children, 82 per cent of pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV globally were able to access antiretroviral treatment last year – up from 46 per cent in 2010.
New infections among children have fallen by 58 per cent during the same period, the lowest number since the 1980s, UNAIDS reported.
Progress has also been bolstered by ensuring legal and policy frameworks do not undermine human rights, but rather enable and protect them. Countries have continued to rollback harmful laws. In the past two years, Antigua and Barbuda, the Cook Islands, Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Singapore, have all decriminalized same-sex relations.
The number of people on antiretroviral treatment worldwide rose nearly fourfold, from 7.7 million in 2010 to 29.8 million in 2022.
A life a minute
But there is still a long way to go to meet the aspiration of ending AIDS by 2030. AIDS claimed a life every minute last year, said the UN agency, and some 9.2 million people still miss out on treatment, including 660,000 children living with HIV.
Women and girls continue to suffer disproportionately, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Around 4,000 young women and girls became infected with HIV each week in 2022.
Getting sufficient funding to meet the challenge is also proving hard, with an overall decline last year from both domestic and international sources. Funding amounted to $20.8 billion, far short of the $29.3 billion needed by 2025.
Cautious optimism
“We are hopeful but it is not the relaxed optimism that might come if all was heading as it should be”, said Ms. Byanyima. “It is, instead, a hope rooted in seeing the opportunity for success, an opportunity that is dependent on action”.
“The facts and figures shared in this report do not show that as a world we are already on the path, they show that we can be. The way is clear.”
