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Can a Chinese AI weather system help Pakistan manage the impacts of a changing climate?

Zofeen Ebrahim
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Can a Chinese AI weather system help Pakistan manage the impacts of a changing climate?

This article was originally published on Dialogue Earth under the Creative Commons BY NC ND licence.

The first time Muhammad Irfan Virk entered the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) in Beijing, in 2024, he was captivated. “I was proud of how far we had leapfrogged technologically, especially over the last two years,” said the director of Pakistan’s National Weather Forecasting Centre. “But the CMA’s forecasting office was something else – it was almost sci-fi.”

Virk was part of a team of Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasters sent to the CMA to help tailor its weather forecasting platform for use in Pakistan.

The system is known as MAZU, short for “multi-hazard, alert, zero-gap and universal”. It is also the name of a traditional Chinese sea goddess known as the protector of sailors.

The AI system cannot stop extreme weather, said Zaheer Ahmed Babar, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD)’s chief meteorologist and acting director general. But by providing earlier warnings, it can “help forecasters make better and wiser decisions”, he said. “How we use that information to reduce losses is up to us.” The PMD has been using a version of MAZU tailored for Pakistan since October 2025, said Yin Shengxin, science attaché of the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad. This is alongside other early warning tools, including data from other weather model datasets and satellites.

“Given Pakistan’s pressing needs for early warning capabilities and disaster risk reduction, the two sides jointly developed and deployed the MAZU system, making Pakistan the first country to benefit from this innovative solution,” said Yin.

The CMA and PMD have a long history of close collaboration, he told Dialogue Earth. Yin added that the cooperation between China and Pakistan on MAZU is being carried out “under the South-South cooperation on climate change” by the Chinese government.

In the aftermath of the 26 August floods in regional neighbour Nepal and China, MAZU is also being used to assess and forecast local weather conditions for organising rescue efforts, reports China Daily. Using the system, Chinese authorities have reportedly been providing Nepal with daily updates in aspects including the development and risk forecasts of newly formed barrier lakes, and emergency hydrological monitoring.

But while AI-weather modelling experts Dialogue Earth spoke to broadly welcome the use of the Chinese model, they say it is not a magic bullet for early warning systems. They also say it is too early to tell whether it can be accurate in Pakistan’s local climate and geographical context.

MAZU takes centre stage

At an April press conference announcing further international cooperation on MAZU’s expansion, CMA administrator Chen Zhenlin said early warning systems offer a cost-effective way to protect lives and property as extreme weather threatens food and energy security.

According to Chinese news reports, at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference held in Shanghai in July, MAZU’s booth proved popular, drawing huge crowds that included diplomats, engineers and journalists.

Its popularity may have been boosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping namechecking the system in his keynote speech at the conference. “To further support global AI development and advance global AI capacity building, I hereby announce that in the next five years, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs… and enable 30 countries to use the AI-powered meteorological warning system, or MAZU,” he told attendees.

Babar of PMD said MAZU can be tailored to a country’s geography, infrastructure and disaster risks by integrating local meteorological data. Pakistani researchers and forecasters were trained to use a version calibrated to Pakistan’s data, he noted.

MAZU has also been deployed in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Jordan, Sri Lanka and the Solomon Islands. China is also supporting over 40 countries with cloud-based, virtual trials of the system.

“What makes the platform valuable is that it brings conventional meteorology, satellite and radar data, ground-station observations and local calibration together with AI insights and warnings,” said Asim Javid, CEO of AI Geo Navigators, which uses AI, mapping data and remote sensing to gauge weather and environmental risk. “Having all these inputs integrated in one place changes how forecasters work.”

From insight to real-world validation

While AI-based weather tools support early warning systems, these are not “stand-alone systems sufficient to address our gaps… At least, not yet,” said climatologist Imran Khalid.

An effective early warning system, Babar explained, requires a whole-of-government approach built around four basic components: disaster risk management, detection and forecasting, dissemination and communication, and preparedness and response.

This holistic approach is endorsed by Junaid Yamin, co-founder of WeatherWalay, a Pakistani subscription weather forecast service. But the success of the hydrometeorology sector – the study of water and energy transfer between land and atmosphere – ultimately depends on effective public-private collaboration, he said.

“No single institution can tackle climate change alone. It requires breaking silos, sharing data and aligning government, business and civil society around a common mission,” said Yamin. In countries with strong weather systems, he said, governments, businesses and communities work together, from collecting data and issuing warnings to taking action.

Javid echoed this, arguing that weather data should be “open source”.

“Rain and heat trigger many weather-related hazards, affecting businesses from telecom and banking to agriculture,” he said. “Access to weather data can help businesses design products that reduce disaster losses.” The WMO has been pushing for more “free and unrestricted exchange” of observational weather data through its 2021 unified data policy and its 2024–27 strategy, the latter emphasising partnerships with the private sector.

Only as good as the data feeding it

Explaining how weather forecasts are generated, Babar said the atmosphere is “inherently chaotic”. Even small changes in air pressure, temperature, wind and humidity can make accurate forecasting impossible through conventional methods alone, he noted.

That is where systems like MAZU can help. “It can solve complex mathematical equations in seconds, enabling forecasters to make faster, more timely decisions,” noted Babar.

But these systems are only as good as the weather data feeding it. “Unless we have good data, we will still be guessing and we will still be blind to the [potential] weather impacts,” said Khalid. Such programmes can predict major events such as monsoons and heatwaves. However, precise forecasts – such as when the monsoon will reach a particular valley in a mountainous region, or whether heat will trigger a glacial lake outburst flood – require dense, evenly distributed radar coverage that Pakistan lacks, he noted.

“Pakistan is a hard case,” noted Javid. Ground stations are sparse, and in the country’s northern mountainous regions, terrain elevation can change dramatically over a few kilometres. “Events that kill people – highly localised extreme rainfall and flash floods – happen at scales smaller than most global models [can forecast],” he noted. MAZU cannot predict weather at the 1-km level, he said, and neither can most US and European models, which generally operate at around a 9-km resolution.

Another problem, said Javid, is that it is commonly assumed – even by decision makers – that AI systems automatically produce highly accurate results. “It still depends entirely on the observations and models behind it,” he explained. “A model learns from what has happened before, and the events we most need warnings for are the ones with the thinnest historical record.”

These gaps limit how precisely AI can forecast weather at the local level. “Without detailed ground data, AI tools can effectively hallucinate, producing confident local forecasts with no real observational basis, resulting in serious consequences,” Khalid warned.

He said models can miss highly localised events, such as intense rain over a few neighbourhoods, or a cyclone’s precise landfall timing and location, leaving communities unprepared. “This is why localised radar data is crucial.”

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Floods in 2016 badly impacted Peshawar in Pakistan’s north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The city, located in a valley, is vulnerable to flash floods from heavy rainfall in the surrounding mountains (Image: IMAGO / Xinhua / Alamy)

Model outputs need to be independently cross-checked, while the systems themselves must be trained to account for Pakistan’s ground realities, he emphasised. This includes training on historical weather patterns and flagging uncertainties about results it produces where there are data gaps. Its outputs must also account for institutional constraints such as delays in communication between government agencies, and lack of sufficient expert staffing and monitoring equipment, Khalid noted.

But the challenge may extend beyond data and equipment. He questioned the PMD’s technical capacity to manage the system, citing a World Bank-funded weather radar project that was ultimately scrapped, and an obsolete existing radar network long overdue for replacement.

MAZU should make professional judgement sharper, not optional

Asim Javid, CEO, AI Geo Navigators

Javid pointed to another consideration: accountability. The use of an AI-supported system such as MAZU introduces additional model outputs – or predictions based on processed data – and automated guidance. These should be documented, while the authorised PMD forecaster retains responsibility for putting out the public warning, he noted. “If a warning goes out, or an event is missed, someone has to be able to explain what produced that call. That needs traceability [of technical decisions] and a forecaster in the loop,” he said. “Every warning should have a clear audit trail showing the observations, model outputs, thresholds and professional judgement behind it.”

He added that MAZU should make this judgement “sharper, not optional”.

To see if MAZU really works better than existing systems, Javid said he would use three simple measures, and “set the rules before the season starts, not after seeing what happened”.

First, he said, he would test how accurate MAZU’s forecasts are against PMD’s existing system and an independent benchmark, such as a recognised global forecasting system.

The second test would be hazard detection: “Can MAZU accurately identify dangerous weather events, not just predict ordinary weather?”

The third would be its practical value: how much extra warning time does it provide, and how many false alarms does it generate? “For a deputy commissioner [the most senior administrator of a district], three extra hours to prepare can matter more than a small gain in temperature accuracy.”

He added that he would test it for “two monsoon seasons at minimum, along with winter and mountain [terrain] cases. If MAZU proves better on forecast skill, hazard detection and lead time, it adds real value. Otherwise, it’s a well-designed platform, not a validated one”.

Also Read: Zero Deaths, No Warning: Why Forecasts Alone Don’t Save Lives

Zero Deaths, No Warning: Why Forecasts Alone Don’t Save Lives

Mohammad Sufyan Hashmi
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Zero Deaths, No Warning: Why Forecasts Alone Don’t Save Lives

In June 2023, a cyclone named Biparjoy churned toward Gujarat, on India’s western coast, packing sustained winds strong enough to flatten huts and snap power lines. Twenty-five years earlier, in June 1998, a cyclone of almost identical strength had struck nearly the same stretch of coastline. That storm, remembered as the Kandla cyclone, killed close to 1,200 people. When Biparjoy made landfall in 2023, Gujarat recorded zero deaths.

Two years later, in mid-August 2025, a very different kind of storm hit a mountain district called Buner, in northern Pakistan. Unlike a slow-moving cyclone that news channels track for a week, it hit without warning. It was a cloudburst, an intense, highly localised downpour worsened by glacier melt, that emptied a mountainside’s worth of water onto a handful of villages within minutes. Flash floods and landslides followed almost immediately. Within days, the death toll in Buner alone had passed 200, part of a wider toll across the province that climbed past 300. Survivors told reporters that the loudspeakers on local mosques, the traditional way news travels fast in remote areas, never sounded a warning. Pakistan’s disaster management authority later acknowledged that an early-warning system existed on paper; it simply could not outrun the storm.

Two disasters, roughly two years and two thousand kilometres apart. Between them sits nearly everything researchers now understand about why early-warning systems succeed or fail.

It Usually Isn’t the Forecast That Fails

For decades, “early warning” conjured images of satellites and sirens, the hardware of detection. But a large and growing body of disaster-risk research, spanning floods, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides, keeps arriving at the same conclusion. Forecasting the hazard is, for most disasters, now the easier part. What breaks down is everything downstream of the forecast: whether a warning reaches the right person, in a language and format they trust, with enough time and enough reason to actually move.

Disaster scientists describe an effective system as resting on four connected pillars: understanding who is at risk, monitoring and forecasting the hazard, getting the warning to people, and having the resources in place for them to respond when it arrives. Weaken any one pillar and the other three stop mattering as much. The World Meteorological Organization’s latest global count of national systems, published alongside the UN climate summit in Belém last November, found that disaster mortality is nearly six times lower in countries with comprehensive multi-hazard systems than in countries with only partial ones. Researchers increasingly argue that this is the right way to treat early warning: as infrastructure to be funded and maintained, not simply information to be broadcast.

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A forecaster monitors radar and satellite data at a weather centre. Detection tools like these have improved dramatically, The 2021 European floods were forecast accurately days out.

A Wealthy Country Proves the Point

If this were purely a poverty problem, Luxembourg would not be a useful case study. In July 2021, the same storm system that devastated parts of Germany and Belgium also produced Luxembourg’s most financially costly disaster on record. Researchers who later reconstructed the event found that strong warning signals were available days in advance and did reach the relevant institutions, but were not consistently translated into public warnings or coordinated protective action in time. Separate modelling of that same flood found that impact-based forecasts, the kind precise enough to tell a mayor which specific streets and buildings will flood, could have given authorities up to 17 hours of building-level warning. The technology existed. What lagged was the chain of decisions between the forecast desk and the front door.

The Clock Runs Differently for Every Hazard

How much warning time is even possible depends entirely on the hazard, and that shapes what “acting on a warning” can realistically mean. Flood forecasts can now offer hours to several days of notice. Cyclone tracks are typically visible almost a week out. Earthquakes offer, at best, tens of seconds, enough to drop, cover and hold on, not enough to evacuate a city.

That distinction helps explain the gap between Kandla and Biparjoy. Between 1998 and 2023, India’s meteorological department sharply improved its ability to forecast a cyclone’s formation, track and landfall with useful lead time, but the lives saved came from what happened next: district officials who trusted the forecast enough to order evacuations, and coastal residents who trusted the officials enough to leave. A similar dynamic played out in Odisha in 2019, when a technology-enabled dissemination system helped move an estimated 1.2 million people out of Cyclone Fani’s path in a matter of days.

Earthquakes are far less forgiving. In Central America, where seismic hazard is high and building codes are inconsistent, researchers estimate that earthquake early-warning networks, which give people only seconds, still reduce average annual fatalities by roughly 10%, translating into hundreds fewer deaths in Costa Rica and Nicaragua and thousands fewer in El Salvador and Guatemala over time. Even a few seconds, it turns out, is worth building for.

Comprehension matters as much as speed. When Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in 2013, researchers later surveying survivors found that most residents knew a powerful storm was approaching. What many did not grasp in time was the specific danger of storm surge, a wall of seawater distinct from wind or rainfall, because the forecast language never quite translated into a mental picture of what was coming. People braced for a familiar kind of typhoon and were met with an unfamiliar one.

Who Still Gets Left Out

Even where systems exist on paper, they rarely reach everyone equally. A study examining Pakistan’s flood early-warning systems, based on interviews with officials and community focus groups, found the design leaning bureaucratic and top-down, with limited gender sensitivity and little routine engagement of the residents it was meant to protect. A separate global assessment of 182 major cities found that only 71 (39%) had a complete four-pillar warning system in place, and that cities in high- and upper-middle-income countries were roughly three times more likely to have one than cities in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Health was named as a goal by most of these cities, yet only 41% had given public-health agencies any defined role within the system.

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A concrete cyclone shelter on Bangladesh’s coast. The country has built thousands of these multi-purpose shelters, doubling as schools between storms, alongside its volunteer warning network.

The regional picture shows both how far the world has come and how far it has not. Since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, researchers tracking Southeast Asia found the share of countries with multi-hazard systems rose from about a quarter in 2015 to two-thirds in 2023. What is still missing, the same review concluded, is reliable “last-mile” delivery: turning a warning issued in a national capital into something a fisher, a farmer or a grandmother in a remote village receives in a language, format and moment she can actually use. Across the wider literature, the same pattern repeats in different countries: women, people with disabilities, and communities in low-income or conflict-affected settings are consistently the last to be reached, even in countries with strong national capacity on paper.

What Technology Can, and Cannot, Fix

New tools are narrowing some of these gaps in genuinely useful ways. In 2024, researchers described an artificial-intelligence flood-forecasting model that predicts extreme river floods up to five days ahead, even in watersheds with no stream gauges at all, a breakthrough specifically for the low-income and remote regions that dense monitoring networks have historically skipped. The system was reported to be running operationally in more than 80 countries.

But the WMO’s own tracking data is a caution against expecting technology alone to close the gap. Globally, the weakest of the four pillars remains the most human one: understanding, in granular detail, who is exposed and how vulnerable they are. Fewer than a third of countries report having that capability well developed, even as monitoring and forecasting tools race ahead. Reviews of the wider research literature reach a consistent verdict: evidence that artificial intelligence and connected sensors can extend warning coverage is real but still rated moderate; evidence that the deepest, most persistent problem is communication, trust and response, not detection, is rated strong.

What Is Actually Working

Bangladesh offers the longest-running proof that the fix is more human than technical. The cyclone that struck the Bay of Bengal coast in November 1970 killed an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 people, by different counts, among the deadliest natural disasters on record. Bangladesh’s government and the Red Crescent responded by building the Cyclone Preparedness Programme, a network that now trains and deploys more than 76,000 volunteers, roughly half of them women, who go door to door on foot and bicycle carrying flags, hand sirens and warnings delivered in local dialects. The toll from major cyclones has fallen with almost every storm since: about 138,000 lives lost in 1991, roughly 3,400 to 4,000 in 2007’s Cyclone Sidr, fewer than 30 each in 2019 and 2020. A separate survey of coastal households found they were willing to pay roughly $5.57 a year, out of their own pockets, for better warning services delivered in their own language, a small figure that says something large: when a system is trusted, people do not just receive it, they invest in it.

That is the model the United Nations is now trying to scale worldwide through its Early Warnings for All initiative, launched in 2022 with a deadline of protecting every person on Earth by the end of 2027. As of last November, 119 countries, 60% of all UN member states, up from just 52 a decade earlier, reported having some form of multi-hazard system. Researchers who track the initiative’s progress against the UN’s Sendai Framework point to three gaps still holding it back: inconsistent understanding of what “early warning” even means across agencies and disciplines, a failure to formally fund and recognize the informal community networks already doing this work in fragile settings, and weak collaboration between scientists, governments and the communities on the receiving end of every warning.

Gujarat and Buner were both, in the end, hit by an accurately forecast hazard. The difference was not in the sky. It was in everything underneath it: funded shelters, trained volunteers, a warning system built with the people it serves rather than issued at them, and enough institutional trust that when the alert came, someone believed it enough to move. Building that kind of system everywhere, for everyone, by 2027, remains very much a work in progress. But for the first time, researchers say, the gap between what is technically possible and what is actually delivered is a target with a name, a deadline, and a shrinking, if still substantial, distance left to close.

References

Ahsan, M. N., Khatun, A., Islam, M. S., Vink, K., Ohara, M., & Fakhruddin, B. (2020). Preferences for improved early warning services among coastal communities at risk in cyclone-prone south-west Bangladesh. Progress in Disaster Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2020.100065

Da Costa, J., Ebert, E. E., Hoffmann, D., Cloke, H., & Neumann, J. (2026). Signals without action: a value chain analysis of Luxembourg’s 2021 flood disaster. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-343-2026

De Perez, E. C., et al. (2022). Learning from the past in moving to the future: Invest in communication and response to weather early warnings to reduce death and damage. Climate Risk Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2022.100461

León, J. V. D., Bogardi, J., Dannenmann, S., & Basher, R. (2006). Early warning systems in the context of disaster risk management. Entwicklung und Ländlicher Raum, 40, 23–25.

Merz, B., et al. (2020). Impact forecasting to support emergency management of natural hazards. Reviews of Geophysics, 58. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020rg000704

Mohapatra, M., & Sharma, M. (2025). Cyclone warning system in India: A journey of success over 25 years. Weather and Forecasting. https://doi.org/10.1175/waf-d-23-0188.1

Najafi, H., et al. (2024). High-resolution impact-based early warning system for riverine flooding. Nature Communications, 15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48065-y

Nearing, G., et al. (2024). Global prediction of extreme floods in ungauged watersheds. Nature, 627, 559–563. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07145-1

Orihuela, B., et al. (2025). Impact assessment of earthquake early warning systems in Central America. Earthquake Spectra, 41, 3094–3122. https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930251342826

Rajendran, L., & S, S. R. (2021). ICT-enabled early warning dissemination system for disaster management. 2021 6th International Conference on Inventive Computation Technologies (ICICT), 443–448. https://doi.org/10.1109/icict50816.2021.9358641

Rokhideh, M., Fearnley, C. J., & Budimir, M. (2025). Multi-hazard early warning systems in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction: Achievements, gaps, and future directions. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 16, 103–116. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-025-00622-9

Shah, A., Ullah, A., Khan, N. A., Pal, I., Alotaibi, B. A., & Traore, A. (2022). Gender perspective of flood early warning systems: People-centered approach. Water, 14(14), 2261. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14142261

Sheehan, M., Boned-Ombuena, A., Cash-Gibson, L., Damis-Wulff, A., & Fox, M. A. (2025). A global assessment of urban extreme weather early warning systems and public health engagement. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 103, 294–303. https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.24.292205

Yadav, N., Thalakiya, R., Srivastava, S., Yadav, N., & Ostadtaghizadeh, A. (2026). Scoping review of early warning systems in improving disaster risk outcomes: perspective from evolution to usage in Southeast Asian countries. BMC Public Health, 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-26292-w

Yore, R., & Walker, J. (2020). Early warning systems and evacuation: Rare and extreme vs frequent and small-scale tropical cyclones in the Philippines and Dominica. Disasters. https://doi.org/10.1111/disa.12434

News, institutional and data sources

Associated Press / PBS NewsHour. (2025, August 17). Pakistan defends flood response after more than 270 people killed in northwestern district. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/pakistan-defends-flood-response-after-more-than-270-people-killed-in-northwestern-district

Associated Press via CBC. (2025, August 17). Pakistan defends flood response, says foreign help not needed as death toll tops 270. https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/1.7611077

Asia News Network. (2025, August 18). Death toll in Pakistan floods climbs to 323 as rescue operations continue. https://asianews.network/?p=221237

The Business Standard. (2021). 50 years of cyclone preparedness: Success in saving lives, but not livelihood. https://www.tbsnews.net/thoughts/50-years-cyclone-preparedness-success-saving-lives-not-livelihood-368398

UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). (2023). Congratulatory message [on the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s Cyclone Preparedness Programme]. https://www.undrr.org/news/congratulatory-message

World Bank. Saving lives from Cyclone Mahasen in Bangladesh. https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/endpovertyinsouthasia/saving-lives-cyclone-mahasen-bangladesh

World Meteorological Organization & UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. (2025, November 12). Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems 2025. https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/early-warning-systems-reach-new-heights-critical-gaps-jeopardize-global-progress

World Meteorological Organization. Early Warnings for All. https://wmo.int/site/wmo-and-early-warnings-all-initiative

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). (2022). Pakistan: 2022 Floods Response Plan. https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/2022-10/Pakistan%20Floods%202022%20-%20Floods%20Response%20Plan%20-%20Revision%20-%2004%20Oct%202022.pdf

Also read: Beyond Filtration: Dr Mohammad Haris on Removing Microplastics, Nanoplastics and PFAS

Beauty at What Cost?— Impacts of Cosmetic Ingredients on the Environment and Our Health

Khair ul Bariyah
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Beauty at What Cost?— Impacts of Cosmetic Ingredients on the Environment and Our Health

Since time immemorial, people have celebrated the trend of adorning and decorating themselves. This practice often arises from a desire to improve perceived physical flaws or enhance one’s natural beauty. Cosmetics serve as tools to fulfill these psychological needs.

Although applying various cosmetics can bring a radiant glow to the face and boost individuals’ confidence as they feel beautiful, the hidden ingredients within these beauty products can diminish environmental brilliance and lead to associated health issues. Cosmetics include lipsticks, creams, powders, lotions, nail polish, shampoos, mascara, perfumes, etc. People of all ages and spheres widely use them.

If you can't change your surroundings, change your hair color.
If you can’t change your surroundings, change your hair color. Photo, Unsplash

Hair Dye: New Toxic Trend

Brittany Murphy has addressed the prominence of hair dyes well, saying, “If you can’t change your surroundings, change your hair color”. We’re often in the habit of changing hair color according to our needs and mental state. Now, let’s delve into the hidden chemistry of hair dyes, clearly mentioning the associated adversity. 

Coal tar, a mixture of chemicals derived from petroleum, is also used to generate cosmetic colors with a five-digit Colour Index (CI) number. The particular coal tar dye commonly used in hair dyes is p-phenylenediamine. The color concentration of the hair dye is proportional to the ratio of phenylenediamine used.

According to the European Union, p-phenylenediamine is categorized as toxic and is fatal to aquatic organisms, causing appalling effects in the marine environment. It is known to be carcinogenic and is reported to cause pharyngeal irritation, asthma complications, and dermatitis. Other coal tar colors are also categorized as cancer-causing agents.

Besides the main constituent, p-phenylenediamine, other dyeing agents adversely affect human health. P-aminophenol aggravates asthma, causes eye and skin issues, and promotes methemoglobinemia. The dye 4,5-diaminopyrazole causes eye damage and skin allergies. Pyrimidine causes eye issues and dermatitis. Resorcinol promotes problems in the eyes, skin, and respiratory system. 

Moreover, drowsiness and dizziness are related concerns with using hair dyes that have this component in their composition. Meta-aminophenol triggers skin sensitization, and meta-phenylenediamine causes eye and skin concerns.

It also affects the kidneys and blood, leading to renal failure and methemoglobin formation. Pyridine, when part of hair dye, initiates irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory system and causes dizziness. Toluene-2,5-diamine induces pro- and anti-inflammatory responses.

The presence of aluminum compounds and other heavy metals is harmful to the brain. Many dyes lack approval as food additives, yet they are still included in lipstick compositions.

Long-term use of hair dyes can lead to developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in women. In one research study on hair dye reactions conducted in India with 110 volunteers, individuals suffered from headaches (63 percent) and itching (38 percent).

 
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Other chemicals found in lipstick compositions include polymethylmethacrylate, methylparaben, and polyparaben. Photo, Splash

Toxic elements in Lipsticks

The most common cosmetic type to be used is lipstick, whether the lady is a makeup person or not; it is the minimum possible make-over done daily, especially by working ladies.Toxic elements such as Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn are found in lipsticks in excess. Some of these metals are not easily decomposed in landfills, causing pollution. The health impacts of these heavy metals are immense, and the longer the exposure time, the greater the seriousness of the side effects.

Aluminum— Gene alterations, oxidative stress, and breast cysts. Cadmium— Skin bruises, renal failure, chronic rhinitis, and oseotoxicities. Chromium— Carcinogenic and asthma inducer. Nickel— Respiratory, reproductive, renal disorders, and carcinogenic effects.

Other chemicals found in lipstick compositions include polymethylmethacrylate, methylparaben, polyparaben, retinyl palmitate, dyes, tocopheryl acetate, lead, propylene glycol, and methylparaben, which can cause allergies and cancers.

In an investigation, the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric method (ICP OES) was utilized to evaluate the presence of eleven harmful elements (Al, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Fe, Sb, Mn, and Zn) in fourteen lipstick samples. The hazard index (HI), hazard quotient (HQ), and average daily intake (ADD) were computed to determine the health risk assessment. Iron (Fe) had the greatest mean ADD value, while cobalt (Co) had the lowest.

cosmetic
Shampoo is essential to our daily lives. As Rory Power rightly said, “Even when there’s no bread, there’s always shampoo.” Photo, Conatural

Shampoo is essential to our daily lives. As Rory Power rightly said, “Even when there’s no bread, there’s always shampoo.” Photo, Splash

Shampoo, Our Daily Life Essential

Shampoo is essential to our daily lives. As Rory Power rightly said, “Even when there’s no bread, there’s always shampoo.” The care and treatment of hair and scalp conditions often involve shampoo as a common practice. Soap was the only available hair cleanser until the first non-alkaline shampoo was introduced in 1933.

The main environmental concern with shampoos is the biodegradation of their surfactant content. As it is discharged in much smaller amounts than detergents, it is often ignored and expected to cause no irreversible environmental harm. However, some shampoo ingredients, such as coal tar, formaldehyde, halogenated aromatics, and musk, have been identified as impacting the environment and health.

Amongst the various parameters measuring shampoo safety, aquatic toxicity and biodegradability hold prime value. The active ingredients in shampoo, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, resorcinol, parabens, triclosan, and dioxane, have been reported to pose irritation and eye damage concerns.

cosmetics
The nail paint extracts pose alarming risks to the aquatic environment as they are studied to be acutely toxic for zebrafish embryos. Photo, Splash

Nail Polishes, Mutagenic and Cytotoxic for Humans

The beauty of hands is glorified through multifarious nail colors, and a complete makeup package never goes without it. The leached and solubilized extracts from nail polishes are investigated to be mutagenic and cytotoxic for humans, and a much more pronounced effect is observed for the solubilized extract. The nail polish extracts pose alarming risks to the aquatic environment as they are acutely toxic for zebrafish embryos. 

It is unknown how much of the chemicals released from nail polish disposal currently exist in the environment. Therefore, the improper disposal of nail polish may pose risks to human and environmental health. Many chemicals in nail polish bottles, namely phthalates, xylene, acetates, formaldehyde, camphor, etc., may induce reproductive system disorders.

cosmetic
Maurice Rousel once said, “Your fragrance is your message, your scented slogan.” Photo, Chase Value

Fragrances are often overlooked pollutants, but they accumulate in the food chain through water. Once fragrance molecules mix with other pollutants already in the air, they form irritating and allergic substances, such as peroxides and inflammatory substances, causing asthma and related problems. Respirable particles are 10 µm or less. With the addition of D-limonene in the office, the size of the molecule increases by 100 times due to accumulation. 

The decomposition of musk compounds takes time in the aquatic environment. They function as organic pollutants by accumulating in the tissues of fish. The constituents of prime value in fragrance manufacturing are benzaldehyde, acetone, ethanol, formaldehyde, phthalates, linalool, camphor, and many more, which cause serious health concerns like kidney damage and irritation in various body parts.

Other harmful Cosmetics

The contents of hairspray are liable to contribute to ozone depletion. They can cause hormonal disruptions and allergies in human beings. Triclosan, present in deodorant, resides on the water’s surface and harms aquatic organisms. All the ingredients can cause respiratory disorders, irritations, and headaches.

Blusher is dangerous to marine and aquatic organisms, with long-term side effects—the contents in the blusher cause irritation and hormonal imbalances. Face foundation contains carcinogenic ingredients, and its heavy metals are not biodegradable, leading to land pollution in landfills. The same issue applies to heavy metals, which are quite prominent in mascara and eyeliner. 

The manufacturing processes involved in lotion generate significant pollution, and the lotion itself is non-biodegradable. Lotion may cause hormonal imbalances and irritation. Some sunscreen products are reported to affect coral reefs. The packaging waste of cosmetic products is a big challenge for many countries, posing many environmental issues.

Final Words

The idea of improving outward looks has been very well conceived by people of all ages worldwide. When people fight for the necessities of life, the beauty industry remains at its peak. Keeping our inner selves satisfied, we create many factors of dissatisfaction in the environment.

Moreover, temporary improvement of looks leads to long-term and permanent health setbacks. The importance of the “musts” cannot be addressed, yet careful and limited exposure to these would cater to the needs of personal and environmental levels. 

References:

  • D.E. Rollison, K.J. Helzlsouer and S.M. Pinney,  Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part B: Critical Review, 2006; 9(5): 493–500. 
  • Y. Zhang, American Journal of Epidemiology, 2008; 167(11):1321– 1331.
  • K. H. Kim, E. Kabir, E., S. A. Jahan, “The Environment International, 2016; 89: 222-227.
  • D. Patel, S. Narayana, B. Krishnaswamy,  2013; 5: 140–143.
  • J. Mrmošanin, A. Pavlović, S. Miti, S. Tošić, E. Pecev-Marinković, J. Krstić, M. Nikolić,  Acta Chimica Slovenica 2019; 66 (4): 802-813.
  • R. Kohli, A. Mittal, A. Mittal, “Adverse effects of Cosmetics on the Women Health.” In BIO Web of Conferences. EDP Sciences. 2024; 86: 01026.
  • C.C. Urbano, “50 years of hair care development.” Cosmet Toiletries, 1995; 110: 85–104.
  • R. M. Trüeb, “Shampoos: ingredients, efficacy, and adverse effects.” JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft, 2007; 5 (5): 356-365.
  • I. Felzenszwalb, A. D. S. Fernandes, L. B. Brito, G. A. R. Oliveira, P. A. S. Silva, M. E. Arcanjo, E. R. A. Ferraz,  2019; 26, 27590-27603.
  • B. Bridges,  Flavor and fragrance journal, 2002; 17 (5), 361-371.

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US Confirms It Has Weapons in Orbit: A New Line in the Sand

Adnan Mirza
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US Confirms It Has Weapons in Orbit: A New Line in the Sand

“Today, we continue to ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats, wherever they exist. This is why the United States now has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action.”  — Troy Meink, Secretary of the Air Force

With this statement, on 14th September, Troy Meink, the Secretary of the Air Force and Space Force, became the first US official in history to publicly confirm the presence of weapons in space put there by the United States. He was speaking at the Cyber conference.

His choice of words was, however, well thought out, as he never mentioned the type of weapons placed there or the number of weapons we are talking about.

Victoria Samson, Chief Director of Space Security and Stability for the Secure World Foundation, speculated about the potential type of weapons in question. According to Samson, since the US has pledged not to conduct destructive anti-satellite missile tests, as they create debris, the US might not be talking about kinetic or destructive-type weapons. She said the weapons could be jammers or electronic warfare (EW) weapons that can disrupt or degrade the signals of potentially threatening satellites.

A spokesperson for the Air Force discussed the possibility that “they can be employed for offensive and defensive purposes at the direction of combatant commands.”

weapons
“Today, we continue to ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats, wherever they exist. This is why the United States now has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action.”  — Troy Meink, Secretary of the Air Force. Photo, Space News

Analysts are warned about!

The critical question emerges here: has the United States broken the Outer Space Treaty (OST) of 1967, which prohibits the ratifiers from placing weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, into space, orbit, or any celestial body?

Samson noted that Russia and China are already known to operate such systems, and that she assumes the US does too. Even so, she called the disclosure notable in its own right, telling SpacePolicyOnline.com that, “it is the first time any governmental official has publicly acknowledged an actual designed weapon placed in orbit — not a satellite with a counterspace capability — that has been placed in space.”

The revelation represents both a technological and a symbolic change. The US has previously accused Russia of testing anti-satellite weaponry, including a potential counterspace payload found in low-Earth orbit alongside US satellites. Space has been covertly militarised for years. Washington’s openness about its own weaponry, rather than merely blaming competitors, is novel.

Analysts warned that this normalises orbital weaponisation at a time when more nations are developing their own counterspace capabilities, including China and Russia’s counterspace programmes, India’s direct-ascent ASAT capability, and Iran’s jamming and spoofing techniques.

Implications for global strategy

The statement is likely to spark new discussions about space-based deterrence and burden-sharing among US allies. It serves as a clear warning shot for foes. Additionally, it raises new concerns for the global community about whether the Outer Space Treaty, which is about to celebrate its 60th anniversary, is still appropriate for a time when orbit is openly seen as a battlefield rather than merely an area for study.

Samson worries it may backfire, however. In the same interview, she added: “The issue is the same thing it’s always been: the United States stands to lose the most if space becomes a place of actual conflict, as we depend on it the most and have invested the most in it. 

China and Russia will either use this statement as yet another example of the United States being the bad actor in orbit (which has been their argument in international fora for years now, particularly since the US began openly calling space a warfighting domain) or as justification for their own offensive programs. I don’t see either of these paths ending well for the United States.” 

Considering Samson’s comments, if the “control weapons” are really space jammers and EW, then, in principle, they didn’t break the OST.

The OST did an amazing job in preventing space-based escalations back in 1967, but it did an absolutely terrible job in defining what a space weapon is. Hence, considering EW weapons, the treaty remains intact, as there are no nuclear weapons or any weapons of mass destruction that can bring cascading catastrophe in orbit.

So, on the narrow legal question, Meink’s disclosure likely doesn’t breach the OST, but it does expose how little that 60-year-old treaty was built to govern.

References:

  • ABC News, “Air Force secretary acknowledges the US has weapons in space,” 15 September 2026
  • Defense One, “US military has ‘on-orbit’ space weapons, Air Force Secretary reveals,” 14 September 2026
  • TechCrunch, “US military says it has launched weapons into space,” 15 September 2026
  • Al Jazeera, “What are ‘space weapons’, which US says it has deployed into orbit?”, 15 September 2026
  • SpacePolicyOnline.com, “Meink: U.S. Has Orbiting Space Control Weapons,” 14 September 2026
  • Astronomy.com, “U.S. confirms it has weapons in orbit,” 15 September 2026

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Beyond Filtration: Dr Mohammad Haris on Removing Microplastics, Nanoplastics and PFAS

Hadia Rashid
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0
Beyond Filtration: Dr Mohammad Haris on Removing Microplastics, Nanoplastics and PFAS

Microplastics, nanoplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are increasingly recognised as persistent contaminants in the environment and water systems. While conventional water treatment technologies can remove some pollutants, tackling these chemically and physically distinct contaminants simultaneously remains a significant scientific and technological challenge worldwide.

A dedicated team of researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, led by Dr Mohammad Haris, has been working on a promising approach to address this challenge. Dr Haris is part of the Innovative Resources and Waste Technologies (iRWT) research group. The team has developed a technology that can remove microplastics, nanoplastics, and PFAS from contaminated water. This research goes beyond conventional filtration, exploring new ways to capture and eliminate pollutants that are difficult to detect and remove with existing traditional treatment methods.

In this interview with our team member Hadia Rashid, Dr Haris discusses the science behind the technology, why microplastics, nanoplastics, and PFAS are particularly challenging contaminants, and how this teamwork can contribute to more effective water purification.

Watch on YouTube: Beyond Filtration: The Breakthrough That Could Clean Our Water with Dr Haris at RMIT, Australia

pFAS
Dr Haris is part of the Innovative Resources and Waste Technologies (iRWT) research group. Photo: Dr Haris

Hadia Rashid: Your team is working on the simultaneous removal of microplastics, nanoplastics, and PFAS. These are quite different types of pollutants. So what inspired your team to bring them together in one treatment approach?

Dr. Muhammad Haris: It’s an excellent question. When we talk about pollutants, they fall into different categories, and the ones I’m referring to are usually classified as emerging pollutants. So we can talk about microplastics, PFAS, and microfibers differently—these are also top pollutants in different research.

But when we see them in the natural environment, they usually coexist. So we started this work in early 2022 with microplastics, and then, because, as I said, they coexist in the natural environment, and PFAS is a very problematic pollutant as well and has very strict regulations around the world. So we thought that there should be a platform where we can address multiple pollutants at a time rather than addressing them separately.

Hadia Rashid: For someone hearing about PFAS for the first time, could you briefly explain what PFAS are and why they are often referred to as forever chemicals?

Dr. Muhammad Haris: PFAS are basically fluorocarbons. It’s a class of fluorocarbons with a carbon-fluorine bond, which is considered one of the strongest bonds in chemistry. They break down very slowly in the natural environment, and they have been widely used because of their exceptional stability. This property also creates a problem: they don’t break down; this is why they are called chemicals forever. And once they enter the human body, they are going to stay there forever and can cause several severe diseases. PFAS is not composed of only one class of fluorocarbons. Basically, it represents a very large group of fluorocarbons.

Hadia Rashid: Your team has reportedly demonstrated more than 95% removal of micro- and nanoplastics within an hour. Could you walk us through what actually happens when this magnetic adsorbent comes into contact with contaminated water?

Dr. Muhammad Haris: Once we talk about microplastics and nanoplastics, one thing is, just for the sake of understanding, a human hair is around thousands of nanometers in size. So when we talk about nanoparticles, we basically can’t see them, and they can be in different sources of water. When we go below the size of microplastics, they become very hard to remove from water. Usually, these particles are forced through the membranes to be removed. But it is very problematic for the smaller sizes because they usually escape through the compact membranes or the pores- these sorts of issues.

When we tested under different circumstances and conditions, we showed that it can remove up to 90%. The main thing is, rather than just removing 30 nanometers, we created a platform where we absorb those small nanoparticles onto magnetic material. We also removed larger particles, not just 30 nanometers. Since we used magnetic materials, we are looking beyond filtration. Our idea is to regenerate it, reuse it multiple times, and then convert it back into another functional material once it reaches the end of its life. Once the nanoparticles attach, we use an external magnet that pulls out the material, which already has the pollutant loaded on top of it. So yes, it is reusable.

In the lab, we have shown up to five cycles where we can reuse the same material multiple times. So we can regenerate it and reuse it.

Hadia Rashid: So that powder is made from waste?

Dr. Muhammad Haris: We started from waste, but then to make it more commercially viable, we now use a common carbon source. But you are right; we start with the waste, but it can work with several carbon precursors. And this is undoubtedly the beauty of our platform: we can tweak the properties and raw materials as required

Currently, it is not waste. It is a commercially available carbon material; our main idea was to convert it into real-world usage. We were thinking about how we can develop this platform so it’s easy to use and can be synthesized at commercial scale beyond the laboratory.

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Rock Climbing and Decision Making: The Role of Grip, Finger Biomechanics, Balance, and Fear

Sadaf Sarfraz
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Rock Climbing and Decision Making: The Role of Grip, Finger Biomechanics, Balance, and Fear

Imagine hanging several meters above the ground with nothing but your fingertips holding you to a wall. Your heart is racing, palms are sweaty, and you have to decide whether the tiny hold above you is strong enough to trust. At the same time, your feet are searching for the right position, your body is trying to maintain balance, and your brain is already planning the next move. Now it’s a game of fear, control, and science.

That is rock climbing. From the outside, it may look like a simple test of strength and courage. But behind every movement is a combination of physics, biomechanics, neuroscience, and decision-making. Climbing is a fast-growing sport, with one of the most common injuries being a rupture of the finger flexor tendon pulley.

A study was conducted on Motion Analysis of the Wrist and Finger Joints in Sport Climbing, in 2024, led by Gabreilla Fischer. This study aimed to examine finger kinematics during typical climbing tasks. Eleven elite climbers performed a sequence of four climbing moves, which were recorded by an optical motion capture system. Participants used crimp, half-crimp, and open-hand grips for three trials each, with the fourth condition involving campusing using any grip except crimp.

The Science Behind Grip

The first challenge in climbing is maintaining contact with the wall. This depends largely on friction, the force that resists motion when two surfaces come into contact. The amount of friction available depends on several factors, including the nature of the surfaces and the force pressing them together. Climbers therefore need to control how their hands and feet interact with the rock or artificial holds [1]. 

Sweat can make this more difficult. Moisture can reduce the effectiveness of friction between the skin and a climbing surface. This is why climbers commonly use magnesium carbonate, or climbing chalk, to absorb moisture from their hands [2]. However, chalk is not an adhesive. Its main purpose is to reduce moisture and improve grip conditions rather than make the hand literally stick to the rock. The shape of a hold also determines how a climber can use it. Large holds may allow the hand to wrap around them, while small edges require precise finger placement and greater force from the finger flexor muscles.

rock climbing
The shape of a hold also determines how a climber can use it. Photo, Unsplash

What Happens Inside the Fingers?

Our fingers may look simple, but their biomechanics are remarkably sophisticated. Muscles located primarily in the forearm generate force that is transmitted through tendons to the fingers. A series of structures called annular pulleys keep the flexor tendons close to the finger bones as the fingers bend [3]. This arrangement allows the fingers to efficiently transmit force.

Climbers use different grip positions depending on the shape and size of a hold. In an open-hand grip, the fingers remain relatively extended. In a crimp grip, the finger joints are more flexed, allowing the climber to generate substantial force on small edges [4].

Balance: Keeping the Center of Mass in Control

Strength alone cannot explain successful climbing. A climber must constantly control their center of mass, the point at which the mass of the body can be considered concentrated. Imagine trying to reach for something while standing on one foot, instinctively shifting the body to prevent falling. A climber performs similar adjustments continuously, but often on a much smaller and more demanding base of support.

Moving the hips closer to the wall can alter the forces acting on the hands. Rotating the body can make a distant hold easier to reach. Moving one foot can shift the center of mass and allow the opposite hand to move freely. [5] Efficient technique allows the climber to distribute forces between the arms, legs, and core. A climber who uses their skeleton and body alignment efficiently may conserve energy compared with someone who continuously pulls with their arms. [6]

The Brain Is Climbing Too

Climbing is also a cognitive activity. Before making a move, climbers visually examine the route and identify possible sequences. They have to estimate distances, recognize holds, plan foot placements, and anticipate how their body will move. This process is often called route reading. [7] With experience, the brain becomes better at recognizing movement patterns. Instead of consciously analyzing every individual action, experienced climbers can quickly identify familiar sequences and adjust them according to the route. Height introduces another biological component: the response of the body to perceived danger.

rock climbing
Height introduces another biological component: the response of the body to perceived danger. Photo, Unsplash

When the brain detects a potential threat, the sympathetic nervous system can activate the body’s fight-or-flight response. But fear can encourage a climber to pay closer attention to their surroundings and avoid unnecessary risks. But excessive anxiety can interfere with movement and decision-making [8]. A frightened climber may grip too tightly, increasing energy expenditure. They may also rush movements or become unable to commit to the next move.

Experienced climbers therefore do not necessarily eliminate fear. Instead, they learn to regulate their response to it and distinguish between useful caution and unnecessary panic.

The Human Body as a Climbing System

Rock climbing demonstrates that athletic performance is not simply about producing maximum force. It is about using force efficiently. A climber has to understand the surface through touch, interpret the route through vision, coordinate movement through the nervous system, maintain balance through constant adjustments, and manage fear while making decisions under pressure. On a climbing wall, science is not something happening in a laboratory [9].

It is happening in every grip, every movement, and every decision.

References:

  1. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/engineering/friction.
  2. https://shop.boulderplanet.sg/blogs/news/does-climbing-chalk-make-you-stronger?srsltid=AfmBOornhe_UiAcZ8v7_yhIQMHzgVKIrw3rJRkxp1tHWFDySvaYP7B2b.
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279362/.
  4. https://evmt.co/blogs/news/climbinggrip?srsltid=AfmBOoow3KgCgIsHO0BL0P0kAUJg8DngEld6khrjr_t1qhXniz3s8Omk.
  5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13027491/
  6. Devise M, Quaine F, Vigouroux L. Assessing climbers’ pull-up capabilities by differentiating the parameters involved in power production. PeerJ. 2023 Sep 26;11:e15886. doi: 10.7717/peerj.15886. PMID: 37780381; PMCID: PMC10540777.
  7. https://routereading.com/
  8. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging-and-longevity/understanding-the-stress-response
  9. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16687

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The Psychology of Honor Killing in Pakistan: Understanding Its Roots

Anam Ilyas
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The Psychology of Honor Killing in Pakistan: Understanding Its Roots

On August 14, 2026, Shamsu Bibi, better known online as Ayesha Gilamana, was shot dead while travelling in a car near Taxila. At first, investigators looked into an alleged financial dispute. Days later, police said the evidence pointed somewhere far closer to home: her father, brother, and other relatives were arrested, with investigators alleging that members of her family had arranged the killing in the name of “honor,” partly because they opposed her social-media activity.

Those allegations have not yet been proven in court. As of the latest confirmed court update on August 25, Ayesha’s father, brother, and paternal uncle had been sent to judicial remand. Two alleged shooters were placed on physical remand as the investigation continued.

An Honor Killing is not simply “people killing people because of honor.” It is better understood as an extreme form of gender-based and family violence in which a person is punished for conduct that relatives or a wider social group believe has damaged the family’s reputation. The supposed transgression may involve choosing a partner, seeking divorce, refusing a marriage, working publicly, using social media, or being accused of sexual or social misconduct.

The numbers show this is bigger than one case

Pakistan’s 2026 numbers make it difficult to dismiss such killings as rare family disputes.

Sahil’s Six Months Cruel Numbers Report documented 132 reported so-called honor killings between January and June 2026, within 3,172 media-reported cases of gender-based violence (Sahil, 2026). Since Sahil’s figures are based on newspaper monitoring, 132 should be understood as a documented minimum rather than a complete national total. 

Measuring the problem is complicated because institutions use different datasets. Figures presented to the Senate showed 547 honor-killing cases registered nationwide in 2024 (Senate, 2025), while the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan documented at least 405 honor killings for that year (HRCP report 2024). The difference reflects different collection methods and should not be treated as evidence that one figure automatically invalidates the other. What both datasets establish is persistence.

What is happening psychologically?

The psychology behind an honor killing is easy to oversimplify. Calling a perpetrator simply “angry,” “crazy” ,or “mentally ill” can actually hide the deeper problem. Research instead points toward an interaction between coercive control, gender hierarchy, reputation, shame, entitlement, and social pressure.

A study based on the accounts of Pashtun women who fled honor-based threats found that mostly male family members decide about the fate of women, and their independence is interpreted as a loss of control and a source of shame or community gossip. Their agency itself became the perceived challenge (Khan, Thambiah, & Khoo, 2023).

Research on 160 cases of honor-based abuse identified emotional and psychological abuse, coercive control, gender-based socialization, and physical violence among its most common characteristics. In other words, the killing may be the final and most visible act, but the psychological system around it can begin much earlier, with restrictions, threats, surveillance, and attempts to control decisions (Ridley et al., 2023).

This does not mean that people who care deeply about family reputation become violent. Nor should honor killing be presented as an inherent feature of Pakistanis, Muslims, or any ethnic community. Most people living in societies where reputation matters never commit such violence.

What research reveals?

Research on family honor does, however, help explain why public judgment can become psychologically powerful. Studies involving Pakistani participants have found that threats or insults directed at family reputation can produce particularly strong feelings of anger, shame, and relationship strain (Rodriguez Mosquera, Tan, & Saleem, 2014).  Such emotions alone do not cause murder. The danger rises when they operate alongside unequal power, victim-blaming, and a belief that one family member has the right to control another.

That is where “honor” can become a psychological permission structure.

The victim’s independence is reframed as an attack on the family. Control becomes “protection.” Violence becomes “restoring respect.” And when several relatives accept the same logic, responsibility can become collective: one person threatens, another approves, another conceals, and another may eventually carry out the violence.

Honor Killings
For some women, choosing a partner, leaving a marriage, working publicly or simply deciding for themselves can become a confrontation with an entire system of control. Photo, AI-generated by Author

Hina Zareef and the danger of choosing to leave

The recent death of Hina Zareef shows why this issue extends beyond relationships or marriage itself.

Dawn reported in August that Hina was allegedly shot by her father while trying to end an abusive marriage. It was reported that the 25-year-old had been married against her will, obtained khula and left, before eventually returning after receiving assurances that she would not be harmed. These remain allegations surrounding a criminal case rather than judicial facts.

But the reported circumstances echo what researchers have repeatedly identified: a woman’s attempt to choose, leave, or take control of her own life may be interpreted not simply as a private decision but as an act of defiance against family authority.

Pakistan has laws; why do honor killings continue?

Pakistan significantly strengthened its laws in 2016. Under Section 311 of the Pakistan Penal Code, where murder is committed in the name or on the pretext of honor, the punishment after waiver or compounding of qisas is imprisonment for life (Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, as amended). The change was designed to close the notorious loophole through which relatives could forgive a killer who was himself part of the family.

Yet the justice gap remains severe. Data presented to the Senate showed that 22 honor-killing cases registered in Islamabad Capital Territory in 2024 resulted in zero convictions (Senate of Pakistan, 2025). Nationally, the reported conviction rate for honor-killing cases in that dataset was around 0.5%.

Pakistan is now considering another reform. The Criminal Laws (Amendment) (Honor Killings Prevention) Bill, 2026 has been recommended for passage by the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control. It should not yet be described as enacted law.

Changing what “honor” means

Punishment matters, but legislation alone cannot dismantle the thinking that makes this violence possible.

In June 2026, Pakistan’s Ministry of Human Rights and UN Women backed a “No Honor in Killing” joint communiqué. Its priorities included stronger accountability, better survivor protection, and improved data. It rejects parallel justice mechanisms that sanction violence and invests in community engagement and changing harmful social norms.

The WHO’s evidence-based RESPECT Women framework takes a similar approach. It strengthens services and healthy relationships, empower women, creates safer environments, protects children and adolescents, and transforms harmful attitudes, beliefs, and norms.

That means prevention has to begin long before a murder. It begins when a girl gets threatened for choosing whom she wants to marry. A woman is convinced that divorce is a disgrace to her family. When relatives treat an adult daughter’s career or online presence as property they can control. When community gossip carries more weight than someone’s safety. And when police or other institutions dismiss a credible threat as a private “family matter.”

The deepest psychological change required is straightforward to describe, even if it is difficult to achieve. Until communities and institutions consistently reinforce that idea, and until perpetrators expect meaningful consequences, the word “honor” will continue to disguise what Pakistani law already recognizes as violence.

At least 132 so-called honor killings were documented through media monitoring in Pakistan during January–June 2026. Meanwhile, the government and Parliament are publicly discussing rising femicide and honor-based violence, and additional criminal-law reform remains under consideration.

A family’s reputation can never be worth more than a human life.

References:

  1. Senate of Pakistan, 22 ICT honor-killing cases in 2024 with zero convictions and extremely low national conviction rates. Senate Human Rights Committee data
  2. Pakistan Code (Pakistan Penal Code), current Section 311 language covering murder committed in the name or pretext of honor. Pakistan Penal Code
  3. Senate of Pakistan (2026 Honor Killings Prevention Bill): legislative status and committee recommendation.
  4. Sahil’s January–June 2026 GBV figures: 3,172 GBV cases and 132 reported honor killings. Dawn: Six-month GBV statistics
  5. Dawn (Ayesha Gilamana investigation): arrests and police allegations of a family conspiracy. Dawn: Ayesha Gilamana case
  6. Dawn (Hina Zareef reporting): recent violence against women and circumstances surrounding her death. Dawn: Women’s trauma
  7. UN Women / United Nations Pakistan: June 2026 consultation on femicide, honor killings and the “No Honor in Killing” communiqué. United Nations Pakistan consultation
  8. WHO: RESPECT Women evidence-based framework for preventing violence against women. WHO RESPECT Women framework
  9. Sage Journals: (Khan, Thambiah, & Khoo, 2023), Violence Against Women, 29(3–4), 431–452
  10. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling (Ridley et al., 2023), Wiley study
  11. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 45(3), 452–465, Shared Burdens (Rodriguez Mosquera, Tan, & Saleem, 2014)

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From Brain to Ball: A Neuromechanical Approach to Volleyball Spike and Athlete Longevity

Dawood Choudhary
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From Brain to Ball: A Neuromechanical Approach to Volleyball Spike and Athlete Longevity

Ever wondered what actually happens in the split second before a spike? Behind the raw power and high jumps lies a high-speed neural calculation that dictates both victory and injury. Here is how your brain and biomechanics work together to master the court.

It is time for the match point. The arena is brimming with spectators leaning forward in anticipation as the game hangs on a single play.

To everyone in the stands, what unfolds next feels perfectly orchestrated. A ball pops into the air, an athlete takes a high jump, and with a whip of an arm, ends up delivering a game-winning spike. Although it may look effortless and like just raw training, beneath the spectacle lies a calculated sequence of neural processing and decisions that are executed faster than the blink of an eye.

How Volleyball Spikes Reveal Physics and Biology Lessons

Focusing through the lens of Sports Science, a volleyball spike reveals a great lesson for Physics and Biology. It is a continuous loop of neuromechanical feedback that converts central cognitive processing into kinetic energy and joint preservation. Long before the athlete’s feet leave the floor to jump, the brain already starts to do intense computational work. The human brain acts as a dynamic command center that takes sensory information and interprets it into instant physical action. That is exactly what happens while performing a spike.

volleyball
The human brain acts as a dynamic command center that takes sensory information and interprets it into instant physical action. Photo, Unsplash

When the setter makes contact with the ball, the hitter’s auditory cortex decodes the speed and trajectory of the set. Simultaneously, visual data is used to scan the opposing court to map out the defenders and calculate blocker positioning. All of this processing occurs in the Central Nervous System (CNS), which dictates the attack pattern under extreme time pressure. Responding to the flood of sensory input, the motor cortex generates a chain of nerve signals that travel down the spinal cord to drive the actual movement patterns. These signals stimulate the muscle fibers for dynamic contraction.

If this loop is disrupted or delayed by even a few milliseconds—whether due to exhaustion or visual distraction—the body pays a physical price. The brain sends quick, uncoordinated commands to the lower body, forcing the athlete to execute a rushed, off-balance approach. In Biomechanics, a flawed mental calculation at the start always leads to a mechanical breakdown at the end.

Physical execution on the floor begins once accurate processing of the neural signals is completed. The height of the vertical jump is rarely a matter of raw leg strength alone; it is the product of how effectively an athlete absorbs and converts the horizontal momentum into vertical elevation through the ground reaction forces. As the hitter sprints toward the net, the final two steps of the approach— the penultimate step and the block plant step—are critical. 

The Neuromechanics involved

During the penultimate step, the athlete extends their plant leg forward at an angle and lowers his center of mass. This helps the lower body function like a coiling spring. Major tendons, including the Achilles Tendon and Patellar Tendon, stretch rapidly under the load of the plantar step to store elastic strain energy. Within a second, the hips, knee, and ankles extend in coordination to perform a movement known as Triple Extension.

The kinetic energy stored in the tendons is released violently and drives the athlete upward in the air. By using the ground as a launchpad, elite hitters generate great vertical lift without overworking the upper extremity. This principle of energy conversion is precisely the science behind undersized athletes dominating the net. 

Do you know that Japanese star YUJI NISHIDA is famous for his spikes, which top eleven feet and four inches. Standing at 6’4”, which is considered shorter than average international blockers, he erases this structural gap through kinetic efficiency and neuromechanical mastery.

Once the athlete reaches the highest point of his jump, force generation transitions smoothly from the lower part of the body to the core. A common misconception in sports is that spiking power originates in the shoulder girdle, but in reality, the shoulders contribute only a fraction of the terminal force. The upper body—specifically the shoulders works primarily to direct energy from the larger muscles of the torso forward. This energy transfer follows a classic whip mechanism. 

The final act involves the strike. The hitter arches their upper back and pulls their hitting arm back. This position places the chest and abdominal muscles under great dynamic tension—which is similar to drawing back the strings of an archer’s bow. 

The pelvis rotates and the core contracts. This forces the stored rotational energy to whip up through the core, down the arm, and right through the wrist. Through the smooth functioning of these kinetic energy highways, energy flows seamlessly through a pattern: from the gym floor to the legs, then towards the core, up the arms, and forced into the ball. This maximizes the spike speed while minimizing strain on the joints involved.

If this neuromechanical system breaks down midway, the shoulder joint pays the heaviest toll. Multiple factors can contribute to the damage that may be incurred, the main being an athlete’s misjudgment of their approach timing. This may be due to mental exhaustion or poor communication.

Volleyball
For decades, the traditional athletic conditioning targeted physical strength and technical skill as separate domains. Photo, Unsplash

As a compensatory mechanism to hit over the net, the athlete is forced to complete the action in an awkward position, which results in physical injuries. Without the complete, smooth mechanism flowing, the athlete is deprived of multiple forces that support the spike. This compensation trap isolates power to only the shoulder girdle, which cannot act independently. 

When the shoulder girdle takes on the whole burden of this force production, compression of the supraspinatus tendon against the acromion bone may occur. This leads to subacromial impingement, which later causes radiating pain towards the arm. Besides this injury, extreme eccentric stress to the area can cause micro-tears followed by inflammation that usually becomes a chronic condition. Repeated injury to the area can lead to joint degradation if not treated. Treatment intervention usually involves following guided Rehabilitation Programs under a Physical Therapist.

Shoulder pain in overhead athletes is rarely an isolated shoulder problem; it is mostly the symptom of a broken kinetic chain further down the line.

The Role of Advanced Physical Therapy and Sports Science

For decades, the traditional athletic conditioning targeted physical strength and technical skill as separate domains. But now, advanced Physical Therapy and Sports Science highlight that long-term athlete durability belongs to those who train the central nervous system, not just through intensive training. New protocols focus on movement patterns and muscle structures as a unified network. Protecting an athlete’s career requires integrated training, which includes cognitive drills in daily routines. Forcing the nervous system to adapt to unpredictable auditory and visual stimuli during jump training keeps approach timing sharp under match pressure. 

It is important to keep in mind that a successfully performed volleyball spike is not just a display of brute force but a rhythmic conversation between the mind and muscles. This exact balance between neural feedback, calculation, biomechanics of the body, and energy transfer is the key.

By observing the spike as a connected neuromechanical network, every person included in the field, from coaches to athletes, can explore beyond muscle power alone. When we train our brain to process at faster rates, the lower body to store ground forces, and the core to transfer torque in time, we do more than just build stronger hitters. We protect joint health, prevent career-ending injuries, and unlock true athletic longevity, ensuring that the human body can continue to perform at its peak for years to follow.

References:

  1. Wagner, H., Tilp, M., von Duvillard, S. P., & Mueller, E. (2009). Kinematic analysis of volleyball spike jump. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 30(10), 760–765. 
  2. Radnor, J. M., Oliver, J. L., Waugh, C. M., Myer, G. D., Moore, I. S., & Lloyd, R. S. (2018). The influence of growth and maturation on stretch-shortening cycle function in youth. Sports Medicine
  3. Alves, H., Voss, M. W., Boot, W. R., Deslandes, A., Cossich, V., Salles, J. I., & Kramer, A. F. (2013). Perceptual-cognitive expertise in elite volleyball players. Frontiers in Psychology
  4.  De Waelle, S., Warlop, G., Lenoir, M., Bennett, S. J., & Deconinck, F. J. A. (2021). The development of perceptual-cognitive skills in youth volleyball players. Journal of Sports Sciences
  5. Hu, L., et al. (2022). Biomechanical analysis of volleyball spike swing based on deep learning. Journal of Healthcare Engineering
  6. Farihandiandra, Y., et al. (2024). Biomechanical analysis of open spike movement in volleyball. Journal of Physical Education and Sports Science 
  7. Kim, S., Koo, D., & Moon, J. (2025). Biomechanical improvements in performance and injury prevention in volleyball spikes: effects of a 4-week training program. Scientific Reports, 15, Article 1841.

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Breakthroughs that Turning Medicine from Disease Management to Disease Correction

Iqra Rafiq
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Breakthroughs that Turning Medicine from Disease Management to Disease Correction

What if a treatment could be designed for just one person? What if a single dose could change the course of a genetic disease or make a chronic illness much easier to control? For decades, modern medicine has become remarkably good at managing disease. Patients take daily pills to control cholesterol, injections to manage chronic conditions, and medicines that keep infections and cancers under control. But increasingly, scientists are asking a different question: “Can we treat disease by changing what causes it in the first place?” This idea is beginning to move from the laboratory into real patients.

In 2025, doctors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania treated an infant with an extremely rare genetic disorder using a gene-editing treatment created specifically for him. The therapy was designed around the particular mutation causing his disease. After treatment, doctors reported improvements in his ability to process protein and a reduced need for some of his medications (Musunuru et al., 2025).

The treatment was remarkable not simply because it used CRISPR. It showed that genetic medicine could potentially be “personalized to an individual patient”, rather than developed only for thousands of people with the same mutation. And this may be just the beginning.

A Gene Edit Made for One Patient

The infant’s condition, CPS1 deficiency, prevents the body from properly processing nitrogen from food. In severe cases, the resulting buildup can damage the brain and become life-threatening. Instead of searching for a conventional drug, researchers looked for the genetic mistake.

The team developed a customized CRISPR-based treatment designed to correct the problem in the child’s liver cells. The therapy was produced in months rather than the many years usually required to develop a new medicine.

The child received the treatment in 2025, and early follow-up suggested that his condition improved. The case did not prove that personalized gene editing is ready for widespread use. But it demonstrated something that once sounded almost impossible: “a medicine can potentially be designed around the DNA of a single patient.”

Researchers are now watching closely to see whether this approach can be expanded to other rare genetic diseases.

One Treatment Instead of a Lifetime of Injections

For people living with hereditary angioedema, attacks can appear suddenly and cause painful swelling. If the airway becomes involved, the condition can even become life-threatening. Today, patients can use medicines to prevent or treat these attacks. But researchers are investigating whether there is a way to tackle the underlying problem permanently.

Intellia Therapeutics has been developing an experimental gene-editing treatment called lonvoguran ziclumeran. Rather than giving patients medicine every time the disease needs to be controlled, the treatment aims to make a lasting change inside the liver.

In 2026, the company reported encouraging Phase 3 results showing that a single treatment substantially reduced attacks in people with hereditary angioedema. The treatment was still investigational, but the findings raised an intriguing possibility: “Could some genetic diseases eventually be controlled with one treatment rather than years of repeated medication?” (Intellia Therapeutics, 2026).

For patients, that difference could be enormous. It could mean fewer injections, fewer attacks, and less time spent organizing life around a chronic disease.

Rewriting the Future of Cholesterol

High cholesterol is usually treated as a problem that needs to be managed for years. Statins and other cholesterol-lowering medicines have saved countless lives, but many patients need to take them continuously. Scientists are now exploring a very different strategy.

In a 2026 clinical trial, researchers tested an experimental treatment called VERVE-102 that uses gene editing to alter “PCSK9”, a gene involved in controlling cholesterol levels. The results were striking. At the highest dose tested, researchers reported an average reduction of about 62 percent in LDL cholesterol, the so-called “bad” cholesterol (Vafai et al., 2026).

The study was still an early-stage clinical trial, so it would be premature to call this a cure for high cholesterol. Much larger studies will be needed to determine how safe and effective the treatment is over many years. But the idea is powerful. Instead of asking patients to remember a pill every day, scientists are asking whether the body’s own biology can be changed so that cholesterol stays lower for much longer.

The Search for a Functional Cure for Hepatitis B

Some medical breakthroughs are not about eliminating a disease. They are about giving patients freedom from years of treatment. Hepatitis B is a good example. The virus can remain inside liver cells for years. Existing medicines can suppress it, but many patients need long-term treatment because the virus is difficult to eliminate.

In 2026, researchers reported encouraging results from large Phase 3 trials of “bepirovirsen”, an experimental treatment developed by GSK and Ionis Pharmaceuticals. The drug targets the virus’s genetic messages, reducing the material the virus needs to reproduce. In the trials, around one in five treated participants reached what researchers describe as a “functional cure”, meaning the virus remained suppressed, and the key hepatitis B surface antigen was no longer detectable after treatment (Hou et al., 2026).

That does not mean hepatitis B has been universally cured. Bepirovirsen remains under investigation. But for people who have spent years taking medication to control a chronic infection, even the possibility of eventually stopping treatment represents a major shift.

A New Way to Attack Cancer

Cancer treatment has traditionally relied on destroying cancer cells or blocking the signals that allow them to grow. A newer strategy is more subtle: “Tell the cell to get rid of the cancer-driving protein itself.” That is the idea behind a new class of medicines called protein degraders.

One of the first major successes of this approach came in breast cancer. In May 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved “vepdegestrant” for certain patients with advanced estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer carrying specific ESR1 mutations (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026).

The medicine works differently from many conventional drugs. Rather than simply sitting on a harmful protein and blocking it, it helps the cell identify that protein as something that should be destroyed. For patients whose cancers have developed resistance to earlier hormone treatments, this provides another option.

It also illustrates a larger change in cancer medicine: instead of treating all tumors in roughly the same way, doctors are increasingly using the molecular characteristics of a patient’s cancer to decide which treatment is most likely to work.

A New Generation of Weight-Loss Medicines

Obesity treatment is undergoing its own dramatic transformation. For decades, significant and sustained weight loss often required major lifestyle changes or, in severe cases, surgery. Then came medicines that could influence appetite and metabolism through hormones such as GLP-1. Now scientists are pushing the idea even further.

In 2026, researchers reported results from the Phase 3 TRIUMPH-1 trial of “retatrutide”, an experimental medicine that acts on three different hormone pathways involved in metabolism. People receiving the highest dose lost an average of about “28 percent of their body weight after 80 weeks”, while some participants lost more than 30 percent (Eli Lilly and Company, 2026).

Those numbers are remarkable because they approach the level of weight loss traditionally associated with bariatric surgery. But retatrutide is still an investigational medicine. It has not yet become an approved treatment for obesity.

What the research shows, however, is how quickly obesity medicine is changing. Scientists are moving beyond simply suppressing appetite and toward treatments that influence several biological systems involved in hunger, metabolism, and body weight.

Medicine That Starts Before Symptoms

Sometimes the best way to treat a disease is to stop it before it begins. COVID-19 research is moving in that direction. In 2026, researchers reported results from a large study examining “ensitrelvir”, an oral antiviral medicine, as a way to reduce the risk of developing COVID-19 after exposure to an infected household member.

The concept is different from conventional treatment. Instead of waiting for symptoms and then giving someone an antiviral, the medicine is taken after exposure, when the virus may be beginning to establish an infection. The study, published in ‘The New England Journal of Medicine’, explored whether this strategy could reduce the risk of symptomatic disease (Hayden et al., 2026). Such approaches could become particularly valuable for people who are repeatedly exposed to respiratory viruses or who live with individuals at high risk of severe illness.

What Comes Next?

These discoveries may seem to belong to completely different worlds. One edits DNA, another targets a viral infection, some change cholesterol biology, while others remove a cancer-related protein and act on several metabolic pathways at once. But together, they reveal a common direction: “Medicine is becoming more precise.”

Scientists are increasingly looking beyond symptoms and asking what is happening inside cells, genes and biological pathways. Instead of simply controlling disease, they are exploring ways to correct genetic mistakes, remove harmful proteins, silence viruses and change the biological systems that drive chronic conditions.

Of course, not every promising experiment becomes a successful medicine. Some treatments will fail in larger clinical trials. Others may prove too expensive or difficult to deliver. And even successful therapies must still demonstrate long-term safety. But the most exciting part of modern medicine may be this change in ambition. A few decades ago, controlling a disease could be considered a major victory.

Today, scientists are increasingly asking whether they can “rewrite it, remove it, or prevent it altogether” .The future of healthcare will probably not arrive as one spectacular discovery. It will arrive through hundreds of breakthroughs: one gene, one protein, one patient, and one clinical trial at a time.

References:

Eli Lilly and Company. (2026). ‘Lilly’s triple agonist retatrutide delivered powerful weight loss in pivotal Phase 3 obesity trial’.

Hayden, F. G., et al. (2026). Ensitrelvir for COVID-19 postexposure prophylaxis in household contacts. The New England Journal of Medicine, 394’ (19), 1905–1915. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2509306

Hou, J., et al. (2026). Phase 3 results of bepirovirsen treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The New England Journal of Medicine, 394 (24), 2395–2406. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2515131

Intellia Therapeutics. (2026). ‘Phase 3 clinical results of lonvoguran ziclumeran for hereditary angioedema’.

Musunuru, K., et al. (2025). Patient-specific in vivo gene editing to treat a rare genetic disease. ‘The New England Journal of Medicine, 392’ (22), 2235–2243. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2504747

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2026). ‘FDA approves vepdegestrant for ER-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer’.

Vafai, S. B., et al. (2026). In vivo base editing of PCSK9 with VERVE-102 for hypercholesterolemia. The New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2601283

Also, Read: Mosquito-Borne Diseases on the Rise: Protect Yourself This Summer

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope: A Giant Leap Forward

Aly Gajani
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Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope: A Giant Leap Forward

NASA’s powerful next-generation Nancy Grace Roman Telescope has blasted off into space at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a mission to explore dark energy, black holes and other mysteries of the Universe.

Ever since the James Webb Space Telescope launched on Christmas Day in 2021 and revealed its stunning first deep-space images six months later, it has continued to unravel the universe’s infrared mysteries. Yet, our drive to understand exoplanets, distant galaxies, and dark energy led NASA and its international partners to develop the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope. Now named the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, this powerful observatory, widely viewed as Hubble’s true successor, has been launched to transform modern astronomy.

While the baseline mission is planned for five years, NASA’s impressive track record will most probably mean this observatory will likely stretch its operations well into the next decade. The primary goal of the Roman is straightforward. Roman has been designed to provide the same kind of detail that Hubble did. However, unlike Hubble, it is going to examine a much greater area of the sky. Specifically, Roman’s field of view is 100 times larger than Hubble’s. Therefore, it will be used to conduct large-scale surveys of the cosmos. Ultimately, Roman is not just about gathering data faster. It is about unlocking entirely new science.

Nancy Grace Roman
Roman at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, around 1972. Credits: NASA

The Woman Behind the Name: Nancy Grace Roman

Nancy Grace Roman completed her PhD in astronomy in 1949, establishing herself during an era when women were rarely seen in the discipline, let alone in leadership roles. She broke further ground by becoming NASA’s first Chief of Astronomy, marking her as the first female executive in the agency’s history.

During her 21 years at NASA, Dr Roman played an important part in developing a wide range of space-based observatories, including those designed to investigate the Sun, Earth’s upper atmosphere, and very distant parts of the cosmos. Her defining legacy, however, remains her crucial contributions to laying the groundwork for developing the Hubble Space Telescope, earning her the title of “Mother of Hubble.”

“It is because of Nancy Grace Roman’s leadership and vision that NASA became a pioneer in astrophysics and launched Hubble, the world’s most powerful and productive space telescope,” said then NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine when the mission was renamed in her honour. “I can think of no better name for WFIRST, which will be the successor to NASA’s Hubble and Webb Telescopes.”

After retiring from NASA and throughout her post-retirement years, she remained active in supporting the next generation of astronomers through mentoring and consultation. With this mission being named after Dr. Roman, NASA ensures that her pioneering spirit will continue to inspire future generations of space scientists.

Inside the Machine

A telescope’s ability to resolve fine detail depends heavily on the size of its mirror; bigger mirrors gather more light. Surprisingly, the Roman Space Telescope’s 2.4-meter-diameter primary mirror. It was gifted to NASA to become the core element of its new observatory. Although it measures the same as Hubble’s mirror, it only weighs 186 kg, or roughly 25% as heavy as Hubble’s mirror.  The mirror itself is made out of specially formulated low-expansion glass and is supported using mechanical engineering methods that ensure minimal deformation when subjected to extreme temperature variations between Earth and outer space.

Nancy Grace Roman Telescope
The WFI has 18 detectors that are held in the Focal Plane Array, which allows it to create 300-million-pixel images over a 0.28 square degree field of view. Photo: NASA

The real leap forward isn’t the mirror, though; it’s the camera. Roman’s Wide Field Instrument (WFI) is a 300-megapixel imager built to capture visible and near-infrared light, assembled from 18 separate detectors, stitched together into one seamless field of view. When placed side by side, the sensor array of the Roman Space Telescope significantly outscales the detector chips of both the Hubble and Webb space telescopes. Upon closer inspection of detector layouts, you may note small gaps between sensors.

These gaps are essential for accommodating electrical wiring and ensuring thermal stability across the array; however, light striking these seams would ordinarily be lost. To resolve this issue, Roman uses a technique known as dithering. Between exposures, small reaction wheels move the spacecraft slightly about .01 degrees, so when stacking similar frames on the ground into a single frame, Roman produces one continuous image of the sky.

The Wide Field Instrument (WFI) is far more than a typical space imaging camera. In addition to functioning as a standard imaging camera, the WFI is capable of being a very sophisticated multi-band observatory on its own. Designed to record light across eight distinct spectral bands ranging from visible wavelengths (approximately 0.48 microns) out into the near-infrared spectrum (up to 2.3 microns), which remains entirely invisible to human sight.

That way, WFI is able to view areas obscured by thick layers of interstellar dust clouds surrounding active regions of star formation and large cosmic structures. In addition to the imaging arrays of the WFI, there exist two other unique optical devices. A prism and a grism both serve as slitless spectroscopy systems. Each of these devices disperses incoming electromagnetic radiation into the spectrum of each object to be analyzed, providing astronomers with data about many critical aspects of the objects observed, including their temperature, chemical makeup, density, and redshift.

Additionally, both instruments have the capability of observing tens of thousands of separate objects during each exposure, allowing astronomers to create an unprecedented amount of data for use in future wide-field spectrographic survey missions.

Coronagraph: A pair of tinted glasses for starlight

The second major instrument aboard Roman is the Coronagraph. The Coronagraph functions much like a pair of tinted glasses made for starlight. When viewing a host star, the Coronagraph blocks the host star’s brightness to enable astronomers to visually inspect the very faint planetary bodies that orbit it. To accomplish this task, it utilizes tiny deformable mirrors that bend by fractions of a billionth of a meter to correct minute optical aberrations in real-time.

With this capability, the goal is to create a stable environment where distant planets may be brought into focus. Even the slightest movement or slight temperature changes would disrupt this process. If successful, this technology represents an important milestone toward the ability to photograph exoplanets similar to Earth.

Roman vs Hubble and JWST

While Hubble provided us with revolutionary visual and ultraviolet imagery of the universe, Webb serves as an “ultra-deep” time machine, observing the mid- and far-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Like Hubble and Webb, Roman is an extraordinary instrument designed for depth, providing exquisite detail of very limited areas of the sky.

Nancy Grace Roman Telescope
A comparison of field of views of Hubble, the JWST and Roman Telescopes

Roman covers much of the same wavelength range Hubble and Webb already reach into, roughly 480 to 2,300 nanometers. So why build another telescope to look at light we can already see? The answer is scale. Roman has a field of view that is greater than 100 times larger than the camera onboard Hubble while maintaining Hubble’s level of resolution. This massive panoramic view is the result of a brilliant optical design. While Hubble uses two mirrors to bounce and focus light, Roman utilizes a three-mirror design that gives it a focal length roughly three times shorter than Hubble’s.

Roman is not intended to replace either Hubble or Webb. Instead, Roman is meant to enhance their capabilities by surveying large portions of the sky and identifying those rare, unique objects worthy of further investigation using the narrow fields of view afforded by Hubble and Webb.

The Science we expect from Nancy Grace Roman Telescope

Roman’s science objectives are extremely aggressive. Its High Latitude Wide Area Survey will examine vast regions of the Milky Way galaxy. Within just 17 months, Roman will conduct a survey covering nearly 12% of the observable sky. For comparison purposes, if Hubble were to conduct such a survey, it would require over 1700 years to achieve this objective. As part of this survey, Roman will produce over 20 TB of data per day.

Buried in that flood of data will be an estimated 160,000 gravitational lenses. Think of these as cosmic magnifying glasses that distort incoming light travelling through spacetime caused by unseen mass, which scientists desire to utilize this information to better understand dark matter and ultimately explore the 85% of the universe we cannot directly observe today.

In addition to its search for gravitational lens systems, Roman will investigate dark energy, which, by common belief, drives the universe’s acceleration. Its High Latitude Time-Domain Survey will repeatedly photograph specific sections of the sky to find Type Ia supernovae, exploding stars that serve as essential standard candles or distance markers across space. Astronomers currently have only a few thousand of these rare stellar events catalogued in great detail.

Roman is projected to discover and precisely analyse close to 21,700 Type Ia supernovae, with some of the most distant events dating back more than 11 billion years to the universe’s early epoch (Rose et al., 2025). This unprecedentedly massive dataset could help resolve what cosmologists have started calling a crisis in the field, specifically testing whether our standard model of cosmology still holds up or requires fundamental revisions.

Finally, Roman will conduct its Galactic Bulge Time-Domain Survey directed at studying the central core of the Milky Way galaxy. By utilising gravitational microlensing techniques, Roman will seek to identify exoplanets/brown dwarfs via transient increases in brightness in background stars due to the passage of nearby exoplanet/brown dwarf masses. Due to Roman’s ability to maintain exceptionally high positional stability during target acquisition/exposure, Roman is expected to be able to detect exoplanetary systems with masses down to that of Mars (masses as small as Mars.

Additionally, Roman’s coronagraph enables direct imaging of distant gas giant exoplanets’ reflected light, allowing for future studies of potentially habitable terrestrial-type exoplanets.

Looking Ahead

With Roman’s launch, the astrophysics community is bracing for the flood of data heading its way, and the discoveries likely to follow. However, as with all previous space missions, the curiosity doesn’t end. With NASA preparing for Roman’s “first light”, engineers are currently developing the next-generation telescope already, the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), which will allow them to actively look for biosignatures from Earth-like exoplanet environments. Until then, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is prepared to reveal the universe to us in a broader, richer, and even more dynamic manner than ever before.

References:

  • Wide field instrument – NASA Science. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/roman-space-telescope/wide-field-instrument/
  • NASA telescope named for ‘Mother of Hubble’ Nancy Grace Roman – NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-telescope-named-for-mother-of-hubble-nancy-grace-roman/
  • Planned Observations – NASA Science. NASA Science. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/roman-space-telescope/planned-observations/
  • Ravisetti, M. (2026, July 29). ‘It’s going to do things that currently are impossible’: The Roman Space Telescope, NASA’s next. . .. Space. https://www.space.com/astronomy/its-going-to-do-things-that-currently-are-impossible-the-roman-space-telescope-nasas-next-great-observatory-is-ready-to-launch-aug-30
  • Ravisetti, M. (2026, April 21). The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, NASA’s next great observatory, is finally complete. Space. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/the-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-nasas-next-great-observatory-is-finally-complete
  • The Astrophysical Journal, 988(1), 65. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ade1d6
  • Balzer, A. (2026, May 30). NASA’s Roman space telescope primary mirror gets last look – NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/missions/roman-space-telescope/nasas-roman-space-telescope-primary-mirror-gets-last-look/
  • The Wide Field Instrument – Roman User documentation. (2025, January 2). https://roman-docs.stsci.edu/roman-instruments/the-wide-field-instrument
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