All posts tagged: Mediterranean

EU launches €25bn T-MED initiative to boost clean technology and renewables across Mediterranean

EU launches €25bn T-MED initiative to boost clean technology and renewables across Mediterranean

Published by skeptic

T-MED aims to accelerate the development of renewable energy, hydrogen, clean technology manufacturing and modern electricity networks across the Mediterranean region by 2035. Unveiled during the European Sustainable Energy Week by Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica and Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, T-MED aims to mobilise up to €25 billion in expected investments by 2035. The European Commission has made available more than €5 billion in guarantee capacity under the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus. This guarantee capacity will help unlock public and private investment in sectors covered by T-MED. By 2035, the initiative is expected to contribute to the development of 15 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity, support regulatory reforms in partner countries, and help generate more than 100,000 jobs in clean energy sectors. T-MED will be implemented through five coordinated actions: Investment mobilisation: T-MED will bring together the Commission, European and international financial institutions, and the private sector to reduce investment risks, attract funding and support renewable energy and clean technology projects across the region. Regulatory cooperation: T-MED will support partner countries in improving the investment climate, including …

Great White Sharks Have Been in the Mediterranean Sea for Millions of Years—but Sightings Are Incredibly Rare

Great White Sharks Have Been in the Mediterranean Sea for Millions of Years—but Sightings Are Incredibly Rare

Published by skeptic

An encounter with a great white shark is undoubtedly a “thrilling” experience, considered especially rare in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The latest sighting, which has attracted media attention and made headlines around the world, occurred during a dive in the Strait of Sicily carried out by volunteers from Ghost Diving and Healthy Seas, organizations dedicated to protecting marine ecosystems. The encounter was documented by diver Derk Remmers, who told the BBC that he struggled to switch on his camera because of the excitement. The footage—the first ever recorded of a great white shark in its Mediterranean Sea habitat—shows a huge adult male specimen of Carcharodon carcharias, a native species that is now considered critically endangered. The Great White Shark Carcharodon carcharias, commonly known as the great white shark, belongs to the Lamnidae family and is one of the largest predatory fish in existence. It can exceed 6 meters (20 feet) in length and weigh more than 2 tons. It feeds primarily on fish, including rays and other sharks, though adult individuals may also …

Co-creating nature-based solutions for Mediterranean climate adaptation

Co-creating nature-based solutions for Mediterranean climate adaptation

Published by skeptic

DRYAD fosters a collaborative framework supporting the design and selection of nature-based solutions for climate challenges in Mediterranean regions The Mediterranean region, shaped for centuries by a mix of farming, grazing, and woodland landscapes, known as agro-silvo-pastoral systems, is now facing increasing pressure from climate change. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and increasingly irregular rainfall patterns are placing ecosystems and rural livelihoods at risk. Water scarcity, soil degradation, and declining ecosystem resilience are becoming more widespread challenges. In this context, there is a growing need for approaches that can simultaneously support environmental sustainability and socio-economic stability in rural areas. Nature-based solutions as a strategic response To respond to these challenges, the Horizon EU DRYAD project promotes Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to strengthen the resilience of these landscapes while supporting local communities and economies. NbS are increasingly recognised as a key approach to climate adaptation. In Mediterranean Agro-silvo-pastoral Ecosystems (MAEs), they can help retain water in soils, improve groundwater recharge, and reduce the impacts of droughts and extreme rainfall events. At the same time, they contribute to soil restoration, biodiversity conservation, and climate mitigation. Beyond environmental …

Robot probes 16th century Italian shipwreck 1.5 miles below the Mediterranean

Robot probes 16th century Italian shipwreck 1.5 miles below the Mediterranean

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. An intrepid sub-sea robot recently dove nearly 1.5 miles below the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of southern France. The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) went down to examine  the wreckage of a merchant ship that dates back to the 16th century. There, it found hundreds of ornately decorated ceramics, jars, and jugs strewn across the sand.  From the boat, a French navy sailor remotely controlling the robot plucked these treasures up ever so gently with the robot’s  pincers. Despite centuries of ocean burial, the artifacts still maintained the bold blue and yellow geometric designs they had when the ship mysteriously capsized. But the ship’s discovery was mostly due to luck, and its current exploration is only made possible by modern advances in robotics. Archaeologists are officially calling the site Camarat 4. It sits roughly 30 miles off the coast of Ramatuelle, but French authorities are keeping the exact location secret to prevent unauthorized visitors from nosing around. Camarat 4 …

Foreign visitors return to Jewish pilgrimage in Tunisia under tight security

Foreign visitors return to Jewish pilgrimage in Tunisia under tight security

Published by Sam Flores

DJERBA, Tunisia (AP) — The annual Jewish pilgrimage to the 26-century-old El-Ghriba Synagogue in Tunisia drew a modest but notable return of international visitors this year, worshipping together under tight security after a deadly 2023 attack disrupted the festival. Visitors came from France, China, Ivory Coast and Italy, including France’s ambassador to Tunisia, a symbolic gesture after two French citizens were among those killed in the 2023 attack. A national guardsman shot and killed five people at the El-Ghriba synagogue soon after the festival that year, spreading fear among the local Jewish population and international pilgrims. Participants said about 500 people have attended this year’s pilgrimage, held on the Mediterranean island of Djerba from April 30 to May 6 to celebrate the Lag B’Omer Jewish holiday. Jews have lived in Tunisia since Roman times, and the pilgrimage remains central to the country’s small but long-standing Jewish community. Inside the synagogue, the atmosphere was calm and devotional, while also buzzing with conversations and social exchanges. Worshippers lit candles, read sacred texts and wrote wishes on eggs …

Moussaka, a chickpea soup/stew and homemade viennetta: Georgina Hayden’s Mediterranean party – recipes | Food

Moussaka, a chickpea soup/stew and homemade viennetta: Georgina Hayden’s Mediterranean party – recipes | Food

Published by Sam Flores

Traditionally, this would be a Tunisian breakfast, and it’s not a million miles from one of my favourites, Egyptian ful medames. But here I’m proposing it as an evening offering: make a big pot of delicious flavourful chickpeas, then lay out a spread of accompaniments (pickles, olives, capers, boiled eggs). Second, a good traditional moussaka is a wholesome but time-consuming process, but that’s not the case with this simplified version, which you can easily make on a weeknight. Finally, you might not be surprised to learn that this basil viennetta was one of the most popular recipes when we were testing dishes for my new book, MEDesque. First, of course, because it tastes unreal. Second, because everyone got a huge tug of nostalgia, and third, because everyone became giddy with excitement, trying to figure out what the flavour was. Lablabi party (pictured top) Everyone gets to jazz up their own bowl however they like it for this fun dinner that’s also nourishing, healthy and delicious. I’ve heard that Tunisians eat this when they get home …

Tiny mitochondrial proteins may explain the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet

Tiny mitochondrial proteins may explain the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet

Published by José Betancourt

A recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition suggests that the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet might be driven by tiny proteins produced inside the energy-generating structures of our cells. Researchers discovered that older adults who closely follow this way of eating have higher levels of two microscopic proteins that protect against heart disease and cognitive decline. These results offer a new biological explanation for how a diet rich in olive oil, fish, and legumes promotes healthy aging at a cellular level. To understand the mechanics behind these physiological benefits, it helps to look inside the human cell. Most people are familiar with mitochondria, which act as microscopic power plants that generate the energy needed for cellular survival. Mitochondria contain their own unique set of genetic instructions that are completely separate from the main DNA housed in the cell nucleus. For many years, geneticists believed certain small sections of this mitochondrial DNA served no practical purpose. During the Human Genome Project, researchers largely overlooked these tiny genetic sequences because they appeared too …

Irene Forte’s insider guide to Sicily

Irene Forte’s insider guide to Sicily

Published by Sam Flores

Sicily, in particular the island’s south-west coast, is my favourite place in the world. The light, the scents of orange blossom and sea salt, the warmth of the people — everything feels alive and profoundly authentic there. Sicily is at the heart of Irene Forte Skincare. The colours of its landscape inspired our packaging; the Mediterranean diet inspired our ingredients; and the Sicilian philosophy of balance and longevity shaped our approach to long-term skin health. We source our principal ingredients from our organic farm, work closely with local artisans and farmers, and support the Sicily Environment Fund. Every element of the brand — from the materials we use to the treatments we create — is rooted in this extraordinary land. Source link

Arctic Metagaz: Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker adrift in the Mediterranean faces uncertain fate

Arctic Metagaz: Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker adrift in the Mediterranean faces uncertain fate

Published by Sam Flores

According to Libyan media reports, forces loyal to the strongman of eastern Libya Khalifa Haftar dispatched a naval patrol vessel and a team of divers to monitor the Arctic Metagaz on Monday, April 6. The Russian LNG tanker has been drifting in the Mediterranean since a Libyan towing operation failed four days earlier. This is the latest twist in a maritime saga that began on March 3 off the Libyan coast. The Arctic Metagaz caught fire following an explosion while carrying 60,000 tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) – natural gas cooled to -160°C to facilitate transport. All crew members were rescued. Although Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the incident, Russia has accused Kyiv of targeting the tanker with naval drones launched from Libya. An investigation by RFI appears to support this claim. These images show the Arctic Metagaz on fire on March 3, 2026. Source: X/@trbrtc To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept Manage my choices The vessel, sanctioned by the US and the …

Two dead, dozens missing after migrant boat capsizes in Mediterranean

Two dead, dozens missing after migrant boat capsizes in Mediterranean

Published by Sam Flores

Dozens of people are missing after a migrant boat capsized in the central Mediterranean, the NGOs Mediterranea Saving Humans and Sea-Watch said Sunday on social media. Two people died and 32 were rescued from the boat, which had left Libya on Saturday afternoon with around 105 people on board, according to Mediterranea Saving Humans. “Tragic Easter shipwreck. 32 survivors, two bodies recovered and more than 70 people missing,” the NGO wrote on X, adding that the boat capsized in a search-and-rescue zone handled by Libyan authorities. Sea-Watch said two commercial ships saved the survivors and took them to the Italian island of Lampedusa. To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept Manage my choices An aerial video it posted showed two men clinging to the hull of the capsized vessel, and the approach of one of the commercial ships. Mediterranea Saving Humans said the accident was “the consequence of policies by European governments that refuse to open safe and legal pathways” for migrants. Read moreDozens of migrants …