Controversial Arctic Ice Refreezing Project Sees Early Success, but Experts Warn of Potential Risks

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A controversial initiative aimed at refreezing the Arctic is generating promising early results but faces significant scrutiny from scientists concerned about its ecological impact and feasibility on a large scale. The project, spearheaded by the UK-based start-up Real Ice, is testing a novel approach to thickening Arctic sea ice in an effort to slow or reverse the loss of ice during the summer months, contributing to the global fight against climate change.

Real Ice’s technique involves using electric-powered submersible pumps to draw seawater from below the ice and pump it to the surface, where it freezes and thickens the ice layer. This process also removes snow from the ice’s surface, reducing its insulating effect and encouraging more ice growth beneath. In their initial tests in Cambridge Bay, Canada, the team managed to increase the ice thickness by up to 20 inches over a four-month period, with promising results in subsequent trials.

The project, which started field tests in Alaska in 2022 and expanded to Cambridge Bay in January 2023, aims to eventually cover 386,000 square miles of Arctic ice—an area more than twice the size of California. The technology is expected to be automated using underwater drones powered by green hydrogen, which would operate without disturbing animal migration paths or shipping lanes. Real Ice anticipates that, at full scale, the project could cost between $5 billion and $6 billion annually.

Despite the encouraging early results, the project has drawn sharp criticism from many climate scientists. Critics, including Jennifer Francis from the Woodwell Climate Research Center and Liz Bagshaw from the University of Bristol, warn that while local ice thickening is feasible, the scale required to make a significant impact on the Arctic ecosystem and global climate may not be achievable. They also point to the potential risks of large-scale interventions in such a delicate environment.

These concerns are compounded by ethical questions surrounding the project. Some scientists argue that geoengineering approaches like ice thickening divert attention from addressing the root causes of climate change, namely the burning of fossil fuels. Others worry that introducing unprecedented levels of human activity into the Arctic could have unforeseen and possibly harmful consequences on local ecosystems, such as disturbing marine life and altering algae growth patterns.

Real Ice defends its approach, emphasizing that its methods are inspired by natural processes and offer a last-ditch effort to protect a rapidly disappearing ecosystem. The company argues that the impacts of doing nothing—allowing the Arctic to continue losing ice—are far more severe.

The future of the project hinges on its ability to prove that ice thickening can be sustained over time without causing significant environmental harm. If successful, it could offer a new tool for mitigating the effects of climate change in the Arctic, but the scientific community remains divided on whether this ambitious geoengineering project can deliver meaningful results on a global scale.

 

Exploring the Science Behind Traditional Thai Herbal Compresses

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The soothing aroma of lemongrass, ginger, tamarind, and camphor fills the air as a hot herbal compress is applied to the body—an age-old therapy that has been cherished for centuries in Thailand and Southeast Asia. This traditional treatment, which involves steaming a mix of herbs wrapped in cotton cloth and applying it to the skin, is widely used for relieving muscle aches, joint pain, and inflammation.

Though herbal compresses have long been a staple of wellness practices, their precise health benefits remain unclear. A 2015 review suggested that many of the advantages of this therapy may be attributed to heat, which helps improve blood circulation and alleviate pain, rather than the herbs themselves.

The use of herbal remedies is a massive global industry, but cultural differences and limited regulation have made it difficult to standardize or scientifically validate these practices. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2018 that many countries still lack national policies or regulations on traditional medicines, making research and effective oversight challenging.

To bridge this gap, Thailand’s Thammasat University, through its Center of Excellence in Applied Thai Traditional Medicine Research (CEATMR), is working to scientifically explore and standardize the properties of herbs used in Thai herbal compresses. According to Arunporn Itharat, director of CEATMR, while herbal medicine is widely used in Thailand, especially in rural areas, much of the traditional knowledge remains unverified by scientific research.

One major challenge in herbal medicine, as Itharat explains, is the variability in the properties of herbs, which can change depending on factors like the herb’s variety or where it’s grown. Moreover, the misidentification of herbs is another pressing issue. In 2020, Itharat’s research published in Science & Technology Asia identified specific components in herbs that contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of herbal compresses, a crucial step in validating the efficacy of these treatments.

In their efforts to make the remedies more accessible and effective, CEATMR researchers have also explored how traditional harvesting methods impact the quality of extracts. For instance, when harvesting zingiber montanum (commonly known as plai ginger), elders recommend collecting the roots during the winter when active compounds are more concentrated—a piece of knowledge yet to be scientifically tested.

In addition to validating traditional practices, the center is developing modern applications of herbal remedies, such as emulsion-gels and creams that incorporate herbal extracts. Itharat is also investigating innovative delivery methods like cooling hydrogel patches and electric herbal compresses. The latter, a collaboration with Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency, allows for extended, controlled application of herbal extracts using a battery-powered compress. This approach offers a more precise and consistent dosage than traditional methods.

Thailand has also committed to furthering traditional medicine research and education. In 2021, Thammasat University launched Thailand’s first Master of Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic Program, combining both traditional and modern medical practices. The global interest in such therapies is growing, with countries like China and India leading research into traditional medicine systems. For example, databases for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been developed to catalog herbs and their uses, helping to standardize and study herbal knowledge.

Despite progress, there is still much to be done. The WHO estimates that more than 50,000 plant species are used globally for medicinal purposes, but the lack of standardized plant names and limited cross-border collaboration remains a significant obstacle. Itharat hopes that by validating traditional knowledge, such therapies can be integrated into modern medicine as complementary treatments that may help patients recover more quickly and naturally.

“The connection between nature and human health is undeniable,” says Itharat. “Our challenge is to preserve this traditional knowledge for future generations while making it accessible to a global audience.”

 

Healthcare Stocks Drop Amid Push for Legislative Changes to Business Models

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Shares of major healthcare companies, including UnitedHealth Group, Cigna, and CVS Health, dropped by up to 5% on Wednesday as concerns mounted over new legislation and public backlash that could disrupt their business operations. These companies, which are key players in the private health insurance sector and pharmaceutical supply chain, also face increasing pressure from lawmakers and patients to change their business practices.

The decline in stock prices follows the introduction of bipartisan legislation aimed at breaking up pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which are companies that act as intermediaries between insurers, pharmacies, and drug manufacturers. The legislation, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, targets the growing scrutiny PBMs have faced for inflating drug prices to boost profits, a practice that has drawn the attention of both Congress and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Shares of UnitedHealth Group, Cigna, and CVS Health, which also own pharmacy businesses, all closed down at least 5% following the news. This stock movement comes at a time when insurance companies are already under public scrutiny, particularly after the tragic shooting of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance arm, last week, which had already caused a dip in healthcare stocks.

The new Senate bill, backed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), proposes that companies owning both health insurers and PBMs divest their pharmacy operations within three years. According to The Wall Street Journal, a companion bill is also expected to be introduced in the House.

Warren criticized PBMs for driving up drug costs and harming small pharmacies. “My new bipartisan bill will untangle these conflicts of interest by reining in these middlemen,” she said, emphasizing the negative impact PBMs have on both patients and independent pharmacies.

The largest PBMs in the U.S., including Optum Rx (UnitedHealth), Caremark (CVS), and Express Scripts (Cigna), collectively manage around 80% of the country’s prescriptions, according to the FTC. These companies play a central role in negotiating drug prices and administering insurance formularies, creating potential conflicts of interest when they also own pharmacies.