International teams of researchers and New Mexico lawmakers are making significant moves, with one group embarking on an oceanographic expedition and the other launching an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse. Meanwhile, a center in the Democratic Republic of Congo is providing crucial support to survivors of sexual violence, and a university is developing sustainable alternatives to traditional Mardi Gras beads.
An international team of researchers set off on February 16, 2026, aboard a German research vessel to investigate coastal Kelvin waves and marine heat waves in the tropical Atlantic, according to Phys.org. The expedition, involving researchers from various disciplines, will deploy instruments to continuously measure currents, temperature, salinity, pressure, and oxygen down to a depth of around 1,200 meters. These instruments will remain in the ocean for years.
Simultaneously, New Mexico lawmakers launched a new investigation into allegations of trafficking and sexual abuse at the 7,600-acre Zorro Ranch outside Santa Fe, formerly owned by Jeffrey Epstein, as reported by Time. The property, owned by Epstein from 1993 until his death in 2019, was mentioned in the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice. A bipartisan committee of four lawmakers, known as a truth committee, will seek testimony from survivors of alleged sexual abuse at the ranch as part of the $2.5 million investigation.
In other news, the Toyokana Center in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, is providing a safe space for girls who have experienced sexual violence, according to NPR and UNICEF reports. The center was established in response to the needs identified by young women, offering treatment and a place to be heard, as sexual violence cases are on the rise, with many occurring within families. UNICEF data indicates over 45,000 cases were recorded last year, highlighting the urgent need for such support.
In a move toward environmental sustainability, researchers at Louisiana State University developed 3D printed, biodegradable beads as an alternative to the plastic beads traditionally thrown during Mardi Gras, Time reported. Over 3,000 of these sustainable beads were thrown during the recent Carnival. The traditional beads, which contribute to environmental waste, see around 25 million pounds thrown away each year. In 2018, 46 tons of them clogged New Orleans storm drains after heavy flooding.
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