New Study Locates Cleanest Air in the World

The coast of Antarctica. AFP file photo
The coast of Antarctica. AFP file photo
TT
20

New Study Locates Cleanest Air in the World

The coast of Antarctica. AFP file photo
The coast of Antarctica. AFP file photo

A new study conducted by the Colorado State University has defined the area that has the cleanest air in the world: the remote Southern Ocean that encircles Antarctica.

The swift climate change driven by human activities has left no area without pollution. But, Professor Sonia Kreidenweis and her team from the Department of Atmospheric Science suspected the air directly over the remote Southern Ocean won't be affected by pollution or contain aerosols produced by human activities or exported from remote lands.

During the study, the researchers examined the region by using the bacteria in the air over the Southern Ocean as a diagnostic tool.

The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

The researchers also examined the composition of airborne microbes captured from the ship they were on, and found that Antarctica appears to be isolated from microorganisms linked to aerosols, which makes it one of very few places on Earth that has been minimally affected by anthropogenic activities.

Using DNA sequencing, source tracking and wind back trajectories, the team determined the microbes' origins were marine, sourced from the oceans, suggesting aerosols from distant land masses and human activities, such as pollution or soil emissions driven by land use change, were not traveling south into Antarctic air.

These results counter all other studies from oceans in the subtropics and northern hemisphere, which found that most microbes came from upwind continents. But the diagnostic tool used in the study was decisive in validating the hypothesis of Kreidenweis and her team.

In a report published on the Colorado State University's website, research Thomas Hill, coauthor on the study, said: "The air over the Southern Ocean was so clean that there was very little DNA to work with."

"We treated the samples as precious items, taking exceptional care and using the cleanest technique to prevent contamination from bacterial DNA in the lab and reagents, so we can reach more accurate results," Hill added.



Aroya Cruises Launches First Voyage in the Mediterranean

The ship features world-class facilities and services. SPA
The ship features world-class facilities and services. SPA
TT
20

Aroya Cruises Launches First Voyage in the Mediterranean

The ship features world-class facilities and services. SPA
The ship features world-class facilities and services. SPA

Aroya Cruises, a subsidiary of Cruise Saudi and fully owned by the Public Investment Fund, has announced the launch of its inaugural Mediterranean voyage on June 28, offering guests a fully integrated tourism experience inspired by authentic Arab hospitality, across some of the world’s most prominent cruise destinations.

The AROYA, the cruise line’s flagship vessel, set sail from its Mediterranean homeport at Galataport in Istanbul on a seven-night journey visiting key destinations including Athens, Souda Bay, and Mykonos in Greece, followed by Bodrum in Türkiye, before returning to Istanbul on July 5.

Building on the success of its inaugural Red Sea season, Aroya Cruises will continue operating Mediterranean voyages through mid-September 2025, offering diverse itineraries ranging from six to seven nights. Destinations include Marmaris, Rhodes, Alexandria, and several other prominent coastal cities in Türkiye, Greece, and Egypt.

The ship features world-class facilities and services, including a main pool area, a theater with daily entertainment, and a wellness center offering therapeutic treatments, spa services, a beauty clinic, and a fitness club.

Guests can also enjoy a wide range of activities tailored for all family members, such as an adventure zone, sports complex, water park, and one of the largest kids’ areas aboard any cruise ship. Culinary offerings include 12 restaurants and 17 cafés, serving a curated mix of Saudi and international cuisines.

President of Aroya Cruises Dr. Joerg Rudolph expressed pride in the company’s first Mediterranean voyage, noting that this milestone comes just six months after the launch of its cruise operations.

He emphasized that the cruise line’s expansion into top European destinations aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals to support tourism sector growth.