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World Awaits Launch of Saudi Astronauts' Mission to ISS

Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Bernawi and Ali al-Qarni (SPA)
Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Bernawi and Ali al-Qarni (SPA)
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World Awaits Launch of Saudi Astronauts' Mission to ISS

Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Bernawi and Ali al-Qarni (SPA)
Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Bernawi and Ali al-Qarni (SPA)

Saudi astronauts, Rayyanah Bernawi and Ali al-Qarni, completed their final preparations as part of the AX-2 crew for the launch of their mission at the International Space Station (ISS), which will be launched atop the Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon spacecraft.

The historic flight is a turning point in the Saudi space sector, being part of Saudi Arabia's Astronauts Program, launched on September 22, 2022.

The Saudi astronauts will conduct 14 scientific and research experiments during their mission to the ISS, contributing to scientific research.

The new mission affirms Saudi Arabia's ambition to benefit from space in all fields, as it is a giant future sector with global visions of sustainability, technology, and scientific research.

Saudi Arabia achieved several developments in this sector to be among the new space leadership, adopting its emerging activities while providing the infrastructure needed to ensure the sector's empowerment and prosperity.

NASA had announced that Bernawi and Qarni would take off in Spring 2023 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a SpaceX rocket towards the ISS, accompanied by John Schofner and Peggy Whitson.

The Saudi astronauts will conduct various experiments and studies during the space mission.

They will investigate changes in vital indicators in the blood that reflect functional brain tissues during short-term space missions and determine the safety of such trips for the brain.

Additionally, they will measure the effect of short-term space flights on telomere length and conduct a mydriasis experiment to measure intracranial pressure. Other investigations will focus on enhancing knowledge of spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) by measuring electrical activity in the brain using EEG and studying the diameter of the optic nerve envelope for astronauts.

The mission will also explore cerebral perfusion and postural adjustments of the brain in microgravity using near-infrared spectroscopy as a non-invasive technique.

The official logo of the Kingdom's scientific mission to the ISS is a circular shape featuring the Saudi flag and says "Saudi Arabia towards space" alongside the names of the two Saudi astronauts.

The logo embodies the noble goals of the Kingdom's scientific mission, centered around empowering people, protecting the planet, and opening new horizons through the research the astronauts will conduct in health and environmental sustainability.

The logo will be placed on the official uniform of the crew, as it is customary for all space flights to have an official logo for each mission before the team leaves the planet Earth into space.

Earlier this month, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Bernawi, al-Qarni, Mariam Fardous, and Ali al-Ghamdi, before the launch of the Kingdom's scientific mission to the International Space Station.

The Crown Prince welcomed the crew, reiterating the importance of the space sector as a significant pillar in enhancing the Kingdom's global competitiveness, emphasizing at the same time the significance of space exploration in serving science and humanity.

He also noted that the Saudi people are pinning great hopes on Bernawi and Qarni as ambassadors and representatives of the Kingdom at the ISS in a mission with noble objectives to empower humanity, protect the planet and open new horizons for research in health and a sustainable environment.

The space sector represents an economic force and includes developing and providing space products and services to end users. It also constitutes a long chain of added values from research and development through space equipment manufacturers to providers of space products and services.

According to the 2018 Stanley Morgan report, the size of the space industry in the world is valued at over $350 billion, while it is expected to generate $ 1.1 trillion in 2040 and about $2.7 trillion by 2050.

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Caffeinated Beverages May Help Protect the Brain, Study Says

A cup of coffee and a cappuccino are seen at a Juan Valdez store in Bogota, Colombia June 5, 2019. (Reuters)
A cup of coffee and a cappuccino are seen at a Juan Valdez store in Bogota, Colombia June 5, 2019. (Reuters)
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Caffeinated Beverages May Help Protect the Brain, Study Says

A cup of coffee and a cappuccino are seen at a Juan Valdez store in Bogota, Colombia June 5, 2019. (Reuters)
A cup of coffee and a cappuccino are seen at a Juan Valdez store in Bogota, Colombia June 5, 2019. (Reuters)

Drinking a few cups of caffeinated coffee or tea every day may help in a small way to preserve brain power and prevent dementia, researchers reported on Monday.

People with the highest daily intake of caffeinated coffee had an 18% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those with the lowest such intake, according to a study based on responses to questionnaires by 132,000 U.S. adults spanning four decades.

The study, published in JAMA, also found that the people with the highest intake had a lower rate - by nearly 2 percentage points - of ‌self-perceived memory ‌or thinking problems compared to those with ‌the ⁠lowest intake.

Results were ‌similar with caffeinated tea, but not with decaffeinated beverages, the researchers said.

While the findings are encouraging, the study does not prove caffeine helps protect the brain, they said.

The magnitude of caffeine's effect, if any, was small, and there are other better-documented ways to protect cognitive function as people age, study leader Dr. Daniel Wang ⁠of Harvard Medical School said in a statement.

Lifestyle factors linked with lower risks of ‌dementia include physical exercise, a healthy diet ‍and adequate sleep, according to previous ‍research.

"Our study suggests that caffeinated coffee or tea consumption can ‍be one piece of that puzzle," Wang said.

The findings were most pronounced in participants who consumed two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of caffeinated tea daily, the researchers reported.

Those who drank caffeinated coffee also showed better performance on some objective tests of cognitive function, according to the ⁠study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Further research is needed to validate the factors and mechanisms responsible for the findings, the researchers said.

They noted that bioactive ingredients in coffee and tea such as caffeine and polyphenols have emerged as possible factors that reduce nerve cell inflammation and damage while protecting against cognitive decline.

"We also compared people with different genetic predispositions to developing dementia and saw the same results - meaning coffee or caffeine is likely equally beneficial for people with high and low genetic risk of developing ‌dementia," study coauthor Dr. Yu Zhang of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said in a statement.

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AlUla Announces Exceptional Ramadan Experiences

These programs come as part of efforts to enhance AlUla’s tourism experience - SPA
These programs come as part of efforts to enhance AlUla’s tourism experience - SPA
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AlUla Announces Exceptional Ramadan Experiences

These programs come as part of efforts to enhance AlUla’s tourism experience - SPA
These programs come as part of efforts to enhance AlUla’s tourism experience - SPA

AlUla Governorate is welcoming the holy month of Ramadan this year with a wide range of diverse tourism experiences that reflect the area’s distinctive character and rich cultural heritage, reinforcing its position as one of the Kingdom’s most prominent destinations to visit during the holy month.

During Ramadan, AlUla offers an integrated experience catering to different visitor preferences, including guided stargazing experiences, cultural events, and night markets, in addition to traditional dining experiences for Iftar and Suhoor, embodying the depth of AlUla’s cultural heritage and local identity.

The Ramadan programs in AlUla include a variety of standout events, such as Ramadan experiences at Maraya Hall, a cultural market, and live performances in the atmosphere of Ashar Valley, alongside heritage tours in AlUla Old Town that narrate stories of AlUla and its Ramadan customs, including the award-winning Incense Road Experience, SPA reported.

The programs also feature seasonal art exhibitions hosted across multiple cultural venues, including Design Space AlUla, the fourth edition of Desert X AlUla, and the Arduna exhibition at AlUla Oasis, in addition to experiences combining art, nature, and stargazing at Daimumah Oasis in collaboration with AlUla Manara.

Visitors are also offered tours to prominent archaeological sites, including Hegra, Dadan, and Jabal Ikmah, to explore ancient sites dating back centuries BCE and view unique rock inscriptions, as well as adventure experiences ranging from dinner and stargazing in Sharaan, hot-air balloon rides, mountain hiking trails, and safari tours.

These programs come as part of efforts to enhance AlUla’s tourism experience during the holy month of Ramadan and provide diverse options that meet visitor expectations, contributing to the growth of tourism activity and showcasing the governorate’s natural and cultural assets.

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NCW Releases over 10,000 Animals under Reintroduction Programs

The releases carried out by the center over the past years included more than 80 priority wildlife species - SPA
The releases carried out by the center over the past years included more than 80 priority wildlife species - SPA
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NCW Releases over 10,000 Animals under Reintroduction Programs

The releases carried out by the center over the past years included more than 80 priority wildlife species - SPA
The releases carried out by the center over the past years included more than 80 priority wildlife species - SPA

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) announced that the total number of wildlife animals released under its breeding and reintroduction programs for locally threatened species has exceeded 10,000 animals, an achievement reflecting the scale of the center’s sustained efforts to develop wildlife, restore ecosystems, and enhance biodiversity across various regions of the Kingdom.

The releases carried out by the center over the past years included more than 80 priority wildlife species, including reem gazelles (sand gazelles), Arabian oryx, Idmi gazelles, mountain ibex, houbara bustards, ostriches, and sandgrouse, as part of efforts aimed at supporting the recovery of natural populations of these species and enhancing their sustainability within their environmental and historical ranges, SPA reported.

CEO of NCW Dr. Mohammad Qurban noted that release operations are among the key tools for restoring ecosystems and reducing ecological imbalance, as the return of wildlife to their natural habitats contributes to protecting biodiversity and improving environmental quality, which in turn supports habitat integrity, the continuity of plant and animal components, and the enhancement of ecosystem functions over the long term.

NCW continues to implement its strategic plans to develop wildlife, protect endangered species, and enhance the efficiency of natural habitat management through expanding breeding programs, enhancing applied scientific research, building national capacities, and applying the best international practices in biodiversity management, in addition to raising environmental awareness, engaging local communities, and supporting eco-tourism, thereby contributing to achieving the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030, and the National Environment Strategy, toward thriving and sustainable wildlife, biodiversity, and ecosystems.