Mercenaries Enter Spotlight as Russian Troops Struggle in Ukraine
Wagner Group has proven indispensable in Russia’s few successes in Donbas, and now is expanding its recruitment drive to prisons as it seeks to replenish its losses.3177 min read
Wagner Group has proven indispensable in Russia’s few successes in Donbas, and now is expanding its recruitment drive to prisons as it seeks to replenish its losses.3177 min read
Batteries allowing, CubeSats will target lunar ice and more
Other methods still put the United States somewhat ahead
Measures to capture carbon in soil may be less effective than hoped, scientists say
Bioengineering soybean plants to improve regulation of photoprotection—a natural process that enables plants to cope with excess absorbed light energy—improved soybean seed yield by up to 33% in field trials.
Read that study and more this week in Science: https://fcld.ly/r6g2kix
Corsica, a mountainous Mediterranean island, presents a mix of stylish coastal towns, dense forest and craggy peaks (Monte Cinto is the highest). Nearly half the island falls within a park whose hiking trails include the challenging GR 20. Its beaches range from busy Pietracorbara to remote Saleccia and Rondinara. It’s been part of France since 1768, but retains a distinct Italian culture.

September-October 2022, Issue 539
Railways can be a world unto themselves. When properly managed, this can mean it’s easier to get things done on the railways than in other parts of an economy. That should be a huge opportunity for reducing climate emissions by getting passengers off the roads and out of the skies. But unless we re-purpose rail networks to serve the interests of people – and not those of the empires and corporations which built them and run them to this day – we can’t succeed. This edition explores how we can make a start on this task.
With an election looming, Jair Bolsonaro has set an economic timebomb for Brazil, writes Leonardo Sakamoto.

Polishing the crystal ball
The intelligence community often fails to make accurate predictions. Amy Zegart, an expert brought in to improve analysis in the United States, sets out what can be done to overcome our cognitive biases.
Improving analysis to prevent nuclear catastrophe isn’t just a matter of history. Great power competition is back. Russia and China are trying to rewrite the international order along authoritarian lines.
The cover captures the morning mist at Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand. Like every other aspect of life on Earth, forests are facing increased challenges posed by climate change. A collection of papers in this week’s issue probes the vulnerabilities and potential resilience of forests in a warming world. Three studies focus on North America: one examining the response of boreal species to warming and drought, another analysing the timing of stem growth in temperate deciduous forests, and a third revealing migration of white spruce (Picea glauca) into the Arctic tundra. In the tropics, one paper investigates the
impact of phosphorus availability in the Amazon, while another assesses the reasons for increased mortality of tropical trees. Finally, a sixth paper shows how satellite imaging can be combined with machine learning to identify declining resilience in the world’s forests.
Parkour athlete Jason Paul uses all of his freerunning skills and speed to chase across the busy streets of Mumbai to return a Bollywood actors lunchbox… 🇮🇳
See more incredible freerunning from Jason Paul here: https://www.redbull.com/int-en/shows/…
Below, you can explore Avant et après, the final manuscript of the highly influential French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It is available both in its original form, as well as translated.
Part-memoir and part-manifesto, Avant et après reveals important insights into Gauguin’s life, relationships and thoughts. It includes numerous drawings and monotype prints by the artist.
Avant et après is an important addition to what is already the most significant collection of works by Gauguin in the UK – joining amongst other works the masterpieces from his Tahitian period, Nevermore and Te Rerioa – and further strengthens The Courtauld’s resources for Gauguin scholarship.