The climate crisis is coming with such severe consequences that it is no longer possible to escape responsibility. Considering that the stage of “let the polluter pay” has long passed and no serious steps have been taken in this regard, humanity is at a decision point in the face of environmental crises. Either a balance will be established in the relationship between society and ecology, or we will surrender to the climate crisis and other deepening crises. The climate movements include a strong call to action to re-establish the balance between society and ecology in this dilemma. This article examines the development of global environmental policies, the inadequacies of states in combating the climate crisis, and the alternative transformation strategies poposed by new wave environmental movements such as Fridays for Future, Extinction Rebellion, and Blockadia. It also explores the connection between these movements and Ernst Bloch's concept of “concrete utopia”. Methodologically, this descriptive study is grounded in the theoretical framework of environmental movements, international environmental conferences, and Bloch’s utopian thought, using literature review and document analysis as its primary methods. The study concludes that these movements approach the climate crisis on the basis of scientific reality, critically address the structural problems of the current system, and propose concrete, actionable alternatives. Inspired by Bloch’s concrete utopia, they focus on real solutions that can create change today, rather than imagining distant ideals. With inclusive structures that unite people of different identities and generations, these movements go beyond protest and act as powerful forces for social and ecological transformation.

Book Review: Scientific Realism and Laws of Nature: A Metaphysics of Causal Powers

During the Ming–Qing period, the arrival of European missionaries introduced Chinese eyes to Western naturalism—an idiom of precise anatomy, linear perspective and chiaroscuro. The new visual order posed an immediate perceptual shock and an aesthetic challenge to China’s long-standing portrait tradition. Yet at this historic cross-cultural juncture Chinese portraiture did not capitulate to wholesale Westernisation; instead it displayed a robust cultural agency and capacity for adaptive self-reinvention. This essay argues that physiognomic visuality—xiangshu, a correlative science that reads the face as a micro-cosmos of fate—functioned as a crucial “cultural buffer” and “aesthetic ballast.” By comparing the philosophical foundations, observational protocols, conceptualisations of form and evaluative criteria that separate Chinese from Western portraiture, the study demonstrates how physiognomic culture shaped and consolidated the indigenous yixiang (image-as-concept) paradigm. Within its framework painters could dialogue with the Western “scientific realist” system while safeguarding and further developing a native aesthetics centred on qiyun shengdong (spirit-resonance), gufa yongbi (bone-method brushwork) and chuanshen xieyi (expressive transmission of spirit). Taking the writings of Matteo Ricci, Zou Yigui and Shen Zongqian as points of departure, and integrating the syncretic practice of Zeng Jing’s “Bochen” school with Ren Bonian’s modernist turn, the paper reveals how late-imperial portraitists metabolised foreign influences within a physiognomic horizon, effecting a creative transformation premised on “Chinese learning as substance, Western learning as application.” Revisiting this episode of cultural self-awareness offers critical historical insight into China’s artistic path to modernity and into the construction of contemporary cultural confidence.

The study investigates Greek consumers’ beliefs and their assessment of the risks associated with consuming potatoes they perceive as contaminated with pesticide residues, aiming to understand the relationship between perceived risk and actual dietary exposure. A survey of 1318 participants was conducted, employing latent profile analysis to identify two distinct consumer profiles: Concerned Consumers, who prioritize certified products and exhibit lower potato consumption, and Confident Consumers, who demonstrate higher consumption levels and lower risk perception. Data from the consumer survey and the two-category grouping were benchmarked against data from the Greek report on pesticide residue monitoring in food to estimate exposure against established toxicological reference values. The results indicate that pesticide residues on potatoes in Greece remain significantly below established toxicological reference values, with mean exposures well within safety limits for both consumer groups. Despite the higher consumption among Confident Consumers, their exposure levels are still negligible. The findings highlight a disconnect between consumer perceptions of pesticide risk and actual exposure, suggesting that current agricultural practices are effective in safeguarding public health. This study underscores the importance of evidence-based risk communication to bridge the gap between consumer concerns and scientific reality, reinforcing the role of potatoes as a safe and essential food source.

After being told that my work was "not independent enough" and that I was "not doing real science," I began to question how academic medicine defines success. Through teamwork in translational HIV research and community-engaged programs like The Last Gift, I've come to see that independence is an illusion, and that collaboration, empathy, and connection are the true engines of discovery and impactful research. This reflection challenges the traditional, hegemonic, metrics of scientific achievement and calls for a broader definition that values mentorship, equity, and collective progress as essential to meaningful science.

This study discusses the rational interpretation of Q.S. al-Baqarah verse 164 concerning the signs of Allah’s power in Tafsir al-Manār by Muhammad ‘Abduh and Rasyid Rida. This study is motivated by the need to understand the relationship between revelation and scientific reality within the framework of modern Qur’anic exegesis. Muhammad ‘Abduh and Rasyid Rida employed a rational (‘aqli) approach in interpreting verses related to natural phenomena, emphasizing the role of reason and scientific observation in recognizing the greatness of Allah. This study adopts a library research method, using Tafsir al-Manār as the primary source, supported by relevant books, journals, and academic articles as secondary references. The analysis is conducted descriptively and analytically to identify the interpretive principles (qawā‘id al-tafsīr) applied by the exegetes, including al-Tafsīr bi al-Qur’ān, al-Tafsīr bi al-‘Aql, al-Tafsīr bi al-Wāqi‘, and al-Tawḥīd wa al-Tajdid. The results show that Tafsir al-Manār interprets natural phenomena such as the heavens, the earth, rain, and wind not merely as physical realities but as āyāt kauniyyah (cosmic signs) that guide human beings to think and strengthen their faith. Revelation and science are viewed as complementary, not contradictory, in affirming Allah’s oneness and wisdom.

This article offers a comprehensive review of Audience Cost Theory (ACT) over the past 30 years, analyzing it through the lens of scientific realism. Originally proposed by James Fearon (1994), ACT posits that leaders face domestic political costs if they make threats in international crises and subsequently back down. The theory has sparked significant debate, with empirical support being divided. While survey experiments generally confirm public disapproval of empty threats, historical case studies and large-N quantitative analyses provide mixed or limited evidence. This article identifies three key research agendas: the existence of audience costs (theoretical entity), how leaders act with audience cost awareness (theoretical mechanism), and whether ACT’s predictions reflect real-world outcomes (logical consequences). This article argues that disagreement over ACT has been hitherto the result of each researcher’s different analysis of the three agendas. From a scientific realism perspective, ACT’s core entity—audience costs—may exist but often remains unobservable in real-world data owing to the idealization of experimental scenarios and selection effects. The study concludes that future research must link audience cost entities with mechanisms and outcomes, enhance data reproducibility, and conduct meta-analyses. Oral histories and additional survey experiments conducted under various political conditions are recommended to enhance the theory’s empirical foundation and practical significance in international relations.

At the intersection of the mythological dream of flight and the industrial pragmatism of the early 20th century, Romania succeeded in transforming humanity's ideal of conquering the skies into a scientific, technical, and military reality. Against a European backdrop dominated by rapid progress in aviation, Romanians made essential contributions, not only through avant-garde inventions, but also through a unique creative spirit, imbued with dedication, courage, and vision. In just a few years, Romania rose to the rank of an innovative nation, earning it a place of honor among the countries that laid the foundations of world aviation. This article traces the process of establishing the first command structure of the Romanian Air Force, in the context of the doctrinal and organizational turmoil of the early 20th century. Through historical sources and specialized literature, the paper captures the doctrinal transformations that Romanian aeronautics underwent in its early years, focusing on the establishment of the Aeronautical Corps and its role in the military campaigns carried out during the War of National Unification, a war that led to a redefinition of the concept of air power and the consolidation of a lasting institutional identity that would mark the subsequent evolution of the Romanian Air Force.

This article examines the concept of democratic resilience and its vital importance in preserving the integrity of democracy and guaranteeing its future sustainability. The examination of democratic resilience is especially pertinent when the state allocates substantial resources to propaganda and other forms of deception, including post-truth, to undermine its democratic aims and purposes. The post-truth phenomenon profoundly influences moral and democratic principles, along with citizens' attitudes and perceptions. Individuals in contexts characterized by a pronounced post-truth phenomenon often exhibit heightened skepticism towards political and institutional authorities, potentially undermining democratic norms and eroding trust in institutions. The rapid dissemination of information through digital media intensifies this trend, making it more challenging to verify sources and distinguish between misinformation and truth. The post-truth phenomenon exacerbates misinformation by eroding ideals like impartiality and critical thinking, supplanting scientific and historical knowledge and reality. Consequently, the function of education, particularly that of schools, is essential in addressing the phenomena of post-truth. A comprehensive awareness of media operations, particularly in the realm of digital literacy, enables students to identify and counter misinformation, thereby fortifying democratic resilience.

High-contrast imaging relies on advanced coronagraphs and adaptive optics (AO) to attenuate the starlight. However, residual aberrations, especially non-common path aberrations between the AO channel and the coronagraph channel, limit the instrument performance. While post-processing techniques such as spectral or angular differential imaging (ADI) can partially address those issues, they suffer from self-subtraction and inefficiencies at small angular separations or when observations are conducted far from transit. We previously demonstrated the on-sky performance of coherent differential imaging (CDI), which offers a promising alternative. It allows for isolating coherent starlight residuals through speckle modulation, which can then be subtracted from the raw images during post-processing. This work aims to validate a CDI method on real science targets using VLT/SPHERE, demonstrating its effectiveness in imaging almost face-on circumstellar disks, which are typically challenging to retrieve with ADI. We temporally modulated the speckle field in VLT/SPHERE images, applying small phase offsets on the AO deformable mirror while observing stars surrounded by circumstellar material: HR 4796A, CPD-36 6759, HD 169142, and HD 163296. We hence separated the astrophysical scene from the stellar speckle field, whose lights are mutually incoherent. Combining a dozen of data frames and reference coronagraph point spread functions through a Karhunen–Loève image projection framework, we recover the circumstellar disks without the artifacts that are usually introduced by common post-processing algorithms (e.g., self-subtraction). The CDI method therefore represents a promising strategy for calibrating the effect of static and quasi-static aberrations in future direct imaging surveys. Indeed, it is efficient, does not require frequent telescope slewing, and does not introduce image artifacts to first order.

Parental hesitancy toward vaccines is associated with multiple factors—historical, cultural, and socioeconomic—along with new perspectives related to vaccine confidence since the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to understand parents’ perceptions of the vaccination phenomenon and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic period. A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis of the results were conducted. Searches were carried out in the Medline, Scopus, PubMed, Scielo, and Lilacs databases. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). After applying inclusion criteria, nine studies comprised the meta-synthesis. Thematic synthesis followed the approach proposed by Thomas and Harden. Rumors and concerns about vaccine efficacy, distrust in government, and lack of perceived disease severity were associated with low confidence. Confidence and acceptance were related to protection, return to normal routines, disease severity, risk of infection, concern with comorbidities, and previous experiences. The media, government, community leaders, social networks, health organizations, and healthcare professionals were identified as influential actors in vaccination decisions. Strategies are needed to bring the population closer to scientific reality and to foster citizens’ confidence in vaccines.

Abandoning The Big Mick: A commentary on Smith et al.'s 25 years of qualitative research in sport and exercise psychology.

Biological object as real patterns: reconciling processualism and scientific realism

ABSTRACT A disconnect exists between theory and practice in technology adoption research. Philosophical foundations influence research questions, methods, and results interpretation, shaping marketing resource allocation strategies. Past studies mistakenly assumed only two philosophical choices: positivism and relativism. This research demonstrates why neither foundation appropriately supports behavioral intention research or practice, and establishes scientific realism as a proper foundation for all intention-to-use research methods. The authors clarify distinctions between “empirical research” and “empiricism” and between “relativity thesis” and “relativism”—terms often confused due to similar labels but carrying different implications for scholarship and practice in technology adoption and customer value proposition development.

This article discusses the tendency for some researchers to privilege positivistic and post-positivist epistemologies and certain methodologies (e.g., experimental and quantitative methods) over others in the name of scientific rigor. We argue that the uncritical privileging of certain research designs over others contributes to scientific bias and potentially scientific racism. There has been a longstanding epistemological debate about which research methodologies produce rigorous research. Those who argue that only research that examines causal links is considered real science neglect the other stages of the scientific method which also consider description, observation, and prediction, in addition to explanation. The focus on causal questions as the epitome of “real” science dismisses earlier stages of science that must first describe, observe, and predict before it can explain phenomena. We discuss less emphasized forms of validity (e.g., statistical conclusion validity, external validity, and construct validity), which are equally important to internal validity in addressing scientific rigor. We also discuss how the tendency to conflate statistical analysis procedures with research design works to dismiss rigorous research not focused on causal questions. This is especially problematic for research that examines underrepresented groups and marginalized populations who are typically also hard-to-reach research populations. Finally, we review previous epistemological debates that privileged certain quantitative methods over other quantitative methods and qualitative approaches and offer recommendations for how to combat scientific racism in psychological science.

This study aims to develop a model that can identify a reference for determining the adjustment magnitude in the market approach used in appraisal practice. Currently, it is challenging for appraisers to accurately determine the extent of these adjustments. Data collection in this study employed purposive sampling, ensuring that the criteria and specifications closely mirrored the data collection process in appraisal practices. The researcher selected three districts to capture any possible variations in location affecting the adjustment magnitude. The collected data was regressed to build a hedonic price model, which was later analyzed using the paired data analysis method to meet ideal model conditions and specifications. The results of this study demonstrate that the adjustment magnitude in the market approach can be identified from price differences resulting from variations in a single attribute. The highly heterogeneous housing market conditions in Indonesia present significant challenges for conducting paired data analysis in a practical context. Artificial conditions were required to meet the specifications for paired data analysis. The implication of the study that appraisers in determining adjustments in the market approach. Additionally, the model/procedure developed in this study can be applied in research across different contexts and objects, contributing to the advancement of real estate valuation science.

The “butterfly effect” has long served as a metaphor for the sensitivity of complex systems to initial conditions, capturing public imagination and shaping scientific discourse since Lorenz’s pioneering work in the 1960s. While it is not literally possible for the flap of a butterfly’s wings in South America to generate a tsunami across the Pacific, the metaphor conveys a profound scientific reality: in nonlinear and chaotic systems, microscopic disturbances can grow into macroscopic consequences. This paper reframes the butterfly effect within a rigorous interdisciplinary context, uniting principles from quantum mechanics, chaos theory, and dynamical systems geometry. We argue that: - • Quantum uncertainty, as formalised by Heisenberg’s principle, provides the unavoidable baseline of perturbations in all physical systems. • Torus attractors and related nonlinear geometries describe the intermediate structures that constrain, but also amplify, these perturbations into divergent system trajectories. • Chaos theory formalises the exponential growth of differences through Lyapunov exponents, showing that deterministic systems may still be unpredictable beyond a finite horizon. By weaving these threads together, the paper not only deepens theoretical understanding of chaos but also extends its implications to climate modelling, ecological dynamics, financial systems, and engineered networks, where resilience and adaptability must replace pure predictability as design goals. Finally, this work proposes that the butterfly effect metaphor should not be relegated to a scientific curiosity or popular cliché. Instead, it must be understood as a fundamental property of nature, a bridge between the quantum indeterminacy of the microscopic world and the chaotic unpredictability of the macroscopic world. In doing so, the study sets the stage for future inquiry into the limits of predictability, the geometry of dynamical attractors, and the governance of systems where the smallest causes may lead to the largest effects

To summarize the literature pertaining to surgical trainees' experiences with competency-based medical education (CBME), outline strengths and weaknesses, and synthesize the evidence to map the sequence of activities that must be successfully implemented for CBME to function effectively. CBME has seen rapid and widespread adoption in surgical training programs globally. Amid reports of mixed findings for how CBME programs impact trainees' wellness, program directors require evidence-informed solutions. A scoping literature review of Medline, Embase, ERIC, PsycINFO, and the grey literature was conducted between January 1, 2012 and August 9, 2024 for studies reporting surgical trainees' perceptions of advantages and disadvantages of CBME. The data was synthesized with reflexive thematic analysis, and from a scientific realism perspective to generate a conceptual map of how themes relate to the intended program theory of CBME. 2160 titles were identified. After title and abstract screening, 1933 studies were excluded, leaving 227 articles for full-text review of which 213 were excluded. Reported advantages and disadvantages of CBME organized into four themes: logistics of implementation, educational value, infectious apathy, and psychological implications. A series of program theories are proposed and mapped to the themes, providing a contextualized understanding of how the intended impact of CBME on trainees has differed from reality. By mapping themes and proposing related program theories, we provide surgical programs in different contexts a guide to fine-tune ongoing CBME implementation processes. We believe such refinements will enhance resident well-being, while promoting the goal of creating safe, capable surgeons.

International research partnerships are crucial to strengthening research capacity (RCS) efforts. However, little is known about how such partnerships work to enhance the capacity of postgraduate trainees. We applied an Indigenous realist evaluation (RE) approach to examine how the ‘African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence’ (ARISE) programme works to strengthen the capacity for trainees. The Indigenous RE integrates critical and scientific realism paradigms with the Postcolonial Indigenous paradigm, focusing strongly on power, relationality, and decolonization. We used a multi-case study design to investigate two cases of innovation- and laboratory-based research projects led by African principal investigators (PIs). We conducted realist-informed interviews and observations with PIs, interviews with collaborators and partners, and storytelling with students. Realist thematic analysis helped to identify context, intervention, mechanism, and outcomes (CIMO). Deductive, inductive, abductive, and retroductive reasoning were applied to generate programme theories through an iterative and rigorous theory-building process. Findings show that trainees who are committed and self-driven, based in a research-intensive university that provides complementary opportunities and where there is demand for multidisciplinary research, will improve their skills, secure additional funding, and transition from master’s to PhD programmes. This is because the RCS resources would inspire, challenge, empower, activate a sense of agency, and provide the trainees with eye-opening experiences. However, trainees would secure jobs outside Africa (brain drain) if career opportunities in specialized fields are limited locally. If trainees are junior faculty staff and fully funded, and their university provides protected time, RCS resources would inspire, motivate, and empower them, resulting in increased research outputs and career growth. RCS efforts targeting (post)graduate trainees need to consider ‘inter alia’ the university contexts (e.g. availability of complementary resources and protected time), the individual traits and readiness for postgraduate training, and the broader ecosystem, which determines if the trainees’ skills benefit Africa’s research and development.

Abstract Although gender diversity within industry increases economic outcomes, productivity and innovation, women remain underrepresented in the STEM workforce globally including within Australia. In attempts to minimize the gender gap, STEM enrichment programs for women have been implemented but there remains a lack of evidence for their effectiveness and long-term impact. A STEM Enrichment Academy was established at Flinders University in late 2018 using a government funded grant to engage year-nine female students in STEM and encourage them to consider future STEM careers while making subject selections at senior school level. Specifically, the program aimed to inspire the visiting students to pursue STEM subjects at school and at university. The program contains three different enrichment methods: one-day Real Science Days, a series of Design and Technology workshops, and a 3 day STEM Enrichment Conference. To evaluate the influence of the STEM programs on career interest in STEM, this study surveyed participants from the 2019 workshops and the 2021 conference before and after the events. Additionally, long-term effects were investigated using 2 year follow-up data for participating student’s year-11 subject choices. There was an overall increase in career interest in STEM subjects following the 1 day Real Science Days which was significant for the Physics workshop. There was also a significant overall increase in career interest in STEM following the 2021 conference. The enrichment program appeared especially beneficial amongst girls from regional South Australia who previously possessed less motivation to pursue STEM careers than metropolitan students. Finally, 2 year follow up data for 46 participants from the 2019 STEM enrichment program revealed that 42 (91%) had enrolled to study subjects such as Physics and Specialist Mathematics at school for Years 11, 12 and many participants enrolled in STEM degrees including Physics, Space and Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Laboratory sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Biomedicine and Medical Sciences. Our results provide evidence that the direct support of STEM programs for developing girls’ interest in science careers have meaningful effect on both interest and subject enrolments.