Plant researchers from Wales and Uganda have collaborated on a community enterprise project in rural Uganda, becoming the first to create affordable and highly effective mosquito repellent distilled from locally grown catnip plants. Laboratory and field experiments reveal that the catnip-based repellent skin lotion is just as effective as DEET and offers a much cheaper alternative for preventative action against mosquito-borne diseases in malaria-endemic regions, while also providing new economic opportunities for local Ugandans.

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Japanese technology company Fusic Co., Ltd. are collaborating to explore the development of artificial intelligence-enabled ground systems that could help operators manage increasingly large and complex satellite constellations. The collaboration will study how AI could assist ground-control teams with routine satellite operations, mission scheduling, ground-station allocation and the early detection of technical problems.These proposed systems can also be used to automate routine tasks with human oversight, helping operators respond more quickly and manage larger satellite fleets more efficiently. The partnership aims to bring together NTU's satellite operations expertise with Fusic's capabilities in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and software engineering. The NTU-Fusic Memorandum of Understanding was signed today, 6 July, at SPACETIDE 2026, a major space business conference held in Tokyo, as Singapore and Japan mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.

Organizational capabilities are important for growth, innovation, and competitive advantage. However, these capabilities are difficult to measure, limiting empirical research. Using financial data from ~45,000 Indian firms and a nestedness algorithm, researchers have created and tested a new approach to quantify firm capabilities and rank their position on a “capabilities ladder.” Analysis revealed a nested hierarchy of capabilities ranging from basic to advanced. With further insights, the study holds relevant implications for organizations and governments.