#migration testing lab

[best-testing-lab-uae]

Migration Testing Lab | +971 554747210

[best-testing-lab-saudi]

What to Expect During Migration Testing at Labs in Ajman: A Step-by-Step Guide | +971 554747210

In the UAE’s rapidly evolving market, ensuring the safety and compliance of packaging materials is paramount. Migration testing plays a crucial role in verifying that food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic packaging does not release harmful substances into the product. For businesses operating in the region, understanding what to expect during migration testing at labs in Ajman can streamline the process and help achieve compliance efficiently.

This comprehensive step-by-step guide explains the migration testing process at Ajman labs, highlighting key stages, requirements, and best practices to prepare for successful testing outcomes.

Understanding Migration Testing

Migration testing assesses whether chemicals or contaminants transfer from packaging materials to the product contained within. It’s vital for products that come into contact with packaging—especially food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics—to ensure consumer safety and meet regulatory standards.

Ajman’s migration testing lab use advanced analytical methods to simulate real-world conditions and detect potentially harmful substances migrating from packaging materials. The tests ensure compliance with UAE regulations, GCC standards, and international guidelines.

Step 1: Preparation and Sample Submission

The migration testing process begins with proper preparation and submission of samples.

Sample Selection

Choose packaging materials that accurately represent the product’s actual packaging, including all components like lids, seals, films, and adhesives.

Documentation

Provide detailed information about the product and packaging, including:

Type of product (food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, etc.)

Nature of product contact (liquid, solid, fatty, acidic)

Intended storage conditions and shelf life

Production batch number and supplier details

Lab Submission

Submit the samples along with the documentation to the Ajman migration testing lab. Many labs now offer online submission portals to simplify the process.

Step 2: Preliminary Assessment and Test Planning

Once the lab receives your samples, they conduct a preliminary assessment to plan the testing procedure.

Risk Analysis

The lab experts review your product details to determine the migration risks associated with your packaging material.

Test Scope Definition

Based on the product-contact type and regulatory requirements, the lab defines the scope of testing, which may include:

Overall migration testing (total migration of substances)

Specific migration testing (targeted chemicals such as heavy metals, plasticizers)

Selection of Simulants

The lab selects appropriate food or product simulants (like water, ethanol, acetic acid) that mimic the real product’s chemical properties to replicate actual contact conditions.

Step 3: Sample Preparation

Before testing, the lab prepares the packaging samples according to standardized procedures.

Cutting and Conditioning

Samples are cut to specified dimensions and conditioned to replicate typical storage conditions.

Contact Simulation

Samples are then exposed to selected simulants for defined times and temperatures to simulate actual use and storage conditions.

Step 4: Conducting Migration Tests

Migration testing involves two main categories:

1. Overall Migration Testing

This test measures the total quantity of all migrating substances released from the packaging into the simulant.

Conducted by immersing or contacting the packaging sample with simulants under controlled temperature and time

After exposure, the simulant is analyzed for total non-volatile residue

2. Specific Migration Testing

This test targets specific hazardous substances, such as:

Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury)

Plasticizers (phthalates)

Formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds

The lab uses advanced analytical methods such as:

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Step 5: Data Analysis and Interpretation

After testing, the lab analyzes the data to assess migration levels against regulatory limits.

Regulatory Limits Check

Results are compared with UAE and GCC limits, as well as international standards such as EU Regulation No 10/2011 or FDA guidelines.

Compliance Determination

The lab determines whether the packaging material complies with overall and specific migration limits for safe product use.

Step 6: Reporting and Certification

The migration testing lab in Ajman prepares a detailed report documenting:

Test methods used

Sample description and preparation details

Migration test results

Compliance status

Recommendations, if any

The report can be submitted to regulatory authorities or used for product registration and quality assurance.

Step 7: Post-Test Consultation and Support

ISO accredited migration testing labs in Ajman often provide post-test consultation services.

Expert Guidance

Lab specialists help you understand the results, explain compliance requirements, and suggest improvements for packaging materials.

Retesting and Follow-Up

If your samples fail migration testing, labs advise on corrective actions and offer retesting services to verify improvements.

Benefits of Migration Testing at Ajman Labs

Choosing a migration testing lab in Ajman offers several advantages:

ISO Accreditation: Ensures reliable, accurate, and internationally accepted results

Regulatory Compliance: Helps meet ESMA, GCC, and international packaging safety regulations

Advanced Technology: Uses cutting-edge analytical instruments for precise testing

Industry Expertise: Serves diverse industries including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics

Fast Turnaround: Provides timely results to support product launch schedules

Consultative Services: Offers technical support for compliance and packaging improvements

Preparing Your Business for Migration Testing

To ensure smooth testing, businesses should:

Select representative packaging samples carefully

Provide complete and accurate product information

Communicate intended storage conditions and product types clearly

Choose labs with ISO 17025 accreditation for credibility

Plan testing in advance to accommodate lead times

Conclusion

Migration testing at labs in Ajman is an essential step to guarantee the safety of packaging materials used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. Understanding the step-by-step process—from sample submission to test execution and reporting—helps businesses prepare efficiently and achieve regulatory compliance.

Partnering with an ISO accredited migration testing lab in Ajman ensures accurate, reliable results and expert guidance, enabling you to protect consumers and meet UAE and GCC packaging standards confidently.

[best-testing-lab]

Technology Trends: Advancements Driving Migration Testing Labs in Qatar

In the realm of food safety, migration testing plays a crucial role in ensuring that packaging materials do not transfer harmful substances into consumable products. Qatar, known for its dedication to innovation and excellence, is witnessing significant advancements in migration testing labs. These labs are embracing cutting-edge technologies to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and overall effectiveness. This blog explores the latest technology trends driving migration testing labs in Qatar and their impact on ensuring food safety and quality.

Key Technological Advancements in Migration Testing

Migration testing lab in Qatar are at the forefront of adopting advanced analytical instruments and methodologies. These labs leverage state-of-the-art equipment such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for precise analysis. Moreover, emerging trends in testing methodologies, such as solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), are revolutionizing the way migration testing is conducted. Innovations in packaging materials, including barrier coatings and active packaging, are also influencing analysis techniques, allowing for more accurate assessments of chemical migration.

Impact of Technology on Testing Accuracy and Efficiency

The integration of advanced technologies has significantly enhanced the accuracy and efficiency of migration testing in Qatar. Improved detection limits and sensitivity enable labs to detect even trace amounts of chemical compounds, ensuring comprehensive testing. Furthermore, technological advancements have led to faster turnaround times and increased throughput, allowing labs to handle a higher volume of samples efficiently. Enhanced data analysis and interpretation capabilities provide valuable insights into the composition of packaging materials, facilitating informed decisions regarding food safety.

Implementation Challenges and Solutions

While the adoption of new technologies brings numerous benefits, migration testing labs in Qatar face certain implementation challenges. Integrating new technologies into existing infrastructure requires careful planning and investment in equipment and software. Additionally, ensuring that lab personnel are adequately trained to utilize these technologies effectively is essential. Addressing regulatory and compliance requirements poses another challenge, as labs must ensure that their testing methods meet international standards and regulations. However, with proper planning, training, and adherence to best practices, these challenges can be overcome, paving the way for seamless technology implementation.

Future Directions and Potential Innovations

Looking ahead, migration testing labs in Qatar are poised to embrace even more advanced technologies and methodologies. Predictive modeling and artificial intelligence (AI) are expected to revolutionize migration testing by predicting potential migration risks and optimizing testing protocols. Advancements in green chemistry and sustainable testing methods will also play a significant role, aligning with Qatar's commitment to environmental sustainability. Furthermore, collaborative research initiatives and partnerships between academia, industry, and government agencies will drive innovation and accelerate the development of new testing solutions.

Conclusion

The technological advancements driving migration testing lab in Qatar are shaping the future of food safety and quality assurance. By embracing cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, these labs are enhancing their capabilities to detect and analyze chemical migration in packaging materials. Improved accuracy, efficiency, and data analysis empower Qatar to uphold the highest standards of food safety and comply with international regulations. As migration testing labs continue to evolve and innovate, Qatar's commitment to excellence in food safety remains unwavering, ensuring the health and well-being of consumers both locally and globally.

[testing-services]

How Migration Testing Supports Compliance with ISO and ASTM Standards?

Migration testing plays a crucial role in ensuring that materials used in various industries comply with international safety and quality standards. Migration Analysis Lab specialize in evaluating the transfer of substances from materials into products such as food, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Compliance with globally recognized standards like ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) is essential for businesses seeking regulatory approval and consumer trust. This blog explores how migration testing ensures adherence to these stringent standards.

Understanding Migration Testing

Migration testing assesses the movement of chemical substances from packaging, containers, or other materials into the products they come in contact with. This is particularly important in industries such as food packaging, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices, where material safety directly affects human health.

Key objectives of migration testing include:

Identifying potential contaminants

Ensuring compliance with regulatory standards

Mitigating health risks

Supporting sustainable and safe material use

The Importance of ISO and ASTM Standards in Migration Testing

ISO Standards in Migration Testing

ISO standards provide internationally accepted guidelines for material testing and safety. Some key ISO standards relevant to migration testing include:

ISO 17025: Specifies the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, ensuring that migration analysis labs maintain high-quality and reliable testing practices.

ISO 11885: Defines methods for determining metal contamination in materials, crucial for evaluating food contact substances.

ISO 10993: Covers biological evaluation of medical devices, assessing the potential migration of harmful substances from device materials into the human body.

Compliance with ISO standards helps businesses gain global market access by demonstrating adherence to internationally recognized safety protocols.

ASTM Standards in Migration Testing

ASTM develops voluntary consensus standards that cover a wide range of materials and testing methodologies. Key ASTM standards relevant to migration testing include:

ASTM D6400: Addresses the compostability of plastics, ensuring that migration of substances does not harm the environment.

ASTM F963: Regulates safety requirements for toys, including migration of hazardous substances like lead and phthalates.

ASTM D4754: Provides a guide for testing the chemical resistance of materials used in packaging and industrial applications.

ASTM standards help businesses comply with legal and regulatory requirements while improving the safety and durability of their products.

How Migration Analysis Labs Ensure Compliance

1. Conducting Comprehensive Material Assessments

Migration Analysis Labs use advanced analytical techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to detect and quantify migrating substances. These assessments ensure that materials meet ISO and ASTM migration limits.

2. Simulating Real-World Conditions

Labs conduct migration tests under conditions that mimic real-world scenarios, such as:

Temperature and humidity variations

Extended storage durations

Contact with different product types (e.g., food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics)

These simulations help manufacturers understand how materials behave under actual usage conditions.

3. Testing for Specific Contaminants

Migration Analysis Labs focus on detecting specific contaminants, including:

Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury)

Phthalates and plasticizers

Bisphenol A (BPA)

Residual solvents

By identifying and quantifying these substances, labs ensure compliance with ISO and ASTM safety requirements.

4. Providing Compliance Certification and Documentation

Migration Analysis Labs issue detailed reports outlining test methodologies, results, and compliance status. These reports serve as official documentation for regulatory submissions and help businesses demonstrate compliance with industry standards.

Industries Benefiting from Migration Testing Compliance

1. Food and Beverage Packaging

Ensuring that packaging materials do not transfer harmful chemicals into food products is a primary concern for food manufacturers. Compliance with ISO 11885 and ASTM D4754 helps guarantee the safety of food contact materials.

2. Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices

Medical packaging and devices must comply with ISO 10993 to prevent harmful chemical interactions with drugs or human tissue. Migration testing helps manufacturers verify that medical-grade plastics and coatings are safe for use.

3. Toy Manufacturing

Toys must meet ASTM F963 requirements to ensure they do not expose children to hazardous substances. Migration testing detects the presence of heavy metals and plasticizers, making toys safer for children.

4. Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

Packaging used for cosmetics must be free from harmful chemical migration. Compliance with ASTM and ISO standards ensures product safety and regulatory acceptance.

Conclusion

Migration testing is a vital process for businesses seeking compliance with ISO and ASTM standards. By working with Migration Analysis Labs, manufacturers can ensure product safety, regulatory approval, and consumer confidence. From food packaging to pharmaceuticals and medical devices, adherence to these international standards not only protects public health but also enhances product credibility in the global market.

[fickle-tiction]

The Scientific Method

“Don’t tell me you’re ticklish?!” “Well now, that seems like wishful thinking.” "No way, are you crying/begging?"

"Clark!" Bruce barked, his body jerking away without his consent and sending his hips crashing into the workbench in front of him. Everything in him was screaming at him to try to sink through the floor, even as he turned to face Clark with a glare that has sent plenty of men running. He kept his blush at bay through sheer stubbornness. He would not help Clark by embarrassing himself any further.

"Bruce." Clark breathed, a Cheshire cat grin slowly stretching over his face. His hand was still hovering midair, where moments ago he bad reached out a hand to steady Bruce as he prepared to slip by him. He was utterly caught off guard by the gasp and flinch combo that it caused. "Don't tell me you're ticklish..?!" He said slowly, as new pathways formed in his brain, mapping out all the possibilities this discovery just opened up.

"Okay, I won't." Bruce huffed, making sure to knock shoulders with Clark as he stalked past him. Well. That had been the plan, anyway. Unsurprisingly, he was stopped by the solid wall of muscle that was Clark Kent's chest.

"Not so fast." Clark was meeting Bruce's every attempt to get around him with a simple side-step to keep him backed up to the table. "I have a hypothesis. What kind of scientist would I be if I didn't run some tests?"

Bruce glared at the cocky smirk Clark was throwing his way. He was suddenly regretting his earlier refusal to come upstairs for dinner, informing Clark that he was running an experiment and it would be a waste if he didn't run his labs and test out his hypothesis. Of course, Bruce being Bruce, he spoke to Clark like he was 4 years old when he said all of this, and now it was coming back to bite him in the ass.

"One that doesn't get a chunk of kryptonite shoved into a very painful orifice."

"B, I love it when you talk dirty to me."

The indignity of Clark getting the last word was almost worse than the utter humiliation Bruce felt when a shriek left his mouth without his permission. It sounded somewhat like "Clark" and somewhat like a banshee.

"My hypothesis is that Bruce Wayne, The Dark Knight, Terror of Gotham, is secretly a ticklish softy." Clark had to raise his voice to be heard over the strangled laughter pouring out of Bruce, and the clatter of equipment on the table that was being jostled by his violent squirming.

"i'm go-hohoho-ing to fucking ki-hihihihihi-ll you." Bruce was doing his best to growl through what seemed like endless waves of laughter. Clark's arms were wrapped around his middle, one hand squeezing up and down his flank as the fingers on his other hand gently scratched any surface they could reach.

"Test number one: complete." Clark eased up on his tickling, allowing Bruce to catch his breath. It did nothing to slow the wild hammering of his heart, but he wasn't struggling against Clark's loose hold, so he figured it was more out of embarrassment than it was fear or discomfort. "Your sides are ticklish." He informed Bruce, smirking at the growl rumbling in his chest.

"Great. Are we done here?"

"What's the rush? You seemed to want to take your time earlier."

"That was important-"

"So is this. Diana's going to want to know if you have a human side after-all."

Bruce's response was once again cut off as one of Clark's hands migrated to stomach, fingers gently prodding into the muscles there.

"Test number Two: Does the Batman have a ticklish tummy?" Clark laughed in delight when Bruce's ears instantly burned red.

"This. Is. So. Childish." Bruce said through gritted teeth, refusing to let the laughter flow as he struggled against the arm wrapped around his torso and holding him in place.

"Maybe if I introduce a new variable." Clark pretended like he was talking to himself, but it was very much said to mess with Bruce. He yanked Bruce's shirt out of the waistband of his pants, smirking when Bruce cursed lowly and flexed his stomach muscles as Clark's hand made contact with his bare skin. "Yes, this should do." Clark mused, reveling in the muffled laughter already coming from Bruce before he even began moving his fingers.

"You're such a di-hihihihihihi-ck." Bruce laughed, trying a new tactic by burrowing his body backwards into Clark's chest. Naturally, that just made it easier for Clark's fingers to roam across his stomach, making a quick detour into the caverns of his bellybutton and spending some time there when Bruce squeaked.

"Wow." Clark laughed, mercifully giving Bruce a break after a few seconds of that treatment. "I didn't know you could make that noise, B."

"I am going to drown you in a pool of liquified kryptonite." The fact that he was practically boneless as he leaned back against Clark's chest when there was nothing keeping him there took some of the heat out of his words.

"Test number Two: Complete. The Batman does indeed have a ticklish tummy." Clark's laugh was cut short by the elbow jabbing sharply into his gut. "If you wanted to do a third test, you just had to ask. No need to get violent." Clark's arms once again wrapped around Bruce's torso so he couldn't leave, and Bruce was kicking himself for not pulling away when he had the chance.

"Now where to perform a third test." Clark hummed, resting his chin on Bruce's shoulder as he scanned his friend's body. His feet would be the obvious next choice, but he was enjoying having Bruce pulled flush to his chest, and more than that it seemed like Bruce didn't mind the position either. He didn't want to go and spoil it by laying him out on the floor to torment his feet. That just seemed cruel.

"How about I run a test on you, so we can compare data?" Bruce suggested, testing the strength of Clark's deceivingly loose hold. Unsurprinsingly the arms around him did not budge.

"Well now, that seems like wishful thinking." Clark huffed out a laugh, breath tickling over Bruce's neck and sending the taller man lurching away with a gasp. "Oh?" He asked, chest filled with glee as a blush quickly appeared on Bruce's neck and continued onto his cheeks.

"No." This was the first time Bruce sounded serious, which Clark deduced meant it was a well-known spot. "Clark." He already sounded like he was trying to hold his laughter at bay, and Clark had yet to do anything but tighten his arms around Bruce's waist so he couldn't slip away.

"Bruce? Anything you want to tell me before I run my final test?" This was said into the side of Bruce's neck, setting off an immediate bout of squirming and high-pitch sounds that the dark knight could not keep in despite his closed mouth.

"I will give you a million dollars to forget this ever happened."

"Well now my curiosity is piqued." Bruce was doing his best to knock Clark's face away using his own head, his body squirming at the feeling of Clark's lips just barely ghosting over the delicate skin of his neck. "How does the whole playboy thing work, if people can't even touch your neck?" This was emphasized by Clark suddenly freeing up one of his hands to drag a single finger down the other side of Bruce's neck. Bruce shouted, nervous laughter bursting out of him for a second before he got it somewhat under control.

"They usually take the money." He was still too proud to admit he didn't let his guard down like this in front of most people, thus they never got a chance to see this side of him. (The rare times someone did tickle him, whether on purpose or by accident, they didn't have the ability to hold him down and make him take it. And, wow, he would be exploring his feelings about this later. Alone.)

Clark purposefully laughed into Bruce's neck, and then laughed some more at the giggles Bruce had no choice but to let out. "You know I have to do this, right?" He was still speaking directly into Bruce's neck, and Bruce's sanity was hanging on by a thread.

"Do wh-hahahaha-what?" Bruce asked, knowing he probably would not like the answer. Or, even worse, he would like it and would have to address those feelings, at least to himself.

"Something tells me no one has ever done this to you before." And if Clark was right then he was in for a real treat. "I'm so happy I could be your first, B."

This whole thing with Clark getting the last word was really starting to grate on Bruce's nerves. He could not dwell on it though, because Clark's lips were suddenly on his neck and he was blowing hard, lips vibrating against his sensitive nerve endings. This was it. After 20+ years of being Batman, Bruce was finally going to die in the line of battle (because this meant war, Clark.)

"StopStopStopStopStopStopStop" Bruce chanted, wild laughter bursting out of him. He was trying to fold in half to escape the endless raspberry, but Clark's arms were stubbornly holding him up. Bruce's eyes were squeezed shut, and he could feel something wet running down his face. He shrieked when he felt fingers dancing along his collarbone on the opposite side of his neck, and it felt like the nervous laughter bubbling out of him would never end. "Cla-hahahaha-rk ple-hehe-please please!"

Clark had paused to draw a breath he didn't need, knowing the anticipation of it would mess with Bruce even more. He stopped when he noticed the tears gathering in the corners of Bruce's eyes, a few having leaked down across his cheeks. "Are you crying?" He asked, arms immediately letting go of their hold on Bruce's torso.

"Shut up." Bruce muttered, no real heat in his words as he wiped at his eyes, staring at the salty liquid on his fingers. He felt his face grow impossibly hotter at the realization that he had in fact been crying, albeit unknowingly.

"Did I go too far?" Clark seemed to shrink in on himself, no part of his body touching Bruce's as the other man quickly gained control over his breathing again. "It was just..so unexpected. I didn't mean to.." He trailed off, suddenly embarrassed at the state he left Bruce in.

Bruce's cheeks were still dusted with pink, there were tears still gathering in the corners of his eyes, the front of his shirt had been unceremoniously yanked out of his pants and left untucked, and his hair had fallen out of it's carefully tousled style. He looked wrecked, for lack of a better term. He also looked confused at the sudden loss of arms around his torso. And why did Clark look like a kicked puppy?

Bruce stared at Clark in silence, taking in the nervous expression on the other man's face. His arms were drawn in close to his sides, back slightly hunched as though he were trying to make himself appear smaller. The uncertainty and guilt were written clearly on his face. It was clear that the "no-touching" signals Bruce usually threw off were causing him to think he overstepped. The embarrassing accidental tears and begging probably didn't help.

"Have you drawn your conclusion?" Bruce asked, voice a bit scratchy due to the unexpected and unusual amount of laughter.

"I--look, I'm sorry. I got carried away, but I can forget this ever happened."

Bruce raised a single eyebrow at that. "It's too late for that." Clark seemed to hunch in on himself even more. Bruce ran a hand through his hair to attempt a quick fix before sticking his hands in his pockets and leaning casually against the workbench. "The money's off the table. You blew it." An easy smile appeared on his face as Clark uncurled himself at the playful tone.

"You're not...mad?"

"Oh, if you ever touch my neck again I will find a way to kill you." Bruce said it so matter-of-fact that Clark couldn't help the surprised laugh that slipped out.

"Noted." Clark would definitely be tickling his neck again, and they both knew it. Bruce all but gave him permission to do so. "Stomach and sides are fine, though?" He teased, taking a step closer with his hand outstretched.

Bruce's muscles tensed up, but he remained leaning against the desk for appearances sake. "Not if you want to keep that hand."

Clark let it drop...for now. "To answer your question; yes. I did reach my conclusion. I have to amend my hypothesis, though." Clark smirked at Bruce's enquiring sound. "You are extremely ticklish." Bruce grunted at that, his trademark scowling making a reappearance. "And a big softy."

"I think you're the first person to ever call me that." Bruce mused, slapping Clark's hand away when he stretched a finger out towards his neck.

"I made you cry from tickling and you forgave me a minute later." Clark was delighted to see a pink dusting gracing Bruce's ears and cheeks again.

"I wasn't crying." Bruce scoffed. "My eyes were watering from the unexpected sensation of...whatever that was."

"The raspberry?" Clark asked, amusement written clear on his face.

"The--" Bruce stuck his tongue out and blew a raspberry, partly to explain it, but mostly to make Clark laugh.

"Oh, this is the start of something special, B." Clark sighed, clapping Bruce on the shoulder. "I take back my earlier statement." Bruce resisted the urge to shrug Clark's hand off his shoulder. "I have not yet reached a conclusion. This question requires further research."

That got Bruce moving. He stood up straight, hands coming out of his pockets as he put a few feet of space between them. "Alfred will kill us if we're late for dinner."

"Dinner was 2 hours ago." Clark informed a genuinely surprised-looking Bruce. He really did lose all track of time when he was working. "Anyway, my research was incomplete. I can't determine if you're ticklish without testing all available variables."

"I could just tell you." Bruce offered, hastily taking a few steps back when Clark slowly started advancing on him.

"That would be corrupted data. You're biased. I need to run my own experiments." Clark put on a small burst of speed to deposit Bruce onto the couch he and Diana bullied him into putting into the cave.

"What are you--CLark! Leave my shoes alone!" Clark was sitting on Bruce's shins, slowly untying his laces and slipping his shoes off his feet.

"It's for Science, B! Now tell me, on a scale of your sides to your neck, where does this land."

Bruce's cursing and muffled laughter echoed off the walls of the cave.

[covid-safer-hotties]

The next pandemic is inevitable. Australia isn’t ready - Published Sept 23, 2024

(Before you Americans yell at me, It's already the 23rd in Australia. This is very late-breaking)

I thought this was a really good breakdown of the current situation given the government-approved covid denial we live in. Long, but worth a read.

By Kate Aubusson and Mary Ward

Top infectious disease and public health veterans at the nerve centre of the state’s war against COVID-19 are sounding the alarm.

NSW is less prepared today to fend off a deadly pandemic despite the lessons of COVID-19, say top infectious disease and public health veterans at the nerve centre of the state’s war against the virus.

And we won’t have another hundred years to wait.

NSW’s gold standard Test-Trace-Isolate-Quarantine and vaccination strategies will be useless if a distrusting population rejects directives, refuses to give up its freedoms again, and the goodwill of shell-shocked public health workers dries up.

A panel of experts convened by The Sydney Morning Herald called for a pandemic combat agency akin to the armed forces or fire brigades to commit to greater transparency or risk being caught off guard by the next virulent pathogen and misinformation with the potential to spread faster than any virus.

“It’s inevitable,” says Professor Eddie Holmes of the next pandemic. A world-leading authority on the emergence of infectious diseases at the University of Sydney, Holmes predicts: “We’ll have less than 100 years [before the next pandemic].

“We’re seeing a lot of new coronaviruses that are spilling over into animals that humans are interacting with,” said Holmes, the first person to publish the coronavirus genome sequence for the world to see.

“People are exposed all the time, and each time we are rolling the dice.”

The independent review of NSW Health’s response to COVID-19 opened with the same warning: “No health system or community will have the luxury of 100 years of downtime.”

Pandemic preparedness needs to be a “permanent priority”, wrote the report’s author, Robyn Kruk, a former NSW Health secretary, “rather than following the path of those that have adopted a ‘panic and forget strategy,’ allowing system preparedness to wane”.

Why we don’t have 100 years to wait for the next pandemic The World Health Organisation has declared seven public health emergencies of international concern since 2014, including the current mpox outbreak.

Climate change is turbocharging the factors that coalesce to create the perfect breeding ground for a pandemic-causing virus, including population increases, bigger cities, and better-connected global markets and migration.

“Animals will be forced into more constrained environments, and humans that rely on those environments will be again constrained in the same environments. There will be more wet markets, more live animal trade that will just increase exposure,” Holmes said.

“It was clear that we weren’t ready [for COVID],” said Jennie Musto, who, after seven years working for the World Health Organisation overseas, became NSW Health’s operations manager for the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, the team responsible for NSW’s COVID-19 contact tracing and containment.

“Everyone had preparedness plans gathering dust on a shelf, but no one was actually ready to respond, and so everyone was on the back foot,” Musto said. “Perhaps none of us really thought this was going to happen. We were waiting 500 years.”

Who would willingly become the next doomed whistleblower? Eddie Holmes, known for his repeated assertion that SARS-CoV-2 did not come from a lab, is deeply concerned that when the next pandemic-causing virus emerges, chances are it will be covered up.

“My worry is that if the virus appeared in a small population, say, somewhere in Southeast Asia, the people involved wouldn’t blow the whistle now, given the fact that you would get blamed,” he said.

Li Wenliang, the Wuhan doctor who tried to raise the alarm about a virulent new virus, was reportedly reprimanded by police for spreading rumours and later died of COVID-19.

The global blame game, culminating in a deep distrust of China and accusations that the virus was grown in a Wuhan lab, is why Holmes believes “we’re in no better place than we were before COVID started, if not worse”.

“I work with a lot of people in China trying to keep the lines of communication open, and they’re scared, I think, or nervous about saying things that are perceived to counter national interest.”

From a vaccine perspective, our defences look strong. There have been monumental advancements in vaccine development globally, driven by mRNA technology. In Sydney this month, construction began on an RNA vaccine research and manufacturing facility.

“But the way I see it is that nothing has been done in terms of animal surveillance of outbreaks or data sharing. The [global] politics has got much, much worse,” Holmes said.

Combat force Conjoint Associate Professor Craig Dalton, a leading public health physician and clinical epidemiologist, called for a dramatic expansion of the public health workforce and the establishment of a pandemic combat force that would routinely run real-time pandemic simulations during “peacetime”.

“No one is upset with fire brigades spending most of the time not fighting fires. They train. A lot. And that’s probably how we need to move,” he said.

“We need exercise training units so that every major player in pandemic response is involved in a real-time, three to four-day pandemic response every three to five years at national, state and local [levels].”

The federal Department of Health and Aged Care recently ran a health emergency exercise focused on governance arrangements involving chief health officers and senior health emergency management officials, a spokeswoman for Health Minister Mark Butler said. The outcomes of this exercise will be tested later this year.

Dalton said desktop simulations and high-level exercises involving a handful of chiefs didn’t cut it, considering the thousands of people working across regions and states. He instead suggested an intensive training program run in the Hunter New England region before the 2009 H1N1 pandemic provided a good model.

“We were ringing people, actors were getting injections, just like a real pandemic,” said Dalton, who once ordered a burrito in a last-ditch effort to contact a restaurant exposed to COVID-19.

Our heroes have had it The expert panel was emphatic that our pandemic response cannot once again rely on the goodwill of the public health and healthcare workforce.

According to the Kruk review, what began as an emergency response ultimately morphed from a sprint into an ultra marathon and “an admirable (yet unsustainable) ‘whatever it takes’ mindset”.

They were hailed as heroes, but the toll of COVID-19 on healthcare workers was brutal. Workloads were untenable, the risk of transmission was constant, and the risk of violence and aggression (for simply wearing their scrubs on public transport in some cases) was terrifying.

“We got through this pandemic through a lot of people working ridiculous hours,” Dalton said.

“You talk to a lot of people who did that and say they could not do it again.”

Tellingly, several expert personnel who worked at the front lines or in the control centre of NSW’s pandemic defences were invited to join the Herald’s forum but declined. Revisiting this period of intense public scrutiny, culminating in online attacks and physical threats, was just too painful.

So long, solidarity Arguably, the biggest threat to our pandemic defences will be the absence of our greatest strength during COVID: the population’s solidarity and willingness to follow public health orders even when it meant forfeiting fundamental freedoms.

The public largely complied with statewide public health orders, including the stay-at-home directive that became the 107-day Delta lockdown, and other severe restrictions prevented many from being at the bedside of their dying loved ones, visiting relatives in aged care homes and attending funerals.

“My worry is that next time around when those sorts of rules come out, people may say, ‘Well, don’t worry about it.’ They relax it in the future. Why don’t we just not stick to the rules?” said Professor Nicholas Wood, associate director of clinical research and services at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance.

“I’m not sure we quite understand whether people [will be] happy with those rules again,” he said.

Dalton was more strident.

“I tend to agree with Michael Osterholm … an eminent US epidemiologist [who] recently said the US is probably less prepared for a pandemic now than it was in 2019, mostly because the learnings by health departments in the COVID pandemic may not make a material difference if faced with a community that distrusts its public health agencies,” he said.

“If H1N1 or something else were to spill over in the next couple of years, things like masks, social distancing and lockdowns would not be acceptable. Vaccination would be rejected by a huge part of the population, and politicians might be shy about putting mandates in.”

As for the total shutdown of major industries, people will struggle to accept it unless the next pandemic poses a greater threat than COVID, said UNSW applied mathematician Professor James Wood.

The risk of the virus to individuals and their families will be weighed against the negative effects of restrictions, which are much better understood today, said Wood, whose modelling of the impact of cases and vaccination rates was used by NSW Health.

“Something like school closure would be a much tougher argument with a similar pathogen,” he said.

A previous panel of education experts convened by the Herald to interrogate pandemic decision-making in that sector was highly critical of the decision to close schools for months during NSW’s Delta lockdown.

Greg Dore, professor of infectious diseases and epidemiology at the Kirby Institute, said the public’s reluctance to adhere to restrictions again may, in part, be appropriate.

“Some of the restrictions on people leaving the country were a bit feudal and too punitive,” he said. “Other restrictions were plain stupid, [for instance] limitations on time exercising outside.”

Meanwhile, the delays to publicly recognise the benefits of face masks and the threat of airborne transmission “ate away at trust”, Dalton said.

“We shouldn’t make those mistakes again,” he said.

Transparent transgressions Uncertainty is not something politicians are adept at communicating, but uncertainty is the only constant during a pandemic of a novel virus.

Vaccines that offered potent protection against early iterations of the COVID virus were less effective against Omicron variants.

“[The public], unfortunately, got hit by a rapid sequence of changes of what was ‘true’ in the pandemic,” James Wood said.

Political distrust can be deadly if governments give the public reason to suspect they are obfuscating.

The expert panel urged NSW’s political leaders to be far more transparent about the public health advice they were given before unilaterally enforcing restrictions.

There was a clear line between public health advice and political decision-making in Victoria. The Victorian chief health officer’s written advice was routinely published online.

In NSW, that line was blurred as Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant stood beside political leaders, most notably former premier Gladys Berejiklian, at the daily press conferences.

Public health experts said that they looked for subtle cues to determine the distinction between the expert advice and the political messaging during press conferences, paying attention to body language, who spoke when and who stayed silent.

“It is fine for public health personnel to have a different view to politicians. They have different jobs. What is not OK is to have politicians saying they are acting on public health advice [when they are not],” he said.

The ‘whys’ behind the decisions being made were missing from the daily press conferences, which created “a vacuum for misinformation”, said social scientist and public health expert Professor Julie Leask at the University of Sydney.

“The communication about what you need to do came out, and it was pretty good … but the ‘why we’re doing this’ and ‘what trade-offs we’ve considered’ and ‘what dilemmas we’ve faced in making this decision’; that was not shared,” Leask said.

The infodemic In the absence of transparency, misinformation and disinformation fill the vacuum.

“We had an ‘infodemic’ during the pandemic,” said Dr Jocelyne Basseal, who worked on the COVID-19 response for WHO in the Western Pacific and leads strategic development at the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Sydney.

“The public has been so confused. Where do we go for trusted information [when] everyone can now write absolutely anything, whether on Twitter [now called X] or [elsewhere] on the web?” Basseal said.

A systematic review conducted by WHO found misinformation on social media accounted for up to 51 per cent of posts about vaccines, 29 per cent of posts about COVID-19 and 60 per cent of posts about pandemics.

Basseal’s teenage children recently asked whether they were going into lockdown after TikTok videos about the mpox outbreak.

“There is a lot of work to be done now, in ‘peacetime’ … to get ahead of misinformation,” Basseal said, including fortifying relationships with community groups and teaching scientists – trusted and credible sources of information – how to work with media.

In addition to the Kruk review’s six recommendations to improve its pandemic preparedness, NSW Health undertook a second inquiry into its public health response to COVID-19, which made 104 recommendations.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said: “We are working hard to ensure the findings and recommendations from those reports are being implemented as quickly as possible.”

The expert panellists spoke in their capacity as academics and not on behalf of NSW Health or WHO.

The ‘As One System’ review into NSW Health’s COVID-19 response made six recommendations 1. Make governance and decision-making structures clearer, inclusive, and more widely understood 2. Strengthen co-ordination, communication, engagement, and collaboration 3. Enhance the speed, transparency, accuracy, and practicality of data and information sharing 4. Prioritise the needs of vulnerable people and communities most at risk, impacted and in need from day one 5. Put communities at the centre of emergency governance, planning, preparedness, and response 6. Recognise, develop and sustain workforce health, wellbeing, capability and agility.

[pirateprincessblog]

𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. >> 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.

𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫: 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦, 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥. 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞.

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: jeong yunho x f!reader x park seonghwa 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: were you working with the mad, or were you mad yourself? 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬: psychologist!reader, patient!yunho, arrogant!reader, pediatrician!seonghwa, mind games, manipulation, violence, bl00d, self h4rm, dissociative identity disorder, mental health, intermittent explosive disorder, infidelity, slowburn.

𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: reply/reblog for a tag

Patient Name: Yunho Jeong

Date of Birth: March 24, 1999

Patient ID: ##########

Personal Information:

Emergency Contact: Eunhyuk Jeong (Brother) - Phone: (###) ###-####

Medical History:

Previous Diagnoses: Major Depressive Disorder (2017), Intermittent Explosive Disorder (2015)

Current Diagnosis: Dissociative Identity Disorder (2023)

Medications:

Current: Sertraline (50mg daily)

Previous: Fluoxetine (discontinued due to side effects)

Allergies:

None reported

Progress Notes:

December 1, 2024: Patient does not refuse to take medication. "Stefan" seems to emerge more often than "Yunho" when the patient is under medication. "Stefan" might be the primary identity of the patient.

December 10, 2024: Session skipped due to patient's outburst. Inability to control him resulted in an injury on both sides. Security is to be enhanced.

December 15, 2024: None of the identities satisfied with the new form of security. Hand-cuffs injuring the patient's wrists, advice is taken to not remove them. Patient has physical signs of trying to harm himself. Session postponed until further notice.

Lab Results:

Blood tests and neurological exams show no significant abnormalities.

Vital Signs:

Blood Pressure: 120/80 mmHg

Heart Rate: 75 bpm

Weight: 67 kg

Immunization Records:

Up-to-date with all standard vaccinations.

Treatment Plan:

Therapy: Weekly sessions with Dr. Sloane Burke (Psychologist) focused on trauma resolution and identity integration. Migrating patient to Dr. Y/n L/n for further research and an additional opinion.

Medication: Continue Sertraline as prescribed. Monitor for efficacy and side effects.

Lifestyle: Encourage regular reading and puzzle solving activities. 

Consent Forms:

Attached signed consent for therapy and medication management.

[willowlevulett]

I have no idea if I'll finish this but here's a little drabble that's been in my drafts for weeks.

-

The freezing air nips painfully at his bare arms as Jayce slides his balcony door closed, his lighter heavy in his hand.

"I would suggest you review and give the board alternative suppliers or materials by Monday. You would do well to remember why we all do this, Jayce"

He sighs, sinking into the frost covered cushion of a rickety lounge chair. He breathes through the ache of the cold, through the panic that still prickled up his spine even after all these years. It was a game he played. It was dumb and he kept his mouth shut about it. How long could he last in the cold before his nervous system became convinced he was freezing to death all over again. The answer everytime was not long. He slides his jacket roughly over his shoulders.

He was a weak man after all.

"I would strongly suggest you leave, Jayce"

His name has been tossed around quite frequently as of late. It felt nowadays more common than not that someone knew his name before he had a chance to say it. How odd of an existence, your own name ripped from your mouth before you have a chance to form it. This, too, was dumb. He knew that. Many people begged and pleaded for his very privileged, cushy life. Hell, when he was young and bright-eyed, he gazed up at the faces of the titans of industry and progress and hoped beyond hope that he would join them one day.

Well, here he was. The life he clawed and prayed for. And he was smoking on his balcony because of it. A shameful habit, this he also knew. Jayce could name a million other things he'd rather tell his mother than the small fact that he smoked. He'd rather look her in the eye and say he had a praise kink before he let her even got a whiff of smoke on his clothes.

The click of the lighter was a comfort. The warmth of the smoke in his mouth was like an old kiss. The cigarette balanced between his fingers was grounding. All of it was very simple. He could explain why he smoked. He knew why. The scientific and biological explanation shoved violently to the wayside. No, it wasn't the inherent addictive properties of nicotine, though he wouldn't deny that is a huge part of it. The reason he would say with a guilty, teeth barring smile is that he feels like himself when he's doing it.

So many of his choices in life have been reckless. He broke his arm at the ripe age of 9 because he figured out how to open the second story window and had always wanted to see the stars on the roof. He crashed his first car while trying to go back roading with his first boyfriend tucked in the front seat. He has a scar that snakes across the entirety of his back that he got into a bar fight when he was freshly 19 and snuck into a seedy bar with a friend he doesn't even remember the name of now.

Professionally, it has been no different. When his work at upper grad became increasingly worrying to his professors, they banned him from continuing his research into renewable energy in his school lab. Explosion risks were cited, but mostly, it was the risk of their oil grants being threatened by the continuation of the testing he was doing. Well, they weren't wrong about the explosion risks. The shrapnel that caught him in the right rib speaks to this all too well. The doctors said they couldn't remove it all and would only try in the future if it migrates too close to his lung. Jayce runs his hand over his rib cage and almost feels like he can feel it. A piece of his own invention nestled safety inside. He takes a long drag and thinks of the man who helped him bring it past that violate point and into something real. Something useful. Not just reckless.

Viktor. Sharp lines, sharp wit, sharp words, and sharp golden eyes. Viktor slid into his life with the grace and finesse of an assassin's knife. The wound he cut was clean, healed well, and could've been deadly if he so chose.

He was not reckless. He was calculating to a fault. The perfect pairing to a perpetual fuck up of an engineer that is Jayce Talis.

Jayce slips his hand under his shirt, pressing his chilled fingertips to the scars that litter his skin. He feels himself take a long shuddering breath.

No, no, let's not think about it, he begs himself. But like with all things, Jayce never listens.

Viktor, as beautiful as light shining through a shard of glass, had held his jaw in a vice grip last night. Jayce, as smooth as a train wreck, had gasped and sputtered an apology before he even registered what might be wrong. He was always making mistakes with Viktor. Drinking three too many beers at the mans apartment surely resulted in at least one.

Viktor had simply stared at him for a moment before releasing his jaw like one would release a bird back to the wild. With a flick of his fingers and a pushing forward motion that seemed to suggest to Jayce that he should flee out the window.

"I'm sorry. What was it? Am..am I too drunk? I've been drunker with you. I don't-I don't understand. Vik-"

"Jayce." His name. Always his name. Viktor always says it like it's made of honey. Jayce wants him to drip it on his tongue.

"What you just said." Oh lord, what he said. Jayce crumbles in on himself, one hand still clutching the burning cigarette, the other wrapped around his ribs.

"You just said," the specter of Viktor in his head continued, "that I am the most beautiful thing you've ever seen."

And Jayce had. They were discussing the stained glass of the cathedral they had passed on their work trip to England. It had been breathingly gorgeous when they decided it was worth the detour and went inside. The colors played like giddy children across the stonework floor. The high ceilings held the ribs of gorgeously carved wooden beams. But despite all that, Jayce found himself looking at how the light played in Viktor's hair. How his pupils dilated. How he licked his lips before he started to ramble about 18th century philosophy.

He was the most beautiful thing Jayce has ever seen. He shouldn't have said it. Viktor was not reckless. Starting a relationship between them was everything Jayce was and Viktor wasn't. He was no fool, Jayce knew enough about himself to know he was far too open with his emotions for Viktor to not at least have a guess that he habored more than work appropriate feelings for the other man. They had been working together three years now and he still couldn't figure out if Viktor returned those feelings. After last night, Jayce thinks with a bitter, painful swallow, he got his answer.

The answer was no.

No. Oh gods, it was no.

Jayce was hopelessly head over heels in love with him and Viktor's answer was no. Jayce, ever the fool, had taken one more risk and had gently set his hand on the side of the other mans neck. He had felt the rabbiting pusle of him, could feel how soft the skin was. He had touched him here before. All casual and never in this intimate manner where his palm pressed against the column of his throat. It was heaven, it was the cold depths of hell. Something in his face must've showed how much he felt for Viktor. It must've betrayed him like it always does. Too expressive, everyone always told him. And Viktor told him to leave. So, he did.

He had a painfully awkward progress report with their investment board earlier this afternoon. Viktor rarely ever showed up to those, but his absence ached worse than the hangover anyway. It went horribly. The board wasn't happy with the cost of materials and was demanding they either rework what metal they are using in the generators or bring the cost down in other ways. Jayce wasn't looking forward to bringing this all to his partner tomorrow.

He lights another cigarette, finally uncurling his fingers from where his nails have bitten half moons into the skin.

"Those will kill you."

Jayce startles, his chair clattering backwards, knocking his ash tray clear across the balcony. A string of curses tumble from his mouth as he whips to lock eyes with none other than the ghost who's been haunting him all day.

Viktor has one hand curled around the open balcony door and the other on his cane. How Jayce didn't hear the door slide open or the click of his cane, well, he'd rather be embarrassed about one thing at a time.

"Hey." It was meant to sound casual, but it comes out sounding absolutely wrecked. His throat suddenly hoarse, his voice thick. He clears it and tries again.

"Hey, buddy! I was just going shoot off a text that we'll need to meet in the morning. Lots of demands from the board. You know how it is." Too much. It was too cheery and over the top. Jayce grimaces and drops his head into his smoke wreathed hands. Hiding, a cowards move. God, could this be any worse.

"Can I sit?" No. Yes. Always. Please leave and let me suffer alone.

"Of course."

[doyouknowthisbook-poll]

Do you know which book this is from?

Please reblog the polls, but KEEP IT SPOILER-FREE to make people read the excerpt with an open mind 💖📚 Title and author will be revealed after the poll's conclusion.

Note: this excerpt is too long for Tumblr’s alt text character limit, so for this poll, the alt text is below the read more.

Edit: The results are up here!

In 1999 the RAND Corporation published a report (the first and, so far, last of its kind) with a "conservative estimate" that more than 307 million tissue samples from more than 178 million people were stored in the United States alone. This number, the report said, was increasing by more than 20 million samples each year. The samples come from routine medical procedures, tests, operations, clinical trials, and research donations. They sit in lab freezers, on shelves, or in industrial vats of liquid nitrogen. They're stored at military facilities, the FBI, and the National Institutes of Health. They're in biotech company labs and most hospitals. Biobanks store appendixes, ovaries, skin, sphincters, testicles, fat, even foreskins from most circumcisions. They also house blood samples taken from most infants born in the United States since the late sixties, when states started mandating the screening of all newborns for genetic diseases.

And the scale of tissue research is only getting bigger. "It used to be, some

researcher in Florida had sixty samples in his freezer, then another guy in Utah had some in his," says Kathy Hudson, a molecular biologist who founded the Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University and is now chief of staff at NIH. "Now we're talking about a massive, massive scale." In 2009 the NIH invested $13.5 million to develop a bank for the samples taken from new borns nationwide. A few years ago the National Cancer Institute started gathering what it expects will be millions of tissue samples for mapping cancer genes; the Genographic Project began doing the same to map human migration patterns, as did the NIH to track disease genes. And for several years the public has been sending samples by the millions to personalized DNA testing companies like 23andMe, which only provide customers with their personal medical or genealogical information if they first sign a form granting permission for their samples to be stored for future research.

Scientists use these samples to develop everything from flu vaccines to penis-enlargement products. They put cells in culture dishes and expose them to radiation, drugs,

cosmetics, viruses, household chemicals, and biological weapons, and then study their responses. Without those tissues, we would have no tests for diseases like hepatitis and HIV; no vaccines for rabies, smallpox, measles; none of the promising new drugs for leukemia, breast cancer, colon cancer. And developers of the products that rely on human biological materials would be out billions of dollars.

How you should feel about all this isn't obvious. It's not as if scientists are stealing your arm or some vital organ. They're using tissue scraps you parted with voluntarily. Still, that often involves someone taking part of you. And people often have a strong sense of ownership when it comes to their bodies. Even tiny scraps of them. Especially when they hear that someone else might be making money off those scraps, or using them to uncover potentially damaging information about their genes and medical histories. But a feeling of ownership doesn't hold up in court. And at this point no case law has fully clarified whether you own or have the right to control your tissues. When they're part of your body, they're clearly yours. Once they're excised, your rights get murky.

Kathy Hudson, who has conducted focus groups about the public's feelings on the tissue issue, says she believes that tissue rights have the potential to become a bona fide movement.

"I could see people starting to say, 'No, you can't take my tissues,' " she told me. "All I can say is, we better deal with the problems now instead of waiting until that happens."

There are, essentially, two issues to deal with: consent and money. For most people, knowing if and how their tissues are being used in research is a far bigger issue than profiting from them. Yet when this book went to press, storing blood and tissues for research did not legally require informed consent, because the law governing such things doesn't generally apply to tissue research.

The Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, also known as the Common Rule, requires informed consent for all human-subject research. But in practice, most tissue research isn't covered because: (1) it's not federally funded, or (2) the researcher never learns the identity of the "donors" or has firsthand contact with them, in which case it's not considered research on humans. So in the end, the Common Rule doesn't actually govern most tissue research.

Today, if doctors want to gather tissues from patients strictly for research purposes—as in Henrietta's case—they are required to get informed consent. But storing tissues from diagnostic procedures like, say, mole biopsies, and using them in future research doesn't require such consent. Most institutions still choose to get permission, but there's no uniformity in the way that's done. A few hand out enough information to fill a small book, explaining exactly what will be done with all patient tissues. But most just include a short line in an admission form saying that any tissues removed may be used for education or research.

[aamputation]

Villain's Day Off

⫷ PREVIOUS ⪡ ║║ ⪢ NEXT ⫸

When their favorite minion Aubrey had pointed out the surprisingly empty day on the calendar after reviewing the month’s planned Villainous Events, they’d decided it was well past due to take some time for themself. It felt wrong to ignore all their professionally-inclined projects to instead focus on other things—personal things! Heavens! Their work ethic is crying—but it was also an exciting prospect. A free day in their usually packed schedule is a rare blessing, and they’re not going to squander it. 

Aubrey had been thrilled when they’d announced their decision to take the day off, so to speak, but when the favorite minion realized the Boss had planned to simply spend their elusive spare time in the lab on a personal project, rather than say, taking a well deserved break at a spa or something relaxing of that nature? Well. Needless to say, Aubrey was driven to tears of despair; practically chewing on the hem of the uniform.

Oh well. 

Villains make people cry, don’t they? 

Guess that’s something. 

Their day off starts in the lab, tinkering around with their prosthetic arm. It’s actually great fun when not being frantically pieced together with slapdash engineering: duct-tape, shoddy soldering, and a prayer. Having the time to improve upon the already sleek design is not something they’ve often been able to do. The tech that makes up their prosthetic is beyond what’s available on the global market, and certainly not FDA approved in any capacity since they’d done the grafting themself—not having access to human testing means they’d had to be the test subject—and the anchors are secured tightly through their skin into the scapula and clavicle. Nano-electrical technology threads into the surrounding muscle fibers and fascia, allowing a connection between the machinery and their nervous system. Being able to disconnect the apparatus from the base anchors to repair the actual prosthesis as needed was critical to the design, but it meant the actual installation procedure would be experimental at best and suicidal at worst. It had been excruciating and left horrendous scarring around the entire shoulder joint, but it was worth every agonizing second in the end.

The nanobots that they’d had to program and inject after grafting the anchor base was a secondary project, but an exceptional addition. The nanobots are what allow internal improvements around the anchor’s base without requiring them to surgically dig out all the deep tissue intrinsic makeup. They also act as monitors for active issues without requiring external diagnostics to be run weekly, avoiding hours hooked up to machines for maintenance scans. Additionally, and blessedly, they function as a secret weapon of sorts; nobody expects the Villain to heal so quickly—so capable of being throttled by the Hero and still managing to stand up again. They may not be physically strong, (barring the mechanics of their prosthetic, of course) but their endurance knows no bounds. 

Their lips quirk up into a crooked grin as they stare down into the internal wiring of their prosthesis. All the minute details wrapped up in an impenetrable metal sheath is a work of art in their eyes, even if no one but they will ever see such beauty. Their toolkit sends off sparks that reflect in the lenses of their goggles as they modify the reaction time of the finger flexion. Dexterity is no laughing matter, after all.

They love their lab; it’s one of their favorite areas of the Lair they’ve built over the past six years they’ve been active as a Villain. It’s not the innermost scientific sanctum, instead one of the more outer sectors of the Lair. There are two halves: divided down the center into medical and mechanical. The Villain is currently perched in one of the metal work stools in the mechanical section, although they’ll migrate back and forth as they test the functionality of the prosthesis’ improvements over the course of the day. There are already a few scorch marks decorating the hem of the left sleeve of their long lab coat, the empty right sleeve knotted off and pulled out of the way as they work. Thankfully, they’re ambidextrous, otherwise they’d never have been able to continue their work after losing their arm eight years ago. 

They woke this morning with the sun, energized and moving through their morning ablutions with a contentment they haven’t had in quite some time. Despite getting an early start with all the excitement thrumming in their veins, their zeal hasn’t faded even though it’s well past noon and quickly approaching dinnertime. The Villain hums under their breath as they tinker away, floating gleefully in their little bubble of mechanical fulfillment, drifting in a place where everything is tranquil and perfect, untouchable and impossible to damage—

—but the shattering of one of the mirrored external windows immediately disabuses that notion.

The Villain pauses where they’re hunched over their prosthetic, blinking behind the dark lenses of their safety goggles before straightening up and setting down their tool. They slowly turn to face the direction of the shattered window, pushing their goggles up onto their forehead almost robotically to reveal their unquestionably unimpressed, deadpan expression.

“I have a front door, you know.”

The Hero straightens from what is undoubtedly supposed to be a dramatic, flashy landing pose, gesturing sharply at the Villain with a furious expression—as though this idiot hasn’t just broken about three separate laws barging into the Villain’s private property like this…

“Villain! The Authority knows you’re behind today’s slew of robberies, so surrender quietly and I won’t rough you up too badly when I take you in!”

The Villain blinks slowly as one brow raises higher with each word out of the Hero’s mouth. They shut their eyes with an exasperated sigh, deflating and pinching the bridge of their nose. What sort of nonsense–!

“Aubrey!” they call loudly, knowing their favorite minion is doubtlessly within earshot.

“Yes, Boss?!” barrelling through the doorway like a bat out of hell, Aubrey freezes at the sight of their unexpected guest.

“W-Who-oaah, shit, h-hey, Hero!!” Aubrey stammers nervously, eyes like dinner plates and clutching that ever-present tablet-clipboard close to the chest. It’s only a matter of seconds before the absolute mess of shattered glass strewn across the floor of the Lab sends poor Aubrey into despair and wrathful fury all over again. “W-What have you done to the window?!”

“The Hero has decided to eschew doorways, Aubrey. For some godforsaken reason it seems I am being blamed for some asinine, puerile incidents—robberies of all things—that have occurred today. I am, for once, completely innocent of these claims as my schedule can attest. As such, relay my schedule for the day to the Hero, if you would please, Aubrey,” they command, gesturing lazily and pulling their goggles back down over their eyes as they get back to work on their prosthetic. They pause, raising their chin to add:

“Oh, and put in a work order for the window.”

“Of course, Boss!” Aubrey chirps, perking up immediately from the despair spiral.

“... you’re serious?” 

The Villain pauses their soldering, peering up at the flabbergasted face of the Hero, staring gobsmacked amidst the minefield of broken glass. Their eyebrow raises upwards again.

“Deadly.”

“Boss has a very comprehensive schedule, Hero, and don’t you forget it! Today is a rare free day, so Boss hasn’t had anything planned, see? Oh, wait—I should show you the redacted version, haha, can’t show any big plans to the enemy! One sec, let me pull that up…”

The Villain returns their attention to their project halfway through Aubrey’s explanation, certain that their most competent minion is no doubt flawlessly using that thorough schedule on their tablet-clipboard to defend their alibi. The Villain quickly loses themself back in their work, finding the presence of the Hero in their Lab irrelevant to the task at hand; it’s not like they’re currently working on anything that could be thwarted, after all, and they severely doubt that the Hero has any sort of engineering or mechanical knowledge that could allow for sabotage of their prosthetic. With zero threat, the Villain feels perfectly safe letting Aubrey rip the Hero a new one, letting the brightly-colored do-gooder poke around while they work. 

They’re in the middle of testing a circuit to check how quickly the upgraded lock-pick kit tucked into one of the fingertips springs into activation when they sense a presence hovering at their side. They continue working as they address said presence.

“Can I assist you in some way, Hero? Surely you’re convinced I had nothing to do with your paltry robberies as proof dictates I’ve been in my lab all day, after all.”

“Ah,” the Hero sounds surprisingly sheepish and out of the corner of their eye they can see the way the Hero rubs the back of a reddish-orange hair-covered neck. It’s a… cute gesture. 

Hm. That’s a new thought.

“Yeah, I uh. I’m sorry about your window… I can um. Pay you back for it, if you send me the invoice?”

“I am perfectly capable of paying for my own repairs, Hero.”

“No, I-I’m well aware, Villain, god, I’m just trying to be nice!”

The Villain hums, amused at the frustration and embarrassment coloring the Hero’s voice, their left hand pausing where it’s in the process of retrofitting the external protective plating of the prosthetic so they can reattach and test it with its new improvements.

“I am fairly unfamiliar with the concept, forgive me.”

“... I don’t know whether to be saddened by that statement or to just feel disgusted by it.”

A tiny smirk flits across the Villain’s lips at the disgruntled Hero, entertained by the clearly irritated responses they’re managing to elicit. Perhaps they should consider teasing their Hero more often if these are the types of reactions they get from such behavior.

“Perhaps you ought to examine that dichotomy more closely at a later date, Hero. If you’ll excuse me,” they push past their Hero, prosthetic in hand as they walk over to the medical side of the Lab. They hook themself up to the simple monitoring system—blood pressure, blood oxygen, EEG, EKG—before reattaching the prosthetic and resolutely ignoring the steadfast shadow the Hero is proving to be.

They run through their standard tests while monitoring their vital signs, recording everything in their encrypted files. They attempt some specialized movements next, noting down successes and failures—thankfully the successes vastly outweigh the failures—and by the end of the trials, the Villain determines the upgrades safe for continued use. A quick rotation of the prosthetic in the base elicits a jolt as the nano-electrical anchors re-establish a few musculoskeletal connections, their nervous system lighting up like early Christmas decorations. A soft hiss escapes from between their clenched teeth as they massage the muscles around the anchor base.

“I-I didn’t realize it was an actual prosthetic,” the Hero speaks quietly, tone serious.

“Hm? What sort of assumptions were you making, then?” the Villain replies, more out of general politeness than actual interest; they don’t want to hear platitudes, least of all from The Hero.

There have been far too many comments over the years about their disability and quite frankly they’re sick of it. Past Heroes they’ve gone up against as a fledgling Villain have said things to them like “oh, I’d have been easier on you if I’d known you were crippled” or “I didn’t realize you had it so bad, you must be suffering” and other variations along those two lines of thought. It’s exhausting to be reduced to a limitation when it’s obvious that it doesn’t actually define who the Villain is in any way shape or form. Bad enough that their family started to write them off as a loss when their arm had been destroyed after being caught in the crossfire of that one fight years ago; they don’t need their adversaries not taking them seriously just because of a few measly missing pounds of flesh and bone.

“I–Well, I thought you’d made like, an exoskeleton or something,” the tone sounds embarrassed, and the Villain risks a glance at their Hero and is surprised to see a rather fetching flush decorating those rounded, yet defined cheekbones, “or-or that maybe you were just really dedicated to an aesthetic or something.”

The Villain snorts, charmed by the Hero’s naive interpretation of such an obvious disability, “No, certainly nothing so fanciful. But I applaud you for an interesting take.”

The Hero smiles: a quiet, soft, bashful thing that makes the Villain’s chest feel like it’s full of effervescence, warm and overflowing.

“I’m actually really impressed you’re so strong even with such a–an injury? I, I don’t actually know why you don’t have a right arm—you could have been born without it, I suppose!” The Hero bites at a slightly chapped, plush lower lip, awkwardness settling over a once-vibrant and energetic form into stillness.

The Villain sighs, “Your first assumption was correct, yes. It was an injury. And no, I will not tell you about it.”

The Hero brightens, a broad grin stretching across a soft face, and the Villain immediately feels as though the universe has righted itself. It’s a feeling that definitely needs to be re-assessed at a later date because it’s not something they’ve ever experienced before.

“Well, then yeah! I’m definitely impressed you’re as strong as you are despite such an injury—in spite of it? Or maybe even because of it,” the Hero says, suddenly thoughtful, “I don’t know you well enough to figure either way, I guess.” 

The Hero scrubs a hand through bright hair, ruffling the already disheveled strands, “Y’know, and quite frankly I’d be worried if I did know you well enough! What kind of Hero gets to know their Villain like that?”

The Hero’s laughter feels like a hug while the use of a possessive before the Villain’s title makes them feel decidedly short of breath.

The Villain wants to keep the Hero, to possess their Hero entirely, and keep their Hero all for themself. 

Forever.

… bit not good, that.

“Hm. Wouldn’t mind being someone’s anything,” they muse quietly and mostly to themself, flexing their right fist and making note with a pleased smile that all the joints move smoothly against one another without any abrasion or noise. They almost miss the soft choking noise that comes from their Hero standing beside them. They tear their eyes from the prosthetic, glancing down at the shorter Hero, only to marvel at the obvious surprise, longing, and the deep, dark blush painting those softer, rounded cheekbones.

Unable to resist a little playful bullying, they reach out,—slowly enough that their Hero could move away if so desired—grasping their Hero’s chin gently in their prosthetic grip. The action elicits a soft gasp from between plush, red-bitten lips.

“Tell you what, my darling Hero,” they drawl, voice low and rich, eyes lidded and locked onto the wide ones belonging to the stunned, flustered prey in their gentle grasp, “I for one have surprisingly enjoyed your company outside of our, hm, working hours, so to speak.”

The Hero’s swallow is audible and the lazy smirk that pulls at the Villain’s lips feels so right. “If you have any interest in perhaps continuing this, ah… parley if you will—feel free to come back next week. I’m sure I can have Aubrey get my thoroughly redacted schedule to you somehow. I have plenty of resources at my disposal, after all, and well… evil never sleeps, now, does it..?”

Their voice has dropped into a rumbling purr by the end of their short monologue, the Hero’s breathing rapid and pulse like a frantic hummingbird’s wing-beats against the sensors in their prosthetic’s fingertips. Gently, they let go of the Hero’s chin, a soft brush against flushed skin seeming to act as a jolt to the Hero’s system, causing the blushing fool to throw every ounce of bodyweight backwards. The bumbling Hero stumbles wide-eyed against tables and lab equipment in the mad dash to get to the door without turning around, fleeing as fast as possible.

The Villain watches their Hero run from their oh-so-tender clutches, buoyed with the knowledge that without a doubt they’ve succeeded in accomplishing something they’d never considered possible before.

They’ve caught the attention of Their Hero: not with cunning, or power, or violence, even. But with conversation and a hint of flirting!

What a fascinating new development.

They can’t wait to see what comes of it.

⫷ PREVIOUS ⪡ ║║ ⪢ NEXT ⫸

My designs for Villain and Hero found [ here ]

shout out to adornedwithlight for the reblog banner & barbed wire divider

[roping-riding-wrangling]

Rapture

Where You Lead Masterlist

“Dad?” You call out when you enter the house. You can hear the radio playing from somewhere, so you follow it to the laundry room where your dad is folding towels. “Hey buddy. How was work?” he asked, setting down the last of the towels. 

“It was good,” you began, “there was a weird power outage, but that’s it.”

You quickly duck into room to change into sweats and a t-shirt, returning to your dad still talking,  “…wonder if it hit the whole town. Maybe it's from the lab?” 

“What could they be doing that would cause a town-wide blackout?” you ponder aloud.

You migrate to the kitchen, and he brings the radio with him. 

“I don’t know, ” he answers, then pauses and continues, “Maybe they’re testing windmill power?” 

You furrow your brow at that, “Does Hawkins even have windmills?”

“Thats probably why it didn’t work then,” he giggles, clearly pleased at his joke.

Summary: Y/n Newby works the closing shift at Benny's Burgers, accidentally gives someone a nosebleed, and meets a really weird kid

Word Count: 3.3k

Warnings: Newby!reader, Blood, Minors smoking, Trashy romance novels, not proofread

Anastasia gripped Robert’s biceps, taking note of how firm and large they were under her petite hands. They stood at the cliff’s edge, surrounded by the British navy. “Oh Robert, what are we going to do?”

“Don’t worry my love, as long as we are together we can survive anything.”

With that, the pirate dipped her low and kis-

A large hand grabs the book from you, interrupting the passionate scene.

“A Pirate’s Love…really? What was it last week, A Ride to Remember? I think you might need an intervention at this point”

Looking up, you see Jonathan Byers grabbing the book to read the summary on the back.

“It was not A Ride to Remember,” you say, grabbing the book back from the boy, “It was Big Sky Country and it was very tasteful, thank you! God, you make it sound like all I read is bodice ripping filth.”

Jonathan raises his eyebrow, pointedly looking at the cover of your book, which features a woman’s bodice literally being ripped off her body by the handsome pirate. 

“Ok this is a bad example,” you defend, slightly pink in the face.

 “The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.” He says, smirking. 

“The only problem I have is you.” 

Benny’s Burgers had been dead since 9 pm, save for the boy who’d come in just before 10.  Normally, Jonathan would have gone straight home, but after working a double he needed a pick-me-up in the form of a cheeseburger – and your company. 

You sit behind the counter, book back in your hands, while Benny is in the back, getting ready to close the kitchen. 

Jonathan sits on the other side, fiddling with the radio at the counter, changing the station to find something more aligned with his taste, so you take the opportunity to examine his worn out face. 

He was clearly weary after work, the constant eyebags looking even heavier than normal. His 5 o'clock shadow looks like it had been there for at least a day and he has the distinct smell of old popcorn oil that tells you he’d been stuck at the concessions stand for at least 5 hours. 

You clear your throat looking pointedly at him, “What do you want?”

He looks at you sheepishly, seemingly having forgotten that he still needed to order, “uh, a number 3.”

You nod at him, then yell through the window at Benny, “Drag a cow through Wisconsin and marry it!”

“Just say it normally!” you hear him call back. 

You giggle back at his annoyed response to your insistence at using the old fashioned diner lingo.

Turning back to Jonathan you ask, “what do you want to drink?”

His eyes flick to the milkshake machine, then he looks up at you grinning, “what’s new?”

You lean over the counter at him, matching grin on your face, “working on something new for the holidays: hot chocolate milkshake”

Jonathan raises an eyebrow, “how is it different from regular chocolate?”

You scoff, as if it's obvious, “it has marshmallows”

“That's it?” he laughs and you scoff again, “No! It also has a candy cane.”

Not 10 minutes later, Jonathan is chewing through his burger ferociously, only breaking to sip on his milkshake. Glancing at your watch, you look up at the boy, still working his way through his meal. Sighing, you speak, “Mind if I close around you?”

He grunts his approval, clearly more interested in his burger. 

Going through your closing tasks, you’re mopping the floor when the lights flicker, then go out. “Hey, Benny?” you call out in the darkness, careful not to slip on the wet floor. 

“Yeah, I know…let me check the generator.”

The darkness only lasts 30 more seconds and suddenly the lights return. 

Jonathan never stopped eating his food. At 10:30, you finally kick him out. 

“I put the closed sign out like 15 minutes ago!”, you say as you push him out of the diner. 

“You’re the best, you know that,” he laughs as you close the door behind him. 

“Yeah, you’re just saying that cause I didn’t make you pay”

You lock the door and turn to the kitchen. Grabbing your coat and bag, you exit through the back door. The cool air hits your legs. Your uniform isn’t very forgiving to the early November air, but its not unbearable. You hoof it to your truck, parked next to Benny’s. 

“Can I get one of those?” you nod at the cigarette carton he holds. He rolls his eyes then hands you the pack of reds. 

After lighting his own stick, he passes the lighter to you, “Don’t tell your dad”

“Obviously,” you don’t even look up, taking a drag of the cigarette. 

You lean against his truck, next to him. As you smoke in silence, you find yourself humming a familiar tune. Benny huffs out a laugh and catches on

“...B-B-B-Bennie and the jets!”, you sing out the piano accompaniment as well. 

The pair of you dissolve into laughter and Benny puts his arm around you, pulling you into a tight side hug. He ruffles your hair and says, “alright buddy, get home safe.”

“See you tomorrow”

 –––––

“Dad?” You call out when you enter the house. You can hear the radio playing from somewhere, so you follow it to the laundry room where your dad is folding towels. “Hey buddy, how was work?” he asks, setting down the last of the towels. 

“It was good,” you begin, “there was a weird power outage, but that’s it.”

You quickly duck into your room to change into sweats and a t-shirt, returning to your dad still talking,  “…wonder if it hit the whole town? Maybe it's from the lab?” 

“What could they be doing that would cause a town-wide blackout?” you ponder aloud.

You migrate to the kitchen, and he brings the radio with him. 

“I don’t know, ” he answers, then pauses and continues, “Maybe they’re testing windmill power?” 

You furrow your brow at that, “Does Hawkins even have windmills?”

“Thats probably why it didn’t work then,” he giggles, clearly pleased at his joke.

You roll your eyes and pull some leftovers from the fridge then stick them in the microwave. Listening to the radio, your dad hums along to the music, some old country song. 

The next song plays and you smile as your dad holds out his hands to twirl you around the kitchen. Your dad sings along to Carole King as you laugh through the dizziness he inflicts on you. 

He finally relents and lets you catch your breath when the microwave finishes. You grab your plate and give him a quick on the cheek. “Night dad!” you call out from your doorway. 

“Sweat dreams, buddy!” you softly grin at his reply.

–––––

The next morning comes far too early for you. The alarm blares angrily while you blindly throw your hand to shut it off. Trudging into the kitchen, you start on making coffee for you and your dad. You usually get up before him, meaning you take care of breakfast and morning chores. 

Putting the last of the grinds into the machine, you make a mental note to get more after school. The soft glow of the kitchen light allows you to read as you wait for the coffee to brew.

The hiss of the coffee machine rouses you from your book and you pull two mugs from the cabinet, before pouring half the pot into yours. You make two lunches, put one into the fridge and leave for early morning practice. 

––––––

At the school, you are one of the first to show up in the locker room. Its nice to have the peace that comes with just you and a quiet few others. You duck down to reach your lower level locker, incidentally becoming invisible as a group of three girls from the cheer team also walk in, conversing rather loudly for 6 am. 

“I totally saw them making out in the boys bathroom last week,” the blonde exclaims while putting on her top, “like have some decency.”

“Ew! I don’t even know what he sees in her, she’s a sophomore,” the other replies in a nasally voice, “and not even a cool one, all she does is study!”

“Do you think he’s using her to get better grades,” the third asks airily, “she is really smart.”

“Whatever,” the blonde counters, “he’ll probably move on in like 2 seconds when he realizes what a priss she is”

You roll your eyes at that and stand up, alerting them to your presence. Silently, you walk past them and onto the field to start your run. 

You put your walkman in to listen to a Blondie album. As you run, your mind begins to wander.

 You don’t know Nancy Wheeler well, as the two of you interact peripherally. You had shared a class once or twice, and you saw her in the hallways decently frequently. You know her brother hangs out with your next door neighbor, he and all his little friends bike around the block pretty frequently. She always seemed kind, saying hi when you crossed paths, but you didn’t actually know enough to determine if the blonde was right about her being a priss. 

However, you are sure they were right about Steve moving on in no time. Even you, who tries so desperately to keep your head down and away from the popular kids, knew about Steve Harringtion’s reputation. His intense popularity earned him the nickname  “King Steve''. You understand why, from a technical standpoint. He’s rich, good at sports, and is (in a completely objective way) attractive. 

Your mind continues to roam, and you briefly remembered the time you and Steve had partnered on a history project. It was right before you found out your mom had died

You shook that thought from your head and focused on running faster. In your ears, the nonsense rapping of Debbie Harry blared and you felt the sweat drip down your face, despite the November chill. The coach sounded the whistle and you ran towards the gym for your actual practice, tossing your walkman onto the bleachers inside. 

You’ve partnered with Anna for passing. The sting against your fingertips as you hit the volleyball feels good, like a physical reminder of how powerfully you are hitting the ball. The longer the drills go on, the more the thoughts from earlier creeping in.

Nancy, smiling and nodding at you in the halls.

Hit!

Steve sitting next to you in the library.

Smack!

Your mom’s funeral.

Thud!

You hear the coaches whistle before you realize you’ve hit the ball into the face of one of the JV girls. Blood gushes out of her nose onto the shiny gym floor. Her coach rushes her to the nurse while yours orders you to do 30 burpees and 3 laps.

The cold water of the locker room does nothing to ease the tension in your body. 

––––––

In 6th period English, Mrs. Fleming drones on about Of Mice and Men when you notice the seat behind you is empty. Jonathan’s seat. You glance up to make sure Mrs. Fleming isn’t looking before you pass a note to the girl next to you.

Do you know where Byers is?

It takes a moment but you receive the note back with new writing.

I heard something happened to his brother

Your mind runs wild at the thought of something bad happening to Will. It always warmed your heart to see the small boy with Jonathan, especially when the teen treats him to dinner at Benny’s. You make sure that he always gets extra whipped cream on his shakes as you hand them to him with a wink. 

The worry stays in your bones through the rest of the day. 

––––––

You begin your shift stressed, tying the small apron around your waist, finding it empty. 

“Benny, did you see where I put my pad?” you call out into the restaurant

“Uh, check the office,” his voice comes out from somewhere in the dining area. Earl and Henry are probably out there. 

It's right there on the desk. Of course it is.

You walk further into the building, so focused on putting your hair up that you almost collide with the small body hunched over the kitchen counters. 

“hey!”

A tiny face looks up at you, nearly feral with fear and begins to back up, right into Benny. He moves to grab the child, but it's faster and runs away, crashing into you. You instinctively wrap your arms around the small frame as it freezes. 

“Hey-hey,” you carefully lower yourself to eye-level trying to remain gentle without letting them go, “its ok…its ok” 

You’re finally able to get a good look. What you see angers you: A shaved head, bare feet, hospital gown and the kid is covered in dirt and grime. All signs point to some terrible reason for this child to be stealing fries from Benny’s. 

The kid seems to calm down, and doesn’t run when you move to only hold her hand. 

You look at Benny, unsure of where to go from here. 

“What d’you think about closing early?” he says, looking back at you with the same confusion. 

–––––

You’d helped the kid clean up and replace her hospital gown with an extra large t shirt from the restaurant. She’s so small that the shirt swallows her and your heart aches.

Benny has given her some food, which she scarfs down, even faster than Jonathan. You sit across from her, both you and Benny trying to get her to open up.

“Your parents forget to feed you?” Benny asks, “Is that why you ran away?”

The girl just keeps eating. 

“Were you hurt?” you question gently, “Why were you in the hospital?”

Still nothing

“You run away from the hospital?” Benny continues

At this the girl looks up briefly, then goes straight back to the burger. Frustrated, Benny pulls the burger away from her.

You smack her in the chest, scolding him “Hey man, you can’t just take food from a starving kid!”

“I’m not taking it away. She can have it back, and more, if she answers us. Maybe I'll throw in some ice cream too.” he looks back at the silent girl, “do we have a deal”

He takes her silence as agreement. 

“Ok, lets start with the easy stuff,” he begins, “I’m Benny. Benny Hammond.” he shows her how to shake hands. You hold out your hand and she gingerly takes it. You give her a smile, speaking softly, “I’m Y/n Newby. What's your name?” 

The girl looks confused and the silence remains. Benny glances down at her arm and your eyes follow his to a small marking–a tattoo of some kind. She yanks her arm back, but you catch the numbers before she hides them.

“Eleven? What does it mean? Can you tell us?” you ask

“No”, she says timidly.

Benny interjects, “Well I’ll be damned, she speaks.”

You send a glare his way, to which he rolls his eyes and addresses the girl, “‘no’ No, what?”

She goes back to holding her tongue. 

“Alright, fine. No more food then,” he gets up, taking the tray with him

You attempt to protest, but the child beats you to the punch, “Eleven”

You and Benny exchange glances before he sits back down and probes further, “yeah Eleven– what does that mean?”

She points at herself then repeats it, “Eleven.”

Benny returns the food to her and she chews voraciously. He leaves her with you while he calls social services from the kitchen. You stare at the little girl. She looks no older than 12. The color has returned to her cheeks since eating and she certainly looks better now that shes been mildly cleaned up. 

Eleven looks up at you through her eyelashes and pushes her now empty cup to you.

“You want some more?” you ask and she nods. 

You pop behind the counter, to the soda fountain and refill her cup with water. Walking back, you notice its quieter, but you can’t place why. Glancing around, you see the fan has stopped whirring. It had been annoying in the beginning when Benny got it, but eventually it became just another part of the background noise. 

You pay it no mind, continuing your path to the little girl currently wiping her nose. 

You set down her water and openly stare at her as she hoovers down her burger. She finishes, her face covered in grease and sauce. Grabbing some napkins, you hand them to her but she just stares at you blankly. “Here,” you reach for her cheek with another napkin and she leans away, “Its ok. I’m just gonna wipe your face. You got a little carried away there” 

She leans back toward you, blushing lightly, and you clear her face of the burger’s remains. 

“There,” you smile, staring at your handiwork, “clean as a whistle!”

The toothy smile she gives you warms your heart. You lean closer to her and faux whisper, “Have you ever had a milkshake?”

She shakes her head no and you smirk, “prepare to have your mind blown.”

Ten minutes later, you are both sat on the kitchen counters, giggling as Eleven tries her 3rd shake from the lineup you’ve created. 

“What do you think, kiddo?” you ask, and she thinks for a minute then places the chocolate shake in between the strawberry and vanilla.

“Ooh, strawberry remains number one?” you check and she grins and nods. 

With every minute you spend with her, you notice her opening up more and more. You don’t know how you’re going to be able to leave her at the end of the night. You’ve already stayed 30 minutes later than when your shift was supposed to end. 

As you’re contemplating, Benny walks in, finally off the phone. 

“Y/n” he says, jerking his head to the office. You look back at Eleven, apprehensive about leaving her alone, but she seems content sipping on her chocolate shake as she fishes for the cherry from the already done strawberry shake. 

You follow Benny into the office, leaving the door slightly ajar. 

You immediately question him, “what’d they say?”

He pulls his hand over his face, “they’re coming in the morning to get her…taking her up to Roane county offices. She’ll stay here tonight, I can set the cot out tonight for her.”

You glanced out to peek at Eleven, who’d moved onto her next shake. She was so small, and you’d heard of kids who’d gone into the system. Furrowing your brow, you asked Benny, “Do you need me to stay here tonight?” 

He shook his head, “It's okay buddy, you’ve got class tomorrow. You get home – I’ve got this.”

“Okay…” you responded, not sure why you were so disappointed.

–––––

After you hang up your apron, you approach Eleven, still sitting on the counter. “Hey kiddo,” you begin, “I have to head home.”

She looks up at you, her brown eyes swimming with uncertainty. If you weren’t so close at her, you wouldn’t have heard her say, “Leave?” “Yeah, Eleven, I’m leaving.” you reply.

“No,” she begins to hop off the counter, “stay”

You crouch to her height and hold arms softly

“Oh kiddo…I have to go home, but I’ll tell you what: I’ve had such a great time with you today. I’ll give you my number, and whenever you get where you’re going, you can give me a call, ok? You’ll tell me all about it?” you reach into your bag and tear a piece of paper from your notebook, writing your bedroom phone number on it. You pass it into Eleven’s hand before she pulls you into a tight hug. When she finally releases you from the embrace, you wipe a stray tear from her cheek. 

Rising, you lift her back onto the counter and pat her forehead. Loud enough for Benny to hear, you say, “Alright you two, don’t have too much fun. Eleven, keep an eye on him.”

You give her a wink and she giggles.

Walking out the door, you hear Benny call out to you, "bye buddy!"

Next Part

[best-testing-lab-uae]

How Migration Testing Labs in Abu Dhabi Support Pharmaceutical Packaging Safety? | +971 554747210

Pharmaceutical packaging plays a crucial role in protecting medicines from contamination, degradation, and tampering, ensuring that drugs maintain their efficacy and safety throughout their shelf life. With the rapid growth of the pharmaceutical industry in the UAE and the wider GCC region, regulatory bodies have tightened standards to ensure that pharmaceutical packaging materials meet strict safety requirements.

One key aspect of pharmaceutical packaging safety is migration testing — the assessment of potential transfer of harmful substances from packaging materials into medicines. Migration testing labs in Abu Dhabi have become indispensable partners for pharmaceutical manufacturers, importers, and regulators aiming to guarantee packaging safety and compliance.

In this blog, we explore how migration testing lab in Abu Dhabi support pharmaceutical packaging safety, their testing methods, and why they are vital for protecting consumer health and meeting stringent regulatory standards.

What is Migration Testing in Pharmaceutical Packaging?

Migration testing is a specialized process that measures the transfer of chemical substances from packaging materials—such as plastics, adhesives, inks, and coatings—into the pharmaceutical products they contain. This is essential because contaminants migrating into medicines can compromise drug stability, alter therapeutic efficacy, and potentially harm patients.

Pharmaceutical packaging migration testing assesses both overall migration (total mass transfer of substances) and specific migration (individual hazardous chemicals like heavy metals, plasticizers, or monomers). The testing ensures that any migration falls within safe limits as defined by international regulations such as the European Pharmacopoeia, USP, and local authorities like the UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP).

Why is Migration Testing Critical for Pharmaceutical Packaging?

Pharmaceutical products have highly sensitive compositions and strict purity requirements. Even minimal contamination from packaging materials can:

Cause chemical degradation or reduced potency of drugs

Trigger adverse reactions or toxicity in patients

Lead to microbial contamination if packaging integrity is compromised

Result in product recalls, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage for manufacturers

Therefore, rigorous migration testing is mandatory to ensure that packaging materials used for pharmaceuticals do not release harmful substances that could impact product safety or patient health.

How Migration Testing Labs in Abu Dhabi Support Pharmaceutical Packaging Safety

Abu Dhabi hosts several advanced migration testing laboratories equipped with cutting-edge technology and expert personnel trained specifically for the pharmaceutical sector. Here is how these labs support pharmaceutical packaging safety:

1. Compliance with International and Regional Standards

Migration testing labs in Abu Dhabi follow internationally recognized standards such as:

European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.)

United States Pharmacopeia (USP) <661>, <661.1>, and <661.2>

ICH Q3D guidelines for elemental impurities

ISO 10993 for biocompatibility

GCC and UAE MOHAP regulations

By aligning testing protocols with these standards, Abu Dhabi labs help pharmaceutical companies meet global regulatory expectations and facilitate smooth market access both locally and internationally.

2. Advanced Analytical Techniques

Pharmaceutical packaging migration testing requires high sensitivity and accuracy to detect trace contaminants. Abu Dhabi labs employ sophisticated analytical methods such as:

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) for organic compound migration

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for plasticizers and other chemical additives

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for heavy metal analysis

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for polymer characterization

These advanced techniques ensure precise identification and quantification of migrating substances.

3. Customized Testing Protocols for Pharmaceuticals

Different pharmaceutical products—tablets, capsules, injectables, liquids—have varying interactions with packaging materials. Abu Dhabi migration testing labs tailor test protocols by:

Selecting relevant food or pharmaceutical simulants to mimic drug formulations

Setting temperature and time parameters reflecting actual storage and usage conditions

Assessing both primary packaging (blister packs, bottles) and secondary packaging (cartons, labels)

Customized testing increases the accuracy of migration results, providing reliable safety data.

4. Expertise in Material Compatibility and Risk Assessment

Abu Dhabi labs provide consultancy services to pharmaceutical companies on packaging material selection based on migration test outcomes. They conduct risk assessments to identify potential migration issues early in product development, helping manufacturers choose compatible materials that minimize migration risks.

5. Quality Assurance and Regulatory Documentation Support

Accredited migration testing labs in Abu Dhabi issue detailed reports and certificates that comply with UAE MOHAP and international regulatory requirements. This documentation is essential for product registration, regulatory audits, and quality assurance.

Benefits of Using Migration Testing Labs in Abu Dhabi for Pharmaceutical Packaging

Local Regulatory Expertise and Fast Turnaround

Abu Dhabi labs understand the nuances of local regulations and can provide timely test results, speeding up product approvals and market launches in the UAE and GCC region.

Cost-Effective Testing Solutions

Local labs reduce logistics costs and provide competitive pricing for migration testing, making it accessible for both large pharma companies and SMEs.

Ensuring Patient Safety and Brand Integrity

Thorough migration testing guarantees the safety and efficacy of medicines, protecting patients and reinforcing manufacturer credibility in a competitive market.

Challenges Addressed by Migration Testing Labs in Abu Dhabi

Pharmaceutical packaging faces several challenges that migration testing labs help resolve, including:

Complex packaging materials: Modern pharmaceutical packaging often uses multi-layer laminates and innovative polymers whose migration behaviors require expert analysis.

Stringent safety thresholds: The pharmaceutical sector demands extremely low migration limits, necessitating high-precision testing instruments.

Regulatory variability: Labs guide companies through differing international regulations, helping harmonize compliance strategies.

Conclusion

Migration testing is a cornerstone of pharmaceutical packaging safety. It ensures that packaging materials do not compromise drug quality or patient health through harmful chemical migration. Migration testing labs in Abu Dhabi offer the expertise, technology, and regulatory knowledge essential to meet this challenge.

By partnering with these accredited labs, pharmaceutical manufacturers in Abu Dhabi and the broader UAE market can ensure their packaging materials comply with strict safety standards, accelerate regulatory approvals, and maintain high-quality products that safeguard consumers.

[best-testing-lab-saudi]

Why Migration Testing is Crucial for Plastic Packaging Manufacturers in Ajman? | +971 554747210

Plastic packaging plays a vital role in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries in Ajman. However, manufacturers must ensure that their packaging materials do not compromise product safety. Migration testing is a critical process that helps plastic packaging manufacturers verify that harmful substances do not transfer from packaging materials into the products they contain. This blog explores why migration testing is essential for plastic packaging manufacturers in Ajman and how it supports compliance with international safety standards.

Understanding Migration Testing

Migration testing evaluates the extent to which chemicals from plastic packaging migrate into food, beverages, and other consumer products. The process ensures that substances such as plasticizers, stabilizers, and residual monomers remain within permissible limits, reducing the risk of contamination.

Plastic packaging manufacturers in Ajman must comply with various regulatory standards, including:

European Union (EU) food contact regulations

United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) safety guidelines

ISO and ASTM international safety standards

By conducting migration testing, manufacturers can prevent potential health risks and avoid regulatory penalties.

The Importance of Migration Testing for Plastic Packaging Manufacturers

Ensuring Compliance with Safety Regulations

Verifies that packaging materials meet regional and global safety standards.

Reduces the likelihood of product recalls due to non-compliance.

Protecting Consumer Health

Prevents contamination from hazardous chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and heavy metals.

Ensures that plastic packaging remains safe for prolonged food contact.

Enhancing Product Quality and Shelf Life

Prevents unwanted interactions between packaging and product contents.

Ensures that food and beverages maintain their intended taste and quality.

Improving Market Access for Exporters

Facilitates smooth trade by meeting international compliance requirements.

Increases acceptance of Ajman’s plastic packaging in global markets.

How Migration Testing is Conducted in Ajman’s Laboratories

Ajman’s testing laboratories follow globally recognized methodologies to conduct migration testing. The key steps include:

1. Selection of Packaging Materials

Identification of plastic materials used in food and beverage packaging.

Assessment of high-risk materials that require extensive testing.

2. Simulation Testing Under Real-World Conditions

Exposure of packaging materials to food simulants under different temperature and humidity conditions.

Analysis of migration levels to ensure compliance with regulatory thresholds.

3. Analytical Testing Techniques

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) for detecting volatile organic compounds.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for analyzing heavy metal contaminants.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for assessing polymer compositions.

4. Evaluation of Test Results and Certification

Comparison of findings against regulatory migration limits.

Issuance of compliance certificates required for product approvals.

Challenges in Migration Testing for Plastic Packaging Manufacturers

Keeping Up with Evolving Regulations

Frequent updates in food safety laws necessitate ongoing compliance efforts.

High Testing Costs for Small Manufacturers

Migration testing can be expensive, posing challenges for small-scale producers.

Ensuring Consistency Across Different Batches

Manufacturers must implement strict quality control measures to maintain compliance in mass production.

Future Trends in Migration Testing for Plastic Packaging

Ajman’s laboratories are embracing innovative technologies such as AI-powered testing, real-time migration monitoring, and eco-friendly packaging alternatives. These advancements will help manufacturers streamline testing processes and ensure safer packaging solutions.

Conclusion

Migration testing is a crucial requirement for plastic packaging manufacturers in Ajman to ensure product safety, regulatory compliance, and market expansion. By working with accredited laboratories and adopting the latest testing methodologies, manufacturers can enhance their product quality and protect consumer health. As Ajman continues to grow as a manufacturing hub, migration testing will remain a fundamental aspect of safe and sustainable plastic packaging production.

[testing-services]

Migration Testing for Plastic Materials: Ensuring Regulatory Compliance

Plastic materials are widely used in packaging, food storage, medical devices, and consumer goods. However, these materials can release chemicals into products they come into contact with, potentially affecting human health and regulatory compliance. This is where migration testing conducted by a Migration Analysis Lab plays a crucial role in ensuring product safety and adherence to legal standards.

Understanding Migration Testing

Migration testing assesses the transfer of chemical substances from plastic materials into food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, or other sensitive products. A Migration Analysis Lab conducts these tests to determine whether the levels of migrated substances comply with regulations set by authorities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

There are three types of migration that are commonly tested:

Overall Migration – Measures the total quantity of substances migrating from the material.

Specific Migration – Identifies and quantifies individual hazardous substances that migrate.

Simulant Testing – Uses food simulants to mimic real-life conditions for testing.

Why Migration Testing is Essential for Plastic Materials

Ensuring Consumer Safety Harmful chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and heavy metals, can leach from plastics. Migration testing helps ensure that exposure levels remain within safe limits, reducing health risks.

Regulatory Compliance Various regulatory bodies worldwide have set limits on the migration of substances from plastic materials. Compliance with these regulations is necessary to market products legally in different regions.

Brand Protection and Consumer Trust Companies that conduct thorough migration testing can assure customers of their products’ safety, helping build consumer confidence and brand reputation.

Avoiding Legal Liabilities Non-compliance with migration regulations can lead to legal penalties, product recalls, and financial losses. Migration testing helps manufacturers mitigate these risks.

Migration Testing Process in a Laboratory

A Migration Analysis Lab follows a systematic approach to testing:

Sample Preparation – Plastic samples are prepared according to industry standards.

Selection of Food Simulants – Simulants such as ethanol, acetic acid, and vegetable oil are used to replicate food interaction.

Incubation & Testing Conditions – Samples are subjected to specific time, temperature, and storage conditions to simulate real-life scenarios.

Analysis Using Advanced Techniques – Techniques such as Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) are used to detect and quantify migration levels.

Evaluation & Reporting – The lab evaluates whether migration levels comply with regulatory standards and provides detailed reports for compliance documentation.

Key Industries that Require Migration Testing

Food & Beverage Packaging – Ensuring food packaging materials do not contaminate consumables.

Pharmaceuticals – Verifying the safety of plastic containers for medicines.

Medical Devices – Testing plastic materials used in syringes, IV bags, and implants.

Cosmetics & Personal Care – Assessing plastic packaging for skincare and beauty products.

Global Migration Testing Regulations

EU Regulations (EU 10/2011) – Governs plastic materials in food contact applications.

FDA 21 CFR 177 – Specifies plastic material compliance for food safety in the U.S.

China GB Standards – Regulates migration limits for plastic food contact materials.

Indian BIS Standards – Defines migration limits for food-grade plastics in India.

Conclusion

Migration testing is an essential part of ensuring plastic materials meet regulatory compliance and consumer safety standards. A Migration Analysis Lab plays a key role in conducting these tests using advanced techniques to detect harmful substances and ensure products are safe for public use. Manufacturers across industries should prioritize migration testing to prevent health hazards, legal issues, and maintain consumer trust.

By adhering to strict migration testing protocols, businesses can ensure their products meet global safety regulations while demonstrating commitment to quality and compliance.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

NASA experiment shows solar wind might make water on the moon

Scientists have hypothesized since the 1960s that the sun is a source of ingredients that form water on the moon. When a stream of charged particles known as the solar wind smashes into the lunar surface, the idea goes, it triggers a chemical reaction that could make water molecules.

Now, in the most realistic lab simulation of this process yet, NASA-led researchers have confirmed this prediction.

The finding, researchers wrote in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, has implications for NASA's Artemis astronaut operations at the moon's South Pole. A critical resource for exploration, much of the water on the moon is thought to be frozen in permanently shadowed regions at the poles.

"The exciting thing here is that with only lunar soil and a basic ingredient from the sun, which is always spitting out hydrogen, there's a possibility of creating water," Li Hsia Yeo, a research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "That's incredible to think about," said Yeo, who led the study.

Solar wind flows constantly from the sun. It's made largely of protons, which are nuclei of hydrogen atoms that have lost their electrons. Traveling at more than 1 million miles per hour, the solar wind bathes the entire solar system. We see evidence of it on Earth when it lights up our sky in auroral light shows.

Most of the solar particles don't reach the surface of Earth because our planet has a magnetic shield and an atmosphere to deflect them. But the moon has no such protection. As computer models and lab experiments have shown, when protons smash into the moon's surface, which is made of a dusty and rocky material called regolith, they collide with electrons and recombine to form hydrogen atoms.

Then, the hydrogen atoms can migrate through the lunar surface and bond with the abundant oxygen atoms already present in minerals like silica to form hydroxyl (OH) molecules, a component of water, and water (H2O) molecules themselves.

Scientists have found evidence of both hydroxyl and water molecules in the moon's upper surface, just a few millimeters deep. These molecules leave behind a kind of chemical fingerprint—a noticeable dip in a wavy line on a graph that shows how light interacts with the regolith. With the current tools available, though, it is difficult to tell the difference between hydroxyl and water, so scientists use the term "water" to refer to either one or a mix of both molecules.

Many researchers think the solar wind is the main reason the molecules are there, though other sources like micrometeorite impacts could also help by creating heat and triggering chemical reactions.

Spacecraft measurements had already hinted that the solar wind is the primary driver of water, or its components, at the lunar surface. One key clue, confirmed by Yeo's team's experiment: the moon's water-related spectral signal changes over the course of the day.

In some regions, it's stronger in the cooler morning and fades as the surface heats up, likely because water and hydrogen molecules move around or escape to space. As the surface cools again at night, the signal peaks again. This daily cycle points to an active source—most likely the solar wind—replenishing tiny amounts of water on the moon each day.

To test whether this is true, Yeo and her colleague, Jason McLain, a research scientist at NASA Goddard, built a custom apparatus to examine Apollo lunar samples. In a first, the apparatus held all experiment components inside: a solar particle beam device, an airless chamber that simulated the moon's environment, and a molecule detector. Their invention allowed the researchers to avoid ever taking the sample out of the chamber—as other experiments did—and exposing it to contamination from the water in the air.

"It took a long time and many iterations to design the apparatus components and get them all to fit inside," said McLain, "but it was worth it, because once we eliminated all possible sources of contamination, we learned that this decades-old idea about the solar wind turns out to be true."

Using dust from two different samples picked up on the moon by NASA's Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972, Yeo and her colleagues first baked the samples to remove any possible water they could have picked up between airtight storage in NASA's space-sample curation facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and Goddard's lab. Then, they used a tiny particle accelerator to bombard the dust with mock solar wind for several days—the equivalent of 80,000 years on the moon, based on the high dose of the particles used.

They used a detector called a spectrometer to measure how much light the dust molecules reflected, which showed how the samples' chemical makeup changed over time.

In the end, the team saw a drop in the light signal that bounced to their detector precisely at the point in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum—near 3 microns—where water typically absorbs energy, leaving a telltale signature.

While they can't conclusively say if their experiment made water molecules, the researchers reported in their study that the shape and width of the dip in the wavy line on their graph suggests that both hydroxyl and water were produced in the lunar samples.

IMAGE: The experimental apparatus consists of a custom-built vacuum chamber that fits inside the sample compartment of a Nicolet iS50 FTIR spectrometer. Credit: Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2024JE008334