JetBlue will launch service at an airport in New York’s Long Island for the first time, expanding its presence in the state.
24.05.2024 - 11:13 / forbes.com
Viking has revealed its latest scientific advancement on board Viking Octantis by adding real-time environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing of phytoplankton.
With scientific support from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and J. Craig Venter Institute, the PCR lab on board Viking Octantis has been home to scientists contributing to the Genomics at Sea Programme — monitoring the environmental impact on phytoplankton without the need to transport samples to a distant shoreside facility.
This is a groundbreaking moment in marine research as Viking proudly becomes the first cruise line to champion real-time environmental genetic sequencing capabilities on its ships, setting a new standard in the industry.
The onboard advancements and participation in GASP are an extension of Viking’s role in collaborating with Fjord Phyto, a NASA-funded program by Scripps that allows passengers to participate in research and public education by sampling polar phytoplankton for genetic population analyses.
Karine Hagen, Executive Vice President of Viking Expeditions, says, “Ever since we created Viking Expeditions, it has been our intention to facilitate meaningful scientific work.
By repurposing a technology that kept our guests safe during the pandemic to gain valuable insights into our environment, we are providing a critical research opportunity for our future expedition voyages.”
Viking will regularly host Scripps scientists on board the ship this season in the Great Lakes. This summer, the PCR lab on board Viking Polaris will also be transformed to support research before both ships return to Antarctica later this year.
During each expedition, visiting researchers from partner institutions are part of the multidisciplinary 36-person expedition team. This group of experts leads guests through meaningful scientific research, providing guidance and interpretation during shore excursions and delivering world-class lectures.
Viking’s partner, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, studies environmental challenges, while JCVI’s mission is to advance the science of genomics to learn more about the biological world.
Andrew Allen, professor of marine biology at Scripps and JCVI, said, “Our ability to understand how ocean plankton communities respond to shifting conditions, resulting from both natural variation and human-influenced perturbation, is limited by sampling and observation.
Through this work, we will obtain a new and more comprehensive view of the genetic diversity of plankton, which will advance our ability to assess the biological response of the ocean to climate change and other stressors.”
Dr. Damon Stanwell-Smith, Head of Science at Viking, said, “Oceanic phytoplankton absorbs 40 percent of the world’s
JetBlue will launch service at an airport in New York’s Long Island for the first time, expanding its presence in the state.
Alaska Airlines passengers will now be able to book British Airways flights to London directly on the American carrier’s website in an expanded partnership agreement.
Two of the best-known names in Galapagos Islands cruising, Lindblad Expeditions and Celebrity Cruises, are about to shake up their offerings in the destination in the wake of a deal.
Diplo, born Thomas Wesley Pentz, fell in love with Jamaica, particularly its Portland parish on the northeast coast, nearly 20 years ago. “I was D. J.ing on a cruise ship, got off in Ocho Rios, and drove through Port Antonio to get to Kingston,” said the 13-time Grammy nominee who has collaborated with Dua Lipa, Sturgil Simpson, Snoop Dogg, Shakira, Bad Bunny and countless other musicians. “Portland is sort of like Costa Rica, all jungly and waterfalls. And Port Antonio is this quaint little town where I’d go on a sort of retreat, “Mr. Pentz added. About eight years ago he bought some farmland and built a house there.
As the 2024 presidential election begins to heat up, United Airlines and American Airlines are increasing capacity to Milwaukee and Chicago, the two cities that will host the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, respectively.
Delta Air Lines is about to make flying cross-country more comfortable by introducing its Premium Select cabin for the first time on flights between New York and Los Angeles.
French fashion house Jacquemus has partnered with luxury hospitality leader Four Seasons to create a summer experience at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas. This close encounter between one of Europe’s leading fashion brands and the legendary Ocean Club will immerse guests in the Jacquemus world of “pop luxury” befitting of a destination that has been a playground for the international jet set since the 1960s.
Alaska Airlines will fly its largest summer schedule this season and is boosting flights to some of America’s most popular national parks in the process.
Virgin Voyages' fourth and final ship in its fleet will make her debut in fall of 2025.
Roughly two hours south from the hustle of Hollywood (depending on LA traffic), oh-so laid-back San Diego offers a different Californian experience.
Argentina’s distinctive reputation looms large in imaginations oceans away from its borders. There’s so much to take in, and such immense distances to travel to do so.
It’s already shaping up to be a busy summer travel season in the United States. On the Friday before Memorial Day, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened 2.95 million airline passengers, the highest number ever recorded in a single day. And Airlines for America, a trade group representing major U.S. airlines, has estimated a 6.3 percent increase in fliers this summer over the last. While airports are certainly going to be more crowded, one carrier is trying to make the in-flight experience a little roomier for some lucky fliers.