Federal Independent Agencies
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NASA Analysis Shows La Nina Limited Sea Level Rise in 2025
PASADENA, California, Jan. 30 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA Analysis Shows La Nina Limited Sea Level Rise in 2025
A mild La Nina caused greater rainfall over the Amazon basin, which offset rising sea levels due to record warming of Earth's oceans.
The rise in the global mean sea level slowed in 2025 relative to the year before, an effect largely due to the La Nina conditions that persisted over most of the year. According to a NASA analysis, the average height of the ocean increased last year by 0.03 inches (0.08 centimeters), down from 0.23
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PASADENA, California, Jan. 30 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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NASA Analysis Shows La Nina Limited Sea Level Rise in 2025
A mild La Nina caused greater rainfall over the Amazon basin, which offset rising sea levels due to record warming of Earth's oceans.
The rise in the global mean sea level slowed in 2025 relative to the year before, an effect largely due to the La Nina conditions that persisted over most of the year. According to a NASA analysis, the average height of the ocean increased last year by 0.03 inches (0.08 centimeters), down from 0.23inches (0.59 centimeters) in 2024.
The 2025 figure also fell below the long-term expected rate of 0.17 inches (0.44 centimeters) per year based on the rate of rise since the early 1990s. Though sea levels have increasingly trended upward in that period, years during which the rise in the average height was less usually have occurred during La Ninas -- the part of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation cycle that cools the eastern Pacific Ocean, often leading to heavy rainfall over the equatorial portions of South America.
The current La Nina has been relatively mild. Even so, the extra precipitation it has poured on the Amazon River basin contributed to an overall shift of water from oceans to land. This effect tends to temporarily lower sea levels, offsetting the rise caused by melting glaciers and ice sheets and warming of the oceans, which raises sea levels through the expansion of water when the temperature increases. The net result in 2025 was a lower-than-average sea level rise.
"The weather gives us a wild ride, and what we saw with sea level rise last year is part of that ride," said Josh Willis, a sea level researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "But that cycle is short-lived. The extra water in the Amazon is going to reach the oceans in less than a year, and rapid rise will soon return."
Combined effects
To calculate the global mean sea level in 2025, scientists averaged data across space and time from Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, the current official reference satellite for sea level measurements and one of a line of missions developed by NASA and its U.S. and European partners to track the height of about 90% of Earth's oceans every 10 days.
Then, to better understand the factors that contributed to the rise last year, the researchers looked at measurements from other sources. Among them was the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO), a twin-satellite mission launched by NASA and the German Research Centre for Geosciences that tracks the movement of water (liquid and frozen) by measuring changes in Earth's gravity over land and ice masses.
The GRACE data indicated that even as ice loss from glaciers and ice sheets continued a long-term trend of water moving from land to oceans, an outsize amount of water moved in the opposite direction in 2025: The heavier-than-normal rainfall due to La Nina shifted water from the oceans to the Amazon basin.
Meanwhile, data from Argo, an international program that uses thousands of seaborne probes to measure ocean temperatures and salinity, showed record warming of the oceans in 2025.
The combined effect of the two factors -- one tending to lower sea levels and the other tending to increase them -- resulted in an average rise in sea level in 2025 that was less than the average rate based on the long-term data record.
Actionable, accurate, consistent
The continuous series of ocean-observing satellites started with TOPEX/Poseidon, which launched in 1992. Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, launched in 2020 and took over in 2022 from its predecessor, Jason-3, which is still in orbit and celebrated its 10th launch anniversary on Jan. 17.
In coming months, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich will pass the baton to its twin, Sentinel-6B, which launched in November. Sentinel-6B is expected to continue ocean measurements for at least five years.
Over more than three decades, the satellites have offered actionable, accurate, and consistent measurements at both local and global scales. These measurements have formed the basis for U.S. flood predictions, which are crucial for safeguarding coastal infrastructure and communities.
The dataset indicates that the average global sea level has gone up by 4 inches (10 centimeters) since 1993. While it's not uncommon to see short-term ups and downs, the overall trend shows that the rate of annual sea level rise has more than doubled.
"As seas continue to rise globally, satellite monitoring empowers communities worldwide to anticipate risks and build resilience," said Nadya Shiffer, head of physical oceanography programs at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Learn more about sea level:
https://sealevel.nasa.gov/
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-analysis-shows-la-nina-limited-sea-level-rise-in-2025/
USPS commemorates the life of Phillis Wheatley
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following news release:
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USPS commemorates the life of Phillis Wheatley
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BOSTON -The U.S. Postal Service held a first-day-of-issue stamp dedication to commemorate the life of Phillis Wheatley at the historic Old South Meeting House.
"An important goal of the Postal Service's stamp program is to honor the people, places and things that represent the very best of our nation," said Chenise R. LeDoux, USPS vice president of Southern Area retail and delivery operations, who served as the dedicating official. "That is what our Black
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- The U.S. Postal Service issued the following news release:
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USPS commemorates the life of Phillis Wheatley
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BOSTON -The U.S. Postal Service held a first-day-of-issue stamp dedication to commemorate the life of Phillis Wheatley at the historic Old South Meeting House.
"An important goal of the Postal Service's stamp program is to honor the people, places and things that represent the very best of our nation," said Chenise R. LeDoux, USPS vice president of Southern Area retail and delivery operations, who served as the dedicating official. "That is what our BlackHeritage stamps are all about. Introduced in 1978, the Black Heritage series has put a spotlight on distinguished African Americans and their notable contributions to our nation."
The 49th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors poet Phillis Wheatley (ca 1753-1784), the first author of African descent in the American Colonies to publish a book. An enslaved woman with an education and prominent social connections, Wheatley occupied a rare place in Colonial America. Her poems charmed readers on both sides of the Atlantic and offer subtle commentary on her times, while Wheatley herself has inspired generations of writers.
Born in West Africa and brought to Boston on a slave ship, the child who would become known as Phillis Wheatley was enslaved by merchant John Wheatley and educated in his household. By age 11, she had already begun to compose her own poems. Her 1773 collection, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral," showcased her mastery of forms ranging from hymns and elegies to philosophical and narrative verse.
As a figure whose life and writing speak to the complexity of her times, Wheatley is especially relevant in 2026 as we reflect on the Revolutionary era as part of our nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. Wheatley was freed from slavery in 1773, and her later poems reflected growing support for the American Revolution. In late 1775, while George Washington was encamped near British-occupied Boston, Wheatley sent him an ode, published the following year, in which she suggests that the nations of the world are closely watching him to see if a new age in human history is dawning. Washington replied with praise for Wheatley's poetic talents and extended an invitation to meet if she found herself near his headquarters.
Wheatley kept writing but was unable to publish a second book before her death in her early 30s. Her poetry continued to circulate widely, and her book was reprinted several times in the United States. Before the Civil War, abolitionists republished her work as an argument against slavery. Abolitionists and emancipationists invoked her name and accomplishments to affirm a shared humanity and the intellectual ability of people of African descent.
Her legacy endures today: Schools, libraries, community centers and university buildings across the country bear her name, and she has inspired numerous children's books. In 2003, a statue of Wheatley was included in the new Boston Women's Memorial, all part of an ongoing effort to recognize the poet often praised as "the mother of African American literature."
The Forever stamps are available at Post Office locations nationwide and online at usps.com/shopstamps.
News about the stamp is being shared on social media using the hashtag #BlackHeritageStamp.
Stamp design
The stamp art features a black-and-white ink-on-paper portrait of Phillis Wheatley by Kerry James Marshall, who imagines her later in life, working on her second, unpublished book of poems.
Marshall's image draws from the one known portrait of Wheatley made during her lifetime, the engraved frontispiece of her 1773 book. While the 1773 portrait shows Wheatley in profile, Marshall's stamp art shows her looking directly at the viewer, wearing similar clothing and sitting at the same chair and desk as in the original. Next to Wheatley's left hand is a copy of the only book she published during her lifetime, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral." In the stamp art, she has begun to write on a paper that reads "Preface to my second volume," a reference to the book she was unable to publish.
Antonio Alcala, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using Marshall's artwork.
The Phillis Wheatley stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.
A video about the stamps will be posted after today's event on the Postal Service's Facebook page at facebook.com/USPS and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at x. com/usps.
Postal products
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.
The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is celebrating its 250th year of service to customers amidst a network modernization plan aimed at restoring long-term financial sustainability, improving service, and maintaining the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter ; Instagram ; Pinterest ; Threads ; and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.
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Original text here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/0129-usps-commemorates-the-life-of-phillis-wheatley.htm
SBA Issues New Regulatory Guidance to Cut California Red Tape and Expedite Los Angeles Wildfire Rebuild
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- The Small Business Administration posted the following news release:
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SBA Issues New Regulatory Guidance to Cut California Red Tape and Expedite Los Angeles Wildfire Rebuild
Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) published regulatory guidance pursuant to President Donald J. Trump's Executive Order 14277, "Addressing State and Local Failures to Rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters," which will allow builders to self-certify compliance with substantive state and local rebuilding requirements when SBA disaster borrowers have waited 60 or more days
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- The Small Business Administration posted the following news release:
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SBA Issues New Regulatory Guidance to Cut California Red Tape and Expedite Los Angeles Wildfire Rebuild
Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) published regulatory guidance pursuant to President Donald J. Trump's Executive Order 14277, "Addressing State and Local Failures to Rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters," which will allow builders to self-certify compliance with substantive state and local rebuilding requirements when SBA disaster borrowers have waited 60 or more daysfor their permits or other approvals. In practice, the new guidance will allow California wildfire survivors to bypass widespread local permitting delays that have afflicted Los Angeles for over a year - and immediately begin rebuilding using the $3.2 billion in SBA disaster relief that has already been approved for the community.
"The residents of Los Angeles were faced with massive tragedy in 2025 - and the nightmare has continued for over a year, as state and local permitting backlogs prevented them from rebuilding thousands of homes and businesses with the $3.2 billion in SBA relief that this Administration surged to the community," said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. "Today, with President Trump's leadership and alongside EPA, the SBA is opening an expedited path to recovery for every borrower who has been held hostage by the bureaucracy of Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass. By having their builders self-certify compliance with state and local regulations, survivors can immediately bypass the red tape, put their SBA funding to work, and begin rebuilding after more than a year of delays, excuses, and inaction."
The Trump SBA authorized historic capital to help homeowners, renters, small businesses, and nonprofits recover from the Eaton and Palisades wildfires. Last year, the agency approved 12,600 disaster loans for Los Angeles totaling $3.2 billion in disaster relief - representing over half of all disaster aid approved by the agency in FY25. Yet despite this unprecedented federal response, less than 25% has been drawn down by borrowers due to enormous permitting backlogs that prevented survivors and their builders from beginning the rebuilding process.
More than a year after the wildfires destroyed over 16,000 homes and businesses in California, fewer than 3,000 rebuild permits have been issued across the City and County of Los Angeles. Fewer than ten homes have been rebuilt according to the county. As of last year, 75% of Pacific Palisades residents remained in temporary housing, as well as 67% of residents in Altadena.
The new regulatory guidance will enable SBA disaster borrowers to bypass certain state and local permitting requirements for rebuilding if the borrower has been unable to obtain requisite local approvals for 60 days or longer. Borrowers will be allowed to have their builders self-certify compliance with state and local regulations and immediately begin rebuilding. Under this new guidance, builders must certify to the SBA that all required permit applications and approval requests have been properly submitted more than 60 days ago, that the delay in rebuilding is due to government inaction, and that all applicable building codes, health and safety requirements, inspections, and any other processes required to obtain a certificate of occupancy have been, and will be, met.
Borrowers interested in pursuing the self-certification option to bypass local bureaucracy are required to submit just two documents to the SBA: A Disaster Loan Modification application and a Builder's Certification. Once executed and approved by SBA, these documents formally amend the borrower's Loan Authorization and Agreement, replacing the language that otherwise requires local permits before rebuilding could begin.
The guidance is authorized under 13 CFR 123.800 et seq. and applies to disaster-related construction financed in whole or in part by SBA disaster loans. False statements or misrepresentations are subject to significant civil and criminal penalties. While this action immediately addresses permitting delays affecting California wildfire survivors, the same process will apply in the future to any local jurisdiction whose permitting systems prevent survivors of presidentially declared disasters from moving forward with recovery.
To learn more about the new option to bypass local permitting delays, borrowers are encouraged to visit: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance/options-bypass-permitting-delays.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/01/29/sba-issues-new-regulatory-guidance-cut-california-red-tape-expedite-los-angeles-wildfire-rebuild
Networks Keeping NASA's Artemis II Mission Connected
PASADENA, California, Jan. 29 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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Networks Keeping NASA's Artemis II Mission Connected
Artemis missions rely on both the Near Space Network, managed by NASA Goddard, and the Deep Space Network, managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
NASA's Artemis II mission will transport four astronauts around the Moon, bringing the agency one step closer to sending the first astronauts to Mars. Throughout Artemis II, astronaut voice, images, video, and vital mission data must traverse thousands of miles, carried on signals from NASA's
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PASADENA, California, Jan. 29 (TNSres) -- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory issued the following news:
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Networks Keeping NASA's Artemis II Mission Connected
Artemis missions rely on both the Near Space Network, managed by NASA Goddard, and the Deep Space Network, managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
NASA's Artemis II mission will transport four astronauts around the Moon, bringing the agency one step closer to sending the first astronauts to Mars. Throughout Artemis II, astronaut voice, images, video, and vital mission data must traverse thousands of miles, carried on signals from NASA'scommunications systems.
Through Artemis, NASA is establishing an enduring presence in space and exploring more of the Moon than ever before. To achieve this, Artemis missions rely on both the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network. These networks, with oversight by NASA's SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) Program office, use global infrastructure and relay satellites to ensure seamless communications and tracking as Orion launches, orbits Earth, travels to the Moon, and returns home.
"Robust space communications aren't optional; they're the essential link that unites the crew and the exploration team on Earth to ensure safety and mission success, as I learned firsthand living and working aboard the International Space Station," said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington. "From real-time conversations with mission controllers, to the data that drives critical decisions and research, and even calls home -- space communications keep astronauts connected to mission managers, technical experts, loved ones, and everyone on Earth who wants to share in the excitement of our exploration missions. As we push farther into deep space, reliable communications links will enable more challenging missions and maximize the benefit for all of us on Earth."
Specialists will operate its networks in tandem to enable data exchange between spacecraft and mission controllers on Earth. NASA's Mission Control Center at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston will track the Space Launch System rocket, Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage, and Orion spacecraft through coordinated handoffs between the networks' multiple assets on Earth and in space for the duration of the mission.
Using ground stations around the globe and a fleet of relay satellites, the Near Space Networkwill provide communications and navigation services during multiple stages of the Artemis II mission operations. The network, managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, has a long legacy of supporting human spaceflight missions near Earth.
After Orion's translunar injection burn, which will set the spacecraft on its planned orbit around the Moon, primary communications support will transition to the Deep Space Network, managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The network's international array of giant radio antennas, located in California, Spain, and Australia, provides a near-continuous connection to Orion and its crew.
"Reliable communications are the lifeline of human spaceflight," said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator for the SCaN Program at NASA Headquarters. "Our networks help make missions like Artemis II possible and set the stage for even more ambitious space exploration in the years ahead. These achievements are driven not only by NASA's infrastructure but also by strong collaboration with our commercial partners, who play a critical role in advancing the capabilities and resilience of space communications."
In addition to traditional radio network support, the spacecraft will host the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System, a laser communications terminal that will transmit real science and crew data over laser links. Demonstrations like the recent Deep Space Optical Communications payload have proven laser communications systems can send more than 100 times more data than comparable radio networks, even millions of miles away from Earth. While laser communications will not be on Artemis III, the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System could pave the way for future laser communications systems at the Moon and Mars.
The Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System payload is only one piece of NASA's larger mission to improve lunar and deep space communications. Orion will experience a planned communications blackout lasting approximately 41 minutes. The blackout will occur as the spacecraft passes behind the Moon, blocking radio frequency signals to and from Earth. Similar blackouts occurred during the Apollo-era missions and are expected when using an Earth-based network infrastructure. When Orion reemerges from behind the Moon, the Deep Space Network will quickly reacquire Orion's signal and restore communications with mission control. These planned blackouts remain an aspect of all missions operating on or around the Moon's far side.
Each Artemis mission will build upon existing capabilities, including data processing and handling. For the Artemis II flight test, data from Orion will be compressed after it reaches Earth to manage the large amount of information. Data compression will reduce image and video quality and give priority to crew communications and mission data.
Looking ahead, NASA's Lunar Communications Relay and Navigation Systems project is collaborating with industry to eliminate blackouts and support precise navigation by placing relay satellites around the Moon. This network of orbiting satellites will deliver persistent, high-bandwidth communications and navigation services for astronauts, landers, and orbiters on and around the lunar surface. In 2024, NASA selected Intuitive Machines to develop the first set of lunar relays for demonstration during the Artemis III lunar surface mission.
From liftoff to splashdown, NASA's evolving networks will serve as the crew's link home, ensuring that humanity's return to the Moon stays connected every step of the way.
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Original text here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/networks-keeping-nasas-artemis-ii-mission-connected/
National Museum of Asian Art Returns Three Bronze Sculptures to the Government of India Following the Museum's Comprehensive Provenance Research
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Asian Art issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2026:
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National Museum of Asian Art Returns Three Bronze Sculptures to the Government of India Following the Museum's Comprehensive Provenance Research
One Sculpture Is to Remain on Long-Term Loan, Enabling the Museum To Share Its Complete History With the Public
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The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art announced today its plans to return three sculptures to the Government of India, following rigorous provenance research that documented that the sculptures
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Asian Art issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2026:
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National Museum of Asian Art Returns Three Bronze Sculptures to the Government of India Following the Museum's Comprehensive Provenance Research
One Sculpture Is to Remain on Long-Term Loan, Enabling the Museum To Share Its Complete History With the Public
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The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art announced today its plans to return three sculptures to the Government of India, following rigorous provenance research that documented that the sculptureshad been removed illegally from temple settings. The Government of India has agreed to place one of the sculptures on long-term loan. This arrangement will allow the museum to publicly share the full story of the object's origins, removal and return, and to underscore the museum's commitment to provenance research.
The sculptures "Shiva Nataraja" (Chola period, ca. 990), "Somaskanda" (Chola period, 12th century) and "Saint Sundarar with Paravai" (Vijayanagar period, 16th century) exemplify the rich artistry of South Indian bronze casting. These sculptures were originally sacred objects traditionally carried in temple processions. The "Shiva Nataraja," which is to be placed on long-term loan, will be on view as part of the exhibition "The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas."
As part of a systematic review of its South Asian collections, the National Museum of Asian Art undertook a detailed investigation into the provenance of the three sculptures, scrutinizing each work's transaction history. In 2023, in collaboration with the Photo Archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry, museum researchers confirmed that the bronzes had been photographed in temples in Tamil Nadu, India, between 1956 and 1959. The Archaeological Survey of India subsequently reviewed these findings and affirmed that the sculptures had been removed in violation of Indian laws.
"The National Museum of Asian Art is committed to stewarding cultural heritage responsibly and advancing transparency in our collection," said Chase F. Robinson, the museum's director. "Because we aim to understand the objects in our collection in their full complexity, we carry out a robust program of research that seeks to trace not just how they came to the museum, but the history of their origins and movements across time. We are establishing field-defining practices for research on Asian art provenance and object histories, expanding our network of global partners and assembling a range of research resources. The return of these sculptures, the result of rigorous research, shows our commitment to ethical museum practice. We are profoundly appreciative to the Indian government for enabling us to continue exhibiting the long-admired Shiva Nataraja for the benefit of our visitors."
The museum and the Embassy of India are in close contact, finalizing arrangements to mark the agreement. The return was made possible by the National Museum of Asian Art's dedicated provenance team and curators of South and Southeast Asian Art, with support from the Photo Archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry and numerous organizations and individuals around the world.
Details About the Objects and Their Histories
The "Shiva Nataraja" belonged to the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple in Tirutturaippundi Taluk, Tanjavur District, Tamil Nadu, India, where it was photographed in 1957. The bronze sculpture was later acquired by the National Museum of Asian Art from Doris Wiener Gallery in New York in 2002. In addition to photographic evidence confirming the sculpture's presence in the temple in 1957, a provenance researcher at the museum determined that the Doris Wiener Gallery had provided falsified documentation to facilitate the sale to the museum.
The "Somaskanda" and "Saint Sundarar with Paravai" entered the collection of the National Museum of Asian Art as part of a gift of 1,000 objects from Arthur M. Sackler in 1987. Research led by the museum's team at the Photo Archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry confirmed that the "Somaskanda" was photographed at the Visvanatha Temple in Alattur village, Mannarkudi taluk, Tamil Nadu in 1959, and the "Saint Sundarar with Paravai" at the Shiva Temple in Veerasolapuram village, Kallakuruchchi Taluk, Tamil Nadu in 1956.
About Provenance Research and Object History at the National Museum of Asian Art
Provenance research involves close examination of an object's physical characteristics alongside documentary evidence that together inform an understanding of an object's ownership and movement over time. Researchers identify and inspect information from sources as varied as export licenses, dealer records, inventories, curatorial files, ship manifests, genealogical records, historical photographs, correspondence and many more to construct as robust an ownership history as possible. This research aims to uncover and tell the complex histories of individual objects and the networks of people who have interacted with them over time.
The National Museum of Asian Art has led the field of Asian art provenance research since the early 2000s, refining methodologies, advancing scholarship, building global partnerships and networks and making research findings publicly accessible through its Provenance Program.
In 2011, the museum began publishing provenance information on object web pages and in its galleries. Since 2020, it has collaborated with the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz (SPK, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation) to co-host six webinars attended by over 2,500 specialists from around the world, fostering knowledge exchange and advancing standardized approaches to provenance research. In 2023, in partnership with SPK, the museum organized the largest open symposium on the provenance of Asian art. In April 2025, it appointed Nancy Karrels, who holds a doctorate in art history and a J.D., as the associate director of provenance research and object histories. This appointment reinforces the museum's commitment to ethical stewardship and leadership in provenance research and expands its provenance team to four full-time members, which include a curator of provenance research and object histories and two provenance research technicians. In 2026, the museum will co-host a second international provenance symposium with SPK in Berlin.
The museum's provenance research has been publicly shared on its website since 2011 and, beginning in 2023, through informational panels in its South Asian galleries. In December 2025, under the Smithsonian's Shared Stewardship and Ethical Returns Policy, the museum announced its first ethical return of three sculptures to the Kingdom of Cambodia, with one of those cultural treasures to remain on display in the museum on long-term loan.
Learn more about the National Museum of Asian Art's Provenance Program and the provenance of objects in the museum's collections online.
About the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art is committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching and interpreting art in ways that deepen the public and scholarly understandings of Asia and the world. The museum opened in 1923 as America's first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. It now stewards one of the world's most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present from China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the pre-Islamic Near East and the Islamic world (inclusive of Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa). The museum also stewards an important collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American art.
Today, the National Museum of Asian Art is emerging as a leading national and global resource for understanding the arts, cultures and societies of Asia, especially at their intersection with America. Guided by the belief that the future of art museums lies in collaboration, increased access and transparency, the museum is fostering new ways to engage with its audiences while maintaining its commitment to excellence.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum is free and open 364 days a year (closed Dec. 25). The Smithsonian, which is the world's largest museum, education and research complex, welcomes 20-30 million visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, visit asia.si.edu.
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Original text here: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/national-museum-asian-art-returns-three-bronze-sculptures-government-india
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine: National Institutes of Health Need Agencywide Strategy to Prioritize and Fund Pediatric Research, Says New Report
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (TNSrep) -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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National Institutes of Health Need Agencywide Strategy to Prioritize and Fund Pediatric Research, Says New Report
A new congressionally mandated report (https://nap.nationalacademies.org/29346) from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine calls for the National Institutes of Health to implement a unified, agencywide approach that prioritizes pediatric health research and funding. The report says incidences of chronic disease and poor mental,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (TNSrep) -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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National Institutes of Health Need Agencywide Strategy to Prioritize and Fund Pediatric Research, Says New Report
A new congressionally mandated report (https://nap.nationalacademies.org/29346) from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine calls for the National Institutes of Health to implement a unified, agencywide approach that prioritizes pediatric health research and funding. The report says incidences of chronic disease and poor mental,emotional, and behavioral health are on the rise, and American children are experiencing worse health outcomes than their peers in other developed nations -- and calls for changes that will enable the agency to improve health outcomes through childhood and beyond.
As the world's largest public funder of biomedical research, NIH has made the United States a global leader in scientific discovery and medical breakthroughs, and it has supported numerous advances in pediatric research. However, the recent worsening of pediatric health outcomes in the U.S. indicate that more should be done to address this multifaceted issue.
"We want to give today's children the chance to grow into tomorrow's leaders free of chronic disease and illness," said Frederick P. Rivara, vice chair for academic affairs and professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Seattle Children's and co-chair of the committee that wrote the report. "Pediatric research has made incredible strides over the last decades, but making structural and programmatic changes at NIH can advance this progress even further."
"NIH is uniquely positioned to lead the efforts in advancing children's health research," said Phyllis A. Dennery, Sylvia Kay Hassenfeld Professor and chair of pediatrics at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, pediatrician-in-chief at Rhode Island Hospital, medical director at Hasbro Children's Hospital, and co-chair of the committee that wrote the report. "The important discoveries and insights can lead us to realizing a brighter future for America's children."
Challenges to Conducting Pediatric Research
The report emphasizes that children should be protected through research, rather than from research, but the committee recognized that in addition to scientific and methodological challenges, unique regulatory and legal requirements and ethical considerations impact research involving children. The report says the NIH Pediatric Research Consortium (N-PeRC) is a leader in facilitating and coordinating pediatric research within NIH and recommends N-PeRC receive enhanced institutional prominence and dedicated funding and resources. N-PeRC also should coordinate with initiatives across NIH to develop guidance and strategies for pediatric research, promote transparency and trust with the public, and ensure the deliberate and ethical inclusion of children in research.
Financial challenges posed by the grant application and review processes are another obstacle to advancing pediatric research. To address this, NIH should allow for more flexibility with budgets, timelines, and supplemental funding opportunities for researchers engaged in pediatric research, the report says.
Other recommendations include maintaining current levels of pediatric research at the NIH Clinical Center and improving the Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization system to better assess funding levels.
Vision for the Future
The committee envisions the United States as a global leader in promoting child health and developed a set of four goals to ensure all children can thrive through adolescence into adulthood. The four goals are:
* Integrating pediatric research throughout NIH programs and initiatives
* Expanding NIH initiatives and programs to address unmet research needs in child health
* Strengthening the impact of pediatric health research by optimizing translation of research into practice
* Building trust through effective communication of pediatric health research findings
Pediatric Prioritization and Inclusion
The report finds that though all NIH institutes and centers support pediatric research, few strategic plans specify how progress or success toward their goals will be measured or monitored. The report urges the directors of all institutes and centers that fund pediatric research explicitly incorporate pediatric health into their strategic plans, and include metrics to measure success in meeting those goals. To better facilitate this integration of pediatric research priorities across the agency, NIH should also adopt a consistent, agencywide definition of pediatric research.
The study -- undertaken by the Committee on Strategies to Enhance Pediatric Health Research Funded by NIH -- was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
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The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/national-institutes-of-health-need-agencywide-strategy-to-prioritize-and-fund-pediatric-research-says-new-report
EPA Recognizes New England Wastewater Professionals and Facilities for Excellence
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Recognizes New England Wastewater Professionals and Facilities for Excellence
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2025 Awardees Span Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont
BOSTON (Jan. 29, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded its 2025 Regional Wastewater Treatment Awards to seven wastewater facilities and professionals in New England to highlight their commitment to improving water quality and protecting human health and the environment.
For the past 40 years, the EPA
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Recognizes New England Wastewater Professionals and Facilities for Excellence
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2025 Awardees Span Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont
BOSTON (Jan. 29, 2026) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded its 2025 Regional Wastewater Treatment Awards to seven wastewater facilities and professionals in New England to highlight their commitment to improving water quality and protecting human health and the environment.
For the past 40 years, the EPARegional Wastewater Awards Program has recognized personnel in the wastewater field who have provided invaluable public service by managing and operating wastewater treatment facilities throughout New England.
"Strong wastewater systems are essential to protecting human health, supporting economic growth, and keeping New England's rivers, lakes, and coastal waters clean," said EPA New England Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. "The professionals and facilities we're recognizing this year exemplify operational excellence as well as dedication to improving water quality across New England."
2025 EPA Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance Excellence Award
Rockland Pollution Control Facility in Rockland, Maine
The City of Rockland was recognized for exceptional work in operating and maintaining its wastewater treatment facility during the past year. The city has demonstrated leadership in environmental protection and operational excellence through sustained investment in its wastewater infrastructure.
The EPA Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance Excellence Award was established to recognize and honor the employees of publicly owned wastewater treatment plants for their commitment to improving water quality with outstanding plant operations and maintenance.
2025 EPA Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Award
Nick Thompson of the Warwick Sewer Authority in Warwick, Rhode Island
Mr. Thompson is the Assistant Superintendent of the Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility and has been recognized as a young operator who has become an outstanding asset to the facility's management staff.
Walt Arsenault of the Shelburne Wastewater Treatment Facility in Shelburne, Vermont
Mr. Arsenault's keen observations and experience have helped the Shelburne facility maintain permit compliance during challenging industrial user discharge issues. As he prepares to transition to retirement, EPA honors his long-standing commitment and passion for both his facility and the wastewater profession.
Edward Abel of the Derby Water Pollution Control Facility in Derby, Connecticut
Mr. Abel, who has served as Superintendent for approximately seven years, has made dramatic strides in operations and maintenance, housekeeping, compliance, safety, staff morale, staff training, and communication with state regulators. In addition to his operational duties, he has assisted in training workshops and served two consecutive three-year terms on Connecticut's certification advisory committee, the maximum allowed under regulations.
Mr. Thompson, Mr. Arsenault, and Mr. Abel were recognized for their outstanding work over the years operating and maintaining their respective facilities.
The EPA Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Award was established to recognize and honor the employees of publicly owned wastewater treatment plants for their commitment to improving water quality with outstanding plant operations and maintenance. Wastewater operators and staff work diligently to protect public health and the environment, often with limited resources.
2025 EPA Regional Wastewater Trainer of the Year (Charles Conway Award)
Elijah Lemieux of the Vermont Rural Water Association (VRWA)
Mr. Lemieux was recognized for his outstanding service to Vermont's wastewater facilities and operators. He is especially known for his unique ability to teach math through commonsense, real-world scenarios and for providing one-on-one exam preparation and math review sessions at facilities.
The EPA Regional Wastewater Trainer of the Year Award was established to recognize and honor the trainers who provide exemplary education to operators in the wastewater sector. Wastewater is a constantly evolving field, and operators are required to take many hours of training prior to becoming licensed, along with annual continuing education.
2025 EPA Regional Industrial Pretreatment Program of the Year Award
City of Northampton, Massachusetts
Kevin Gillette, Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator
Town of Westborough, Massachusetts
Dante Calarese, Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator
The City of Northampton and the Town of Westborough were recognized for their outstanding oversight of industrial users through strong permitting and inspection procedures.
The EPA Regional Industrial Pretreatment Program of the Year Award was established to recognize municipalities that demonstrate excellence in implementing strong pretreatment programs that protect infrastructure, workers, and the environment.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-recognizes-new-england-wastewater-professionals-and-facilities-excellence
