The night sky has deep cultural significance in many Indigenous knowledge systems. Stories, traditions, and astronomical knowledge are often embedded in cultural practice and environmental understanding.¹²

Published: 2 June 2026 | EMFSA

‘Unacceptable to our people’: Diverse cultural beliefs, Indigenous rights, and the future of human activities on the Moon by John C. Barentine

Given the consensus nature of international norms and standards for acceptable actions undertaken in space, including on the Moon, anything short of free, prior and informed consent is inconsistent with the idea enshrined in the Outer Space Treaty that space is “the province of all mankind”.

PDF: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2605.17706

Citation: 

arXiv:2605.17706 

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2605.17706

EMFSA May 2026 Newsletter Highlights Additional Topics

• AI and Technology

What does the Pope say about:

• AI and education?
• Age limits for digital devices?

• The Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB): An Active Research Target

Although millimeter waves (mm waves) used in 5G have very limited penetration into biological tissue, researchers continue to investigate potential BBB-related effects because biological systems may respond through indirect pathways. The evidence remains mixed and is not yet fully resolved.

• Experimental and clinical evidence on radiofrequency electromagnetic field effects on the blood–brain barrier: a scoping review (Open Access)

Citation:
Elif Taspinar Simsek et al. (2026) Physics in Medicine & Biology, 71(10), 10TR01.
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ae6e17
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6560/ae6e17

• How important are independent review processes and effective patient education, particularly in cases involving rare or poorly understood conditions?

References

https://practicalneurology.com/news/explanation-for-the-new-brunswick-mystery-illness-proposed-in-new-article/2474615

Bendahan N, Gautreau S, Medina Escobar A, et al. Clinical and Neuropathological Evaluations of the New Brunswick Neurological Syndrome of Unknown Cause. JAMA Neurol. 2025;82(8):788–796. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.1718 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2833783

• Ecological Effects of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) – Call for Papers

Submission status: Open
Submission deadline: 11 February 2027

Submissions are invited from researchers across behavioural ecology, chronobiology, urban ecology, conservation science, environmental physiology, and related disciplines. Contributions addressing methodological innovation, ecosystem-scale analyses, and policy-relevant approaches to understanding and mitigating the impacts of ALAN are particularly encouraged.

Read more: https://www.nature.com/collections/aggecijegc

• 5G millimeter-wave (mmWave) studies

• S. Adda et al., Maximum Exposure of 5G Base Stations in the mmWave Band: the Impact of Multi-User MIMO and CSI-RS Ports, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. DOI: 10.1109/TIM.2026.3690868 (Open Access CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11527038
• S. Iakovidis et al., “A Novel Framework for Realistic 3D Skin Modeling and its Exposure to Millimeter Waves,” in IEEE Journal of Microwaves, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 641-652, May 2026, doi: 10.1109/JMW.2026.3684941 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11506041

• A comprehensive international framework addressing both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation

 https://www.emfsa.co.za/research-and-studies/radiation-monitoring-and-preparedness/

Link to EMFSA May 2026 Newsletter Highlights https://mailchi.mp/emfsa/emfsa-may-2026-newsletter

Further reading https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/5g-frequency-range-2-fr2/

Footnotes

² Harrison KD, Kelso N, Ramík DM, Ramík N, Plunkett GM, Neriam R, Nasauman W, Nasauman W, Balick MJ. “Sun brings all things”: Sun and moon lore as biocultural knowledge on Aneityum island, Vanuatu. PLoS One. 2025 Aug 1;20(8):e0327693. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0327693. PMID: 40749018; PMCID: PMC12316303. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12316303/

The post EMFSA May 2026 Newsletter Highlights  appeared first on EMFSA.

• A French research project: 5G RFR (26 GHz) and co-exposures with nanoparticles (PCC-NPs) in personal care/cosmetic products

Background

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) has selected 45 research projects which will receive funding amounting to a total of €7.41 million. This research seeks to provide new knowledge on environmental risks to human health in the general or occupational populations, as well as on risks to ecosystems.

The research projects include five on 5G deployment and two on assessing the biological effects of radiofrequency radiation. https://www.anses.fr/en/content/pnr-est-projects-selected-2023?fbclid=IwAR118efqiWEDz0pi20p6kBQOYCkUX25TmwkGNSCp5sExPbG3FlQB1rzHaZE

5G-5-CARA: for a full summary of this research project, please see:

Page 7-9

https://www.anses.fr/en/system/files/APR2023-Recueil-des-resumes-projets-retenus.pdf

The aim is to assess the potential health risks upon exposure to 5G radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (5G-EMF) 

• In the 26GHz band alone,
•  and in combination with  nanoparticles derived from personal care/cosmetic products

Why 26GHz?

The higher the frequency, the less penetration into tissues and organs.

As a consequence of the weaker penetration, studies of effects and potential risks are more focused on human skin, eyes and nerve endings.

Nanoparticles

Nowadays nanoparticles are ubiquitous in different kinds of personal skin care products, such as deodorants, creams, sunscreens.

In addition to the possible local enhancement of nearfield induced by exposure to 5G EMF in the vicinity of nanoparticles, PCC-NPs may induce oxidative stress, trigger redox reactions, and cause premature aging or other potentially harmful biological effects, which have not yet been studied.

• An Iranian study: Indirect effects of interference of two emerging environmental contaminants on cell health: Radiofrequency radiation and gold nanoparticles

In this study the authors investigated the Bystander Effect (BE)  induced by RFR in the presence of gold nanoparticles (GNP). 

The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was also studied.

The results for the first time indicated that RFR induces indirect effects in the presence of GNP. However, the molecular mediators of these effects differ from those in the absence of GNP. The authors state that, to their knowledge, this is the first study to show that COX-2 is not involved in the bystander effect induced by 900 MHz RFR.

Reference: Najmeh Jooyan, Seyed Mohammad Javad Mortazavi, Bahram Goliaei, Reza Faraji-Dana, Indirect effects of interference of two emerging environmental contaminants on cell health: Radiofrequency radiation and gold nanoparticles, Chemosphere, Volume 349, 2024, 140942, ISSN 0045-6535, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140942. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653523032125?via%3Dihub

• General note about gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have now been used in skin care creams for several years, with marketed anti-aging, moisturizing, and regenerative properties. Information on the harmful effects of these nanoparticles is lacking, a concern for the use of AuNPs as cosmetic ingredients. Reference: Majerič P, Jović Z, Švarc T, Jelen Ž, Horvat A, Koruga D, Rudolf R. Physicochemical Properties of Gold Nanoparticles for Skin Care Creams. Materials (Basel). 2023 Apr 11;16(8):3011. doi: 10.3390/ma16083011. PMID: 37109847; PMCID: PMC10144145. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37109847/

• Cumulative effects of manganese nanoparticle and radiofrequency radiation in male Wistar rats

 In this study, adult male Wistar rats were exposed to manganese nanoparticles (MNPs) and mobile phone radiation for 45 days and their separate, as well as cumulative impact, was investigated.

The effect of the MNPs and RFR on liver, kidney, and reproductive parameters were studied. Histopathology as well as liver and kidney parameters were altered when exposed to MNPs and RFR separately. However, their combined treatment did not show a synergistic toxic response in liver and kidney functions.

MNPs and RFR both caused a highly significant decrease in sperm count, which further decreased in the combined treatment (MNPs + RFR). These results indicate that the combined treatment of these stressors can have an additive toxic response to the male reproductive system.

Reference: Sonali Pardhiya, Usha Singh Gaharwar, Rohit Gautam, Eepsita Priyadarshini, Jay Prakash Nirala & Paulraj Rajamani (2022) Cumulative effects of manganese nanoparticle and radiofrequency radiation in male Wistar rats, Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 45:3, 1395-1407, DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2020.1833905

The post Radiofrequency radiation and metal containing nanoparticles appeared first on EMFSA.

ARPANSA https://www.arpansa.gov.au/

To read the full publication and to download the article:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-022-00497-8

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

The publication can also be downloaded from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365748429_Comment_on_5G_mobile_networks_and_health-a_state-of-the-_science_review_of_the_research_into_low-level_RF_fields_above_6_GHz_by_Karipidis_et_al

Extensive supplementary data that can be downloaded.

The post ORSAA comments on ARPANSA 2021 5G safety review including millimeter waves appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract

As millimetre wave (MMW) frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum are increasingly adopted in modern technologies such as mobile communications and networking, characterising the biological effects is critical in determining safe exposure levels. We study the exposure of primary human dermal fibroblasts to MMWs, finding MMWs trigger genomic and transcriptomic alterations. In particular, repeated 60 GHz, 2.6 mW cm⁻², 46.8 J cm⁻² d⁻¹ MMW doses induce a unique physiological response after 2 and 4 days exposure. We show that high dose MMWs induce simultaneous non-thermal alterations to the transcriptome and DNA structural dynamics, including formation of G-quadruplex and i-motif secondary structures, but not DNA damage.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9203081/

The post Millimeter waves alter DNA secondary structures and modulate the transcriptome in human fibroblasts appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract

A novel exposure facility for exposing cell monolayers to centimeter and millimeter waves (18-40.5 GHz) used by future 5G mobile communication technology and similar applications has been developed. A detailed dosimetric characterization of the apparatus for frequencies of 27 and 40.5 GHz and 60 mm petri dishes, used in a presently ongoing study on human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes, was carried out. The exposure facility enables a well-defined, randomized, and blinded application of sham exposure and exposure with selectable values of incident power flux density, and additionally provides the possibility of continuous monitoring of the sample temperature during exposure while it does not require significant deviations from routine in vitro handling procedures, i.e. petri dishes are not required to be placed inside waveguides or TEM cells. Mean specific absorption rate (SAR) values inside the cell monolayer of 115 W/kg (27 GHz) and 160 W/kg (40.5 GHz) per watt antenna input power and corresponding transmitted power density (S_t ) values at the bottom of the cell monolayer of 65 W/m² (27 GHz) and 70 W/m² (40.5 GHz) per watt antenna input power can be achieved, respectively. For reasonable amounts of harvested cells (80% of petri dish bottom area), the variation (max/min) of SAR and S_t over the cell monolayer remains below 3.7 dB (27 GHz) and 3.0 dB (40.5 GHz), respectively.

© 2021 Bioelectromagnetics Society.  Bioelectromagnetics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Bioelectromagnetics Society.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34622469/

The post Design and Dosimetric Characterization of a Broadband Exposure Facility for In Vitro Experiments in the Frequency Range 18-40.5 GHz appeared first on EMFSA.

Limited preview of this publication

To the Editor, Pall [1] speaks of a “mechanism” by which Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) exert forces on the channel sensors of voltage-gated ion channels on cell membranes causing “activation” of these channels, and claims this is his discovery! This is already published since 2000 in multiple publications by Panagopoulos et al., and it is widely known as “ion forced-oscillation mechanism ”or “ion forced-vibration mechanism” [2–7, and more]. It describes in detail how polarized and coherent (man-made) EMFs force mobile ions in cells to oscillate on parallel lines and in phase with the applied oscillating EMF, and how the oscillating ions inside the channels exert Coulomb forces on the fixed charges of the S4 channel sensors of voltage-gated ion channels causing their irregular gating (dysfunction rather than “activation”) [2–7].

Pall referred to these publications until 2015 to explain the calcium channel findings, and the “window” effects [8]. He had also made a public comment stating among other details:

“The whole basis of the heating/thermal/SAR paradigm of action of these fields is entirely based on the claim that there is no biophysically viable mechanism for the action of these weak non-thermal or micro-thermal fields, and that claim was shown by Panagopoulos to be wrong and the empirical evidence shows that Panagopoulos is right. This is THE best example I have seen of a clearly strongly supported paradigm shift within the last 50 years.” His comment was included in [7] with his consent.

Thus, Pall not only knows our mechanism, but he praised it until 2017, not claiming that it is his contribution. Then, he stopped referring to it, and now talks about a “VGCC activation mechanism” if it is his own discovery! , This. of course, is untrue, and against any ethical and scientific principle.

He refers to Panagopoulos et al. [4] for the effect of polarization, but not for the mechanism which he presents as his own. He speaks of “coherence of polarity” (a non-existing term) instead of polarization, and of “electronically generated EMFs” instead of man-made EMFs to differentiate from Panagopoulos et al. [4], and “explains” how “coherent electronically generated EMFs” are more bioactive than natural EMFs as if this is another discovery of his own! All these “new discoveries” are already thoroughly described and shown by equations in refs. [3–4, 7] where it is explained that man-made EMFs are produced by electric/electronic circuits and for this they are totally polarized and coherent.

In his effort to present our mechanism as his own under the new title “VGCC activation mechanism” he now claims that the irregular gating of the voltage channels occurs not by forces exerted by the oscillating ions on the sensors, but by direct forces from the applied EMFs which are “amplified” by the membranes [1]. A simple calculation shows this would require electric fields on the order of∼3×106V/m (=30 mV/10 nm), like when these channels are gated physiologically by changes of∼30 mV in the voltage across the membrane (∼10 nm width) [2–7]. But it has been shown experimentally by many studies, and theoretically in [2–7], that polarized (and coherent) electric fields down to ∼10−4V/m can induce biological effects. Moreover, incident fields cannot be “amplified” in living tissue as this is against basic laws of physics.

Letter PDF

https://www.emfsa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Panagopoulos-2021-Comments-on-Pall-2021-RevEnvH-final-published.pdf

The post Comments on Pall’s “Millimeter (MM) wave and microwave frequency radiation produce deeply penetrating effects: the biology and the physics” appeared first on EMFSA.

One has to be SPECIFIC about the frequencies when discussing 5G.

5G is a technology, or to be more accurate, a mixture of technologies. It can, and is transmitted at frequencies [bandwidths] previously occupied by earlier technologies.

Therefore the common mistake to automatically assume that 5G is millimeter waves is wrong.

Millimeter waves do help to speed things up somewhat, but do not have the range or penetration power of the lower frequency technologies.

5G in the mid band [3.5GHz centimeter waves] will penetrate deeper into body tissue whereas 5G,  band  [26-28GHz, and above, mm waves ] will not penetrate much deeper than the skin. However, we do have concerns about millimeter waves and the skin:

Mid- and low-bands for coverage and capacity

Low-bands (e.g. sub-1 GHz) support widespread coverage, including indoors, across urban, suburban and rural areas, while mid-band spectrum offer a good mixture of coverage and capacity benefits.

The majority of commercial 5G networks are relying on spectrum in the 3.5 GHz range (3.3 GHz-4.2 GHz). This momentum makes it vital that regulators assign as much contiguous 5G spectrum as possible in the range.

In the long term, more spectrum will be needed to maintain 5G quality of service and meet growing demand. This includes more spectrum in the 3.5 GHz, 4.8 GHz, 6 GHz and 10 GHz ranges which will all be considered at WRC-23.

GSMA – 5G spectrum in the millimeter waves

Pioneering ultra-high speeds and the lowest latencies are dependent on access to spectrum in the latter range. Real-world networks have already shown gigabit speeds are possible, and vendor trials are hinging at an even greater potential.

For 26 GHz and 40 GHz, the global identifications WRC-19 give the bands a big boost. Regulators can now assign mmWave spectrum knowing there will be an ecosystem in place. The 28 GHz is already used in commercial networks, with a growing number of devices.

Source: The GSMA at WRC-23 https://www.gsma.com/spectrum/wrc-series/

The post A common error when discussing 5G appeared first on EMFSA.

Topics

Electrohypersensitivity

Geneva

Occupational Health

Millimeter Waves

Telehealth

3.5 GHz: Are health risks “unlikely” ?

The Well Being of Children

Robotics that could eventually fuse organic tissue with machines

Robotics and Cyber Security

Ionizing Radiation

Latest on the Havana Syndrome

Our April 2021 Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/emfsa/millimeter-waves

The post EMFSA April 2021 Newsletter appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract

This study examines the nonuniform exposure to the cornea from incident millimeter waves at 94-100 GHz. Two previous studies measured temperature increases in the rhesus cornea exposed to brief (1-6 s) pulses of high-fluence millimeter waves (94 GHz), one of which also estimated thresholds for corneal damage (reported as ED50, the dose resulting in a visible lesion 50% of the time). Both studies noted large variations in the temperature increase across the surface of the cornea due to wave interference effects. This study examines this variability using high-resolution simulations of mm-wave absorption and temperature increase in the human cornea from exposures to plane wave energy at 100 GHz. Calculations are based on an earlier study. The simulations show that the peak temperature increases in the cornea from short exposures (up to 10 s) to high-intensity mm-wave pulses are 1.7-2.8 times the median increase depending on the polarization of the incident energy. A simple one-dimensional “baseline” model provides a good estimate of the median temperature increase in the cornea. Two different estimates are presented for the thresholds for producing thermal lesions, expressed in terms of the minimum fluence of incident 100 GHz pulses. The first estimate is based on thresholds for thermal damage from pulsed infrared energy, and the second is based on a thermal damage model. The mm-wave pulses presently considered far exceed current IEEE or ICNIRP exposure limits but may be produced by some nonlethal weapons systems. Interference effects due to wave reflections from structures in and near the eye result in highly localized variations in energy absorbed in the cornea and surrounding facial tissues and are important to consider in a hazard analysis for exposures to intense pulsed millimeter waves.

Copyright © 2021 Health Physics Society.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33760769/

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Abstract:

Multiple studies showed various effects of millimeter wave (MMW) radiation in biological objects [1]. The most common subjects to observe are genetic apparatus, shifts in activity and structure of macromolecules and cell function. Reasonably, biological effects of MMW radiation on living tissues are associated with inevitable heating of the sample due to high water content. Nevertheless, opposite to conductive heating alterations in neuronal electrophysiological activity was reported. This induces the question regarding the intracellular calcium homeostasis in neurons, due to critical importance of intracellular level of free calcium for neuron’s activity. This study indicated upregulation of free intracellular calcium in ex vivo experiment along with corelating morphological changes in the leech ganglia neuron.

Published in: 2020 IEEE Ukrainian Microwave Week (UkrMW)

DOI: 10.1109/UkrMW49653.2020.9252579

The post Ex Vivo Effect of 60 GHz MMW radiation on Leech Neuron Intracellular Calcium Alteration appeared first on EMFSA.