how to get more research points in save the world

Fortnite Wiki

Welcome to the Fortnite Wiki ! Feel free to explore and contribute to the wiki with links, articles, categories, templates, and pretty images! Make sure to follow our rules & guidelines! Check out the Community Page!

Research Points

• View history

By spending your research points, you will gain increased FORT stats: F.O.R.T. is an acronym for the four basic statistics in FORTNITE. Players can add onto these bonuses with Survivor Squads . Increasing survivor stats will increase the overall Homebase Power and assist the player's ability to complete Missions . You can upgrade your F.O.R.T stats with Research Points at the command tab.

• Max Health boosts by 600%. (+200% Party)
• Max Weapon Damage boosting by 600%. (+200% Party)
• Max Shield and Shield Regeneration Rate boosting by 600%. (+200% Party)
• Max Ability Damage, Trap Damage, and Healing Rate boosting by 600%. (+200% Party)

To achieve the maximum power level it is best to level your FORT stats equally, but ensuring you always level each skill per 10. This way you can utilize the bonus FORT stats.

Note: These stats can be manually reset if wished to do so.

• Max generation rate is 350 points per hour.
• Storage limit is 8,400 points.
• Point limit is 33,600 points.
• 1 Chapter 5: Season 2
• 3 Sandstorm Event

How To Get Weapon Research Voucher In Fortnite: Save The World

Check out here to learn everything important about the Weapon Research Voucher in Fortnite’s Save the World Campaign.

Fortnite’s Save the World campaign is one of the best things that happened to the game. It has everything that a squad needs to stay engaged for hours together. While you are assigned some interesting objectives, the rewards in exchange are worth collecting. One such collectible comes in the form of a Weapon Research Voucher.

For those who don’t know, this is a progression reward that is used for unlocking weapon schematics. Sounds intriguing right? Here we will provide you with everything you need to know about the Weapon Research Voucher in Fortnite Save the World. So if you want to get your hands on some of the best weapons, this is your best chance.

Here’s How to Get Weapon Research Voucher in Save the World

Weapon Research Vouchers are Account Resources that can be unlocked by reaching level 13 in a Venture. As you can see on the Venture maps, there are several tasks available for you. You can complete them to gain Venture Exp and eventually level up.

For now, it seems that there is only one Weapon Research Voucher available in a season. So if you want to get another one, you might have to wait until another season drops.

How to Use Weapon Research Voucher in Fortnite

After you have collected the voucher, head over to the Collection Book to use it. In the Collection Book, you will see there are plenty of locked weapons that need research to be unlocked. Right there, you can use your Weapon Research Voucher to unlock it. However, you need to be mindful as you will exhaust the voucher after unlocking the weapon.

And as I said, you will have to wait for an entire season to get another Weapon Research Voucher in the Save the World campaign of Fortnite.

With that out of the way, you now know everything about that Weapon Research Voucher. For more information like this, be sure to check out our dedicated section for Fortnite Guides on Gamer Tweak.

Hops between Sports and Action RPG games frequently. Can play the Arkham series tirelessly. Currently invested in exploring FPS and Open-World games.

• GT Originals
• AC Valhalla
• Genshin Impact
• Honkai Star Rail
• Street Fighter 6
• Project Slayers

Fortnite: STW updated guides -- Research/Skill points, pylons, XP boosts

This is part 8 of my Save the World updated guides! Questions.... just ask them.

In this post, I will be covering Research points, upgrading points, power level, and the use of blu-glo.

Research points and upgrade points

Research points are a resource that will accumulate over time in the main menu in the game. You use these points to upgrade your F.O.R.T stats (Fortitude, Offensive, Resistance, and Tech). This will also help raise your power level, which I’ll get into later in the post. You can also spend these points on expeditions, if you need to do so.

Upgrade points are similar to research points, except you earn them by leveling up your account level, which is done by playing missions normally. You use your upgrade points to level up your abilities, such as your pickaxes, airstrike, hover turrets, etc.

Your power level in game if what determines how strong you are as a player, and how high of missions that you can access. The maximum power level is 131. How do you get to 131? You increase your power level through 2 things – your survivor squads, and your research points, which I covered at the start of this post. Your survivor squad must all mythic lead survivors, legendary normal survivors (except for the 2 mythic survivors you get in Canny Valley), and the survivors personalities must match the lead survivor’s personalities per squad. All of the survivors must be maximum level (130), as well. In your research point’s area, all 4 sections must be maximum level (600). If you follow those, tasks, you will be level 131. I will go more in-depth for survivors in another post soon!

Your account level is different, however. You level up your account level, by playing missions normally. You can give yourself or your teammates XP boosts to help you level up, which you get out of llamas. Your account level will give you upgrade points, which you use to level up your abilities, as mentioned above. I believe the maximum account level is 256. Your account level does not directly affect how strong you are in-game.

Blu-Glo / Pylons

In-Game the one thing you need to start almost any mission is Blu-glo. You find blu-glo laying everywhere around the map. You will find blu-glo on its own, in troll husks, and anomalies. Troll husks are basically a game of whack-a-mole, except it is a husk. Once you hit that husk 6 times, it is killed, and drops 2 blu-glo instead of one, along with a gift box. Anomalies are purple orbs you see in random spots around the map, usually a max of 3 per map. You whack the anomaly, then 4 shards fly out of it in random directions. Your task is to grab all 4 shards, then the task is over. 4 blu-glo will drop, along with a gift box. Assuming you have tons of blu glo (10), you can activate team buffs, a.k.a blu-glo pylons. There are 5 pylons you can activate, Movement speed, building speed, health increase, energy increase, and shield increase. Each pylon takes 2 blu-glo to activate, and there are 5 total. These are optional to activate, but they can sometimes be the difference if you win or lose a mission, so I would recommend trying to activate them all.

Into Fortnite: Battle Royale Armory? Join the community.

Fortnite: STW updated guides -- Elements

Feature Suggestions Post

Community Lockdown PSA

Cookie Policy

This website saves cookies to your browser in order to improve your online experience and show you personalized content. Read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy to get more information and learn how to set up your preferences.

Fortnite Save the World Guide: Fortnite’s Paid Story Campaign Explained

• Latest Posts

• Best Fortnite Themed Toys Guide - November 1, 2022
• Best Fortnite Costume Ideas - October 25, 2022
• Iconic Fortnite Posters - October 21, 2022

Save the World is one of the most elusive and mysterious parts of Fortnite battle royale for many players. Some newer players do not even know what it is. To finally crack the code on this not-free-to-play part of the game, I finally purchased the campaign for this Fortnite Save the World guide.

Save the World was always a part of Fortnite that I was interested in, even before the game’s release. As a fan of battle royale, I knew I would eventually check it out, but almost five years passed without touching it.

Thankfully, I have now spent many hours with it and can let you know all you need to know about the mode in this Fortnite Save the World guide.

Bottom Line Up Front

Fortnite Save the World is the original game mode for Fortnite. Save the World existed before there ever were battle royales and 100 players in a match. It was the original purpose and reason for Epic Games creating the game in the first place.

Instead of being player versus player, it is a player versus environment (PvE) experience where the player fights back against the storm and its monsters.

With its unique weapons , progression system, and storyline, Save the World is the story mode for Fortnite about expanding the safe zone of this world. But it is also one of the least played areas of the game because it is the only playable part of Fortnite that you have to spend money on to enjoy.

What is Save the World?

Fortnite Save the World is one of the three core game modes in Fortnite. I would consider Save the World, battle royale, and Creative the main areas.

You go to battle royale for the classic 100 players fighting to the death on the island, you go to Creative mode for building your maps and modes, and you go to Save the World for its PvE-focused storyline.

Save the World is very much unlike anything else that exists in Fortnite. While it may not be as flashy (or free) as other parts of the game, it is the reason that Fortnite even exists in the first place.

Without Epic Games creating this mode, we would have never gotten the battle pass, seasonal content, and countless crossovers to date.

Save the World was the original mode that Epic Games showed off years ago when it first announced Fortnite. The game’s title dates back to this experience where players build to survive the night against the monster hordes that attack your fort or base.

This idea is what gave way to the materials gathering, crafting, and building that we see in Fortnite. When the game first launched in early access in 2017, Save the World was the central part. Unfortunately, though, players had to pay to enjoy it.

Battle royale would soon follow, capitalizing on the PUBG popularity, and was free-to-play. Epic Games stuck to its guns over these past five years in keeping Save the World locked behind a paywall. It is the only playable part of Fortnite to do that. This is unfortunate since it is unique compared to everything else in the game.

How to Unlock Fortnite Save the World

If you are interested in checking out Fortnite Save the World for yourself, there are some key points you should know about. Unlike other game modes, you cannot play Save the World for free. You have to spend some money or V-Bucks to purchase it.

Thankfully, it is not as expensive as it once was in the game. These days, you can pick up the Fortnite game mode much cheaper than at launch. And Epic Games is excellent at giving additional rewards to players who purchase it. But the method for actually buying it changes regularly.

When writing this, the version of the game that is available is through the Mecha-Pop Pack. This is also the game version that I purchased to check out. It costs about $15-$17, depending on the currency that you have in your country.

With this pack, you will receive more than just the Save the World game mode. In addition to that experience, you will get the Mecha-Pop skin. This skin features an adorable robot character that only has one glowing eye. You will also get the Pop-Pack back bling item that matches his skin and the Pneumatic Pop-Axe pickaxe.

Most notably, though, you will get the unique Save the World daily quests with this bundle. If you play the game mode and complete these quests, you will earn 1500 V-Bucks in total through them.

In this way, you are essentially getting paid back for buying Save the World. Though this means that you will have V-Bucks, not real money in return, it is a fantastic deal for those players who will do the daily quests and have items they would like to spend the currency on.

Unfortunately, one of the lamest parts about Save the World is the fact that you cannot play it everywhere. Unlike Fortnite battle royale itself, Save the World is only on specific platforms. Some of these are understandable, but there is one missing platform that is a bit surprising.

Save the World is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and S. What you will notice missing from this group are the two mobile platforms of Android and iOS.

Now, of course, Fortnite is not even ordinarily available on iOS devices these days, so that does not matter too much. Android is unfortunate since you can still easily play Fortnite there, just not through the Google Play Store.

However, the most surprising omission is the Nintendo Switch. Despite being one of the major consoles and a massive platform for Fortnite, you cannot play Save the World there.

This is possible because the Switch version of Fortnite is most similar to the mobile ones. Though this could change in the future, I don’t expect it to at this point, or else it already would have, so please do not buy Save the World if you only play on mobile or Switch.

Save the World vs Battle Royale

There are several critical differences between Save the World and battle royale, as well as the rest of Fortnite. These glaring differences go beyond just that Save the World costs money to play while the rest of Fortnite is free.

One of the significant differences is that Save the World is not at all about competition. If you want online competitive multiplayer, look elsewhere, as there is no player-versus-player mode in Save the World. That said, it does have multiplayer, just a cooperative form.

Save the World can be played in an entire squad of four players online, where you work together to build and stop the monsters. Another key difference is that it uses unique weapons , items, and characters in situations. Though some are shared, there are entire regions and items that you will not see outside of this game mode.

The progression system is quite different, too, as it has the traditional seasons and battle passes you expect from Creative and battle royale.

Leveling up is different as well, and there are other types of rewards that you can unlock. Crafting has even been in this mode since its creation, and it plays a much more significant role than that of battle royale.

Gameplay Explained

The gameplay in Save the World uses many of the same ideas and features as in the rest of Fortnite. If you’ve played the rest of the game, you will not be entirely out of the loop.

However, it can be surprising how different Save the World is when it comes to certain items, buildings, and even enemies. Here’s what you should know about playing this game mode to get started on the right foot.

There are many enemies in Save the World, and they appear as the story missions continue. For the most part, the monsters that you will fight are similar to the cube monsters from battle royale. However, there are some slight changes, namely the fact that there are so many classes of them.

Some enemies will charge at you really fast to try and take you out in melee range. Others are ranged foes and will throw items at you. Still, others might be hulking behemoths that are difficult to take down and can ram through your defenses like it is nothing.

The more missions you do and the higher your heroes’ levels get, the more complex the enemies you fight will be. There is enough variation to the enemy count from the several hours I played and a steady stream of new foes to at least keep my interest in that regard.

The game is not overly complicated, though, and this is likely due to several factors. For one, there were a lot of free gifts and rewards I was given just for starting the game.

These gave me a heavy level boost for the early missions in the story. In addition, the overall difficulty was just relatively low, even when I was playing by myself.

The building is the entire reason Fortnite exists, and it is at the core of Save the World, even more so than in battle royale. The whole premise of the experience is to build out your storm base and prepare for the fights ahead. Occasionally, enemies will attack your headquarters as you try to expand the safe zone.

To prepare for those fights, it is imperative to build out your base further. This includes creating walls, floors, ceilings, doors, and more to protect the storm shield. This shield is the only reason that you and the other survivors can stay alive on the planet.

For this, you, of course, need materials, and these are gathered in much the same ways as you expect. You can destroy cars, trees, and other buildings to gather materials to customize your base. I think the edit feature is also crucial in this mode, compared to battle royale, for creating small walls for cover, doors to pass through, etc.

Also, far more critical in Save the World than anywhere else are the traps. Traps are a massive part of the meta for surviving the waves of enemies. Players can set up various traps, some of which are exclusive to this mode, as a last (or first) line of defense against the horde.

At the core of Save the World are the squads that you create. When you play, you take the role of the hero that you select. There are many different heroes out there, each with their own unique abilities and stats that they use. However, the main idea is that they each come down to one of four classes.

Those classes are as follows:

• Constructors

Constructors are for the builders in the group. If you are someone who prefers to create elaborate traps for the horde to run into, this is the class for you. A Constructor can build using fewer materials than the other classes and have higher health than most others.

For the Ninja class, this one can use melee combat as its focus. If you prefer running around lightning-fast and using melee weapons, this is the class for you. There are some excellent skills that these heroes can learn to make swords and other melee weapons more valuable on the battlefield.

Then there are the Soldiers. These are your all-around combatants in Save the World. They have skills that let them do better with grenades, ammo, and other ranged weapons .

Lastly, there are the Outlanders. They are solely meant for looting purposes. The Outlander can find treasure chests around the map more easily than the other classes can.

In addition, when they do stumble upon a chest, they typically can find better loot inside of them than the others can. Me, personally, I am a fan of the Soldier for their flexible combat nature but the Ninja class is pretty good, too.

Weapons and Items

What players will find in Save the World is that the weapons and items there differ considerably at times from those in the rest of Fortnite. Sure, there are many shared guns like pistols , SMGs, and so on, but there are some rather unique ones as well. These are only found in Save the World.

For instance, one of the weapon types that are mostly only found in Save the World is melee weapons, besides the standard pickaxe. Though battle royale has had melee weapons in the past, this only lasted for a little bit of time before being taken away again.

In this game mode, however, you can find melee weapons here constantly in the game, and they never leave it. In fact, melee weapons play a huge role in the meta gameplay since an entire class is built around them.

What is also fascinating is the fact that even some of the shared weapons in Save the World with other modes work differently. For instance, the primary assault rifle may surprise players in how it handles compared to its battle royale counterpart.

In battle royale, the AR is a slow-ish firing weapon that is great for mid-range fights. In Save the World, it is a very fast-firing weapon that is more akin to an SMG and is still good at mid-range but has heavy recoil with sustained fire.

There are many items, too, that are unique to this game mode. There are many traps, as mentioned earlier, that you will only find here as well as grenades, other explosives , and special abilities like gadgets that can turn the tide of battle like sending in an airstrike.

Players can acquire new weapons, traps, and items in the game by opening up treasure chests around the map. There are also plenty of llamas in the game that you can purchase using tickets and currency to get a set of new, randomly chosen items.

However, one of the most prominent methods of getting new items is the crafting system. This feature is a significant part of Save the World, and there is a lot to it. For starters, you must already own the weapon schematic to be able to craft it. You can get those as rewards or in llamas.

With the crafting schematic in hand, you can then see what materials you must gather to make the item. Each weapon and item that you craft is ranked from one star to five stars, with five being the best. This will give you an idea of the strength of that particular item.

The items with the higher stats will likely require rarer materials. In addition, items and weapons in the game mode have durability. Over time, they weaken and eventually break. It is possible to repair some of these items, but you will often need to craft a brand new one.

Research and Upgrades

The progression system in Save the World is deep and somewhat confusing. First, there is the overall account level that you have. These affect general stats in the game and some of the content you can enjoy. The main level that you will deal with most of the time are the heroes’ levels.

These are the levels of the characters that you have unlocked in the game so far. The higher the level that they are, the better they will do in battle and be more prepared for higher-level missions. Leveling up will occasionally give you points that you can then apply to the upgrades tree.

It is here that you can learn new skills and upgrade your squad’s overall stats to do better in battle. In general, there are more than a dozen different upgrade paths that you can take here. Some of them are gadgets, which are special abilities that can dramatically change how the battle will go.

Each of these has different levels that you can upgrade using the skill points to get even more out of those gadgets. On the other hand, some of the upgrades are for more general stats like your storage and more. Research, on the other hand, has its own set of points.

These let you upgrade the four FORT stats: fortitude, offense, resistance, and tech. These increase your health, damage, shields, and other damage, respectively.

You earn research points the more that you play the game mode and can then upgrade those stats to earn the ability to do better in battle. Research points are not super effective on their own, though, and take time to build up. Each research point that you apply to one of the four FORT stats will only raise them by 1% per research point.

The crux of Save the World’s progression system has to do with the missions and quests that you go on. Several regions of the world are further broken up into different leveling zones. There is a recommended level for each of the zones that the player should abide by.

The main missions in the story will typically ask the player to do something and naturally progresses you as you level up your heroes. They have to do with various tasks like expanding your storm shield zone, rescuing survivors, and defeating certain enemies in battle.

There are even extra optional objectives in some of the missions that you can take on. These might involve surviving in the battle with most of the storm shield intact or defeating a specific number of enemies in the battle. The more of these tasks and missions that you do, the more rewards that you will receive in the end.

As you complete the main story missions, you will progress through the plot and unlock new rewards and quests. There are also event and seasonal quests that players can take on for some limited-time rewards.

Is Save the World Worth Buying?

Finally, I would like to conclude my Fortnite Save the World guide with my final thoughts on the game mode. Since it came out, I have wanted to play this game mode, and I finally did it for this guide. Given how long it has been since it was released, it does beg the question: is it worth playing at this point?

More importantly, it is even worth buying at this time? The answer to this question will be a complicated one that is both positive and negative.

The overall answer is that, for some players, it will absolutely be worth it, and you should check out Save the World. For others, though, including hardcore Fortnite fans, it may not be worth it for you. At least, it won’t be until it, hopefully, goes free-to-play at some point.

In the end, it comes down to your situation. In my case, I really enjoyed Save the World, but I do not see myself coming back to it that often. In fact, I will likely gravitate towards battle royale and playing with my family and friends there more often that not.

What I liked about Save the World is the fact that it offers something so unique compared to the rest of Fortnite. In many ways, it feels like an MMO or other game with the different segment areas that you can visit. Each one has its own missions and recommended level, similar to an MMO.

I think that this gives a unique feel to the game mode. I think the mission structure is fun and there is a lot of content to enjoy here. It’s great alone or with friends. The best part is that the game is constantly rewarding you, which feels good.

However, there are downsides to the game as well. Not having the more modern aspects of Fortnite like sprinting, mantling, and all that is unfortunate. The movement is good in battle royale these days and Save the World feels like a step backwards.

I would say the same about the presentation and UI. The UI feels overly complex and dated. Meanwhile, there were numerous bugs that I experienced, despite its old age like a cutscene randomly being in German for no reason, monsters and characters glitching in and out, and so on.

The graphics are not as impressive, either, feeling a couple of years behind the rest of Fortnite.

But that is my opinion. Who I think will like Save the World are ones who love the idea of an Outriders-like (I mean this loosely, of course) take on Fortnite. Or want to learn more about the lore behind the game.

Everyone else is better off sticking to the rest of Fortnite. Unless, of course, you don’t mind spending the money since you will get V-Bucks back after completing the daily quests.

Question: How do You Get Good at Fortnite Save the World?

Answer : If you are looking to get good at Save the World, there are two main tips that I recommend to. First, I think that you should play with friends online. Just like in battle royale, you can learn from others in this game mode and excel when you play with others. Second, you should practice as much as you can. Familiarize yourself with the different weapons and crafting systems, and you should get better the more you know and use them.

Question: How to Level Up in Save the World?

Answer : The requirement for leveling up in Save the World is earning experience. You do this by going out and doing missions, finding survivors to add to your group, and defeating enemies. The more that you do, the more experience that you will earn. Once you have a lot, take a look at your survivor heroes and you can select which one you want to level up there. At the same time, you have your general power level as well for your character. They level up as you gain experience and grants you skill points for the tree.

Question: How do You Get V-Bucks from Save the World?

Answer : If you want to get some V-Bucks from Save the World these days, there is actually a great way to do so. Right now, at the time of writing this guide, you can buy Save the World for less than $20 in V-Bucks. However, the great thing is that doing so will grant you some special daily quests. If you complete all of these, you will earn 1500 V-Bucks back. Basically, you almost get paid back for the cost of Save the World just for playing it. It’s a great way to justify taking the risk to play it yourself.

As you can see in this Fortnite Save the World guide, I really enjoyed finally taking the plunge and playing this game mode. Though it is several years old, it is most definitely worth the experience and money. That is, of course, if you are able to play it on your respective platform of choice.

Whether or not you are able to play Save the World, though, there are still other parts of Fortnite that you can enjoy. For instance, one of the other two pillars of the game is Creative.

We’ve previously given some tips on how to build your own Creative mode and map so that you create your own experiences to rival that of Epic Games’ own official modes.

For more interesting readings check out:

• How to Improve Your Shooting Accuracy in Fortnite
• Back to Action: How to Revive your Team in Fortnite Introduction
• Fortnite Materials Deep Dive

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Baldur's Gate 3
• Dreamlight Valley
• Lethal Company
• Monopoly Go
• Jujutsu Chronicles
• UGC Limited
• Call of Duty
• Legend of Zelda
• Ethics Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Review Policy

Fortnite Save the World: How to Get Weapon Research Vouchers & What They’re Used For

Weapon Research Vouchers  are Legendary Account Resources in Fortnite: Save the World. If you come across one and haven’t heard of one before, you may be wondering ‘ What are Weapon Research Vouchers? ’ or you may just be wanting to know ‘ how to get Weapon Research Vouchers? ’ In this guide, we’ll cover both of those questions so you’re all clued up.

What Are Weapon Research Vouchers in Fortnite Save the World?

Weapon Research Vouchers are a Legendary account item in Save the World, the PvE mode of Fortnite. These can be used to redeem Legendary or Mythic Weapons from the Collection Book in the game. In other words, you’ll spend Weapon Research Vouchers on unlocking some of the best weapons available to you in the game.

How to Get Weapon Research Vouchers in Fortnite

As part of the July 21, 2020 update for Fortnite Save the World, Epic introduced ‘Ventures’ into the game. This allows players to re-experience level and resource progression as they work their way up through the ranks of each ‘Ventures’ Season.

Weapon Research Vouchers are obtained as level rewards in these new Ventures levels. Specifically, Weapon Research Vouchers are given out as some of the first 50 level rewards. Gameplay Reperk’s and Superchargers are also available as level rewards during these first 50 levels.

Currently, it appears as though this is the only way players will be able to get Weapon Research Vouchers, and even then they’re pretty limited.

It appears as though Epic’s only going to drop one Weapon Research Voucher as a Ventures reward each season, so be prepared for lots of grinding each new season to get more.

That’s everything you need to know on how to get Weapon Research Vouchers in Fortnite Save the World . For more tips, tricks, and guides on the game, be sure to check out more of our coverage below, or head over to our Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 2 Season 3 Guide Wiki.

Screen Rant

Fortnite: save the world - how to increase your power level (the fast way).

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

How To Build A Rebel Village Outpost in LEGO Fortnite

A new doom game may finally be on the way, but there’s a huge catch, honkai star rail 2.3 character banners - phase 1 & 2 banners leaked.

Power Levels are a measurement of skill in  Fortnite: Save The World.   This guide will help players level up their power levels the fast way.  Fortnite: Save The World is like the lesser-known step-sibling of  the Fornite  franchise. While the battle royale has garnered the attention of tens of millions of players, the  Save The World  mode is a premium model that pits its players against a horde of zombies. Players can team up in groups of four and fortify and defend their base from incoming attacks. This guide will help players level up their power level in  Fortnite: Save The World.

Related:  Fortnite: The Best Player-Made Games in Creative Mode

The Power Level is a measurement of how capable the player is in  Fortnite: Save The World . It is broken down into four different categories,  Fortitude, Offense, Resistance, and Tech , which spells FORT. This measurement allows players to take on certain quests when reaching a certain power level. Players will not be able to access certain missions until the power level reaches a specific point. The higher the level, the most difficult the missions, but also more rewarding. Here's how players can level up their power level and unlock higher level missions for better loot.

Leveling Up Power Level Fast in Fortnite: Save The World

To level up faster in  Fortnite: Save The World,  its actually something that doesn't require the player to do much to accomplish. As the player completes missions, they will unlock Skill Points. These Skill Points can be applied as part of the skill tree. As the player continues to level up, more Skill Points will be available. Also, even if the player is focusing on leveling up the Skill Points of a specific class set, the Power Level carries over to the whole character. Players can also unlock Research Points which are helpful when playing with friends. Just continue to play missions and make sure to apply Skill and Research Points to increase the player's Power Level.

Fortnite  is still one of the biggest video games in the world. It remains at the top of Twitch's most streamed games and millions of players log in every day. The game has even made attempts to transcend outside of being a battle royale title. While  Save The World is a completely different experience than the battle royale, the game also introduced Party Royale, where players can just hang out with each other, practice their skydiving, and explore a neutral island without any fighting. The game is taking steps to be a safe space for gamers of all ages. This is an excellent inclusion, especially with the situation surrounding COVID-19 keeping players inside.  Fortnite  will continue to dominate in the battle royale world.

More:  What Time Fortnite’s One-Time-Only Doomsday Event Happens [UPDATED]

Fortnite  is available on Android, iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

• Game Guides

How tiny pieces of evidence can reveal giant stories about our world — and ways to make it better

In ‘proof of concept,’ the grist video team shines a spotlight on some surprising environmental research and discoveries..

“Denying climate change is tantamount to saying you don’t believe in gravity.”

— Christina Figueres, climate advocate and diplomat, in her 2020 book The Future We Choose

The spotlight

How do we know that the climate is changing — and that humans are causing it? To a certain extent, we can see and feel it ourselves. New temperature and weather extremes are undeniable, and affect more and more places every year. And the greenhouse effect (the mechanism by which carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere) is taught in many basic science classes. But when asked how they know that “climate change is real,” some people will respond simply that 99.9 percent of scientists agree that it is .

“For me, intellectually, that always felt like a little bit of a cop-out,” said Jesse Nichols, a video producer at Grist. Sure, it’s a compelling statistic, and there’s nothing wrong with putting our faith in the consensus of the scientific community. But Nichols also felt that understanding how scientists have come to this conclusion and supported it — sometimes in surprising ways — can be enlightening, and empowering.

“Something that always has really fascinated me is people who are able to uncover giant stories from tiny little pieces of evidence,” he said, “like environmental detective stories.”

That’s a large part of the ethos behind Proof of Concept , a video series created by Nichols that profiles the science and scientists behind some of the most surprising recent environmental research and discoveries. The videos take viewers from a lab at MIT to a primate research center in California to a museum basement in Seattle stocked with jars of centuries-old preserved fishes.

In one, Nichols interviews scientists studying one of the world’s healthiest coral reefs — the Flower Garden Banks, in the Gulf of Mexico, which also happens to be surrounded by offshore oil drilling.

Like trees, corals grow bands every year that enable researchers to date them — and to gain insight into what was going on in the ocean climate each year that the corals were growing. As Nichols says in his narration: “The legacy of oil extraction, carbon emissions, and climate change are quite literally etched on the hard skeletons of the corals themselves.”

These coral “time capsules,” as one scientist puts it in the video, are exactly the kinds of clues that Nichols was referencing when he likened scientific discovery to a detective story. By analyzing small scrapes of coral from each of the different bands, scientists have been able to track changes over time that align with world events. By looking at the carbon contained in the coral, they could see an increase in an isotope that’s associated with fossil fuel emissions — a clear sign that our planet’s rising carbon emissions are indeed caused by humans. Another finding was the increased presence of barium in the reef skeleton, an element that is often used as a lubricant in offshore oil wells.

“By analyzing the dust that you got from that coral skeleton, you could show that climate change was happening — or that oil had spiked in the Gulf of Mexico in the 1970s, or that fertilizer had been increasing from the Mississippi River, or that nuclear weapons testing had been happening throughout the Cold War,” Nichols said. “All of these world history events were visible inside the skeleton of a coral, and I thought it was so cool that scientists could tell such big stories from such tiny pieces of evidence.”

Watch the full video here .

In another video from the series, Nichols talks with Chelsea Wood, a parasitologist. “I don’t think anyone is born a parasitologist — like, no one grows up wanting to study worms,” Wood jokes in the video. But when she learned about how biodiverse parasites in fact are, and the often crucial roles they play in ecosystems, it felt like she had discovered a whole new secret world. She decided to devote her career to studying parasite ecology, and how humans are impacting it.

Wood wanted to find out what had been happening in the world of parasites over the past 100 years of global change, and that data didn’t exist. So she figured out a way to get it. Much like the scientists at Flower Garden Banks used the historical record preserved in corals themselves to study how environmental changes have affected reefs, Wood found a historical record of parasites — in the bellies of fishes. She opened up jars of fish samples in the Burke Museum in Seattle dating back to the 1800s and dissected the fish to find out what kinds of parasites were living inside them.

“Chelsea was uncovering a completely overlooked story about how parasites were changing over the last century, using these fish samples that were collecting dust in a basement,” Nichols told me. One thing she and her team discovered is that complex parasites — ones that depend on biodiverse ecosystems with several different host species — have been steadily declining, and climate change is almost certainly the culprit.

The third follows Lisa Miller, a researcher at the ​​California National Primate Research Center. In 2008, summer wildfires were blanketing Northern California with smoke — and Miller had an idea. A group of 50 rhesus monkeys had just been born at the center and, like everybody else in the area, they were exposed to the unusually high levels of wildfire smoke. She wondered if they could study these monkeys, compared with a control group born the next year, to learn more about the effects of early exposure to air pollution.

The scientists monitored the monkeys’ health through routine medical examinations like blood draws and CT scans, and also by equipping them with Fitbit-esque collars to monitor their physical activity. They found that the wildfire smoke led to lifelong health impacts. The exposed monkeys had weaker immune systems when they were young, which then turned to overactive immune systems when they were adults. They developed smaller and stiffer lungs than the control group, and didn’t sleep as well.

Because rhesus monkeys are genetically similar to humans, these findings have implications for human health as well. Long-term health studies in humans are notoriously difficult, because it’s all but impossible to control different environmental and lifestyle factors that complicate things. But the wildfire smoke that descended over the primate research center, a completely controlled environment, offered a unique opportunity to learn more about this climate impact.

“It really was, in my view, serendipity — in the sense that we were at the right place at the right time,” Miller says in the video.

The fourth and final video in this year’s series will publish tomorrow. Check out grist.org/video to watch it then!

As a sneak peek: The story looks at ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, or RuBisCO — an enzyme that enables plants to pull carbon dioxide from the air to support photosynthesis, a process that in turn fuels all life on Earth. The twist is that RuBisCO is notoriously bad at its job, and climate change appears to be making it even worse. But scientists are working to engineer a new variety.

“I think that science in itself helps us know how the world works, and you can’t solve a problem if you don’t know how the system works,” Nichols said. “All of these are stories of people who are trying to get a clearer picture of what’s going on. And having a good picture of what’s going on, it’s kind of like having a map when you’re lost in the wilderness.”

— Claire Elise Thompson

A parting shot

In last week’s newsletter about the 15-minute city , we asked what you can walk to within 15 minutes of where you live. For fun, I put some of your answers into an AI image generator to see what our collective 15-minute city could look like. One thing I found interesting — even with my prompts, the generator struggled to conjure up a “city” without cars, and to fit many different specific features (a pizzeria, a taco truck, a bookshop, a church, an urgent care clinic …) into a single scene. But I’d still live here, I think. What about you?

IMAGE CREDITS

Vision: Grist

Parting shot: DALL-E mini

How ‘15-minute cities’ could save time, reduce emissions, and build community

Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one .

To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How

Related Articles

As fossil fuel plants face retirement, a puerto rico community pushes for rooftop solar, vermont passed a bill making big oil pay. now comes the hard part., in a debut book, a love letter to eastern north carolina — and an indictment of colonialism as a driver of climate change, desantis says he’s ‘restoring sanity’ by erasing climate change from florida laws, canadian wildfire smoke just blanketed the midwest — again, this enzyme is responsible for life on earth. it’s a hot mess., the american climate corps will get people into green jobs. can it help their mental health too, how ‘kitty cats’ are wrecking the home insurance industry.

Money blog: Tourist taxes being imposed across Europe (and in UK) - here's how much they all are

An increasing number of cities are either imposing or increasing the cost of tourist taxes on visitors. Read this and our other Weekend Money content below, and let us know your thoughts. We'll be back with live updates on Monday.

Saturday 18 May 2024 17:03, UK

Weekend Money

• How to sell your home without an estate agent
• Tourist taxes to watch out for in popular holiday destinations
• Childcare vouchers, hard work and new skyscrapers: What readers have said this week
• Three things you need to know from Money this week

Best of the week

• The rise of Michelin starred 'fast food'
• How much do buskers make?
• Basically... What is PIP - and what could government changes mean?
• How to make sure your car passes its MOT
• Money Problem : My workplace wants to pay us by the minute - what can I do?
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

As we've been reporting in the Money blog over the last few months, an increasing number of cities are either imposing or increasing the cost of tourist taxes on visitors. 

Many say they are preventing damages from overtourism, as well as funding local infrastructure and businesses. 

Here are the latest tourist fees for the most popular spots in Europe...

Tourists visiting Venice for the day will have to pay a €5 entry fee to enter the city between the hours of 8.30am and 4pm.

Meanwhile, those staying overnight in Venice are charged a fee between €1 to €5 within the accommodation price for the first five consecutive nights.

People visiting the Spanish city now have to pay €3.25 if they're staying in official accommodation, up from €2.75.

Manchester 

Visitors must pay £1 per room, per night across 73 hotels. 

The scheme, which has raised more than £2m within a year, is for improvements to attract more tourists.

Tourists must pay €2 per person for every night they stay, although this is only applied for a maximum of seven nights.

The Greek government has introduced a Climate Crisis Resilience Fee to charge tourists anywhere from €0.50 to €10 per room, per night.

The amount depends on the hotel category and the time of year.

Visitors to the Croatian city must pay €2.65 per person, per night throughout April to September. 

However, the fee has been temporarily reduced to €1.86 for the rest of this year.

Different amounts are charged depending on the type of accommodation.

The most expensive charge is €14.95 for a stay in palaces, and €0.65 at one or two-star campsites, per person, per night. 

Those staying in a typical four-star hotel are charged around €8.

Those staying in the Hungarian capital are charged an additional 4% each night, which is calculated based on the price of the room.

Tourists in Berlin must pay 5% of the room price, excluding VAT and service fees.

The tourist tax here has increased from €0.82 to €1.97 per day. 

Prices researched by travel insurance site Quotezone.co.uk

By Ollie Cooper , Money team

Estate agent fees are one of the big expenses in selling a house - but rule changes and the rise of private sale websites have made it more common for people to go it alone.

But how easy is it - and what do you need to know? We spoke to industry experts to find out.

Firstly, what do estate agents do for their money?

An estate agent will typically charge in the range of 1%-3.5% of the sale price. 

That means for the average house price (£284,691 from December) you could pay anywhere from £2,846 to £9,964 in commission fees.

"When you use an estate agent, their fee includes taking professional photographs, advertising your home, conducting property viewings, and negotiating a price on your behalf," says Jack Smithson  from the home ownership site  Better.co.uk .

In addition, an estate agent will compile comprehensive details of your house, including room sizes and descriptions of fixtures and fittings. 

"They will also provide a concise write-up about the local area, highlighting amenities, schools, and transportation links," Jack adds. 

And they'll conduct checks on buyers for you (more on this later).

It sounds like a lot, but...

"Selling your home yourself can be a manageable process with a few key steps," Jack says.

Preparation 

You should begin by thoroughly researching house prices in your area, using websites like Rightmove and Zoopla - but seek free valuations from local estate agents to ensure you have a realistic asking price in mind.

Next, you want to take high-quality photos of your house.

Jack advises using tutorials on YouTube to learn new shooting and editing techniques that can take you to the next level.

You then want to write down what makes your home unique.

"While browsing other listings for inspiration, take it a step further by emphasising what you love about living in your home and the surrounding area," Jack suggests.

"Whether it's the refreshing scent of the coastline or the tranquil sounds of village life, incorporating these details can help potential buyers visualise living there," he advises. 

Like using YouTube for photography tips, you can use free tools such as ChatGPT and Grammarly if you need help with your writing, Jack says. 

Advertising

This is probably the biggest perk of going through an established estate agent - your home is much more likely to be viewed because they will have an established audience and a market. But it's very possible to do it alone. 

"When it comes to advertising your home, explore a variety of avenues including local newspapers and social media," Jack says.

"Consider using websites like Strike, which allow individuals to list their properties for free on platforms like Rightmove," he suggests.

Viewings 

Once you've secured some viewings, you've got the opportunity to make it a bit more personal than estate agents ever could - a real advantage. 

"Explain the reasons behind your decision to purchase the property, highlight its unique features, and share the aspects of your neighbourhood that make it a desirable place to live," Jack says. 

The small things matter when showing people round - so try to take an objective look around before you bring anyone in.

Do the things you'd do normally - make sure it smells nice and it's clean and tidy.

"Lastly, it's worth knowing that you must legally provide potential buyers with a free Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)."

The sale itself

Perhaps the most daunting aspect is the physical exchange of contracts and money. 

An estate agent would typically oversee the process of the initial offer acceptance to the transfer of keys to the new owner.

However, if you go it alone, you'll need to become the central point of contact - bridging the gap between your solicitor or conveyancer and the buyer and their legal representative.

"Once you've accepted an offer on your property, your first task is to draft what's called a memorandum of sale," Jack says.  

This document is a written confirmation of your acceptance of the offer and details the agreed price along with any specific conditions you've both agreed to.

"It's then recommended to engage the services of a solicitor or conveyancer to ensure all legal obligations are met," Jack says (of course, you'll need to do this even if you have an estate agent).

The cost of hiring one typically ranges from a few hundred to over £1,000, depending on factors such as fixed fees, hourly rates, the complexity of the sale and additional costs like property searches or land registry fees.

"In the absence of an estate agent, you'll be responsible for keeping your buyer informed about the progress of the sale. This involves regular updates on the status of legal procedures and any relevant developments," Jack says, before adding that this can actually be a good thing.

"By taking on these responsibilities independently, you'll have greater control over the sale process. However, it will require you to be exceptionally organised, and you'll need to be very good at communicating too."  

Any risks to be aware of?

Rita Patel, legal director at law firm  Browne Jacobson , tells us the biggest risk for people selling their properties without an estate agent is the lack of a vetting and verification process of the potential buyer.

Estate agents will verify the buyer's identity and check the buyer's proof and source of funds - without this, there's no way to assess the buyer is legitimate and can afford to buy.

"Whilst this process is something lawyers can help with, this is often at an additional cost, and you'll need to start from square one if there is an issue with a potential buyer's identification and/or financial eligibility," Rita says. 

More generally, selling without an agent can extend the time it takes to sell. 

"Zoopla suggests this timeframe is normally around 17-34 weeks, but with no one on hand to consistently promote and drive the property sale at all stages, going solo drags this process out," Rita says. 

"Agents can also help mediate any potential breakdowns in communication between the buyer and seller - reducing the likelihood of having to go back to market and start again."

The advantages

Laura Owen-Brown, a PR manager from Gloucestershire, tells us she is set to sell her house without an estate agent in the near future.

"My disappointment with estate agents stems from their lack of familiarity with the properties they attempted to sell me when I was buying my current house," she says. 

"They couldn't tell me about the details that truly matter, like the optimal times for sunlight in the garden, how much council tax I'd pay, what the roof was made of, the places I could walk my dog off lead or the impact of post-football match traffic on Sundays.

"These types of details can shape the experience of living in a house for years and are just as important as the square footage, EPC rating or how many bedrooms a property has," she adds. 

She says the current "transactional" approach to selling houses feels "impersonal and outdated" to her. 

"Yes, I'll have to handle more admin, but the savings in both money and time will make it worthwhile. Liaising with buyers and solicitors directly without a third party slowing everything down will mean I can be in control and have transparency throughout the process, especially during negotiations," she says.

All in all...

As Laura says, it's very much a case of whether you can stomach the admin and are happy to take the risks on background financial checks. 

If you are aware of all the above and willing to take on the organisational burden, you could save yourself a serious chunk of cash. 

The main topics from the Money blog that got you commenting this week were...

Government-funded childcare

• Michel Roux Jr's comments about the future of the restaurant industry 

Nearly 600 new skyscrapers for London

From last Sunday, eligible working parents of children from nine-months-old in England have been able to register for access to up to 15 free hours of government-funded childcare per week.

Those hours can be claimed from September. 

Some readers pointed out the T&Cs... 

This 15 hrs a week is for term time ONLY. So full-time working parents will have to either tell their employer they can't work in school holidays or pro-rata it across the year which is 10 hours a week. Yvonne grandma

Others said it spoke to issues in the wider childcare sector...

Is the government going to give pay rises to nursery staff? They are very low paid staff, and can't get enough staff as it is!! Nurseries may have to close if they don't get staff, so parents won't be able to take up the offer!! What is the government going to do about it? Carol

Chefs or delivery drivers?

Celebrity chef Michel Roux Jr has suggested that restaurants may only open three days per week because young people prefer other jobs - like delivering parcels. 

"Just because I worked 80 hours a week or more doesn't mean the next generation should," he said. 

"Quite the contrary. That is something that we have to address in our industry."

Readers said...

That's because one [job] is on the verge of slave labour and one definitely is slave labour. And the latter I'm referring to is working in a kitchen for a chef.  Realist2024

Spent 35 years working as a chef. Young people nowadays are not willing to do the extra hours (usually unpaid) and work every weekend. Godsends like my generation of chefs did and do.  Bucks

There's been considerable backlash in our comments section after a thinktank said a total of 583 skyscrapers are "queuing up in the pipeline" to be built across central London.

That is more than double the 270 built in the past decade...

"600 new skyscrapers on way for London" while the majority are struggling. When will something serious be done about growing wealth inequality in the UK? A growing economy is useless while the gap between the ultra rich and everyone else increases. Qwerty1

How many unnecessary skyscrapers for London? It's fine, as long as they are not made using steel, glass, concrete or bricks - don't people know there's a climate emergency? Shanghaiwan

Who's paying for it? What about the North? treelectrical

The energy price cap is set to fall by about 7% in July, a respected energy markets researcher has said.

Ahead of next Friday's announcement by Ofgem for the July-September period, Cornwall Insights said: "For a typical dual fuel household, we predict the July price cap to be £1,574 per annum" - a drop from £1,690.

Looking further ahead, it forecasted the cap will rise again slightly in October, before falling in January next year. 

"A predicted 7% drop in energy prices in July is clearly good news, with the price cap looking likely to hit its lowest level in over two years," a spokesperson for Uswitch said. 

Around 100 more prosecutions of sub-postmasters unrelated to the Horizon scandal could be "tainted" , a Sky News investigation has found, as officials worked with now discredited Post Office investigators to secure convictions.

The prosecutions of Post Office staff were led by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between 2001 and 2006.

It is understood these usually involved the cashing in of stolen order books.

The Post Office itself wrongly prosecuted hundreds of sub-postmasters between 1999 and 2015 - based on evidence from the faulty Horizon accounting system.

Read more from our business correspondent Adele Robinson  by clicking  here ...

The UK's mega rich are dwindling in a sign Britain's "billionaire boom has come to an end" , according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List.

The list reveals the largest fall in billionaires in the guide's history - from a peak of 177 in 2022 to 165 this year.

While the combined wealth of the list's 350 wealthiest individuals amounts to more than £795bn - larger than the GDP of Poland - the guide's compiler says time will tell what impact a drop in billionaires could have.

"This year's Sunday Times Rich List suggests Britain's billionaire boom has come to an end," Robert Watts said.

Read on here ...

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

The Body Shop’s administrators are to launch an auction of the chain after concluding that an alternative restructuring of one of Britain’s best-known high street retailers was not viable.

Sky News has learnt that FRP Advisory, which has been overseeing the collapsed business since January, is to begin formally sounding out potential buyers in the coming weeks.

The move raises the prospect of new owners taking control of The Body Shop, which was founded nearly half a century ago.

Read more here ...

The UK's mega rich are dwindling - in a sign Britain's "billionaire boom has come to an end", according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List.

Published today, the list reveals the largest fall in billionaires in the guide's history - from a peak of 177 in 2022 to 165 this year.

"Many of our home-grown entrepreneurs have seen their fortunes fall and some of the global super rich who came here are moving away."

Top of the list is British-Indian businessman Gopi Hinduja and his family, whose wealth of £37.2bn is the largest fortune in the ranking's history.

But other familiar names in the list saw their riches fall, with Sir Richard Branson's total dropping by £2.4bn, which is back to his 2000 level.

Last year's top climber Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who bought a stake in Manchester United this year, fell two positions with a decline of £6.1bn.

Euan Blair, Tony Blair's eldest son, made the list for the first time, as did Sir Lewis Hamilton.

It comes as the UK continues to deal with a cost-of-living crisis, with new figures this week revealing a record 3.1 million food bank parcels were distributed over the course of a year.

The top 10:

• Gopi Hinduja - £37.2bn
• Sir Leonard Blavtanik - £29.2bn
• David and Simon Reuben and family - £24.9bn
• Sir Jim Ratcliffe - £23.5bn
• Sir James Dyson and family - £20.8bn
• Barnaby and Merlin Swire and family - £17.2bn
• Idan Ofer - £14.9bn
• Lakshmi Mittal and family - £14.9bn
• Guy, George, Alannah and Galen Weston and family - £14.4bn
• John Fredriksen and family - £12.8bn

A group of social media influencers have been charged in relation to promoting an unauthorised investment scheme.

The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) original cast member Lauren Goodger, 37, former Love Island star Biggs Chris, 32, and Celebrity Big Brother winner Scott Timlin, 36, also known as Scotty T, are among seven TV personalities alleged to have been paid to promote the scheme to their combined 4.5 million Instagram followers.

The others charged by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) include former Love Islanders Rebecca Gormley, 26, Jamie Clayton, 32, and Eva Zapico, 25 and TOWIE member Yazmin Oukhellou, 30.

The UK's financial watchdog brought the charges in a crackdown on "finfluencers" who use their online platforms to offer advice and information on various financial topics.

It alleges that between 19 May 2018 and 13 April 2021 Emmanuel Nwanze, 30, and Holly Thompson, 33, used an Instagram account to provide advice on buying and selling investments known as contracts for difference (CFDs) when they were not authorised to do so.

The watchdog said CFDs were high-risk investments used to bet on the price of an asset, in this case the price of foreign currencies.

It previously warned that 80% of customers lost money when investing in CDFs.

Mr Nwanze has been charged with running the scheme. He faces one count of breaching the general prohibition of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and one count of unauthorised communications of financial promotions.

Ms Thompson, Mr Chris, Mr Clayton, Ms Goodger, Ms Gormley, Ms Oukhellou, Mr Timlin and Ms Zapico each face one count of unauthorised communications of financial promotions.

All nine will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 13 June.

The FCA asked anyone who believed they had sustained a loss due to the scheme to contact its consumer contact centre.

A hotel part-owned by Gary Neville and other ex-Manchester United legends has been named one of the best places to work in hospitality. 

Each year, The Caterer releases its top 30 best places for employees in the sector, with the top six featuring some familiar names.

The list is compiled via anonymous employee survey - with no input from managers or owners. 

Hotel Football, the only hotel with a rooftop five-a-side pitch, was among the top six venues selected by employees across the UK. 

The hotel's benefits package was particularly well-praised by those who work there - given that it "prioritises the financial wellbeing of employees during the cost of living challenge".

Management at the hotel, which is situated next to Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium, was also praised for enhanced maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave policies and a strong belief in diversity and inclusion. 

The other five to make up the top six are The Biltmore in Mayfair, Cycas Hospitality (which has 18 locations across the UK), Dalata (which boasts some 1,000 employees), Gleneagles Hotel in Edinburgh and Nobu Hotel in Shoreditch, London. 

The energy price cap is set to fall by about 7% in July, a leading thinktank has said. 

Cornwall Insights said: "For a typical dual fuel household, we predict the July price cap to be £1,574 per annum" - a drop from £1,690.

Looking further ahead, it forecasted the cap to rise again slightly in October, before falling again in January next year. 

Reacting to the news, Uswitch said the predicted drop was "clearly good news". 

"The future still remains uncertain, and with the price cap changing every three months – currently expected to rise in October before falling slightly in January –  it's crucial not to be complacent," Richard Neudegg, director of regulation, said. 

However, "a predicted 7% drop in energy prices in July is clearly good news, with the price cap looking likely to hit its lowest level in over two years", he said. 

He also urged  households who want to lock in rates for price certainty to run a comparison to see what energy tariffs are available to them.

"There are many 12-month fixed tariffs available at rates cheaper than the current price cap, and even some that are 2% below these new predicted July rates," he said. 

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

'Science has a wide community and you can always find people to help'

5/17/2024 A&S Communications

Shiva Dahagam

Chemistry, Biology, Economics Berwyn, PA

Why did you choose Cornell?

Cornell made me feel like I could be at the forefront of whatever field I wanted to explore. Coming to Cornell, I knew I wanted to get involved in research, volunteering and sports and this place made me feel like I could do it all and do it in the best way possible.

What was your favorite class and why?  

ECON 3130: Statistics and Probability. I had Professor Doug McKee for four consecutive semesters at Cornell, but this class was by far one of my favorites because of the time we took to understand the nuances and logic behind probability. I think economics and chemistry rely heavily on statistical theory to explain how their fields work because we can’t “see” every single molecule in a reaction or every single individual in a population. This class taught me to appreciate the math behind how we treat information that is too vast to understand and made me a better student of chemistry and economics because of it.

What are the most valuable skills you gained from your Arts & Sciences education?     

Being brave in uncertain situations. I think a lot of Cornell students come from strong academic backgrounds where there is always a surefire way of achieving success. The real world is not so straightforward and sometimes you have to be willing to invest time and energy into a project, extracurricular or activity not knowing whether or not it will be successful. I think the second part of this skill is accepting unexpected/undesired outcomes and having the self-confidence to learn and move forward. There is no such thing as a failed experiment if you can learn something from the results.    

What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of the work I was able to accomplish in research that ultimately led to a publication. I think research work requires you to think outside the box and solve problems in a different way than you would in a class. It’s harder to solve problems that have not been solved before, but it forces you to learn and develop new ways of finding and synthesizing pieces of information together. More importantly, I think it taught me the importance of perseverance and asking for help when you need it. Science has a wide community and you can always find people to help you are brave enough to ask.

Who or what influenced your Cornell education the most?     

My research mentors, Dr. Todd Hyster and Dr. Nozomi Ando, definitely influenced me the most. They took me under their wings and showed me how fun and exciting research could be. They are forever my role models in how to dig deep into your passions and find new ways to use that knowledge to benefit the world around us.

New research initiative tackles pressing global development issues

'Our team's research contributes directly to scalable solutions for global environmental issues'

'I want to keep learning, about people, about culture, about myself'

'Entertain the notion that your "requirements" are actually opportunities'

Cultural Relativity and Acceptance of Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Article sidebar.

Main Article Content

There is a debate about the ethical implications of using human embryos in stem cell research, which can be influenced by cultural, moral, and social values. This paper argues for an adaptable framework to accommodate diverse cultural and religious perspectives. By using an adaptive ethics model, research protections can reflect various populations and foster growth in stem cell research possibilities.

INTRODUCTION

Stem cell research combines biology, medicine, and technology, promising to alter health care and the understanding of human development. Yet, ethical contention exists because of individuals’ perceptions of using human embryos based on their various cultural, moral, and social values. While these disagreements concerning policy, use, and general acceptance have prompted the development of an international ethics policy, such a uniform approach can overlook the nuanced ethical landscapes between cultures. With diverse viewpoints in public health, a single global policy, especially one reflecting Western ethics or the ethics prevalent in high-income countries, is impractical. This paper argues for a culturally sensitive, adaptable framework for the use of embryonic stem cells. Stem cell policy should accommodate varying ethical viewpoints and promote an effective global dialogue. With an extension of an ethics model that can adapt to various cultures, we recommend localized guidelines that reflect the moral views of the people those guidelines serve.

Stem cells, characterized by their unique ability to differentiate into various cell types, enable the repair or replacement of damaged tissues. Two primary types of stem cells are somatic stem cells (adult stem cells) and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells exist in developed tissues and maintain the body’s repair processes. [1] Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are remarkably pluripotent or versatile, making them valuable in research. [2] However, the use of ESCs has sparked ethics debates. Considering the potential of embryonic stem cells, research guidelines are essential. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) provides international stem cell research guidelines. They call for “public conversations touching on the scientific significance as well as the societal and ethical issues raised by ESC research.” [3] The ISSCR also publishes updates about culturing human embryos 14 days post fertilization, suggesting local policies and regulations should continue to evolve as ESC research develops. [4]  Like the ISSCR, which calls for local law and policy to adapt to developing stem cell research given cultural acceptance, this paper highlights the importance of local social factors such as religion and culture.

I.     Global Cultural Perspective of Embryonic Stem Cells

Views on ESCs vary throughout the world. Some countries readily embrace stem cell research and therapies, while others have stricter regulations due to ethical concerns surrounding embryonic stem cells and when an embryo becomes entitled to moral consideration. The philosophical issue of when the “someone” begins to be a human after fertilization, in the morally relevant sense, [5] impacts when an embryo becomes not just worthy of protection but morally entitled to it. The process of creating embryonic stem cell lines involves the destruction of the embryos for research. [6] Consequently, global engagement in ESC research depends on social-cultural acceptability.

a.     US and Rights-Based Cultures

In the United States, attitudes toward stem cell therapies are diverse. The ethics and social approaches, which value individualism, [7] trigger debates regarding the destruction of human embryos, creating a complex regulatory environment. For example, the 1996 Dickey-Wicker Amendment prohibited federal funding for the creation of embryos for research and the destruction of embryos for “more than allowed for research on fetuses in utero.” [8] Following suit, in 2001, the Bush Administration heavily restricted stem cell lines for research. However, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 was proposed to help develop ESC research but was ultimately vetoed. [9] Under the Obama administration, in 2009, an executive order lifted restrictions allowing for more development in this field. [10] The flux of research capacity and funding parallels the different cultural perceptions of human dignity of the embryo and how it is socially presented within the country’s research culture. [11]

b.     Ubuntu and Collective Cultures

African bioethics differs from Western individualism because of the different traditions and values. African traditions, as described by individuals from South Africa and supported by some studies in other African countries, including Ghana and Kenya, follow the African moral philosophies of Ubuntu or Botho and Ukama , which “advocates for a form of wholeness that comes through one’s relationship and connectedness with other people in the society,” [12] making autonomy a socially collective concept. In this context, for the community to act autonomously, individuals would come together to decide what is best for the collective. Thus, stem cell research would require examining the value of the research to society as a whole and the use of the embryos as a collective societal resource. If society views the source as part of the collective whole, and opposes using stem cells, compromising the cultural values to pursue research may cause social detachment and stunt research growth. [13] Based on local culture and moral philosophy, the permissibility of stem cell research depends on how embryo, stem cell, and cell line therapies relate to the community as a whole . Ubuntu is the expression of humanness, with the person’s identity drawn from the “’I am because we are’” value. [14] The decision in a collectivistic culture becomes one born of cultural context, and individual decisions give deference to others in the society.

Consent differs in cultures where thought and moral philosophy are based on a collective paradigm. So, applying Western bioethical concepts is unrealistic. For one, Africa is a diverse continent with many countries with different belief systems, access to health care, and reliance on traditional or Western medicines. Where traditional medicine is the primary treatment, the “’restrictive focus on biomedically-related bioethics’” [is] problematic in African contexts because it neglects bioethical issues raised by traditional systems.” [15] No single approach applies in all areas or contexts. Rather than evaluating the permissibility of ESC research according to Western concepts such as the four principles approach, different ethics approaches should prevail.

Another consideration is the socio-economic standing of countries. In parts of South Africa, researchers have not focused heavily on contributing to the stem cell discourse, either because it is not considered health care or a health science priority or because resources are unavailable. [16] Each country’s priorities differ given different social, political, and economic factors. In South Africa, for instance, areas such as maternal mortality, non-communicable diseases, telemedicine, and the strength of health systems need improvement and require more focus. [17] Stem cell research could benefit the population, but it also could divert resources from basic medical care. Researchers in South Africa adhere to the National Health Act and Medicines Control Act in South Africa and international guidelines; however, the Act is not strictly enforced, and there is no clear legislation for research conduct or ethical guidelines. [18]

Some parts of Africa condemn stem cell research. For example, 98.2 percent of the Tunisian population is Muslim. [19] Tunisia does not permit stem cell research because of moral conflict with a Fatwa. Religion heavily saturates the regulation and direction of research. [20] Stem cell use became permissible for reproductive purposes only recently, with tight restrictions preventing cells from being used in any research other than procedures concerning ART/IVF.  Their use is conditioned on consent, and available only to married couples. [21] The community's receptiveness to stem cell research depends on including communitarian African ethics.

c.     Asia

Some Asian countries also have a collective model of ethics and decision making. [22] In China, the ethics model promotes a sincere respect for life or human dignity, [23] based on protective medicine. This model, influenced by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), [24] recognizes Qi as the vital energy delivered via the meridians of the body; it connects illness to body systems, the body’s entire constitution, and the universe for a holistic bond of nature, health, and quality of life. [25] Following a protective ethics model, and traditional customs of wholeness, investment in stem cell research is heavily desired for its applications in regenerative therapies, disease modeling, and protective medicines. In a survey of medical students and healthcare practitioners, 30.8 percent considered stem cell research morally unacceptable while 63.5 percent accepted medical research using human embryonic stem cells. Of these individuals, 89.9 percent supported increased funding for stem cell research. [26] The scientific community might not reflect the overall population. From 1997 to 2019, China spent a total of $576 million (USD) on stem cell research at 8,050 stem cell programs, increased published presence from 0.6 percent to 14.01 percent of total global stem cell publications as of 2014, and made significant strides in cell-based therapies for various medical conditions. [27] However, while China has made substantial investments in stem cell research and achieved notable progress in clinical applications, concerns linger regarding ethical oversight and transparency. [28] For example, the China Biosecurity Law, promoted by the National Health Commission and China Hospital Association, attempted to mitigate risks by introducing an institutional review board (IRB) in the regulatory bodies. 5800 IRBs registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry since 2021. [29] However, issues still need to be addressed in implementing effective IRB review and approval procedures.

The substantial government funding and focus on scientific advancement have sometimes overshadowed considerations of regional cultures, ethnic minorities, and individual perspectives, particularly evident during the one-child policy era. As government policy adapts to promote public stability, such as the change from the one-child to the two-child policy, [30] research ethics should also adapt to ensure respect for the values of its represented peoples.

Japan is also relatively supportive of stem cell research and therapies. Japan has a more transparent regulatory framework, allowing for faster approval of regenerative medicine products, which has led to several advanced clinical trials and therapies. [31] South Korea is also actively engaged in stem cell research and has a history of breakthroughs in cloning and embryonic stem cells. [32] However, the field is controversial, and there are issues of scientific integrity. For example, the Korean FDA fast-tracked products for approval, [33] and in another instance, the oocyte source was unclear and possibly violated ethical standards. [34] Trust is important in research, as it builds collaborative foundations between colleagues, trial participant comfort, open-mindedness for complicated and sensitive discussions, and supports regulatory procedures for stakeholders. There is a need to respect the culture’s interest, engagement, and for research and clinical trials to be transparent and have ethical oversight to promote global research discourse and trust.

d.     Middle East

Countries in the Middle East have varying degrees of acceptance of or restrictions to policies related to using embryonic stem cells due to cultural and religious influences. Saudi Arabia has made significant contributions to stem cell research, and conducts research based on international guidelines for ethical conduct and under strict adherence to guidelines in accordance with Islamic principles. Specifically, the Saudi government and people require ESC research to adhere to Sharia law. In addition to umbilical and placental stem cells, [35] Saudi Arabia permits the use of embryonic stem cells as long as they come from miscarriages, therapeutic abortions permissible by Sharia law, or are left over from in vitro fertilization and donated to research. [36] Laws and ethical guidelines for stem cell research allow the development of research institutions such as the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, which has a cord blood bank and a stem cell registry with nearly 10,000 donors. [37] Such volume and acceptance are due to the ethical ‘permissibility’ of the donor sources, which do not conflict with religious pillars. However, some researchers err on the side of caution, choosing not to use embryos or fetal tissue as they feel it is unethical to do so. [38]

Jordan has a positive research ethics culture. [39] However, there is a significant issue of lack of trust in researchers, with 45.23 percent (38.66 percent agreeing and 6.57 percent strongly agreeing) of Jordanians holding a low level of trust in researchers, compared to 81.34 percent of Jordanians agreeing that they feel safe to participate in a research trial. [40] Safety testifies to the feeling of confidence that adequate measures are in place to protect participants from harm, whereas trust in researchers could represent the confidence in researchers to act in the participants’ best interests, adhere to ethical guidelines, provide accurate information, and respect participants’ rights and dignity. One method to improve trust would be to address communication issues relevant to ESC. Legislation surrounding stem cell research has adopted specific language, especially concerning clarification “between ‘stem cells’ and ‘embryonic stem cells’” in translation. [41] Furthermore, legislation “mandates the creation of a national committee… laying out specific regulations for stem-cell banking in accordance with international standards.” [42] This broad regulation opens the door for future global engagement and maintains transparency. However, these regulations may also constrain the influence of research direction, pace, and accessibility of research outcomes.

e.     Europe

In the European Union (EU), ethics is also principle-based, but the principles of autonomy, dignity, integrity, and vulnerability are interconnected. [43] As such, the opportunity for cohesion and concessions between individuals’ thoughts and ideals allows for a more adaptable ethics model due to the flexible principles that relate to the human experience The EU has put forth a framework in its Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being allowing member states to take different approaches. Each European state applies these principles to its specific conventions, leading to or reflecting different acceptance levels of stem cell research. [44]

For example, in Germany, Lebenzusammenhang , or the coherence of life, references integrity in the unity of human culture. Namely, the personal sphere “should not be subject to external intervention.” [45]  Stem cell interventions could affect this concept of bodily completeness, leading to heavy restrictions. Under the Grundgesetz, human dignity and the right to life with physical integrity are paramount. [46] The Embryo Protection Act of 1991 made producing cell lines illegal. Cell lines can be imported if approved by the Central Ethics Commission for Stem Cell Research only if they were derived before May 2007. [47] Stem cell research respects the integrity of life for the embryo with heavy specifications and intense oversight. This is vastly different in Finland, where the regulatory bodies find research more permissible in IVF excess, but only up to 14 days after fertilization. [48] Spain’s approach differs still, with a comprehensive regulatory framework. [49] Thus, research regulation can be culture-specific due to variations in applied principles. Diverse cultures call for various approaches to ethical permissibility. [50] Only an adaptive-deliberative model can address the cultural constructions of self and achieve positive, culturally sensitive stem cell research practices. [51]

II.     Religious Perspectives on ESC

Embryonic stem cell sources are the main consideration within religious contexts. While individuals may not regard their own religious texts as authoritative or factual, religion can shape their foundations or perspectives.

The Qur'an states:

“And indeed We created man from a quintessence of clay. Then We placed within him a small quantity of nutfa (sperm to fertilize) in a safe place. Then We have fashioned the nutfa into an ‘alaqa (clinging clot or cell cluster), then We developed the ‘alaqa into mudgha (a lump of flesh), and We made mudgha into bones, and clothed the bones with flesh, then We brought it into being as a new creation. So Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.” [52]

Many scholars of Islam estimate the time of soul installment, marked by the angel breathing in the soul to bring the individual into creation, as 120 days from conception. [53] Personhood begins at this point, and the value of life would prohibit research or experimentation that could harm the individual. If the fetus is more than 120 days old, the time ensoulment is interpreted to occur according to Islamic law, abortion is no longer permissible. [54] There are a few opposing opinions about early embryos in Islamic traditions. According to some Islamic theologians, there is no ensoulment of the early embryo, which is the source of stem cells for ESC research. [55]

In Buddhism, the stance on stem cell research is not settled. The main tenets, the prohibition against harming or destroying others (ahimsa) and the pursuit of knowledge (prajña) and compassion (karuna), leave Buddhist scholars and communities divided. [56] Some scholars argue stem cell research is in accordance with the Buddhist tenet of seeking knowledge and ending human suffering. Others feel it violates the principle of not harming others. Finding the balance between these two points relies on the karmic burden of Buddhist morality. In trying to prevent ahimsa towards the embryo, Buddhist scholars suggest that to comply with Buddhist tenets, research cannot be done as the embryo has personhood at the moment of conception and would reincarnate immediately, harming the individual's ability to build their karmic burden. [57] On the other hand, the Bodhisattvas, those considered to be on the path to enlightenment or Nirvana, have given organs and flesh to others to help alleviate grieving and to benefit all. [58] Acceptance varies on applied beliefs and interpretations.

Catholicism does not support embryonic stem cell research, as it entails creation or destruction of human embryos. This destruction conflicts with the belief in the sanctity of life. For example, in the Old Testament, Genesis describes humanity as being created in God’s image and multiplying on the Earth, referencing the sacred rights to human conception and the purpose of development and life. In the Ten Commandments, the tenet that one should not kill has numerous interpretations where killing could mean murder or shedding of the sanctity of life, demonstrating the high value of human personhood. In other books, the theological conception of when life begins is interpreted as in utero, [59] highlighting the inviolability of life and its formation in vivo to make a religious point for accepting such research as relatively limited, if at all. [60] The Vatican has released ethical directives to help apply a theological basis to modern-day conflicts. The Magisterium of the Church states that “unless there is a moral certainty of not causing harm,” experimentation on fetuses, fertilized cells, stem cells, or embryos constitutes a crime. [61] Such procedures would not respect the human person who exists at these stages, according to Catholicism. Damages to the embryo are considered gravely immoral and illicit. [62] Although the Catholic Church officially opposes abortion, surveys demonstrate that many Catholic people hold pro-choice views, whether due to the context of conception, stage of pregnancy, threat to the mother’s life, or for other reasons, demonstrating that practicing members can also accept some but not all tenets. [63]

Some major Jewish denominations, such as the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements, are open to supporting ESC use or research as long as it is for saving a life. [64] Within Judaism, the Talmud, or study, gives personhood to the child at birth and emphasizes that life does not begin at conception: [65]

“If she is found pregnant, until the fortieth day it is mere fluid,” [66]

Whereas most religions prioritize the status of human embryos, the Halakah (Jewish religious law) states that to save one life, most other religious laws can be ignored because it is in pursuit of preservation. [67] Stem cell research is accepted due to application of these religious laws.

We recognize that all religions contain subsets and sects. The variety of environmental and cultural differences within religious groups requires further analysis to respect the flexibility of religious thoughts and practices. We make no presumptions that all cultures require notions of autonomy or morality as under the common morality theory , which asserts a set of universal moral norms that all individuals share provides moral reasoning and guides ethical decisions. [68] We only wish to show that the interaction with morality varies between cultures and countries.

III.     A Flexible Ethical Approach

The plurality of different moral approaches described above demonstrates that there can be no universally acceptable uniform law for ESC on a global scale. Instead of developing one standard, flexible ethical applications must be continued. We recommend local guidelines that incorporate important cultural and ethical priorities.

While the Declaration of Helsinki is more relevant to people in clinical trials receiving ESC products, in keeping with the tradition of protections for research subjects, consent of the donor is an ethical requirement for ESC donation in many jurisdictions including the US, Canada, and Europe. [69] The Declaration of Helsinki provides a reference point for regulatory standards and could potentially be used as a universal baseline for obtaining consent prior to gamete or embryo donation.

For instance, in Columbia University’s egg donor program for stem cell research, donors followed standard screening protocols and “underwent counseling sessions that included information as to the purpose of oocyte donation for research, what the oocytes would be used for, the risks and benefits of donation, and process of oocyte stimulation” to ensure transparency for consent. [70] The program helped advance stem cell research and provided clear and safe research methods with paid participants. Though paid participation or covering costs of incidental expenses may not be socially acceptable in every culture or context, [71] and creating embryos for ESC research is illegal in many jurisdictions, Columbia’s program was effective because of the clear and honest communications with donors, IRBs, and related stakeholders.  This example demonstrates that cultural acceptance of scientific research and of the idea that an egg or embryo does not have personhood is likely behind societal acceptance of donating eggs for ESC research. As noted, many countries do not permit the creation of embryos for research.

Proper communication and education regarding the process and purpose of stem cell research may bolster comprehension and garner more acceptance. “Given the sensitive subject material, a complete consent process can support voluntary participation through trust, understanding, and ethical norms from the cultures and morals participants value. This can be hard for researchers entering countries of different socioeconomic stability, with different languages and different societal values. [72]

An adequate moral foundation in medical ethics is derived from the cultural and religious basis that informs knowledge and actions. [73] Understanding local cultural and religious values and their impact on research could help researchers develop humility and promote inclusion.

IV.     Concerns

Some may argue that if researchers all adhere to one ethics standard, protection will be satisfied across all borders, and the global public will trust researchers. However, defining what needs to be protected and how to define such research standards is very specific to the people to which standards are applied. We suggest that applying one uniform guide cannot accurately protect each individual because we all possess our own perceptions and interpretations of social values. [74] Therefore, the issue of not adjusting to the moral pluralism between peoples in applying one standard of ethics can be resolved by building out ethics models that can be adapted to different cultures and religions.

Other concerns include medical tourism, which may promote health inequities. [75] Some countries may develop and approve products derived from ESC research before others, compromising research ethics or drug approval processes. There are also concerns about the sale of unauthorized stem cell treatments, for example, those without FDA approval in the United States. Countries with robust research infrastructures may be tempted to attract medical tourists, and some customers will have false hopes based on aggressive publicity of unproven treatments. [76]

For example, in China, stem cell clinics can market to foreign clients who are not protected under the regulatory regimes. Companies employ a marketing strategy of “ethically friendly” therapies. Specifically, in the case of Beike, China’s leading stem cell tourism company and sprouting network, ethical oversight of administrators or health bureaus at one site has “the unintended consequence of shifting questionable activities to another node in Beike's diffuse network.” [77] In contrast, Jordan is aware of stem cell research’s potential abuse and its own status as a “health-care hub.” Jordan’s expanded regulations include preserving the interests of individuals in clinical trials and banning private companies from ESC research to preserve transparency and the integrity of research practices. [78]

The social priorities of the community are also a concern. The ISSCR explicitly states that guidelines “should be periodically revised to accommodate scientific advances, new challenges, and evolving social priorities.” [79] The adaptable ethics model extends this consideration further by addressing whether research is warranted given the varying degrees of socioeconomic conditions, political stability, and healthcare accessibilities and limitations. An ethical approach would require discussion about resource allocation and appropriate distribution of funds. [80]

While some religions emphasize the sanctity of life from conception, which may lead to public opposition to ESC research, others encourage ESC research due to its potential for healing and alleviating human pain. Many countries have special regulations that balance local views on embryonic personhood, the benefits of research as individual or societal goods, and the protection of human research subjects. To foster understanding and constructive dialogue, global policy frameworks should prioritize the protection of universal human rights, transparency, and informed consent. In addition to these foundational global policies, we recommend tailoring local guidelines to reflect the diverse cultural and religious perspectives of the populations they govern. Ethics models should be adapted to local populations to effectively establish research protections, growth, and possibilities of stem cell research.

For example, in countries with strong beliefs in the moral sanctity of embryos or heavy religious restrictions, an adaptive model can allow for discussion instead of immediate rejection. In countries with limited individual rights and voice in science policy, an adaptive model ensures cultural, moral, and religious views are taken into consideration, thereby building social inclusion. While this ethical consideration by the government may not give a complete voice to every individual, it will help balance policies and maintain the diverse perspectives of those it affects. Embracing an adaptive ethics model of ESC research promotes open-minded dialogue and respect for the importance of human belief and tradition. By actively engaging with cultural and religious values, researchers can better handle disagreements and promote ethical research practices that benefit each society.

This brief exploration of the religious and cultural differences that impact ESC research reveals the nuances of relative ethics and highlights a need for local policymakers to apply a more intense adaptive model.

[1] Poliwoda, S., Noor, N., Downs, E., Schaaf, A., Cantwell, A., Ganti, L., Kaye, A. D., Mosel, L. I., Carroll, C. B., Viswanath, O., & Urits, I. (2022). Stem cells: a comprehensive review of origins and emerging clinical roles in medical practice.  Orthopedic reviews ,  14 (3), 37498. https://doi.org/10.52965/001c.37498

[2] Poliwoda, S., Noor, N., Downs, E., Schaaf, A., Cantwell, A., Ganti, L., Kaye, A. D., Mosel, L. I., Carroll, C. B., Viswanath, O., & Urits, I. (2022). Stem cells: a comprehensive review of origins and emerging clinical roles in medical practice.  Orthopedic reviews ,  14 (3), 37498. https://doi.org/10.52965/001c.37498

[3] International Society for Stem Cell Research. (2023). Laboratory-based human embryonic stem cell research, embryo research, and related research activities . International Society for Stem Cell Research. https://www.isscr.org/guidelines/blog-post-title-one-ed2td-6fcdk ; Kimmelman, J., Hyun, I., Benvenisty, N.  et al.  Policy: Global standards for stem-cell research.  Nature   533 , 311–313 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/533311a

[4] International Society for Stem Cell Research. (2023). Laboratory-based human embryonic stem cell research, embryo research, and related research activities . International Society for Stem Cell Research. https://www.isscr.org/guidelines/blog-post-title-one-ed2td-6fcdk

[5] Concerning the moral philosophies of stem cell research, our paper does not posit a personal moral stance nor delve into the “when” of human life begins. To read further about the philosophical debate, consider the following sources:

Sandel M. J. (2004). Embryo ethics--the moral logic of stem-cell research.  The New England journal of medicine ,  351 (3), 207–209. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp048145 ; George, R. P., & Lee, P. (2020, September 26). Acorns and Embryos . The New Atlantis. https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/acorns-and-embryos ; Sagan, A., & Singer, P. (2007). The moral status of stem cells. Metaphilosophy , 38 (2/3), 264–284. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24439776 ; McHugh P. R. (2004). Zygote and "clonote"--the ethical use of embryonic stem cells.  The New England journal of medicine ,  351 (3), 209–211. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp048147 ; Kurjak, A., & Tripalo, A. (2004). The facts and doubts about beginning of the human life and personality.  Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences ,  4 (1), 5–14. https://doi.org/10.17305/bjbms.2004.3453

[6] Vazin, T., & Freed, W. J. (2010). Human embryonic stem cells: derivation, culture, and differentiation: a review.  Restorative neurology and neuroscience ,  28 (4), 589–603. https://doi.org/10.3233/RNN-2010-0543

[7] Socially, at its core, the Western approach to ethics is widely principle-based, autonomy being one of the key factors to ensure a fundamental respect for persons within research. For information regarding autonomy in research, see: Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, & National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research (1978). The Belmont Report. Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research.; For a more in-depth review of autonomy within the US, see: Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (1994). Principles of Biomedical Ethics . Oxford University Press.

[8] Sherley v. Sebelius , 644 F.3d 388 (D.C. Cir. 2011), citing 45 C.F.R. 46.204(b) and [42 U.S.C. § 289g(b)]. https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/6c690438a9b43dd685257a64004ebf99/$file/11-5241-1391178.pdf

[9] Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, H. R. 810, 109 th Cong. (2001). https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/hr810/text ; Bush, G. W. (2006, July 19). Message to the House of Representatives . National Archives and Records Administration. https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060719-5.html

[10] National Archives and Records Administration. (2009, March 9). Executive order 13505 -- removing barriers to responsible scientific research involving human stem cells . National Archives and Records Administration. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/removing-barriers-responsible-scientific-research-involving-human-stem-cells

[11] Hurlbut, W. B. (2006). Science, Religion, and the Politics of Stem Cells.  Social Research ,  73 (3), 819–834. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40971854

[12] Akpa-Inyang, Francis & Chima, Sylvester. (2021). South African traditional values and beliefs regarding informed consent and limitations of the principle of respect for autonomy in African communities: a cross-cultural qualitative study. BMC Medical Ethics . 22. 10.1186/s12910-021-00678-4.

[13] Source for further reading: Tangwa G. B. (2007). Moral status of embryonic stem cells: perspective of an African villager. Bioethics , 21(8), 449–457. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8519.2007.00582.x , see also Mnisi, F. M. (2020). An African analysis based on ethics of Ubuntu - are human embryonic stem cell patents morally justifiable? African Insight , 49 (4).

[14] Jecker, N. S., & Atuire, C. (2021). Bioethics in Africa: A contextually enlightened analysis of three cases. Developing World Bioethics , 22 (2), 112–122. https://doi.org/10.1111/dewb.12324

[15] Jecker, N. S., & Atuire, C. (2021). Bioethics in Africa: A contextually enlightened analysis of three cases. Developing World Bioethics, 22(2), 112–122. https://doi.org/10.1111/dewb.12324

[16] Jackson, C.S., Pepper, M.S. Opportunities and barriers to establishing a cell therapy programme in South Africa.  Stem Cell Res Ther   4 , 54 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/scrt204 ; Pew Research Center. (2014, May 1). Public health a major priority in African nations . Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2014/05/01/public-health-a-major-priority-in-african-nations/

[17] Department of Health Republic of South Africa. (2021). Health Research Priorities (revised) for South Africa 2021-2024 . National Health Research Strategy. https://www.health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/National-Health-Research-Priorities-2021-2024.pdf

[18] Oosthuizen, H. (2013). Legal and Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research in South Africa. In: Beran, R. (eds) Legal and Forensic Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32338-6_80 , see also: Gaobotse G (2018) Stem Cell Research in Africa: Legislation and Challenges. J Regen Med 7:1. doi: 10.4172/2325-9620.1000142

[19] United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. (1998). Tunisia: Information on the status of Christian conversions in Tunisia . UNHCR Web Archive. https://webarchive.archive.unhcr.org/20230522142618/https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df0be9a2.html

[20] Gaobotse, G. (2018) Stem Cell Research in Africa: Legislation and Challenges. J Regen Med 7:1. doi: 10.4172/2325-9620.1000142

[21] Kooli, C. Review of assisted reproduction techniques, laws, and regulations in Muslim countries.  Middle East Fertil Soc J   24 , 8 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43043-019-0011-0 ; Gaobotse, G. (2018) Stem Cell Research in Africa: Legislation and Challenges. J Regen Med 7:1. doi: 10.4172/2325-9620.1000142

[22] Pang M. C. (1999). Protective truthfulness: the Chinese way of safeguarding patients in informed treatment decisions. Journal of medical ethics , 25(3), 247–253. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.25.3.247

[23] Wang, L., Wang, F., & Zhang, W. (2021). Bioethics in China’s biosecurity law: Forms, effects, and unsettled issues. Journal of law and the biosciences , 8(1).  https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsab019 https://academic.oup.com/jlb/article/8/1/lsab019/6299199

[24] Wang, Y., Xue, Y., & Guo, H. D. (2022). Intervention effects of traditional Chinese medicine on stem cell therapy of myocardial infarction.  Frontiers in pharmacology ,  13 , 1013740. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1013740

[25] Li, X.-T., & Zhao, J. (2012). Chapter 4: An Approach to the Nature of Qi in TCM- Qi and Bioenergy. In Recent Advances in Theories and Practice of Chinese Medicine (p. 79). InTech.

[26] Luo, D., Xu, Z., Wang, Z., & Ran, W. (2021). China's Stem Cell Research and Knowledge Levels of Medical Practitioners and Students.  Stem cells international ,  2021 , 6667743. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6667743

[27] Luo, D., Xu, Z., Wang, Z., & Ran, W. (2021). China's Stem Cell Research and Knowledge Levels of Medical Practitioners and Students.  Stem cells international ,  2021 , 6667743. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6667743

[28] Zhang, J. Y. (2017). Lost in translation? accountability and governance of Clinical Stem Cell Research in China. Regenerative Medicine , 12 (6), 647–656. https://doi.org/10.2217/rme-2017-0035

[29] Wang, L., Wang, F., & Zhang, W. (2021). Bioethics in China’s biosecurity law: Forms, effects, and unsettled issues. Journal of law and the biosciences , 8(1).  https://doi.org/10.1093/jlb/lsab019 https://academic.oup.com/jlb/article/8/1/lsab019/6299199

[30] Chen, H., Wei, T., Wang, H.  et al.  Association of China’s two-child policy with changes in number of births and birth defects rate, 2008–2017.  BMC Public Health   22 , 434 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12839-0

[31] Azuma, K. Regulatory Landscape of Regenerative Medicine in Japan.  Curr Stem Cell Rep   1 , 118–128 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40778-015-0012-6

[32] Harris, R. (2005, May 19). Researchers Report Advance in Stem Cell Production . NPR. https://www.npr.org/2005/05/19/4658967/researchers-report-advance-in-stem-cell-production

[33] Park, S. (2012). South Korea steps up stem-cell work.  Nature . https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2012.10565

[34] Resnik, D. B., Shamoo, A. E., & Krimsky, S. (2006). Fraudulent human embryonic stem cell research in South Korea: lessons learned.  Accountability in research ,  13 (1), 101–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989620600634193 .

[35] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics, 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6

[36] Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies.  https://www.aabb.org/regulatory-and-advocacy/regulatory-affairs/regulatory-for-cellular-therapies/international-competent-authorities/saudi-arabia

[37] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: Interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia.  BMC medical ethics ,  21 (1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6

[38] Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: Interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics , 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6

Culturally, autonomy practices follow a relational autonomy approach based on a paternalistic deontological health care model. The adherence to strict international research policies and religious pillars within the regulatory environment is a great foundation for research ethics. However, there is a need to develop locally targeted ethics approaches for research (as called for in Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics, 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6), this decision-making approach may help advise a research decision model. For more on the clinical cultural autonomy approaches, see: Alabdullah, Y. Y., Alzaid, E., Alsaad, S., Alamri, T., Alolayan, S. W., Bah, S., & Aljoudi, A. S. (2022). Autonomy and paternalism in Shared decision‐making in a Saudi Arabian tertiary hospital: A cross‐sectional study. Developing World Bioethics , 23 (3), 260–268. https://doi.org/10.1111/dewb.12355 ; Bukhari, A. A. (2017). Universal Principles of Bioethics and Patient Rights in Saudi Arabia (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/124; Ladha, S., Nakshawani, S. A., Alzaidy, A., & Tarab, B. (2023, October 26). Islam and Bioethics: What We All Need to Know . Columbia University School of Professional Studies. https://sps.columbia.edu/events/islam-and-bioethics-what-we-all-need-know

[39] Ababneh, M. A., Al-Azzam, S. I., Alzoubi, K., Rababa’h, A., & Al Demour, S. (2021). Understanding and attitudes of the Jordanian public about clinical research ethics.  Research Ethics ,  17 (2), 228-241.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016120966779

[40] Ababneh, M. A., Al-Azzam, S. I., Alzoubi, K., Rababa’h, A., & Al Demour, S. (2021). Understanding and attitudes of the Jordanian public about clinical research ethics.  Research Ethics ,  17 (2), 228-241.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016120966779

[41] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East.  Nature  510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a

[42] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East.  Nature  510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a

[43] The EU’s definition of autonomy relates to the capacity for creating ideas, moral insight, decisions, and actions without constraint, personal responsibility, and informed consent. However, the EU views autonomy as not completely able to protect individuals and depends on other principles, such as dignity, which “expresses the intrinsic worth and fundamental equality of all human beings.” Rendtorff, J.D., Kemp, P. (2019). Four Ethical Principles in European Bioethics and Biolaw: Autonomy, Dignity, Integrity and Vulnerability. In: Valdés, E., Lecaros, J. (eds) Biolaw and Policy in the Twenty-First Century. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 78. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05903-3_3

[44] Council of Europe. Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (ETS No. 164) https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=164 (forbidding the creation of embryos for research purposes only, and suggests embryos in vitro have protections.); Also see Drabiak-Syed B. K. (2013). New President, New Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Policy: Comparative International Perspectives and Embryonic Stem Cell Research Laws in France.  Biotechnology Law Report ,  32 (6), 349–356. https://doi.org/10.1089/blr.2013.9865

[45] Rendtorff, J.D., Kemp, P. (2019). Four Ethical Principles in European Bioethics and Biolaw: Autonomy, Dignity, Integrity and Vulnerability. In: Valdés, E., Lecaros, J. (eds) Biolaw and Policy in the Twenty-First Century. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 78. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05903-3_3

[46] Tomuschat, C., Currie, D. P., Kommers, D. P., & Kerr, R. (Trans.). (1949, May 23). Basic law for the Federal Republic of Germany. https://www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80201000.pdf

[47] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Germany . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-germany

[48] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Finland . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-finland

[49] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Spain . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-spain

[50] Some sources to consider regarding ethics models or regulatory oversights of other cultures not covered:

Kara MA. Applicability of the principle of respect for autonomy: the perspective of Turkey. J Med Ethics. 2007 Nov;33(11):627-30. doi: 10.1136/jme.2006.017400. PMID: 17971462; PMCID: PMC2598110.

Ugarte, O. N., & Acioly, M. A. (2014). The principle of autonomy in Brazil: one needs to discuss it ...  Revista do Colegio Brasileiro de Cirurgioes ,  41 (5), 374–377. https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-69912014005013

Bharadwaj, A., & Glasner, P. E. (2012). Local cells, global science: The rise of embryonic stem cell research in India . Routledge.

For further research on specific European countries regarding ethical and regulatory framework, we recommend this database: Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Europe . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-europe   

[51] Klitzman, R. (2006). Complications of culture in obtaining informed consent. The American Journal of Bioethics, 6(1), 20–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265160500394671 see also: Ekmekci, P. E., & Arda, B. (2017). Interculturalism and Informed Consent: Respecting Cultural Differences without Breaching Human Rights.  Cultura (Iasi, Romania) ,  14 (2), 159–172.; For why trust is important in research, see also: Gray, B., Hilder, J., Macdonald, L., Tester, R., Dowell, A., & Stubbe, M. (2017). Are research ethics guidelines culturally competent?  Research Ethics ,  13 (1), 23-41.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016116650235

[52] The Qur'an  (M. Khattab, Trans.). (1965). Al-Mu’minun, 23: 12-14. https://quran.com/23

[53] Lenfest, Y. (2017, December 8). Islam and the beginning of human life . Bill of Health. https://blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2017/12/08/islam-and-the-beginning-of-human-life/

[54] Aksoy, S. (2005). Making regulations and drawing up legislation in Islamic countries under conditions of uncertainty, with special reference to embryonic stem cell research. Journal of Medical Ethics , 31: 399-403.; see also: Mahmoud, Azza. "Islamic Bioethics: National Regulations and Guidelines of Human Stem Cell Research in the Muslim World." Master's thesis, Chapman University, 2022. https://doi.org/10.36837/ chapman.000386

[55] Rashid, R. (2022). When does Ensoulment occur in the Human Foetus. Journal of the British Islamic Medical Association , 12 (4). ISSN 2634 8071. https://www.jbima.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2-Ethics-3_-Ensoulment_Rafaqat.pdf.

[56] Sivaraman, M. & Noor, S. (2017). Ethics of embryonic stem cell research according to Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, and Islamic religions: perspective from Malaysia. Asian Biomedicine,8(1) 43-52.  https://doi.org/10.5372/1905-7415.0801.260

[57] Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.),  Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues  (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press.  https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[58] Lecso, P. A. (1991). The Bodhisattva Ideal and Organ Transplantation.  Journal of Religion and Health ,  30 (1), 35–41. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27510629 ; Bodhisattva, S. (n.d.). The Key of Becoming a Bodhisattva . A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life. http://www.buddhism.org/Sutras/2/BodhisattvaWay.htm

[59] There is no explicit religious reference to when life begins or how to conduct research that interacts with the concept of life. However, these are relevant verses pertaining to how the fetus is viewed. (( King James Bible . (1999). Oxford University Press. (original work published 1769))

Jerimiah 1: 5 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…”

In prophet Jerimiah’s insight, God set him apart as a person known before childbirth, a theme carried within the Psalm of David.

Psalm 139: 13-14 “…Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”

These verses demonstrate David’s respect for God as an entity that would know of all man’s thoughts and doings even before birth.

[60] It should be noted that abortion is not supported as well.

[61] The Vatican. (1987, February 22). Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation Replies to Certain Questions of the Day . Congregation For the Doctrine of the Faith. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19870222_respect-for-human-life_en.html

[62] The Vatican. (2000, August 25). Declaration On the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells . Pontifical Academy for Life. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/documents/rc_pa_acdlife_doc_20000824_cellule-staminali_en.html ; Ohara, N. (2003). Ethical Consideration of Experimentation Using Living Human Embryos: The Catholic Church’s Position on Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology . Retrieved from https://article.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/30/2-3/pii/2003018/77-81.pdf.

[63] Smith, G. A. (2022, May 23). Like Americans overall, Catholics vary in their abortion views, with regular mass attenders most opposed . Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/05/23/like-americans-overall-catholics-vary-in-their-abortion-views-with-regular-mass-attenders-most-opposed/

[64] Rosner, F., & Reichman, E. (2002). Embryonic stem cell research in Jewish law. Journal of halacha and contemporary society , (43), 49–68.; Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.),  Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues  (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press.  https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[65] Schenker J. G. (2008). The beginning of human life: status of embryo. Perspectives in Halakha (Jewish Religious Law).  Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics ,  25 (6), 271–276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-008-9221-6

[66] Ruttenberg, D. (2020, May 5). The Torah of Abortion Justice (annotated source sheet) . Sefaria. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/234926.7?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

[67] Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.),  Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues  (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press.  https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[68] Gert, B. (2007). Common morality: Deciding what to do . Oxford Univ. Press.

[69] World Medical Association (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA , 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053 Declaration of Helsinki – WMA – The World Medical Association .; see also: National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979).  The Belmont report: Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/read-the-belmont-report/index.html

[70] Zakarin Safier, L., Gumer, A., Kline, M., Egli, D., & Sauer, M. V. (2018). Compensating human subjects providing oocytes for stem cell research: 9-year experience and outcomes.  Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics ,  35 (7), 1219–1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1171-z https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6063839/ see also: Riordan, N. H., & Paz Rodríguez, J. (2021). Addressing concerns regarding associated costs, transparency, and integrity of research in recent stem cell trial. Stem Cells Translational Medicine , 10 (12), 1715–1716. https://doi.org/10.1002/sctm.21-0234

[71] Klitzman, R., & Sauer, M. V. (2009). Payment of egg donors in stem cell research in the USA.  Reproductive biomedicine online ,  18 (5), 603–608. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1472-6483(10)60002-8

[72] Krosin, M. T., Klitzman, R., Levin, B., Cheng, J., & Ranney, M. L. (2006). Problems in comprehension of informed consent in rural and peri-urban Mali, West Africa.  Clinical trials (London, England) ,  3 (3), 306–313. https://doi.org/10.1191/1740774506cn150oa

[73] Veatch, Robert M.  Hippocratic, Religious, and Secular Medical Ethics: The Points of Conflict . Georgetown University Press, 2012.

[74] Msoroka, M. S., & Amundsen, D. (2018). One size fits not quite all: Universal research ethics with diversity.  Research Ethics ,  14 (3), 1-17.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016117739939

[75] Pirzada, N. (2022). The Expansion of Turkey’s Medical Tourism Industry.  Voices in Bioethics ,  8 . https://doi.org/10.52214/vib.v8i.9894

[76] Stem Cell Tourism: False Hope for Real Money . Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI). (2023). https://hsci.harvard.edu/stem-cell-tourism , See also: Bissassar, M. (2017). Transnational Stem Cell Tourism: An ethical analysis.  Voices in Bioethics ,  3 . https://doi.org/10.7916/vib.v3i.6027

[77] Song, P. (2011) The proliferation of stem cell therapies in post-Mao China: problematizing ethical regulation,  New Genetics and Society , 30:2, 141-153, DOI:  10.1080/14636778.2011.574375

[78] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East.  Nature  510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a

[79] International Society for Stem Cell Research. (2024). Standards in stem cell research . International Society for Stem Cell Research. https://www.isscr.org/guidelines/5-standards-in-stem-cell-research

[80] Benjamin, R. (2013). People’s science bodies and rights on the Stem Cell Frontier . Stanford University Press.

Mifrah Hayath

SM Candidate Harvard Medical School, MS Biotechnology Johns Hopkins University

Olivia Bowers

MS Bioethics Columbia University (Disclosure: affiliated with Voices in Bioethics)

Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License .

Fortnite Wiki

• View history

Research is a time-based progression mechanism where Research Points are generated at a specific rate and stored in an amount determined by abilities unlocked in the Skill Tree . There are two pools of Research Points: stored and collected. Research Points are generated automatically, whether the player is logged in or not, in the stored pool. From there, the player can manually transfer them from the stored pool into the collected pool. Only collected research points can be spent in the Research Trees.

• 1.1 Skill Tree
• 1.2 Research
• 1.3 Max statistics

Unlock and Bonuses [ ]

Skill tree [ ], research [ ], max statistics [ ].

• 1 Characters
• 2 Battle Royale Map/History
• 3 Battle Pass Season 3

Help us improve this section of the site. Can we get your feedback? Click here

• WB Staff Login
• Public Login

World Development Indicators

• Data on this page only - formatted

Advanced options

No variables selected

Custom Country

• Add Country 0

Aggregation Rule

Defines the methodologies to be used when deriving custom aggregates. These rules apply only to custom country groups you have created! Learn More »

Custom Indicator

• Add Series 0

Availability Range: Year [ ]

• VIEW RECENT YEARS
• Exponential growth rate: the growth rate, r, between two points in time calculated from the equation r = ln(pn/p0)/n, where pn and p0 are the last and first observations in the period, n is the number of years in the period range, and ln is the natural logarithm operator. This growth rate is based on a model of continuous, exponential growth between two points in time. It does not take into account the intermediate values of the series.
• Least-squares growth rate: the growth rate estimated by fitting a linear regression trend line to the logarithmic annual values of the variable in the relevant period. No growth rate is calculated if more than half the observations in a period are missing. The calculated growth rate is an average rate that is representative of the available observations over the entire period. It does not necessarily match the actual growth rate between any two periods.
• Geometric growth rate: the growth rate over n periods calculated as r = exp[ln(pn/p0)/n] - 1. It is applicable to compound growth over discrete periods. Like the exponential growth rate, it does not take into account intermediate values of the series.
• Average (or mean): the sum of values in the period divided by the number of values. Observations that are not available are ignored, however zero values are included.
• Median: the middle value in the period.
• Maximum: the highest value in the period.
• Minimum: the lowest value in the period.
• Standard deviation: the square root of the variance. Standard deviation is a measure of how widely values are dispersed from the average value (the mean).
• Sum: the sum of the values in the period.
• Variance: the mean of all squared deviations from the mean.
• Most recent value: The most recent value (MRV) function will display a value in the specified year range according to the selected order (observation sequence). The default order is "First" which will display the most recent value available in the period. Selecting a different order, such as "Second" for example, will display the second-most recent value in the period, etc. MRV options are also available to display the year of the data, either to the left or right of the data value.

Metadata Attributes

Orientation.

Drag to rearrange the order

• Time Column Row Page
• Series Column Row Page
• Country Column Row Page

Format Numbers

Format series, table header & footer, comparator report, hide columns, customize report, embed dimensions, choose elements to display, toolbar themes, canvas options, title & description.

Copy and paste this code to your website

Permanent link for this report

Review link for this report, share with your friends.

Facebook')" class="btn btn-sm btn-default">Facebook Twitter')" class="btn btn-sm btn-default">Twitter Google')" class="btn btn-sm btn-default">Google +

Please log in to save your report

• Clear Selection
• Insert Row Before
• Insert Row After
• Change Style
• Reset Style
• Remove Sort
• IBRD    IDA    IFC    MIGA    ICSID

The Custom Country option allows you to create your own customized country groups from country selection panel.

Click on Custom Country. A new box will open. Click on the desired countries listed in the country selection panel. Enter the group name in the Enter Group Title box and click on Add. The new country group will be added to the right panel.

To edit an existing country group, click on the Edit link in the current selection panel in right side.

Now you can add new countries or remove the countries to an existing customized group. 1. Click on the additional countries listed in the country selection panel. 2. To remove the country from the group double click on the country or select the country and click Remove button. 3. Click on Add to save changes to your customized group. Note: Editing the group name will create a new custom group. You can remove the customized group by clicking on the Delete button in the current selection panel in right side

Help/Feedback

Modal title.

The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

Frequent flyers of vistara to get better airport lounge access, increased rewards and more after merger with air india's programme.

Better airport lounge access: All Vistara travellers who have atleast gold tier in Club Vistara program stands to gain due to the merger between Vistara and Air India's Flying Return program. Some of the benefits include better airport lounge access, more routes to redeem rewards and others. However there is also a con in regard to burning of reward points.

What the merger means for existing Vistara travellers

Club Vistara points to merge with Air India Flying Returns: What frequent fliers should know about migration; last date to opt out

• Tier status: As per Vistara 's email, you can maintain at least your current Club Vistara tier status or get upgraded if you qualify based on cumulative points.
• CV points and tier points balance: The CV (Club Vistara) points and tier points available in your Club Vistara account will be transferred to the Air India Flying Returns program at a 1:1 ratio. These points will remain valid for at least one year from the date of migration, even if they are due to expire sooner.
• Future bookings: All future bookings will be transferred, and you and your nominees will receive the revised flight details post migration.
• Vouchers: All valid unused one-class upgrade vouchers and complimentary flight ticket vouchers will be transferred to Flying Returns with the existing validity.
• Co-branded credit cards: Updates will be shared in the upcoming weeks. Experts say the cards will most probably be cancelled, and banks with whom Air India decides to partner will issue new credit cards.

How will the merger impact you?

Better benefits in terms of priority check in and international airport lounge access, cons of the merger of club vistara with air india flying returns.

Read More News on

(Your legal guide on estate planning, inheritance, will and more.)

Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.

Hang Seng soars 30% in 2024: Are battered Chinese stocks back in favour?

The curious case of disappearing craft beers

The 96% of Indians that need an economic push

Weapon systems that can arm India: Lessons from Russia-Ukraine, Gaza

Warren Buffett is selling Apple shares to hold on to cash. What does he see that others don’t?

Railways stocks: Stay bullish, just hedge a bit to avoid mistake of selling in haste: 7 outperforming railways stocks across different segments

Find this comment offensive?

Choose your reason below and click on the Report button. This will alert our moderators to take action

Reason for reporting:

Your Reason has been Reported to the admin.

To post this comment you must

Log In/Connect with:

Fill in your details:

Will be displayed

Will not be displayed

Share this Comment:

Uh-oh this is an exclusive story available for selected readers only..

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Login using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

To read full story, subscribe to ET Prime

₹34 per week

Billed annually at ₹2499 ₹1749

Super Saver Sale - Flat 30% Off

On ET Prime Membership

Unlock this story and enjoy all members-only benefits.

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

6th Anniversary Offer

Get flat 20% off on ETPrime

90 Days Prime access worth Rs999 unlocked for you

Exclusive Economic Times Stories, Editorials & Expert opinion across 20+ sectors

Stock analysis. Market Research. Industry Trends on 4000+ Stocks

​Get 1 Year Complimentary Subscription of TOI+ worth Rs.799/-​

Stories you might be interested in