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- Issue #414: Mote Aquarium’s Next Chapter Starts | Easier Airport Travel in FL? | AI Unlocks New Magnet | Parkinson’s & a Common Virus?
Issue #414: Mote Aquarium’s Next Chapter Starts | Easier Airport Travel in FL? | AI Unlocks New Magnet | Parkinson’s & a Common Virus?
7/9/2025
Ted Grellner
09 Jul
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse
Our Event Calendar — taking submissions w/o phone confirm required
Local News
— Mote Marine Aquarium Closes After 25 Years to Make Way for Mote SEA
Of Interest
— AI-Discovered Magnet Could Break Rare-Earth Dependence
— No More Shoe Removal? TSA May Be Easing Security Rules in FL Airports
Medical News
— Could a Common Virus Be a Hidden Trigger for Parkinson’s?
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Mote Marine Aquarium Closes After 25 Years to Make Way for Mote SEA
After 25 years on City Island, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium has officially closed its doors to the public, redirecting its energy toward the much-anticipated Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) at Nathan Benderson Park.
Sunday marked the final day for general admission tickets at the Sarasota location. While research and education will continue at City Island, public outreach is now shifting to Mote SEA—a $132 million project begun in 2023.
According to Mote, the move will help “share science education with far more people of all ages.”
Mote SEA's opening date is still pending. Water chemistry and microbial systems must stabilize before animals undergo quarantine and transfer.
Vice President Kevin Cooper emphasized the community’s deep bond with Mote, saying the facility belongs to the people and the planet, helping drive awareness for conservation and sustainable waterways.
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AI-Discovered Magnet Could Break Rare-Earth Dependence
A new AI-developed magnet alloy called MagNex could revolutionize industries reliant on rare-earth minerals, particularly EV manufacturing. Created by UK-based Materials Nexus, MagNex was discovered 200 times faster than traditional methods and is 70% cleaner to produce, with costs 80% lower than standard rare-earth magnets.
AI analyzed over 100 million material combinations, weighing cost, performance, and environmental impact. In just three months, researchers—partnering with the Henry Royce Institute—successfully synthesized and tested the alloy.
MagNex eliminates reliance on rare-earths like neodymium, which are expensive, environmentally damaging, and largely controlled by China.
Although the exact composition remains proprietary, the breakthrough underscores how AI-driven materials design is reshaping science and supply chains. Materials Nexus plans to apply this platform across industries, from semiconductors to catalysts.
This could mark a turning point in how industrial materials are discovered—faster, cheaper, and greener.
No More Shoe Removal? TSA May Be Easing Security Rules in FL Airports
Airports across Florida—including Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and St. Pete—may soon drop the long-standing rule requiring travelers to remove their shoes during TSA screening.
According to internal communications, the TSA is piloting a phased rollout of this policy nationwide. It’s already started at several airports, including Baltimore, Portland, and Philadelphia, and may reach Florida airports in the coming weeks.
The rule was first implemented in 2006 following the attempted shoe bombing by Richard Reid. The new approach is part of a modernization push to improve traveler experience without compromising safety.
Footwear may still be removed if agents deem it necessary, but it will no longer be automatic for all.
While TSA PreCheck passengers already skip this step, the expanded change could soon apply to everyone. Officials say updates will be confirmed through official DHS and TSA channels.
Could a Common Virus Be a Hidden Trigger
for Parkinson’s?
Researchers at Northwestern Medicine have identified Human Pegivirus (HPgV) in the brains and spinal fluid of Parkinson’s patients, raising the possibility it may play a role in triggering the disease.
Using a tool called ViroFind, scientists found HPgV in 5 of 10 brains from deceased Parkinson’s patients, while none of 14 control brains showed the virus. Though previously considered harmless, HPgV belongs to the same virus family as hepatitis C and is not typically found in brain tissue.
Lead researcher Dr. Igor Koralnik noted that immune responses differed in infected individuals, especially among those with certain genetic mutations like LRRK2.
Parkinson’s affects millions, yet most cases are not genetically inherited—making environmental triggers like viruses a key area of study.
Researchers plan to further explore HPgV’s role in neurodegeneration and its interaction with genes like LRRK2 to determine whether this is a broader viral response or a unique pathogenic pathway.
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