Exam Standards Committee Annual Report

The RSGB Examinations Standards Committee (ESC) has published its annual report, relating to activities in 2024.

The report shows that overall candidate numbers have increased to above pre-pandemic levels and are well above the extrapolation of the declining trend over the decade before the pandemic.

The ESC believes that this is probably due to the availability of remote invigilation online examinations taken at home and the increase in provision of distance learning courses, making the hobby much more accessible than in the past.

More information - https://rsgb.services/public/publications/esc/reports/2025/examinations_standards_committee_report_2025.pdf

Radio Signals Have 'Upward Propagation' Through Ice, Stone

Radio signals picked up by a NASA high-altitude balloon have been leaving scientists baffled. The balloon, part of NASA's experiment known as Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna, or ANITA, was floating 40 kilometres above the continent, in search of neutrinos and other particles when its sensitive radio antennas unexpectedly picked up signals that were coming from someplace below - way below - the Antarctic's frozen surface. Physicists say that for that kind of reception to occur the radio waves would have had to have penetrated 6,000 to 7,000 kilometres, or 3,700 to 4,300 miles, of solid ice and stone. 

Although the balloon project has since been retired, researchers continue to study these unexplained transmissions and recently published their findings in the journal, Physical Review Letters. The researchers say that by all models of physics, the signals should have been absorbed by the rock and gone undetected. 

Scientists know that these are not neutrinos - the particles that they had expected - but are still trying to narrow down what kind of radio signals they're dealing with. Meanwhile, with the ANITA project retired, the next instruments to have a go at the mystery will be on board a work in progress:  A Pennsylvania State University team is building something bigger and, they hope, better: The Payload for Ultrahigh Energy Observation mission.

Source - ARNewsline

Wireless Institute of Australia Highlights Concerns Regarding IARU Restructuring Plan

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) released a statement earlier this week highlighting concerns regarding the proposal to restructure the IARU into a single entity. While WIA acknowledged many benefits to the proposed changes, there were several areas WIA considered drawbacks. Concerns included potential risk of regional underrepresentation, financial implications, and increased administration requirements.

WIA also voiced proposed remedies to their concerns including regional specific advisory groups, flexible fee structures, and safeguards around virtual participation, among others.

The WIA remains committed to the mission and success of the IARU. However, unless and until our concerns are addresses in detail we are not in favour of the proposal as it is currently presented.

A copy of the full WIA response is available for download (PDF).