Technology

HOME AFFORDABILITY GETS TOUGHER DURING SECOND QUARTER ACROSS U.S. AS PRICES SHOOT BACK UP

Published

2 years ago

July 3, 2024

Major Home-Ownership Expenses Now Consume 35 Percent of Average Wage Nationwide; Portion Hits High Point in Over a Decade as Median Home Price Soars to Another Record

IRVINE, Calif., July 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property and real estate data, today released its second-quarter 2024 U.S. Home Affordability Report showing that median-priced single-family homes and condos remained less affordable in the second quarter of 2024 compared to historical averages in 99 percent of counties around the nation with enough data to analyze. The latest trend continued a pattern, dating back to early 2022, of home ownership requiring historically large portions of wages around the country amid ongoing high residential mortgage rates and elevated home prices.

The report also shows that major expenses on median-priced homes consumed 35.1 percent of the average national wage in the second quarter – marking the high point since 2007 and standing well above the common 28 percent lending guideline.

Both the historic and current measures represented quarterly and annual setbacks following a brief period of improvement from late 2023 into early 2024. The shifts came as the national median home price spiked to a new high of $360,000 during the Spring buying season and mortgage rates remained around 7 percent, leading to increases in the cost of owning a home that outpaced recent increases in wages.

As a result, the portion of average wages nationwide required for typical mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance grew about three percentage points from both the first quarter of this year and the second quarter of last year.

“The latest affordability data presents a clear challenge for home buyers. While home prices are increasing and mortgage rates remain relatively high, these factors are making homes less affordable,” said Rob Barber, CEO for ATTOM. “It’s common for these trends to intensify during the Spring buying season when buyer demand increases. However, the trends this year are particularly challenging for house hunters, more so than at any point since the housing market boom began in 2012. As the 2024 buying season progresses into the Summer, we will continue to monitor the data closely.”

The patterns during the months running from April through June came as the national median home price rose 7.3 percent quarterly and 4.7 percent annually. Further hampering buyers during the second quarter were average 30-year home-mortgage rates that ended the quarter at about 6.9 percent, or more than double where they stood in 2021.

Those factors helped boost home ownership expenses by about 10 percent in the second quarter of 2024 after declining slightly in the prior two quarters.

The report determined affordability for average wage earners by calculating the amount of income needed to meet major monthly home ownership expenses — including mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance — on a median-priced single-family home, assuming a 20 percent down payment and a 28 percent maximum “front-end” debt-to-income ratio. That required income was then compared to annualized average weekly wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (see full methodology below).

Compared to historical levels, median home ownership costs in 582 of the 589 counties analyzed in the second quarter of 2024 were less affordable than in the past. That number was up just slightly from 579 of the same counties in the first quarter of this year and from 577 in the second quarter of last year. But it was more than 15 times the figure from early 2021.

Meanwhile, the portion of average local wages consumed by major home-ownership expenses on typical homes was considered unaffordable during the second quarter of 2024 in about 80 percent of the 589 counties in the report, based on the 28 percent guideline. Counties with the largest populations that were unaffordable in the second quarter were Los Angeles County, CA; Cook County (Chicago), IL; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA, and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles).

The most populous of the 115 counties with affordable levels of major expenses on median-priced homes during the second quarter of 2024 were Harris County (Houston), TX; Wayne County (Detroit), MI; Philadelphia County, PA; Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH, and Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), PA.

View Q2 2024 U.S. Home Affordability Heat Map

National median home price jumps quarterly and annually in most markets
The national median price for single-family homes and condos shot up to $360,000 in the second quarter of 2024 – $15,000 more than the previous high of $345,000 hit in the Spring of 2022. The latest figure was up from $335,500 in the first quarter of 2024 and from $344,000 in the second quarter of last year.

At the county level, median home prices rose from the first quarter to the second quarter of this year in 514, or 87.3 percent, of the 589 counties included in the report. Annually, they followed a similar pattern, up in 441, or 74.9 percent of those markets.

Data was analyzed for counties with a population of at least 100,000 and at least 50 single-family home and condo sales in the second quarter of 2024.

Among the 47 counties in the report with a population of at least 1 million, the biggest year-over-year increases in median prices during the second quarter of 2024 were in Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (up 16.2 percent); Alameda County (Oakland), CA (up 12 percent); King County (Seattle), WA (up 11.3 percent); Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA (up 9.8 percent) and Nassau County, NY (outside New York City) (up 8.9 percent).

Counties with a population of at least 1 million where median prices remained down the most from the second quarter of 2023 to the same period this year were Honolulu County, HI (down 3.8 percent); Tarrant County (Forth Worth), TX (down 1.5 percent); Oakland County, MI (outside Detroit) (down 1.4 percent); Hennepin County (Minneapolis), MN (down 1.1 percent) and Fulton County (Atlanta), GA (down 1 percent).

Prices growing faster than wages in half the U.S.
With home values mostly up annually throughout the U.S., year-over-year price changes outpaced changes in weekly annualized wages during the second quarter of 2024 in 293, or 49.7 percent, of the 589 counties analyzed in the report. (Affordability worsened because of that pattern as well as high interest rates and rising property taxes).

The latest group of counties where prices increased more than wages annually included Los Angeles County, CA; Cook County, (Chicago), IL; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA, and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles).

On the flip side, year-over-year changes in average annualized wages bested price movements during the second quarter of 2024 in 296 of the counties analyzed (50.3 percent). The latest group where wages increased more than prices included Harris County (Houston), TX; Dallas County, TX; Queens County, NY; Tarrant County (Fort Worth), TX, and Bexar County (San Antonio), TX.

Portion of wages needed for home ownership jumps quarterly and annually in most of nation
As home prices soared and interest rates stayed relatively high, the portion of average local wages consumed by major expenses on median-priced, single-family homes and condos went up from the first quarter of 2024 to the second quarter of 2024 in 547, or 92.9 percent, of the 589 counties analyzed. It topped the level from a year earlier in 92.4 percent of those markets.

The typical $2,114 cost of mortgage payments, homeowner insurance, mortgage insurance and property taxes nationwide marked a new high, consuming 35.1 percent of the average annual national wage of $72,358 last quarter. That was up from 31.9 percent in the first quarter of 2024 and from 32.1 percent in the second quarter of last year – far above the recent low point of 21.3 percent hit in the first quarter of 2021.

The latest figure exceeded the 28 percent lending guideline in 474, or 80.5 percent, of the counties analyzed, assuming a 20 percent down payment. That was up from 73.2 percent of the same group of counties in the first quarter of 2024 and 73.5 percent a year ago. It was roughly twice the level recorded in early 2021.

In more than a third of the markets analyzed, major expenses consumed at least 43 percent of average local wages, a benchmark considered seriously unaffordable.

The worst affordability declines generally hit upscale markets concentrated in the West and Northeast with second-quarter median prices of at least $450,000. Those counties already were among the most unaffordable in the U.S.

Among counties with a population of at least 1 million, the largest annual increases in the typical portion of average local wages needed for major ownership expenses were in Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (up from 85.3 percent in the second quarter of 2023 to 103.4 percent in the second quarter of 2024); Alameda County (Oakland), CA (up from 73.3 percent to 86.7 percent); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (up from 101.3 percent to 111.8 percent); Nassau County, NY (outside New York City) (up from 66.6 percent to 75.7 percent) and Los Angeles County, CA (up from 67.4 percent to 76 percent).

Affordability still toughest along northeast and west coasts
All but one of the top 20 counties where major ownership costs required the largest percentage of average local wages during the second quarter of 2024 were on the northeast or west coasts. The leaders were Santa Cruz County, CA (113.8 percent of annualized local wages needed to buy); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (111.8 percent); Marin County, CA (outside San Francisco) (109.2 percent); Maui County, HI (105.9 percent) and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (103.4 percent).

Aside from Kings and Orange counties, those with a population of at least 1 million where major ownership expenses typically consumed more than 28 percent of average local wages in the second quarter of 2024 included Alameda County (Oakland), CA (86.7 percent required); Queens County, NY (78.5 percent) and San Diego County, CA (77.2 percent).

Counties where the smallest portion of average local wages were required to afford the median-priced home during the second quarter of this year were Cambria County, PA (east of Pittsburgh) (12 percent of annualized weekly wages needed to buy a home); Macon County (Decatur), IL (13.3 percent); Peoria County, IL (14.6 percent); Schuylkill County, PA (outside Allentown) (14.6 percent) and Mercer County, PA (north of Pittsburgh) (15.2 percent).

Wage needed to afford typical home 25 percent more than U.S. average
Major home ownership expenses on typical homes sold in the second quarter of 2024 required an annual income of $90,598 to be affordable, which was 25.2 percent more than the latest average national wage of $72,358.

Annual wages of more than $75,000 were needed to pay for major costs on median-priced homes purchased during the second quarter of 2024 in 343, or 58.2 percent, of the 589 markets in the report. That posed major obstacles as average wages exceed that amount in just 11.9 percent of the counties reviewed.

The 20 largest annual wages required to afford typical homes remained on the east or west coasts, led by San Mateo County, CA ($418,928); New York County (Manhattan), NY ($407,393); Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA ($394,999); Marin County, CA (outside San Francisco) ($354,264) and San Francisco County, CA ($339,981).

The lowest annual wages required to afford a median-priced home in the second quarter of 2024 were in Cambria County, PA (east of Pittsburgh) ($20,668); Schuylkill County, PA (outside Allentown) ($27,277); Mercer Count, PA (north of Pittsburgh) ($28,130); Bibb County (Macon), GA ($31,681) and Macon County (Decatur), IL ($31,826).

Virtually every local market around U.S. remains historically less affordable
Among the 589 counties analyzed, 582, or 98.8 percent, were less affordable in the second quarter of 2024 than their historic affordability averages. That was only slightly worse than the 98.3 percent level in the first quarter of 2024 and the 98 percent portion in the second quarter of last year, but 17 times the 5.8 percent figure from the first quarter of 2021. Historical indexes worsened compared to the second quarter of last year in 92.9 percent of those counties, leaving the nationwide index at its lowest point in 17 years.

Counties with a population of at least 1 million that were less affordable than their historic averages (indexes of less than 100 are considered historically less affordable) included Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), NC (index of 59); Fulton County (Atlanta), GA (60); Wake County (Raleigh), NC (62); Franklin County (Columbus), OH (62) and Wayne County (Detroit), MI (63).

Among counties with a population of at least 1 million, those where the affordability indexes worsened most from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024 were Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (index down 17.5 percent); Alameda County (Oakland), CA (15.5 percent); Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), FL (down 12.5 percent); King County (Seattle), WA (down 12.4 percent) and Nassau County, NY (outside New York City) (down 12.1 percent).

Just 1 percent of counties are more affordable than historic averages
Only seven of the 589 counties in the report (1.2 percent) were more affordable than their historic averages in the second quarter of 2024. That was slightly less than the 2 percent level from a year earlier and far worse than the 94.2 percent portion that were historically more affordable in the first quarter of 2021.

Counties that were more affordable in the second quarter of this year compared to historical averages included Macon County (Decatur), IL (index of 117); San Francisco County, CA (105); Ontario County, NY (outside Rochester) (104); Mercer County, PA (north of Pittsburgh) (102) and New York County (Manhattan), NY (102).

Report Methodology
The ATTOM U.S. Home Affordability Index analyzed median home prices derived from publicly recorded sales deed data collected by ATTOM and average wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 589 U.S. counties with a combined population of 260.7 million during the second quarter of 2024. The affordability index is based on the percentage of average wages needed to pay for major expenses on a median-priced home with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and a 20 percent down payment. Those expenses include property taxes, home insurance, mortgage payments and mortgage insurance. Average 30-year fixed interest rates from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey were used to calculate monthly house payments.

The report determined affordability for average wage earners by calculating the amount of income needed for major home-ownership expenses on median-priced homes, assuming a loan of 80 percent of the purchase price and a 28 percent maximum “front-end” debt-to-income ratio. For example, affording the nationwide median home price of $360,000 in the second quarter of 2024 required an annual wage of $90,598. That was based on a $72,000 down payment, a $288,000 loan and monthly expenses not exceeding the 28 percent barrier — meaning wage earners would not be spending more than 28 percent of their pay on mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance. That required income was more than the $72,358 average wage nationwide, based on the most recent average weekly wage data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, making a median-priced home nationwide unaffordable for average workers.

About ATTOM
ATTOM provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency, and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation’s population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 30TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include ATTOM Cloud, bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, property navigator and more. Also, introducing our newest innovative solution, making property data more readily accessible and optimized for AI applications– AI-Ready Solutions.

Media Contact:
Megan Hunt
megan.hunt@attomdata.com

Data and Report Licensing:
datareports@attomdata.com

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SOURCE ATTOM

Technology

Las Vegas Review-Journal Unveils “Top 100 Restaurants” 2026

Published

4 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Annual dining guide curated by food and beverage writer Johnathan L. Wright celebrates Southern Nevada’s most exceptional culinary destinations

LAS VEGAS, June 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Las Vegas Review-Journal has released its highly anticipated Top 100 Restaurants 2026, a guide to standout dining experiences across Southern Nevada. The special edition of the quarterly rjmagazine appears in today’s print edition of the Review-Journal for subscribers and at LVRJ.com.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal has released its highly anticipated Top 100 Restaurants 2026.

In the two years since the inaugural Top 100 issue, Las Vegas — already a world-class food and drink destination — has seen its culinary stature soar. The city has hosted globally significant events including the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and North America’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremonies, welcomed the return of the Michelin Guide, and celebrated a record-breaking 14 James Beard Award semifinalists this year. National media attention continues to spotlight everything from new fusion concepts to traditional steakhouses, while acclaimed chefs are bringing ambitious new concepts to the Strip.

Led by Review-Journal food and beverage writer Johnathan L. Wright, the Top 100 is grounded in rigorous editorial evaluation. Every restaurant on the list has been visited in person — often more than once. Visits are conducted unannounced to avoid any special attention or service that might not be extended to other diners, ensuring an authentic and unbiased experience. The Review-Journal pays for meals.

“Las Vegas continues to evolve as a global dining capital, with remarkable talent, creativity and diversity across our restaurant community,” Wright said. “The Top 100 Restaurants is designed as a guide you can return to again and again — bringing together discoveries and familiar favorites that showcase just how vibrant and flavorful dining in Southern Nevada has become.”

Offering perspective on the project’s broader impact, Anastasia Hendrix, Vice President of New Initiatives and rjmagazine’s editor-in-chief for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, emphasized both the recognition and the storytelling behind it.

“Las Vegas’ culinary stature has never been higher — Michelin is back, a local chef just won a James Beard top award, and the world is paying attention,” Hendrix said. “Johnathan captures that momentum perfectly with his deep knowledge and relentless legwork.”

In addition to the print magazine, the Top 100 is available as a searchable online resource at neon.reviewjournal.com, where readers can explore restaurants by name, cuisine or location — and access the first two editions of the guide.

About the Las Vegas Review-Journal
Since 1909, the Las Vegas Review-Journal has been Nevada’s comprehensive media leader. What began as a local newspaper has evolved into a multimedia organization with global reach, delivering news and information through ReviewJournal.com, niche publications, e-newsletters, digital platforms, custom content, production services, innovative advertising solutions and commercial printing.

Media Contact
Wanda English Blair
WBlair@reviewjournal.com
(702) 383-0223

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SOURCE Las Vegas Review-Journal

Technology

HandleVisa Addresses the ‘Administrative Friction’ of Modern Travel with Enhanced Support Protocols

Published

5 hours ago

June 21, 2026

As digital borders introduce unprecedented administrative friction for global travelers, HandleVisa updates its platform with a hybrid verification model. By combining manual pre-submission reviews with total pricing transparency, the service protects applicants from costly automated rejections while setting a new standard for legitimacy in third-party travel assistance.

BARCELONA, Spain, June 21, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — As governments worldwide accelerate the rollout of Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) and digital visa systems, international travel is entering a new, highly regulated administrative era. While the global shift toward digitization was intended to streamline border entry, it has paradoxically introduced new layers of complexity for millions of travelers. In response to this evolving landscape, HandleVisa has updated its platform to offer a transparency-first, guided assistance model designed to bridge the widening gap between rigid government protocols and user expectations.

While government systems utilize algorithms to instantly reject non-compliant forms, HandleVisa incorporates a manual pre-submission review. This ‘human-in-the-loop’ strategy catches clerical errors upstream, ensuring that the excitement of global mobility is not dampened by the stress of paperwork.

From the impending full implementation of the European Union’s ETIAS to the expansion of the UK ETA and established programs like the U.S. ESTA, the margin for error in travel documentation has narrowed significantly. HandleVisa reports that as border control relies more heavily on automation, even minor data inconsistencies can lead to immediate delays or denied authorization. HandleVisa has positioned itself to mitigate these risks, focusing on procedural clarity and “human-in-the-loop” verification.

The Rise of Digital Borders and Application Fatigue

Digital travel authorizations are rapidly replacing traditional visa-on-arrival models. While these systems enhance security and processing efficiency for border authorities, they often create a “compliance burden” for travelers unfamiliar with specific procedural requirements.

Travelers frequently encounter barriers such as obscure statutory language, rigid biometric photo standards, and strictly timed approval windows. Unlike the private sector, where user experience is paramount, government portals are often designed primarily for data collection. This disconnect has contributed to growing application fatigue, where travelers struggle to locate live support or clarification on complex legal questions.

HandleVisa addresses this friction by translating bureaucratic requirements into a streamlined, guided process, ensuring that applicants can navigate official systems with confidence.

A “Human-in-the-Loop” Approach to Documentation

A key differentiator for HandleVisa in 2026 is its rejection of fully automated processing in favor of a hybrid verification model. While government systems often utilize algorithms to instantly reject non-compliant forms, HandleVisa incorporates a manual pre-submission review.

This “human-in-the-loop” strategy allows experts to review applications for common data entry errors before they are transmitted to official authorities. By catching these clerical errors upstream, the platform significantly reduces the likelihood of avoidable rejections. The company notes that modern travelers are increasingly prioritizing this level of predictability, viewing the service fee as an investment in the security of their travel plans.

Prioritizing Transparency in the Third-Party Sector

With the proliferation of private assistance platforms in the travel document sector, consumer caution has naturally increased. HandleVisa acknowledges that trust is the primary currency in the digital age and has structured its operations to meet the demand for rigorous transparency.

Online search behavior reflects natural consumer caution. Questions such as “How do I verify an online visa service?” are part of a broader trend in digital consumer awareness.

Industry best practices recommend evaluating any third-party platform based on:

Clear disclosure of non-government statusTransparent service feesPublished privacy and data protection policiesSecure encryption standardsAccessible customer support

Recognizing that travelers frequently search for verification regarding online services, HandleVisa has adopted a policy of total clarity regarding its non-government status. The platform adheres to strict industry best practices, including clear disclosure of service fees separate from government costs, the publication of comprehensive privacy and data protection policies, and the use of enterprise-grade encryption standards.

By providing accessible customer support and clear terms of service, HandleVisa aims to set a new standard for legitimacy in the third-party sector, ensuring travelers understand exactly what service is being provided and how their data is protected.

HandleVisa operates as an independent travel document assistance provider and does not represent itself as a government entity. Its role is to guide applicants through complex digital forms and conduct manual review prior to submission to official authorities.

The Shift Toward Managed Travel Administration

As digital border infrastructure continues to expand globally, the travel industry is witnessing a broader cultural shift toward “managed administrative support.” Just as individuals rely on tax professionals to navigate fiscal complexity or brokers to manage insurance needs, a growing segment of travelers now seeks structured, professional assistance for high-stakes travel documentation.

HandleVisa posits that as travel documents transform into complex digital assets, the need for a centralized, user-friendly management platform will only grow. While government agencies focus on enforcement and security, private platforms like HandleVisa are dedicated to the traveler’s experience, ensuring that the excitement of global mobility is not dampened by the stress of paperwork.

About HandleVisa

HandleVisa is a travel document assistance firm dedicated to simplifying visa and electronic travel authorization applications. The company combines user-friendly technology with expert manual document review to help travelers navigate the complexities of digital entry systems. HandleVisa operates independently of any government authority, providing a streamlined, paid support service for travelers seeking additional guidance, review, and 24/7 assistance.

Media Contact

Helena Capdevila, HandleVisa, 34 625710240, helena@media.handlevisa.com, https://www.handlevisa.com/

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SOURCE HandleVisa

Technology

Global Times: Technology helps restore identities of unknown heroes

Published

10 hours ago

June 21, 2026

BEIJING, June 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At Fudan University, a group of research teams has spent years using cutting-edge technology to restore the faces of China’s fallen soldiers. After successfully reconstructing the appearances of 10 martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), they have now achieved another breakthrough: recreating the face of an unidentified Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldier who sacrificed his life decades ago.

Using DNA analysis, digital archaeology and facial reconstruction technology, a team has restored the appearance of one of the unidentified soldiers whose remains were unearthed from the battlefield.

By restoring the faces of unknown martyrs, researchers aim to allow the public to see them not as abstract figures in history, but as real individuals who lived through extraordinary hardship and made profound sacrifices, Huang Ping, vice dean of the Institute of Forensic Science of Fudan University, told the Global Times.

Tracing the unidentified

Decades ago, more than 300 PLA troops died in fierce fighting at Majitang in Taojiang county, Central China’s Hunan Province.

Many of the soldiers had come from Northeast China and had marched south with the advancing army following the Liaoshen Campaign.

The battle successfully pinned down enemy forces and helped create favorable conditions for the subsequent Hengbao Campaign, a decisive operation that accelerated the liberation of Hunan.

After the fighting ended, local residents buried the fallen soldiers near the battlefield, leaving behind a number of anonymous graves that would remain unidentified for more than 70 years.

In August 2024, China’s National Martyrs’ Remains Search Team launched an archaeological excavation at the Majitang battlefield.

The excavation brought together more than 20 faculty members and students from Fudan University and Wuhan University. Specialists were divided into teams responsible for excavation, cleaning, anthropological analysis, three-dimensional modeling, sample collection and remains preservation, according to CCTV News.

The remains had been buried outdoors for more than 75 years, leaving them exposed to moisture, soil erosion and environmental degradation. Extracting usable DNA from such fragile material was far from guaranteed.

“Exhumation is an extremely serious matter. We cannot take all samples back with us; DNA collection must be completed quickly on site, and we only have one chance to choose,” said Huang.

In theory, teeth are the first choice, followed by dense bone. However, most of the remains recovered from Majitang had no teeth, and intact skulls were extremely rare, with most consisting only of fragments.

“We can only rely on experience and try to select the densest structures possible,” she said.

A total of 57 human remains were recovered during the excavation, and forensic analysis indicates they belong to at least nine martyrs. Among the nine sets of remains, one skull was relatively well preserved.

According to Huang, a clear bullet hole was visible on the surface of the skull. After 3D reconstruction, researchers were able to trace the path of a bullet that penetrated the top of the cranium, which they determined to be the fatal injury.

Based on comparisons with skeletal development models in their database, the researchers estimated that the soldier was around 20 years old at the time of his death.

Science meets remembrance

After multiple rounds of optimization, researchers were able to extract DNA from the recovered remains, with 24 samples ultimately yielding DNA libraries suitable for further analysis.

Researchers first conducted anthropological examinations to determine basic biological characteristics, including sex, age and physical features, providing a precise anatomical foundation for facial reconstruction.

Based on the 3D model, they applied artificial intelligence algorithms to extract key cranial features and gradually reconstruct facial structures.

“The facial reconstruction we use is a generative model that analyzes the biological contours of different individuals’ skulls to reconstruct the appearance of remains, rather than producing a standardized or ‘face-like’ template,” Huang told the Global Times.

“Building on reconstruction based on cranial morphology, we also incorporate supplementary DNA molecular information to refine individualized facial features, such as eyebrow shape and ear structure,” noted Huang.

For the first time in decades, the young soldier’s appearance could be seen again. He has sharp features, a high nose bridge and single eyelids. According to the research team, the reconstruction achieved an estimated accuracy of up to 90 percent.

Searching for a name

Restoring a face is only one step toward restoring an identity.

The next stage involves locating surviving relatives and comparing their DNA with the recovered genetic material.

Authorities have publicly appealed for information and are encouraging anyone with relevant family histories or records to come forward.

For Huang and his colleagues, identifying the soldier would represent more than a scientific achievement.

As many of the soldiers who died in the Majitang battlefield were from Northeast China, the veterans affairs departments in Hunan and Jilin provinces jointly conducted a review to support efforts to locate their families.

They have compiled a list of 40 martyrs and released contact information to collect leads, seeking public assistance in identifying relatives of the young men who died far from home 77 years ago.

The most important thing is the joint effort of government authorities and society as a whole to find leads, Huang said.

Once potential clues are identified, researchers can then trace possible descendants and compare their DNA with the samples collected today to see whether a match can be made.

“That is what we are working on now,” he said.

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SOURCE Global Times