5. University of Hawaii news — “Castaway Fisherman’s Drift Matches Currents and Winds” (hawaii.edu, February 2014, accessed October 2026). Source for: Maximenko and Hafner methodology (16 virtual tracers released ~200 nautical miles southwest of Chiapas, December 20 2012), satellite wind and current data model, tracers within ~120 miles/2 degrees latitude of Ebon Atoll by January 31 2014, conclusion that 13-month drift “falls well within the model’s limits.”
6. LiveScience/van Sebille — “Ocean Debris Leads the Way for Castaway Fisherman” (livescience.com, 2014, accessed October 2026). Source for: adrift.org.au model showing flotsam from western Mexico reaching Marshall Islands in 14-20 months, trade winds driving westward surface currents, without Marshall Islands landing boat would continue toward Philippines then North Pacific garbage patch, five ocean garbage patches worldwide.
7. MyModernMet — “Interview: Jonathan Franklin’s Extraordinary Survival Tale” (mymodernmet.com, accessed October 2026). Source for: Franklin’s six-month wait before approaching Alvarenga, Alvarenga’s distrust of press (“the cockroaches”), Franklin’s previous Chilean miners coverage and fluent Spanish, Ezequiel Córdoba paid approximately $50 for the trip, grandfather taught lunar time tracking, approximately 20 container ships passed without rescuing, each sighting energized him to wave for hours, imagined alternate realities and pretended walks around the boat to simulate travel, mother’s warning about suicide and heaven, Alvarenga’s statement “I suffered hunger, thirst and an extreme loneliness,” Franklin’s description of Alvarenga in 2015 as “happy man surrounded by friends,” his celebrity status in El Salvador.
8. SCMP — “Fisherman Alvarenga’s Survival at Sea Physiologically Possible, Experts Say” (scmp.com, February 2014, accessed October 2026). Source for: Tipton (University of Portsmouth) “not impossible” and maritime background behavioral advantage, Piantadosi (Duke University) survival possible for 13 months, rainwater from squalls, turtle blood ~1 liter per 20kg turtle, bird blood similar salt content to human blood, Chauve skepticism about protein-heavy diet and vitamin C, Tipton fish eyes vitamin C, Piantadosi birds and turtles synthesize own vitamin C (especially liver), Tipton resting metabolism 1,000-1,500 calories/day, Piantadosi malnutrition appears differently in different individuals, Tipton will to survive critical factor.