Month: August 2025

As plastic pollution surges across India farmlands, experts are warning that the growing menace of agricultural plastic waste is undermining efforts to build sustainable, climate-resilient food systems. From polyethylene mulch sheets to plastic irrigation tools and packaging, the silent invasion of plastic into agriculture has gone largely unchecked, with serious consequences for soil health, food safety, and long-term farm productivity. A recent analysis by development expert Ashok Kumar Nayak, published in Down To Earth, highlights how plastic once embraced for boosting crop yields is now becoming an unmanageable crisis. Despite plastic’s vital role in moderating soil temperature and improving productivity, its widespread misuse and poor disposal are creating lasting damage to the env...

In a major stride toward sustainable packaging, researchers at IIT Madras have developed an innovative biodegradable material using agricultural and paper waste, offering a powerful alternative to conventional plastic foams. This breakthrough could help India tackle two pressing environmental challenges: plastic pollution and agri-residue burning. The team cultivated fungi like Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus types of mushrooms on discarded farm waste to grow mycelium-based biocomposites. These naturally grown materials are sturdy enough to be used for packaging and fully compostable, reducing dependency on non-degradable materials like EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) and EPE (Expanded Polyethylene). Lead researcher Dr. Lakshminath Kundanati, along with scholars Sandra Rose Biby...

  Maharashtra is likely to witness below-normal rainfall in August, but the India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects a potential rebound in September, offering relief to farmers and water resource managers relying on the monsoon. According to the IMD latest rainfall outlook for August-September 2025, the state could see a significant shortfall in August, particularly in districts like Pune. However, above-normal rainfall is expected in September, based on colour-coded probability forecasts released by IMD Pune. "While August may remain dry with only scattered heavy showers, several areas could experience good spells in isolated pockets," said O P Shreejit, senior IMD scientist in Pune. He noted that September is likely to make up for the earlier deficit. Nationally th...

A massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia Kamchatka Peninsula last week, triggering tsunami waves that reached Japan northern coast. While scientists monitored the event closely, a different wave took over the internet speculation surrounding a decades-old Japanese manga that some say predicted the disaster. The manga, Watashi ga Mita Mirai (The Future I Saw), was published in 1999 by Ryo Tatsuki, an artist who has since been dubbed the “New Baba Vanga” by fans online. The comic, which has gained cult status over the years, had warned of a disaster in July 2025. When no major event occurred earlier in the month, the theory faded until now. Following the quake and tsunami alerts, social media users reignited the conversation, posting comparisons between Tatsuki’s fictional ...

A slight weakening of one of Earth major ocean currents could trigger dramatic declines in rainfall across the Amazon and other tropical rainforests, sparking droughts that could accelerate global climate change, according to new research published in Nature. The study focuses on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) a system of ocean currents that includes the Gulf Stream. Often described as Earth’s climate conveyor belt, the AMOC redistributes heat and nutrients between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. But scientists now warn that even a mild slowdown could cut rainfall over some rainforest regions by up to 40%, with the Amazon particularly at risk. “This is bad news,” said Pedro DiNezio, lead author and climate scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder...

In a major boost to its climate and biodiversity goals, India has greened 93.7 lakh hectares through extensive afforestation efforts over the past five years, the government announced on July 31. States like Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Gujarat have led these efforts, supported by a network of national schemes and public participation campaigns. The initiative gained renewed momentum with the launch of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ on World Environment Day (June 5, 2024). The campaign emphasizes collective responsibility, blending the efforts of government bodies and civil society to encourage voluntary tree planting across the country. Union Minister of State for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh, informed the Rajya Sabha that India’s greening strategy draws strength from existing programs l...

In a landmark moment for India green energy ambitions, the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in Kandla has commissioned the country first indigenously built 1 Megawatt green hydrogen plant, marking a pivotal step toward maritime decarbonization and national net-zero goals. Unveiled on July 31 in the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and senior government officials, the plant represents the first ‘Make in India’ project of its kind at a port. The project was completed in a swift four-month timeline and is part of a broader 10 MW vision for green hydrogen generation. Capable of producing approximately 140 metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually, the facility positions DPA as a national leader in clean port infrastructure and supports India’s larger goals under the National Gr...

India push toward a clean energy future via nuclear power has hit a temporary roadblock as the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) a crucial part of the country three-stage nuclear programme faces delays owing to first-of-its-kind technological challenges. Responding in Parliament, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh, acknowledged that the delays stem from complex and unprecedented engineering issues. However, he affirmed that these are being actively addressed in close coordination with reactor designers and experts. Located at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, the PFBR is central to India's long-term nuclear strategy, especially as it transitions toward thorium-based reactors in the third stage. The core loading of the reactor, which took place in March last yea...

At least 60 people have lost their lives in northern China due to severe flooding and landslides triggered by record-breaking rainfall, making it one of the most deadly weather disasters to strike the region in recent years. The tragedy has primarily affected Beijing and the neighboring Hebei province, with several areas submerged and communities devastated. In Beijing alone, 44 deaths have been confirmed, including 31 elderly residents who perished when floodwaters struck a care facility in the Miyun district. The region recorded rainfall peaking at 573.5 mm nearly equivalent to the city's annual average rainfall of 600 mm overwhelming infrastructure and prompting emergency evacuations. Deputy Mayor Xia Linmao said nine people remain missing, while search and rescue operations conti...

Three people including a teenage boy died in northwest Pakistan after the roof of their home collapsed during heavy rainfall, officials said Thursday. The tragic incident occurred late Wednesday night in Sarai Naurang tehsil of Lakki Marwat district, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Authorities confirmed that relentless rain had weakened the structure, leading to the collapse. Local residents rushed to help joining rescue teams in pulling the victims from the debris. Despite their efforts, all three individuals succumbed to their injuries. The region has been experiencing unusually intense rainfall, with officials warning that current downpours have already exceeded last year’s levels for the same period. Disaster management authorities had issued alerts ahead of time, caution...