Month: November 2025

A groundbreaking study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution reveals that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is no longer merely a vast expanse of environmental destruction but has become an unexpected, thriving, and permanent habitat for dozens of marine species. Researchers discovered that the floating plastic debris in the GPGP is supporting life in ways previously thought impossible, effectively blurring the traditional boundaries between coastal and open-ocean ecosystems. The Emergence of 'Neopelagic' Communities The research highlights a surprising phenomenon: coastal species such as barnacles, crabs, and amphipods are not only surviving but are actively reproducing on the debris far from shore. These species typically require hard surfaces like rocks or piers to surviv...

New Delhi - Women across the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) are functioning as the crucial seed keepers, biodiversity custodians, and knowledge holders sustaining traditional mountain agriculture against mounting climate pressures, yet their contributions remain largely ignored by mainstream policy. These women safeguard hundreds of indigenous seed varieties from red rice in Kangra to hardy barley in Ladakh that are inherently climate-resilient, pest-tolerant, and nutrient-rich, qualities essential for food security in the fragile mountain ecology. The Agro-Ecological Framework of the Himalayas Traditional Himalayan agriculture stands in stark contrast to industrial farming, prioritizing diversity, resilience, and seed sovereignty over monoculture and maximum yield. Women are central ...

New Delhi - A major controversy has erupted over the definition of the Aravalli Hills, following the Supreme Court's acceptance on November 20 of a recommendation from a Union Environment Ministry panel that critics warn will strip protective legal cover from the vast majority of the mountain range. This redefinition, though ostensibly intended to regulate mining, is feared to open up over 90% of the Aravalli landforms to potential destruction from quarrying and construction, with severe environmental ramifications for the National Capital Region (NCR). The accepted definition classifies any landform as part of the Aravalli Hills only if it has an elevation of 100 meters or more above the local relief, along with its slopes and adjacent land. Forest Survey of India Critical Warning ...

Jamshedpur - The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has taken a major step toward supporting the nation's energy transition, with Director General Dr. N. Kalaiselvi laying the foundation stone for new test facilities dedicated to the National Green Hydrogen Mission at the CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) in Jamshedpur. This initiative is designed to create unique and robust infrastructure aimed at significantly boosting indigenous hydrogen production across India. The new facilities will focus on developing and testing technologies crucial for the green hydrogen ecosystem, including standards and safety evaluation for hydrogen transport pipelines and related equipment. Aligning with National Goals The announcement was made during the celebration of th...

Glasgow, United Kingdom - The global health community is on high alert following the confirmation of the first recorded human case of the H5N5 avian influenza virus in Washington state, United States. This marks a significant development for the bird flu strain, which has historically been confined to avian species. The patient, an elderly individual with pre-existing health conditions, tragically succumbed to the illness on November 21. The H5N5 virus is a type of bird flu similar to the more widely known H5N1 strain. While this instance marks the virus's first jump to a human host, experts stress that the overall risk to the general human population remains low at this time. However, the confirmed human infection has sparked immediate concern among scientists regarding the virus...

New Delhi - The severe deterioration of air quality in the national capital has prompted the Congress party to demand immediate and stringent action from the ruling BJP, framing the situation as a dire "health emergency." Delhi Congress leaders staged a dramatic press conference, donning face masks and carrying oxygen cylinders to visually underscore the seriousness of the crisis facing the city. The party's spokesperson, Yadav, sharply criticized the Rekha Gupta government's perceived inefficacy, noting that air quality readings had already plunged into the 'very poor' category. He argued that the current insufficient measures are leaving the city's poorest and most vulnerable citizens exposed to toxic air. The Congress is insisting upon the immediate implementation of rigorous poll...

Washington D.C. - A groundbreaking new study warns that the sea-level rise caused by melting Antarctic ice will not be a uniform "bathtub effect" but will be distributed unevenly across the globe, with regions far from the continent facing the most catastrophic increases. Scientists used combined computer models of the Antarctic ice sheet, solid Earth, and global climate to map these effects, underscoring the severe implications for island nations and coastal communities worldwide. The research highlights that while the Antarctic ice sheet holds enough frozen water to raise the global average sea level by about 58 meters 190 feet its melt will create distinct regional "fingerprints" due primarily to the physics of gravity and planetary rotation. Gravity Drives Uneven Rise The key ...

New Delhi - A growing number of private landowners in India are embracing rewilding, intentionally allowing portions of their property to recover to a natural state for biodiversity gains, aligning with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. However, this promising trend is being severely hampered by legal ambiguity and the fear that their conservation efforts could lead to state intervention or the loss of their land tenure. Conservationists and landowners note that while private rewilding offers a significant boost to India's biodiversity goals by supplementing the existing network of national parks, the country lacks clear laws, incentives, or protections for individuals engaging in the practice. This regulatory void leaves them vulnerable to scrutiny under various existing acts. ...

New Delhi - Amid an escalating air pollution crisis across North India, Zonair3D, a European company specializing in medical-grade air purification, has officially entered the Indian market. The Barcelona-based innovator aims to bring a "clean air revolution" to India, offering systems that promise to deliver pure, healthy indoor air comparable to Alpine quality in homes, schools, and hospitals. Zonair3D is known for its advanced air-purification systems, which are capable of removing up to 99.995% of airborne particles. The company’s technology, previously used by European athletes and in healthcare facilities, is being adapted for specific Indian conditions. Their core products, which include the Air+ and Bubble Pure Air technologies, feature ULPA U15-certified filters the same sta...

New Delhi - The escalating rates of obesity in India pose a significant and growing threat to the nation's economy and public health, incurring an estimated annual cost of US $28.9 billion, according to a recent report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI). The report, titled 'Building on Success to Secure India's Future Health', emphasizes that obesity is quickly emerging as a primary health and economic concern, driven by sedentary lifestyles and poor diets. The TBI warns that this financial burden stems from lost productivity and soaring healthcare expenses related to non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular issues, which are heavily linked to excess weight. The authors stress that India is uniquely positioned to spearhead global prevention efforts, pr...