Month: January 2026

    Several parts of Noida witnessed a hailstorm on Tuesday after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for multiple cities across the Delhi-NCR region, warning of thunderstorms, lightning and hail activity. Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad were also placed under an orange alert, while Delhi remained on a yellow alert, according to the IMD. Visuals shared by residents on social media showed hailstones scattered across roads in Noida, with sudden weather changes catching commuters off guard. Earlier in the day, parts of Delhi experienced light to moderate rainfall, prompting the IMD to issue a red alert for some areas and an orange alert for others due to ongoing rain and possible disruptions. The weather alerts were valid until 1:30 pm, dur...

    The world’s largest known lithium deposit, buried beneath Bolivia’s iconic Salar de Uyuni salt flat, is emerging as a site of growing environmental concern as demand for the metal surges globally. While lithium is central to the transition toward electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, new scientific findings suggest that its extraction may quietly amplify toxic risks that extend well beyond mining zones. The Salar de Uyuni, famous for its vast white landscape and mirror-like reflections during seasonal rains, holds highly saline groundwater rich in lithium. Mining operations pump this brine from depths of up to 50 metres into large evaporation ponds, where sun and wind concentrate lithium by removing water and crystallising unwanted salts. The final concentr...

    China has proposed a draft legislation titled the Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Law to regulate all China-linked activities in Antarctica, signalling a move to formalise its growing presence on the southern continent. The draft law was submitted for first reading to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on December 23, 2025, according to media reports. The proposed legislation consists of seven chapters and 57 articles and seeks to establish a comprehensive domestic legal framework governing expeditions, scientific research, fisheries, tourism and shipping activities in Antarctica. It applies not only to Chinese citizens and organisations but also to foreign entities that organise Antarctic activities from within China or depart...

    The Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed a compact, portable seawater desalination system that can convert saline water into safe drinking water without the use of electricity, offering a critical solution for soldiers deployed in remote and coastal regions. The system, called the Sea Water Desalination System, was unveiled in early January 2026 by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur following requirements raised by the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Designed to support troops operating far from established water sources, the system can process seawater as well as brackish water and make it potable at the point of use. DRDO officials said the technology is aimed at improving logistical self-sufficiency in challenging terrains such as coastal...

    Africa’s forests, long regarded as one of the world’s most important natural carbon sinks, are now releasing more carbon into the atmosphere than they absorb, according to a new international study led by scientists at the University of Leicester. The findings suggest that large-scale forest loss across the continent has pushed African forests past a critical threshold, weakening their role in slowing global climate change. The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports analysed changes in aboveground forest biomass across Africa using satellite observations, machine learning techniques and field measurements collected over more than a decade. Scientists found that while African forests gained carbon between 2007 and 2010, the trend reversed sharply after ...

    In a striking example of how climate change is reshaping marine life, scientists have found that whales are adapting to warming oceans by altering what they eat and how they share food resources. The findings, based on nearly three decades of data, suggest that rising sea temperatures and shrinking prey availability are forcing whales to adjust their feeding strategies in ways not seen for decades. The study highlights how climate change is not only warming the oceans but also reshaping marine food webs and ecosystem dynamics, with long-term consequences for ocean health. Long-Term Study Reveals Shifting Feeding Patterns The research, published in Frontiers in Marine Science analysed more than 1,100 tissue samples from fin, humpback and minke whales collected o...

    Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday inaugurated the Saleran Dam eco-tourism project, marking a renewed push towards sustainable tourism and green development in the state. Built at a cost of ₹2.80 crore, the project is aimed at attracting nature enthusiasts while creating employment opportunities and generating revenue for the state. The Saleran Dam tourism site includes four eco-friendly tree house huts two for families and two for couples along with a cafeteria that can accommodate 80 visitors, a children’s playground and boating facilities, which will be introduced in the coming days. The Chief Minister said all necessary safety measures have been incorporated into the project design. Eco-Tourism Expansion Around Small Dams and Forest Assets Highli...

Urban sewage flowing through Indian cities is rapidly becoming a breeding ground for dangerous drug-resistant bacteria, raising serious public health concerns, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. Scientists warn that untreated wastewater carrying antibiotic residues is enabling pathogens to develop resistance to commonly used medicines, pushing antimicrobial resistance beyond hospitals and into rivers and communities. The study finds that sewage systems are acting as training grounds for bacteria, where traces of antibiotics allow microbes to adapt, survive and share resistance genes. This process, researchers say, threatens the effectiveness of widely prescribed drugs such as azithromycin and amoxicillin, which are crucial for treating everyday infections. Hosp...

    Planting forests to generate carbon credits is emerging as a major tool for ecosystem restoration in Brazil, offering a potential pathway to revive degraded landscapes while supporting climate mitigation efforts. However, experts say the fast-growing sector still faces challenges related to credibility, long-term responsibility and the complex nature of restoring native ecosystems. Founded in 2021, Brazilian company re.green has positioned itself at the forefront of commercial forest restoration by restoring degraded land and selling carbon credits. The company currently operates across 34,000 hectares in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest regions and aims to restore one million hectares of tropical forest nationwide. Its work received global recognition after winning th...

    As water scarcity intensifies worldwide due to climate change, population growth and economic expansion, a new study offers an unexpected insight: aging populations may significantly reduce future water demand. Research published in Water Resources Research suggests that global water withdrawals could fall by as much as 31 percent by the middle of this century as societies age, potentially easing pressure on rivers, lakes and aquifers. Water scarcity has emerged as one of the most serious challenges of the 21st century. Climate-driven droughts and floods are becoming more extreme, while freshwater demand continues to rise. Traditionally, projections of water use have focused on population size, economic growth and climate trends. However, this study highlights that p...