Month: February 2026

    The 2025 summer monsoon has gone down as one of the deadliest in recent South Asian history, with exceptional rainfall triggering a devastating wave of landslides and floods across India and Pakistan. According to a new study published in the journal Landslides more than 2,500 people lost their lives as extreme rainfall overwhelmed fragile mountain landscapes and exposed deep-rooted vulnerabilities across the region. Across India, 1,528 fatalities were recorded due to floods and landslides, while Pakistan reported 1,006 deaths. The scale of destruction has prompted scientists to examine not just the intensity of rainfall, but the structural and environmental factors that amplified the disaster. Rainfall Far Above Average Triggered Chain of Disasters The 2025 mo...

Plastic pollution is no longer just a waste management issue it is becoming a climate-driven environmental crisis. A new global review published in Frontiers in Science finds that climate change is reshaping how plastics behave in the environment, making them more mobile, persistent and harmful across ecosystems. The study, highlighted by the World Economic Forum brings together mounting evidence that rising temperatures, extreme weather events and shifting Earth systems are transforming plastic pollution into a dynamic, climate-sensitive threat. Most plastics are produced from fossil fuels such as oil and gas, generating greenhouse gas emissions throughout their lifecycle from extraction and manufacturing to transport and disposal. As plastic production has surged since the mid-20th...

    A new global study has revealed a startling twist in the climate crisis narrative: while most glaciers worldwide are shrinking at unprecedented rates, a small but powerful fraction is suddenly surging forward. Scientists warn that these dramatic advances are not signs of recovery, but signals of instability that could intensify flood risks, disrupt infrastructure and endanger vulnerable mountain communities. From the Arctic to High Mountain Asia, researchers have identified more than 3,000 glaciers that have experienced sudden bursts of acceleration. Though they represent only about one percent of the world’s glaciers, these massive bodies of ice account for roughly 16 percent of global glacier area making their behaviour highly significant in understanding future cl...

    A rare sighting of the vividly coloured Himalayan monal has captivated wildlife enthusiasts after a male bird was photographed soaring over Bhutan’s mountain valleys, displaying its dazzling, multi-hued plumage in full sunlight. Often described as the “jewel of the Himalayas,” the high-altitude pheasant shimmered mid-flight with flashes of blue, green, purple, copper, gold and orange colours that appeared to shift as it moved through the air. Experts confirm that the Himalayan monal’s dramatic appearance is entirely natural. The bird’s iridescent glow is produced not by pigmentation alone, but by microscopic structures within its feathers that refract and bend light. This structural coloration creates metallic tones that change depending on the viewing angle. E...

    Two major new studies are raising fresh concerns about the long-term health consequences of wildfire smoke, identifying a significant association between prenatal exposure to smoke and an increased likelihood of autism diagnoses in young children. The findings add to growing evidence that wildfire pollution may have deeper and more lasting neurological effects than previously understood. The research, published in the peer-reviewed journals Environmental Science and Technology and Environment International, analyzed millions of birth records in California and found that exposure to wildfire smoke particularly during late pregnancy was linked to higher rates of autism spectrum disorder diagnoses in children. Third Trimester Exposure Shows Strongest Association T...

    The Supreme Court of India on Thursday halted the Haryana government’s proposed Aravalli zoo safari project in Gurugram, declaring that “not a single inch of land” in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli range can be used until a clear and comprehensive definition of the Aravalli hills is finalised. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made it clear that no further steps can be taken on the project while the court is examining a broader issue concerning the legal and ecological definition of the Aravalli range in a separate case related to mining rights. “Aravalli is a composite range. It neither starts in Haryana nor ends in Haryana. There is no scope of permitting the project unless there is a clear definition on Aravalli,” the bench observed. T...

    After nearly 40 years drifting across Antarctic waters, the world’s largest iceberg, A-23A has entered an active and accelerated breakup phase, with satellite imagery confirming widespread structural failure across its surface. Scientists say the development signals the imminent end of one of the most closely monitored ice giants in modern polar research. Surface water triggers structural collapse High-resolution satellite images captured in late December revealed large pools of meltwater spreading across A-23A’s surface, along with fresh fractures along its outer edges. According to researchers, the accumulation of water intensified internal stress, weakening the iceberg’s margins and pushing it from slow erosion into rapid fragmentation. Chris Shuman of th...

Nearly 99% of the 28 tonnes of waste cleared from the trekking routes of the Vellingiri hills after the 2025 pilgrimage season was found to be non-recyclable and was converted into Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), underscoring mounting environmental concerns over irresponsible pilgrim practices. Volunteers of the Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu conducted special cleanup drives along the 6.5-km trekking stretch and collected large quantities of single-use plastic products, polythene bags, water bottles, discarded clothes and multi-layered plastic (MLP) snack wrappers. According to C. Prashanth, founder of Recompose Recycling Private Limited, which partnered in the initiative, the overwhelming majority of the collected waste could not be recycled. Soil accumulation on plastic items and ...

    New Delhi: The national capital is heading towards a warmer-than-usual February, with maximum temperatures steadily climbing and expected to touch the 30°C mark in the coming days. Weather experts say that despite the possibility of a weak western disturbance, a significant dip in temperature is unlikely. Delhi’s maximum temperature on Sunday stood at 28.5°C four degrees above normal for mid-February. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the mercury may rise further to 29°C on Monday and Tuesday, edging closer to the 30°C threshold typically seen later in the month. Data analysis of February 1–15 shows that the city recorded an average maximum temperature of 25°C, which is 1.9°C above the long-period average of 23.14°C. Out of the first 15 d...