Month: March 2026

    Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, enjoyed by billions of people every day. However, a recent scientific review suggests that a simple cup of tea might contain more than just brewed leaves. Researchers have found that some tea bags can release massive numbers of tiny plastic particles during the brewing process. The review analyzed findings from 19 different scientific studies and explored how microplastics and nanoplastics may enter tea. These particles, collectively referred to as MNPs, are extremely small. Microplastics measure between one micrometer and five millimeters, while nanoplastics are even smaller than one micrometer, making them invisible to the human eye. Scientists say these particles can reach tea through several pathwa...

    A new global study has revealed that extreme heat is significantly limiting daily outdoor activity for people in India more than anywhere else in the world. Researchers say rising temperatures driven by climate change are reducing the number of hours people can safely spend outdoors, especially affecting the elderly and outdoor workers. The study shows that India records around 100 billion people-hours of activity limitation for younger adults and more than 1 trillion people-hours for older adults every year due to extreme heat conditions. These restrictions occur when temperatures and humidity levels become so intense that even light outdoor activity becomes unsafe. The research highlights that the worst-affected regions include the Indo‑Gangetic Plain and the ea...

    Future human missions to the Moon and Mars will depend not only on advanced spacecraft and life-support systems but also on reliable food production. However, growing crops beyond Earth presents a major challenge because these worlds lack living soil. Their surfaces are covered with mineral-rich dust that contains almost no organic matter or nutrients required for plant growth. A new study by scientists at Texas A&M University suggests that recycled human waste could provide an unexpected solution. Researchers found that treated wastewater derived from human waste can extract essential nutrients from Moon- and Mars-like dust, potentially transforming barren mineral material into a fertilizer source for space farming. In laboratory experiments, scientists combi...

    Scientists are exploring a controversial new method that could help slow climate change by increasing the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide. The experimental technique involves adding alkaline chemicals to seawater, a process known as Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement. In August last year, researchers carried out a small-scale field test in the Gulf of Maine, located about 50 miles off the coast of Massachusetts in the United States. During the experiment, scientists released around 65,000 litres of the alkaline chemical Sodium Hydroxide into the ocean. The chemical was mixed with a red dye so that researchers could track how it spread through the water. The study was conducted under permission from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and involved ...

    A new scientific analysis has revealed that most dust rising from the Sahara Desert is not generated by strong surface winds alone, but by powerful “hidden thunderstorms” that occur high above the desert. The discovery is reshaping scientists’ understanding of how massive dust clouds form and travel thousands of kilometres across continents. Dust from the Sahara regularly reaches regions such as Europe and the United Kingdom, sometimes turning skies orange and producing vivid sunsets. These dust particles scatter blue light while allowing red and orange wavelengths to pass through, creating dramatic atmospheric colours. However, scientists say these events also highlight the complex connections within the Earth’s atmosphere. Dry Thunderstorms Drive Most Saharan Du...

    Scientists have discovered where pharmaceutical residues end up inside crop plants when they are exposed to treated wastewater used for irrigation. The new research shows that most of these drug compounds accumulate in the leaves of plants rather than in the parts people usually eat. The study was conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University and published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. The findings could help scientists better understand the safety of using treated wastewater in agriculture, particularly in regions where freshwater supplies are limited. Across many parts of the world, farmers are increasingly turning to recycled wastewater to irrigate crops. This practice helps conserve freshwater resources, especially in areas faci...

    Scientists say Antarctic sea ice has shown a modest recovery in 2026, reaching levels closer to its long-term seasonal average after several years of unusually low coverage. Although the improvement offers a small sign of stabilization, researchers caution that the ice extent still remains below historical averages and does not indicate a full reversal of recent changes. According to scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center at University of Colorado Boulder, Antarctic sea ice likely reached its lowest point for the year on February 26, covering about 2.58 million square kilometers. Every year during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, sea ice shrinks to its annual minimum before beginning to expand again during the colder months. This minimum measurement is ...

    A new scientific study has answered an important climate mystery: why the entire planet does not face drought simultaneously. Researchers have discovered that natural ocean cycles and shifting rainfall patterns prevent a synchronized, worldwide drought that could otherwise threaten global agriculture and food supplies. The research was conducted by scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar in collaboration with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ in Germany. Published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, the study analyzed more than a century of global climate records from 1901 to 2020 to understand how droughts develop and spread across the world. The findings show that although climate change is increasing...

    The United Nations has endorsed a major global framework aimed at strengthening how disaster-related data is collected, analysed and used across countries. The decision was taken during the 57th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, marking the first time a comprehensive international system for disaster statistics has been formally adopted. The new framework, known as the Global Disaster-Related Statistics Framework (G-DRSF), seeks to improve the way countries measure disaster impacts, risks and investments in prevention. It will help governments develop more reliable and consistent data systems for tracking disasters and their consequences. Global System Aims to Improve Disaster Risk Data The framework has been developed with the support of th...

    Conservationists are celebrating an important breakthrough after a rare hatchling of the critically endangered Painted River Terrapin was discovered at the Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. The tiny turtle was found swimming in the terrapin exhibit in August 2025. According to zoo officials, the hatchling is healthy and growing well, offering hope for the survival of one of the world’s most threatened turtle species. The painted river terrapin, scientifically known as Batagur borneoensis, lives in river estuaries and mangrove habitats in Southeast Asia, including regions of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Borneo, and Sumatra. Unlike sea turtles, these terrapins cannot remove excess salt from their bodies, which means they must live in f...