Month: May 2026

A new scientific study has revealed that climate change is making Himalayan rivers increasingly unstable raising concerns about flooding, erosion, water security and damage to infrastructure relied upon by billions of people across Asia. Researchers found that warming temperatures are accelerating changes in river channels throughout the Himalayan region, causing rivers to shift course more frequently and become less predictable. The findings suggest that communities living along riverbanks could face growing risks in the coming decades. The Himalayas, often called Asia's "water towers," supply freshwater to some of the continent's largest river systems. Nearly two billion people depend on water originating from Himalayan glaciers and snowfields for drinking water, agriculture, and i...

A long held belief about Europe natural past is being challenged by new research that suggests the continent was not once covered by dense, unbroken forests. Instead, scientists say Europe spent much of the last 23 million years as a diverse landscape of grasslands, meadows, shrubs and scattered trees. The study, published in the journal Biological Conservation, brings together evidence from pollen records, plant fossils, ancient DNA, charcoal remains and chemical traces preserved in animal teeth. Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark found that the image of a dark, closed-canopy forest stretching across Europe is largely a modern assumption rather than a historical reality. For decades, ecologists have worked under the "closed-forest paradigm," which held that dense forests ...

After days of relentless heat and soaring temperatures, parts of North and Central India are expected to receive much needed relief as a fresh Western Disturbance moves across the region. The weather system is likely to trigger thunderstorms, hailstorms, dust storms and strong winds while the southwest monsoon continues its gradual advance over the country. The contrasting weather conditions across India remained evident this week. Southern states witnessed widespread rainfall, with several areas in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands receiving significant precipitation. Bhoothpur in Telangana's Mahabubnagar district recorded the highest rainfall of the day at 11 centimetres. Isolated hailstorms were also reported from parts of Marathwada...

    Climate change is increasingly contributing to the depopulation of rural Bhutan with many villages witnessing a steady decline in residents as environmental pressures make traditional livelihoods more difficult to sustain, according to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter and the Royal University of Bhutan. The study found that climate related challenges including rising temperatures unpredictable rainfall patterns and an increase in natural disasters, are making farming and rural livelihoods increasingly uncertain. As a result many people are leaving their homes in search of better opportunities in urban centres or overseas. Researchers reported that out of Bhutan 205 administrative regions, 138 have experienced population decline. M...

As heatwaves become more frequent and intense across the world, scientists are searching for innovative ways to keep buildings cool while reducing energy consumption. Researchers at the University of Sydney, in collaboration with startup Dewpoint Innovations, have developed a new "smart paint" that reflects up to 97 per cent of sunlight and could significantly reduce the need for air conditioning during extreme heat. The experimental coating is designed using a nano engineered polymer known as polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene (PVDF-HFP). Unlike conventional paints that absorb heat from the sun, the new material contains microscopic pores that scatter incoming sunlight and minimise heat absorption. The coating works through a process called passive daytime radiative coolin...

    A new long term study has found that climate change is sharply reducing the reproductive capacity of Europe’s forests, even as many woodlands still appear healthy on the surface. Researchers reported that viable seed production in five major European tree species declined by more than 30 per cent over the past 34 years, raising concerns that forests may be losing their ability to naturally regenerate under rising temperatures. The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change analysed more than 40,000 seed harvest observations collected in Poland between 1988 and 2021. Scientists examined reproductive trends in English oak, sessile oak, Scots pine, silver fir and European beech. Among the hardest-hit species were oaks and Scots pine, which recorded decl...

New Delhi: After days of relentless heatwave conditions across North and Central India, weather patterns are finally set to change as a powerful Western Disturbance moves into the region from May 28, bringing thunderstorms, hailstorms, dust storms and strong winds to several states. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thundersqualls with wind speeds of 60 to 70 kmph, gusting up to 80 kmph, over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and parts of West Uttar Pradesh. Similar intense weather activity is also expected in East Uttar Pradesh, while isolated hailstorms are likely in Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand. The development comes after extreme heat continued to grip large parts of northern India. Severe heat...

    A surprising ecological recovery has been observed after conservation teams removed 131 feral cats from a remote island ecosystem in Japan, leading to a dramatic rebound in native bird populations that far exceeded expectations. The study focused on the Ogasawara Islands, a remote and ecologically sensitive archipelago where invasive species had been placing severe pressure on native wildlife. Among the most affected species was a rare subspecies of pigeon that had been pushed close to extinction due to predation and habitat disruption. By 2008 the population of this red headed pigeon had fallen to fewer than 80 individuals. The species was already under pressure from habitat loss but the presence of feral cats accelerated its decline, threatening its long term su...