Month: May 2026

    Scientists have uncovered rare traces of ancient stardust buried deep within Antarctic ice, offering new evidence about Earth’s movement through the Milky Way and its encounter with the remains of exploded stars tens of thousands of years ago. The discovery, led by researchers from Germany Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, identified radioactive iron-60 isotopes trapped inside Antarctic ice cores dating back between 40,000 and 81,000 years. The findings provide one of the clearest records yet of the Solar System’s passage through an interstellar cloud formed by ancient supernova explosions. The study was published in Physical Review Letters. Rare cosmic fingerprints found in Antarctic ice Researchers analyzed nearly 295 kilograms of Antarctic ice collected...

    In a major push toward groundwater conservation and sustainable water management, the Delhi Government is preparing a new policy to expand the use of treated sewage water in construction projects, park irrigation, and other non-potable activities across the national capital. Officials said the proposed framework is being developed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to ensure that treated wastewater generated from sewage treatment plants (STPs) is used more efficiently in sectors where drinking-quality water is not required. Delhi Public Works and Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said the policy aims to reduce pressure on rapidly depleting groundwater reserves while promoting sustainable urban water reuse practices. Treated water already used for horticulture At ...

    Delhi Central Ridge one of the last surviving stretches of the ancient Aravalli ecosystem in the capital, is now facing a new threat in the name of development. The Delhi Forest Department has floated a tender to develop four new themed city forests Tirthankar Van, Ritu Van, Rashi Van and Panchvati Van inside the already degraded Central Ridge. While the project is being presented as an effort to improve green cover, ecologists warn that it could further damage an ecosystem that is already struggling to survive. The Central Ridge spreads across nearly 864 hectares and forms the largest section of Delhi’s Ridge forest system. Unlike urban parks, this landscape still holds traces of native biodiversity that have adapted to the rocky terrain of the Aravallis for centuri...

    A herd of nearly 450 elephants is moving back toward a large solar power facility in Sri Lanka Hambantota region, raising serious concerns among conservationists, environmental activists and local communities. The reason behind their return is deeply connected to the land itself land the elephants are believed to have used for more than 2,500 years. The solar project promoted as part of the country clean energy transition, was developed on terrain that once served as an important migration and grazing corridor for elephants. What appeared to humans as open and underutilised land was, in reality a critical ecological zone that sustained generations of wildlife. Now as vegetation disappears and grazing areas shrink, the elephants are slowly returning to their ancest...

    More than two lakh acres of agricultural land in North Andhra are expected to receive assured irrigation water in the coming years as the Andhra Pradesh government intensifies efforts to complete several pending irrigation projects in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recently directed district administrations to accelerate the execution of irrigation works while releasing the irrigation calendar during the Collectors Conference held in Amaravati. According to officials, the government has set an ambitious target to complete all major irrigation projects in the North Andhra region within the next three years. Nagavali Champavati River Link Project Gains Momentum One of the most significant projects under the governmen...

    The Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change is preparing to launch a common Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal aimed at strengthening India’s recycling ecosystem and simplifying compliance procedures across multiple waste sectors. The proposed unified platform is expected to integrate various waste streams under a single digital system, helping improve transparency, traceability and operational efficiency in the country’s growing recycling industry. The announcement was made during a conference held on May 4, 2026, where policymakers, regulators and industry representatives discussed the future of India’s circular economy framework. Unified Portal to Cover Multiple Waste Streams According to officials the common EPR portal is being...

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a fresh weather alert for several states across the country, warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds over the next few days. While parts of India continue to reel under intense summer heat, changing weather patterns are now bringing rain activity to many regions. According to IMD gusty winds reaching up to 70 kmph may hit some states, while heavy rain is expected in parts of Northeast India, South India and northern states including Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. Heavy Rain And Thunderstorm Alert In Multiple States Maharashtra is expected to receive isolated light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over the next two days. Strong winds with speeds of 40 to ...

    Scientists have identified a rare class of plant compounds in cannabis leaves for the first time, uncovering hidden chemistry in a part of the plant that is often discarded as agricultural waste. The discovery made by researchers at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, could open new avenues for studying cannabis-derived compounds beyond the well known cannabinoids associated with psychoactive effects. The study found that cannabis leaves contain uncommon flavoalkaloids rare natural compounds formed from a combination of flavonoids and nitrogen containing alkaloids. Researchers say the finding reveals a far more complex chemical profile within cannabis plants than previously understood. The research has been published in the Journal of Chromatography A. ...

    India now possesses one of the world most advanced forest monitoring systems, capable of scanning dense forests through clouds and darkness in near real time. Yet despite this technological leap delayed institutional response and weak governance continue to undermine efforts to prevent forest degradation fires and carbon loss. The concern has gained urgency after the operational rollout of the joint NASA ISRO satellite mission, NISAR, in late 2025. Built over more than a decade at a cost of nearly $1.5 billion, the radar satellite now scans almost every forest patch in India every 12 days generating nearly 80 terabytes of environmental data daily. However experts warn that while India ability to detect ecological damage has dramatically improved, the systems required ...

    Delhi environmental crisis is no longer limited to winter smog. Rising temperatures, worsening heatwaves, mounting waste and year round air pollution are placing increasing pressure on the city’s infrastructure, economy and public health. Experts now argue that the capital green transition must focus urgently on three sectors construction, transport and waste management. According to climate assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), South Asian cities such as Delhi are already witnessing more intense and frequent heat extremes. Rapid urbanisation, dense construction and shrinking green cover are further amplifying these risks across Delhi-NCR. Construction Dust, Waste And Heat Are Deepening Delhi’s Crisis Construction activities continue ...