Month: May 2026

    In a major breakthrough for bird conservation, the first international winter census of the critically endangered Yellow breasted Bunting has recorded more than 187,000 individuals across six Asian countries offering scientists the first reliable population baseline for the rapidly declining migratory bird. The large scale survey, known as the Joint Yellow breasted Bunting Winter Roost Count, was conducted between February and March 2026 across India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. The initiative brought together universities, government agencies, bird monitoring groups, and conservation organisations from across Asia in one of the region’s largest collaborative avian studies. Among the participating organisations were Bird Count India, Bird Cons...

    The world’s oceans are emerging as one of the most powerful natural allies in the fight against climate change. Scientists are now exploring ways to strengthen the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, opening a new frontier in global climate action. Researchers are studying innovative methods to increase the ocean’s capacity to store carbon for long periods, a process known as marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR). The ocean already plays a massive role in regulating Earth climate. Covering nearly 70 per cent of the planet’s surface, it stores around 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere. Since the industrial revolution, oceans have absorbed nearly one-third of human generated carbon dioxide emissions, significantly slowing the pace of g...

    From protecting coastlines in West Africa to helping farmers survive droughts in the Caribbean and tackling deadly urban heat in South Asia, climate resilience projects are increasingly becoming essential tools in safeguarding livelihoods and economies from worsening climate extremes, according to a new update highlighted by the World Bank. The report, published on PreventionWeb, highlights how investments in resilience are helping communities not only recover from disasters but adapt to long term environmental changes driven by climate change. Climate disasters hitting vulnerable communities hardest The World Bank warned that storms, droughts, floods, and extreme heat continue to disproportionately affect low-income populations, especially those dependent on a...

    Scientists have discovered new evidence suggesting that a tectonic plate boundary could be forming beneath parts of southern Africa, potentially marking the early stages of the continent slowly splitting apart over millions of years. Researchers studying geothermal springs in Zambia found unusual helium and carbon isotope signatures that indicate deep mantle material is rising through cracks in the Earth’s crust along the Kafue Rift, a region considered part of the larger Southwest African Rift System. The findings, published in Frontiers in Earth Science, suggest that the rift may already have broken through the Earth’s crust and connected directly to the mantle below a major geological milestone in the formation of a new tectonic boundary. Ancient Rift System...

    A rare but potentially deadly virus carried by rodents has once again drawn global attention after recent cases linked to passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise vessel triggered international health investigations. Scientists say hantaviruses, though uncommon, remain a growing concern as climate change, urbanisation, and environmental disruption increase human contact with wildlife habitats. According to researchers from Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), hantaviruses are found on every inhabited continent and are primarily spread by rodents through urine, saliva, and droppings. The animals themselves do not become ill, but humans can develop severe disease after inhaling virus-contaminated particles from dried rodent w...

    The widely celebrated Miyawaki method of creating dense urban “mini-forests” may not deliver many of the environmental benefits often associated with it, according to a new scientific review that questions the evidence behind the globally popular reforestation approach. The study, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, examined 51 scientific papers on the Miyawaki method and found that most claims surrounding rapid growth, biodiversity improvement, and carbon sequestration lack strong empirical backing. Originally developed in the 1970s by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, the method involves densely planting native tree saplings after intensive soil preparation. Supporters say the close spacing forces trees to compete for sunlight, resulting in faster growt...

India generates nearly 170,339 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day, and a large portion of it ends up in overflowing landfills. Experts say much of this waste could actually be recycled or composted but poor waste management and lack of segregation at the household level continue to worsen the problem. According to reports, around 62 million tonnes of waste are produced annually in India. Nearly 51% of this waste is organic, while about 17% consists of recyclable materials. However, when wet waste and dry waste are mixed together, recycling becomes difficult and valuable materials are lost. Environmental experts believe that simple lifestyle changes at the household level can significantly reduce the amount of waste reaching landfills and lower pollution levels. Buy Less and...

    A remarkably preserved Roman anchor, buried beneath the seabed of the southern North Sea for nearly 2,000 years, has offered archaeologists a rare glimpse into the maritime world of Roman Britain. The discovery, made off the coast of Suffolk during surveys for the East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm project, is being described as one of the most important underwater archaeological finds in northern Europe in recent years. The anchor, measuring more than two metres long and weighing around 100 kilograms, was first detected in 2018 during high-resolution seabed mapping conducted by ScottishPower Renewables. Archaeologists believe it belonged to a large Roman merchant vessel capable of carrying between 500 and 600 tons of cargo, indicating the scale and sophistication of...

    A major wildlife conservation success story is unfolding in Kazakhstan, where the population of the rare kulan has increased more than 100 times over the past few decades inside Altyn-Emel National Park. According to reports the park’s kulan population has grown from just 32 animals to an impressive 3,571 in 2026. Conservation experts say the dramatic rise is the result of a carefully planned reintroduction and habitat protection programme that began in the 20th century. The kulan, also known as the Asiatic wild ass, once faced severe population decline due to habitat loss and hunting. Today, the national park has become one of the strongest safe habitats for the species in Central Asia. Wildlife officials have also started relocating kulans to other protected ...

    A major biodiversity survey across the Western Ghats has revealed a worrying decline in dragonfly and damselfly diversity, with researchers documenting only around 65% of the species historically recorded in the ecologically sensitive mountain range. Scientists warn that nearly 35% of known odonata species may now be missing from the region. The two year study conducted between February 2021 and March 2023, covered 144 sites across five Indian States and recorded 143 odonata species, including 76 dragonflies and 67 damselflies. Among them, 40 species were found to be endemic to the Western Ghats, one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots. Researchers highlighted that odonata species are extremely sensitive to environmental changes because they depend...