Month: August 2026

  The dried bed of the Aral Sea once the world's fourth largest lake, has released an estimated 825 million tonnes (748 million metric tonnes) of carbon dioxide between 1960 and 2022, according to a study published in Science. Researchers found that the exposed lakebed, created after the diversion of rivers for irrigation in the 1960s, has turned from a natural carbon sink into a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Around half of the emissions occurred within the first 15 years after the lakebed was exposed, while new vegetation absorbed less than one per cent of the released carbon. The study also found that nearly 20 per cent of the stored carbon was carried away as dust rather than being released directly as carbon dioxide, highlighting an overlooked pathway in globa...

  Winter ice on lakes across the Northern Hemisphere could shrink by around 40 days by the end of the century if greenhouse gas emissions remain high, according to a new international study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Researchers analysed ice cover and air temperature data from 724 lakes between 2000 and 2022 and found that lake ice is disappearing much faster than previously expected as the climate warms. The study revealed that spring ice melt is far more sensitive to rising temperatures than autumn freeze up causing the overall ice covered season to shorten at an accelerating rate. Scientists identified critical winter temperature thresholds between –13.7°C and –6.8°C. Once average winter temperatures rise above this range, l...

  Most of the ancient carbon released from thawing Arctic permafrost is being buried in seabed sediments instead of being converted into greenhouse gases, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience. Researchers studying sediment cores near Herschel Island in Canada's Arctic found that only around 10 per cent of the carbon transported into the ocean is broken down by microorganisms into gases that can enter the atmosphere. The remaining carbon is largely preserved beneath the seafloor. The team also found that marine microorganisms preferentially consume fresh organic matter from algae rather than older carbon released from thawing permafrost. Scientists said the findings improve understanding of the Arctic carbon cycle and could help refine climate models, while n...

Scientists have detected microplastics in 11 of 12 deep-sea mussels and snails collected from hydrothermal vents in the Indian Ocean and the southwestern Pacific Ocean, according to a study published in Water Research. Researchers found that animals from the Indian Ocean contained up to 14.7 times more microplastics than those collected from the Pacific, possibly due to higher plastic pollution entering the Indian Ocean through rivers and coastal runoff. The study also found that deep-sea snails accumulated more plastic particles in their digestive organs, while mussels showed contamination throughout their tissues because they continuously filter seawater while feeding. Researchers said the findings demonstrate that plastic pollution has reached some of the most remote marine eco...

  Freshwater fish collected from Delhi's stretch of the Yamuna River contain significantly higher levels of microplastics than fish from upstream locations in Haryana, according to a study conducted by the University of Delhi. Researchers analysed 220 fish belonging to 12 species and recovered 1,678 microplastic particles, averaging 7.6 particles per fish. Every fish examined contained microplastics. Tilapia collected from Sonia Vihar recorded the highest contamination, with an average of 21.8 microplastic particles per fish. Researchers also detected plastic particles in fish muscle tissue, indicating contamination of edible portions. Fibres accounted for nearly 78 per cent of the recovered microplastics, with polyethylene and polypropylene identified as the most common p...

  Scientists have found that sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans could help predict malaria outbreaks in Malawi months in advance, offering a new approach to early warning systems for one of the country’s most widespread infectious diseases. The study published in Communications Medicine, found that changes in ocean temperatures influence soil moisture in Malawi, which in turn affects mosquito breeding conditions and malaria transmission. Researchers identified soil moisture as the strongest environmental link connecting distant ocean temperature patterns to local malaria risk. Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Malawi, accounting for nearly 7 million morbidity cases and 36% of outpatient visits in 2025. Researchers say forecasting outbr...

  The Tiruchi Corporation has intensified efforts to reduce plastic waste reaching landfills by increasing the diversion of non recyclable plastics to cement factories for use as refuse derived fuel (RDF). The city generates around 450–470 tonnes of solid waste every day, with nearly 70% already being segregated at source. Officials expect segregation levels to improve further with the implementation of the four-bin waste segregation system under the new Solid Waste Management Rules. Waste collected from households and commercial establishments is transported to Micro Compost Centres (MCCs) and Resource Recovery Centres (RRCs), where it is sorted into different categories. Non-recyclable single use plastic items such as snack packets, carry bags, food wrappers, plastic covers...

Ghana is tackling plastic pollution by converting discarded plastic into durable paving blocks that are cheaper than conventional concrete, offering a sustainable solution to both waste management and road infrastructure. The initiative is led by Nelplast, a company founded by engineer Nelson Boateng. The company collects plastic waste from more than 500 waste collectors, shreds, washes and mixes it with sand before moulding it into paving blocks without using cement or bitumen. The finished blocks are around 30% cheaper than cement alternatives and are designed to resist cracks, fading and mould growth. Accra generates an estimated 300–450 tonnes of plastic waste every day, while only a small portion is recycled. By creating market value for discarded plastic, the initiative provide...

  New Orleans has transformed thousands of discarded Christmas trees into a tool for restoring fragile coastal wetlands, helping reduce erosion and strengthen marshes along Louisiana's disappearing coastline. The city has been running the initiative for nearly three decades, collecting used natural Christmas trees after the holiday season and placing them in vulnerable marshes instead of sending them to landfills. The trees are bundled together and airlifted by helicopters into selected wetland areas, where they help slow water flow and trap sediment. In March 2025, nearly 9,000 donated Christmas trees were collected and transported to the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge. The operation was carried out in collaboration with the City of New Orleans, the U.S. Fish a...

  Global warming has entered a faster phase since around 2015, according to a new study by researchers at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The study found that after accounting for natural climate influences such as El Niño, volcanic eruptions and changes in solar activity, Earth's long-term warming rate has accelerated significantly. Published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the analysis examined five major global temperature datasets, including those from NASA, NOAA, Berkeley Earth, HadCRUT and ERA5. Researchers found that the planet has warmed at an average rate of about 0.35°C per decade over the past 10 years, compared to just under 0.2°C per decade between 1970 and 2015. The researchers said the acceleration became noticeable around ...