Month: August 2026

  A new study has found that strong El Niño events can cause significant and rapid increases in global mean sea level mainly by shifting large amounts of water from land into the oceans. Researchers compared the 2014–2016 and 2023–2024 El Niño events. Global mean sea level rose by 9.16 mm during the development phase of the 2014–2016 event and by 7.70 mm during 2023–2024. Water moving from land to the ocean accounted for about 68% and 81% of the respective increases. The 2023–2024 event produced a faster rise over a shorter period. Warmer ocean waters, particularly in the Indian Ocean also contributed to the increase, with researchers linking the effect partly to the simultaneous positive Indian Ocean Dipole. Rainfall and runoff patterns across continents also played a maj...

  Bengaluru: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a method to recycle discarded milk packets into strong materials that could be used to make outdoor furniture and other products. Milk packets, mostly made from polyethylene, are widely used across India, generating millions of pieces of plastic waste every day. However, these packets often have low recycling value and may remain in garbage bins, roadsides and landfills for long periods. The IISc team from the Department of Materials Engineering developed a technique that combines polyethylene from milk packets with recycled polypropylene a plastic commonly used in oil and shampoo containers. Since the two plastics have different molecular structures, vitrimer-based components are used to help t...

  A rapidly strengthening El Niño is emerging as a major climate signal for the second half of 2026, with new forecasts suggesting the event could reach exceptionally strong levels later this year and influence weather patterns through the winter of 2026-27. El Niño, the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) develops when sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific become unusually warm. The World Meteorological Organization had already indicated a high likelihood of El Niño developing during June-August 2026, while NOAA said in June that the event was expected to strengthen during the autumn. The latest developments come as several parts of the world are already experiencing unusually active weather, including heavy monsoon rainfall in India and concerns...

  A new study has found that India summer monsoon rainfall and the Arabian Sea fish supporting upwelling are influenced by sunlight in different hemispheres, challenging the long held view that the South Asian monsoon functions as a single system. Researchers Qin Wen of Nanjing Normal University and Zhengyu Liu of Ohio State University analysed climate records spanning the past 150,000 years. They compared rainfall evidence preserved in cave formations across India and China with Arabian Sea sediment records that capture changes in ocean upwelling. The study found that stronger Northern Hemisphere summer sunlight strengthens rainfall over the Indian subcontinent. However, Arabian Sea upwelling is more closely linked to Southern Hemisphere summer sunlight. According to the ...

  The United States removed 100 outdated dams across 30 states in 2025, reconnecting more than 4,893 miles of rivers, according to a report by American Rivers. The achievement marked a record for the number of upstream river miles restored through dam removals in a single year. The projects have helped restore natural river flows, reopen habitats for fish and wildlife and address safety concerns linked to ageing infrastructure. Pennsylvania recorded the highest number of removals, with 14 dams taken down, followed by Massachusetts with 11 and Vermont with nine. Ecological restoration was the most common reason for the projects, cited in 59 cases, while deteriorating structures accounted for 37 removals. Safety concerns were also involved in 20 projects. Several removals ha...

  As many as 108 cities covered under the Centre’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) exceeded the prescribed annual limit for PM10 pollution in each of the last three financial years, according to data presented by the government in the Lok Sabha on August 10. Maharashtra recorded the highest number of such cities at 19, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 16. Andhra Pradesh had eight cities, while Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Punjab reported seven each. West Bengal had six and Rajasthan five. The national ambient air quality standard for PM10 is 60 micrograms per cubic metre. PM10 consists of tiny airborne particles that can enter the respiratory system and contribute to health risks. Despite the continued exceedances, the government said air quality has improved in many citie...

August 12, 2026: More than 1,500 commercial vessels that have remained idle in and around the Persian Gulf since February could pose a major marine biosecurity threat when they eventually leave the region, according to researchers. Scientists warn that ships stranded by the prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz have had more time to accumulate marine organisms on their hulls. When these vessels resume their journeys, they could transport invasive species, parasites and diseases to ports around the world, potentially triggering what researchers describe as an international marine biosecurity “super-spreader” event. The economic consequences of the Strait of Hormuz disruption have received considerable attention, but the potential ecological consequences of prolonged vessel layu...

  An environmental initiative in Brazil is using human hair to create floating barriers designed to absorb oil and other pollutants from coastal waters. The project, developed by Brazilian non-governmental organisation Fiotrar, is being tested in Enseada de Bom Jesus along Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro. The area has faced decades of pollution linked to heavy maritime traffic, illegal discharges and other sources. The idea was inspired by similar technologies already used in countries including Chile and the United States. Human hair has natural properties that allow it to absorb oil, making discarded salon hair a potentially useful material for cleaning polluted water. The hair is packed into cylindrical structures known as “eco blankets” or filters. These are attached t...

  Lady Elliot Island a coral cay at the southern end of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has undergone a remarkable ecological recovery after being left severely degraded by 19th century guano mining. The island’s decline began in 1863, when commercial guano mining removed nutrient rich soil and vegetation. Introduced goats further damaged the landscape by preventing new plants from establishing. Although mining ended in 1874, much of the ecological damage remained, leaving the island largely covered in exposed coral rubble. A major turning point came in 1969, when Australian pilot Don Adams secured a tourism lease on the island. Rather than focusing only on tourism, Adams began an ambitious revegetation programme. He flew in drums of fresh water and thousands of seedlings from...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled a new global blueprint to strengthen the prevention, detection and control of transboundary animal diseases, warning that their rapid spread poses a growing threat to food security, livelihoods, trade and human health. The Global Partnership Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases (GPP-TAD) was presented at a high level event in Rome on July 24. The country led initiative aims to bring governments, farmers, private companies, financial institutions, foundations and producers together through national partnership platforms. FAO Director General QU Dongyu said diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, foot and mouth disease, African swine fever and New World screwworm are spreading across borde...