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    A new study from the Himalayan foothills has revealed that roadside vegetation and farms can play an important role in supporting native bee populations. Researchers studying pollinators in the Jammu region found that these human-modified landscapes often attract a surprising variety of bee species, challenging the long-held belief that biodiversity is highest only in untouched natural habitats. The research was conducted by scientists from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Jammu. During field surveys carried out between 2022 and 2023, researchers recorded 1,087 individual bees belonging to 21 species. The study focused on native bees that are not part of the honeybee group, often referred to as non-Apis pollinators. Scientists i...

    Several parts of India are already experiencing unusually high temperatures as early heatwave conditions spread across western and northern regions of the country. According to the India Meteorological Department, many areas recorded significantly above-normal maximum temperatures on March 11, with some regions facing severe heatwave conditions. The most intense conditions were reported in parts of Gujarat, particularly in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions, where temperatures surged far above seasonal averages. Major cities including Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar recorded maximum temperatures that were 7.2 degrees Celsius and 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal respectively. Meteorologists said that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions have also affected isolated areas ...

    New Delhi: What was meant to be a vibrant spring attraction in the capital ended up disappointing many visitors this year as the flowers at the Delhi Tulip Festival dried up just days after blooming. Large sections of the famous tulip beds along Shanti Path were already bare by the time many Delhi residents arrived to see them. The festival, organised by the New Delhi Municipal Council, was officially inaugurated on 23 February and scheduled to run until 10 March. However, by early March most of the flowers had already wilted. Visitors who came expecting colourful rows of blooms instead found dried stems and empty patches of soil under the rising spring heat. The event had gained attention after Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta encouraged residents to enjoy tulips...

    A major international cleanup initiative has removed more than 45 million kilograms of plastic waste from oceans and rivers, marking the largest verified amount ever collected by a single global cleanup project. The milestone highlights the growing ability of large-scale engineering systems to remove plastic pollution while also underscoring the enormous amount of waste that continues to enter marine ecosystems every year. The achievement was reported by the environmental organization The Ocean Cleanup, which has been deploying advanced debris-capturing systems across rivers and open ocean areas. The effort has focused on locations where floating plastic naturally accumulates, including coastlines, rivers, and the massive garbage zone known as the Great Pacific Garba...

    Microplastics are widely known for polluting oceans and marine ecosystems, but scientists are now raising concerns about another growing environmental threat plastic contamination in agricultural soils. A new scientific review suggests that these tiny plastic fragments may be transforming farmland into microscopic battlegrounds where microbes and viruses compete, interact, and exchange genes. The research team, led by scientists from Jiangsu University, examined how microplastics affect soil ecosystems at the smallest biological scales. Their findings suggest that plastic particles do more than simply pollute the soil. They create new microscopic environments that can reshape microbial communities and potentially influence soil fertility and the long-term sustainabil...

    February 2026 ranked as the fifth warmest February ever recorded globally, according to new data released by the Copernicus Climate Change Service. The month was marked by extreme rainfall across Western Europe and one of the lowest Arctic sea ice levels for February, highlighting the growing impacts of global climate change. The climate monitoring service, which is implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, reported that the global average surface air temperature for February reached 13.26°C. This was about 0.53°C higher than the average recorded between 1991 and 2020, and about 1.49°C above pre-industrial levels from 1850 to 1900. Climate experts say the data underscores the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. Samantha Bur...

    A surprising scientific discovery near the summit of Mount Everest has revealed that the world’s highest mountain was once part of an ancient ocean floor hundreds of millions of years ago. Scientists have found marine fossils embedded in limestone rocks high in the Himalayas, offering powerful evidence of Earth’s dramatic geological transformations over time. Images of the fossils recently went viral online, capturing global attention. The fossils include remains of ancient sea creatures preserved within rock layers close to Everest’s summit, more than 8,000 metres above sea level. Researchers say these fossils date back roughly 450 million years, proving that the rocks forming the mountain were once located beneath a vast prehistoric ocean. Scientists explain tha...

    Across deserts stretching from Africa to India, one of nature’s most destructive natural phenomena emerges when environmental conditions are right massive swarms of Desert Locust that can devastate vegetation and crops within hours. These swarms, sometimes stretching up to 40 miles (about 64 kilometres) wide, can contain billions of insects and are capable of moving rapidly across vast landscapes. Footage featured in the nature documentary series Planet Earth, narrated by David Attenborough, shows how these swarms travel across deserts and farmland while stripping vegetation in their path. Desert locust outbreaks begin under the soil. Eggs laid in desert ground can remain dormant for many years, sometimes up to two decades, waiting for favourable environmental con...

    Groundwater supports millions of people around the world, quietly supplying drinking water, irrigation, and household needs. Yet because it lies hidden beneath the earth’s surface, changes in underground water reserves often go unnoticed until wells begin to run dry. Scientists are now using satellites to detect these losses much earlier, providing a powerful new tool for water management. A major breakthrough in monitoring groundwater came with the launch of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, commonly known as GRACE. Rather than directly observing water, the satellites measure tiny variations in the Earth’s gravitational field. Because water has mass, changes in underground water storage slightly alter local gravity. By tracking these changes, scientists c...

    The destruction of forests, coral reefs and other critical ecosystems is no longer viewed only as an environmental issue. Governments and researchers are increasingly warning that biodiversity loss could destabilize societies, trigger migration crises and intensify global conflicts over food, water and natural resources. A recent assessment by the United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs highlights how environmental degradation can directly threaten national security. According to the report, ecosystems form the foundation of human survival by supporting clean air, freshwater supplies, food production and climate stability. When these natural systems weaken or collapse, the consequences can ripple across economies and political systems far ...