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Canada is once again battling a dangerous wildfire season in 2025, with thick smoke plumes sweeping across the country and into the United States echoing the devastating fires of 2023. But this year, a major technological leap is giving scientists and air quality officials a new edge in understanding the true danger hidden in the haze: how close the smoke is to the ground. While traditional satellites have long tracked the spread of wildfire smoke, their view was two-dimensional. They couldn’t tell whether the smoke was floating high above or lingering near the surface, where it poses serious health risks. That distinction matters and now, a new 3D satellite monitoring system is making it possible. The Danger Lies in the Depth When smoke hangs close to the surface, it carries harm...

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have found that Earth continents have been drying at an unprecedented scale since 2002 with over 75% of the global population living in countries that are losing freshwater at alarming rates. The findings, published in Science Advances and led by Arizona State University, draw on more than two decades of satellite data and expose what experts are calling a “planetary wake-up call.” Researchers identified four massive “mega-drying” regions across the Northern Hemisphere, driven by climate change, groundwater overuse, and intensifying droughts. The consequences, scientists warn, could reshape global water security, agriculture, sea levels, and geopolitical stability. Freshwater Disappearing Twice as Fast as It's Replenished Using data from N...

A team of scientists from Northwestern University and UCLA has developed a powerful new landslide prediction framework that could transform how we prepare for and respond to deadly slope failures. Unlike traditional models that rely solely on rainfall, this innovative system tracks multiple water-related triggers including soil saturation and snowmelt offering sharper accuracy and broader coverage in landslide-prone regions. Published in Geophysical Research Letters, the study introduces a data-driven, machine-learning approach that researchers say could revolutionize early warning systems and climate resilience planning in vulnerable areas like California. Beyond Rainfall: Tracking the Water That Triggers Slides "Current early warning systems often rely on past rainfall and histo...

Every winter thousands of migratory birds from as far as Europe and Siberia arrive at a little-known gem in Uttar Pradesh the Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary in Gonda district. Despite being designated a Ramsar site and covering over 1,000 hectares, this serene wetland remains off the radar for most travellers. Located just 40 km from Gonda and 25 km from Ayodhya, the sanctuary offers a peaceful refuge not only for over 150 bird species but also for wildlife lovers seeking calm, crowd-free experiences. Oxbow Lakes and Avian Highways At the heart of the sanctuary lie two oxbow lakes Parvati Tal and Arga Tal remnants of an ancient river bend that now serve as freshwater havens for birds and aquatic plants. Declared a sanctuary in 1990, it became part of the Ramsar Convention's globally re...

China is reeling under one of its worst flood crises in recent years, with relentless rainstorms triggering deadly landslides, swollen rivers, and widespread chaos across several provinces. At least four people have died, thousands have been displaced, and entire communities face severe disruptions as rescue operations race against time. In Beijing, authorities have sounded the highest-level flood alert after record-breaking rainfall drenched the capital and its outskirts. The Miyun district alone has seen the emergency resettlement of over 4,400 residents, with more evacuations expected as weather forecasts warn of continued heavy downpours. According to state broadcaster CCTV, 41 rivers have overflowed their banks, as reported by China’s Ministry of Water Resources. Urban and rural...

A new landmark study by Cambridge University has found a strong link between long-term exposure to air pollution and an increased risk of dementia, raising urgent health concerns for countries like India where pollution levels remain consistently high. Published in The Lancet Planetary Health, the research analysed data from over 29 million people across 51 studies, making it the most comprehensive global review to date on air pollution and dementia. The findings confirm that fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and black carbon (soot) significantly increase the risk of developing the neurodegenerative condition. What the study found The study reveals that for every 10 μg/m³ rise in PM2.5 microscopic particles released from vehicles and power plants the risk of...

A new study by Ahmedabad University has found that the air inside homes and buildings can be more polluted than the air outside often by a significant margin. The research revealed that levels of particulate matter (PM) indoors were up to 2.5 times higher than those recorded outdoors, even when there were no direct indoor sources of pollution. The findings challenge the widely held belief that staying indoors offers protection from air pollution. The study, conducted across various urban households, also showed that moderate to very poor air quality days were more frequent inside homes than outside. The researchers linked the rise in indoor PM levels to common household practices such as the use of perfumes, disinfectants, room sprays, and even routine activities like cooking. “Pe...

The cracks in Joshimath were a warning, not an isolated event. When buildings in this Uttarakhand town began to sink in 2023, it wasn’t just a local disaster it exposed a far larger crisis: India growing disregard for ecological limits, both in mountains and cities. The idea of carrying capacity the threshold beyond which nature can no longer sustain human activities first gained traction in the 1970s. Today, it has become more urgent than ever. While the term is often used in the context of fragile mountain ecosystems, the reality is this: no ecosystem, rural or urban, can be pushed beyond its limit without severe consequences. Despite decades of discussing “sustainability,” few practices today truly live up to that name. Projects that are financially self-sustaining are quickly lab...

As temperatures across southern Europe soar to record breaking highs, Turkey has hit a historic new peak 50.5°C the highest ever recorded in the country history. Registered in the southeastern town of Silopi, near the borders of Iraq and Syria, the extreme heat has turned routine life into a battle for survival. Turkey’s Environment Ministry confirmed the record on Saturday, noting that 132 weather stations across the country logged record-high temperatures for the month of July. The previous national record of 49.5°C was set in August 2023. The brutal heatwave has triggered a series of devastating wildfires across Turkey, with high winds and dry conditions fuelling flames in provinces from Antalya to Eskisehir. In Eskisehir alone, 13 forest workers and rescuers died while battling a...

In the heart of Mumbai lies Dharavi Asia largest slum, a dense labyrinth of humanity where over a million people live and work in crammed, often hazardous conditions. Now, it stands at the brink of a colossal transformation. The man behind it? Gautam Adani. Navigating Latur Galli in Dharavi is like stepping into another world. In this tightly packed warren of homes and workshops, 58-year-old Basavraj Swami shares a 70-square-foot room with eight family members. There’s barely space to breathe, let alone move. At night, Swami sleeps under the bed, his daughter on top of it, and his elderly mother on a mat. Lofts stacked above serve as sleeping quarters for others. The main door remains shut not for safety, but to keep rats out. This is the reality that Adani Group now aims to change, ...