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For centuries, unusual animal behaviour before earthquakes has been reported across the world, from restless livestock to wildlife suddenly disappearing. While long dismissed as folklore, new scientific research suggests there may be some truth behind these observations though experts caution that animals cannot actually predict earthquakes. Recent findings highlighted by The Conversation indicate that animals may respond to subtle environmental changes that occur before seismic events. However, these responses are not reliable enough to serve as a warning system. One of the most widely cited examples comes from the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake in Italy, where researchers observed that a large number of common toads abandoned their breeding site days before the quake struck. In another s...

    A new scientific study has revealed that the Western Himalayas experienced its driest spring in nearly four centuries in 2022, raising serious concerns about water security and climate stability across northern India. The research was conducted in the remote region of Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh, where scientists studied ancient trees to reconstruct nearly 396 years of rainfall history. By extracting cores from old Deodar trees also known as Himalayan cedar they were able to analyze tree rings, which expand during wet years and shrink during dry periods. The findings showed that not only was 2022 the driest spring on record, but the last two decades, from 1999 to 2022, have been the driest period in the entire 396-year timeline. Researchers used the scientific m...

    Researchers in the United States have developed a biodegradable, plant-based packaging material that could offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, addressing a major source of global pollution. The innovation comes from a team at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where scientists have spent over a decade working on eco-friendly materials capable of matching the performance of traditional plastic packaging. The breakthrough traces back to an unexpected discovery during research on a Southeast Asian beetle known for its bright white appearance. While studying the beetle’s structure, researchers extracted chitin a natural compound found in crustacean shells and found that it could form dense, transparent films with exceptional barrier properties....

    Andhra Pradesh has utilised just over half of the funds allocated under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) over the past three financial years, according to official data. Between 2022-23 and 2024-25, the state spent ₹358.44 crore out of the approved ₹704.44 crore amounting to 50.9 per cent utilisation of funds meant for forest restoration and conservation. CAMPA funds are designed to support activities such as compensatory afforestation, natural regeneration of forests, protection of forest areas, restoration of degraded land, and improvement of wildlife habitats. Year-wise data shows varying levels of utilisation. In 2022-23, the state used ₹82.51 crore out of the approved ₹224.09 crore. Spending improved in 2023-24,...

    In a major step toward strengthening climate resilience and public health systems, the first Africa Climate Health Desk has been launched by the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development in partnership with the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization. The new regional facility, hosted in Niamey, Niger, aims to transform climate and weather data into actionable health insights, helping governments and communities respond more effectively to growing environmental threats. The Climate Health Desk is designed to close a long-standing gap between climate information and healthcare decision-making. It will convert complex weather and climate data into practical advisories, such as heatwave alerts and disease risk forecasts...

    A massive solar installation in China is doing more than just producing clean energy it is quietly reshaping the desert landscape around it. According to scientific findings, the Gonghe Photovoltaic Park in Qinghai is helping turn dry, barren land into a more fertile and life-supporting environment. A study published in Nature journal found that the solar farm has had a “positive effect” on the local ecosystem. The transformation is not due to the panels directly creating life, but rather how they alter environmental conditions. By absorbing sunlight, the panels reduce the amount of heat reaching the ground, which in turn lowers evaporation and helps the soil retain moisture. This retained moisture, combined with water runoff from regular panel cleaning, creates c...

Scientists have long known about a remarkable and unusual region in the Atlantic Ocean a sea that does not touch any land at all. This extraordinary body of water is called the Sargasso Sea, and it stands out as the only sea on Earth defined entirely by ocean currents rather than coastlines. Located about 590 miles east of Florida, the Sargasso Sea is surrounded by powerful currents, including the North Atlantic Current, Canary Current, North Equatorial Current, and Antilles Current. These circulating currents form a natural boundary, creating a calm, isolated patch of water in the middle of the ocean. Unlike other seas, the Sargasso Sea has no shores, no beaches, and no land borders. Instead, it is marked by its still, deep blue waters and floating masses of golden-brown seaweed kno...

    The relocation of leopards from Maharashtra to the privately run wildlife facility Vantara has triggered a serious debate among conservationists, raising concerns about ecology, ethics, and the future of wildlife conservation in India. Leopards are known for their remarkable adaptability. Across regions like Maharashtra, they have learned to survive in human-dominated landscapes such as farms, sugarcane fields, and semi-urban areas. Instead of retreating into forests, these animals often adjust their behaviour becoming more nocturnal and using fragmented habitats to coexist with people. However, this proximity also leads to conflict, with hundreds of human deaths linked to wild animal attacks in recent years. Experts argue that conservation science has long suppor...

Authorities have lifted restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan in Delhi NCR after a noticeable improvement in air quality, officials confirmed on Monday. According to the Commission for Air Quality Management, the Air Quality Index dropped to 119, placing it in the “moderate” category. This improvement has been supported by favourable weather conditions, which helped disperse pollutants across the region. Forecasts from the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology suggest that air quality is likely to remain stable in the coming days, allowing authorities to withdraw the restrictions. GRAP Stage 1 measures had been in place since October 14, 2025. With their removal, several restrictions are no longer applicable. These included l...

    A new global study has revealed a worrying trend Earth’s continents are steadily losing freshwater, putting nearly 6 billion people at risk and reshaping the future of water security. The research, published in Science Advances, shows that around 75% of the world’s population lives in countries where freshwater reserves have been declining continuously since 2002. Scientists describe this long-term pattern as Continental Drying, a phenomenon where water stored on land is gradually decreasing. This includes water found in rivers, lakes, soil, glaciers, and underground aquifers. The findings are based on data collected from NASA’s GRACE satellite mission and its successor GRACE Follow-On mission, which measure subtle changes in Earth’s gravity to detect water loss o...