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    The Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed a compact, portable seawater desalination system that can convert saline water into safe drinking water without the use of electricity, offering a critical solution for soldiers deployed in remote and coastal regions. The system, called the Sea Water Desalination System, was unveiled in early January 2026 by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur following requirements raised by the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Designed to support troops operating far from established water sources, the system can process seawater as well as brackish water and make it potable at the point of use. DRDO officials said the technology is aimed at improving logistical self-sufficiency in challenging terrains such as coastal...

    Africa’s forests, long regarded as one of the world’s most important natural carbon sinks, are now releasing more carbon into the atmosphere than they absorb, according to a new international study led by scientists at the University of Leicester. The findings suggest that large-scale forest loss across the continent has pushed African forests past a critical threshold, weakening their role in slowing global climate change. The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports analysed changes in aboveground forest biomass across Africa using satellite observations, machine learning techniques and field measurements collected over more than a decade. Scientists found that while African forests gained carbon between 2007 and 2010, the trend reversed sharply after ...

    In a striking example of how climate change is reshaping marine life, scientists have found that whales are adapting to warming oceans by altering what they eat and how they share food resources. The findings, based on nearly three decades of data, suggest that rising sea temperatures and shrinking prey availability are forcing whales to adjust their feeding strategies in ways not seen for decades. The study highlights how climate change is not only warming the oceans but also reshaping marine food webs and ecosystem dynamics, with long-term consequences for ocean health. Long-Term Study Reveals Shifting Feeding Patterns The research, published in Frontiers in Marine Science analysed more than 1,100 tissue samples from fin, humpback and minke whales collected o...

    Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday inaugurated the Saleran Dam eco-tourism project, marking a renewed push towards sustainable tourism and green development in the state. Built at a cost of ₹2.80 crore, the project is aimed at attracting nature enthusiasts while creating employment opportunities and generating revenue for the state. The Saleran Dam tourism site includes four eco-friendly tree house huts two for families and two for couples along with a cafeteria that can accommodate 80 visitors, a children’s playground and boating facilities, which will be introduced in the coming days. The Chief Minister said all necessary safety measures have been incorporated into the project design. Eco-Tourism Expansion Around Small Dams and Forest Assets Highli...

Urban sewage flowing through Indian cities is rapidly becoming a breeding ground for dangerous drug-resistant bacteria, raising serious public health concerns, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. Scientists warn that untreated wastewater carrying antibiotic residues is enabling pathogens to develop resistance to commonly used medicines, pushing antimicrobial resistance beyond hospitals and into rivers and communities. The study finds that sewage systems are acting as training grounds for bacteria, where traces of antibiotics allow microbes to adapt, survive and share resistance genes. This process, researchers say, threatens the effectiveness of widely prescribed drugs such as azithromycin and amoxicillin, which are crucial for treating everyday infections. Hosp...

    Planting forests to generate carbon credits is emerging as a major tool for ecosystem restoration in Brazil, offering a potential pathway to revive degraded landscapes while supporting climate mitigation efforts. However, experts say the fast-growing sector still faces challenges related to credibility, long-term responsibility and the complex nature of restoring native ecosystems. Founded in 2021, Brazilian company re.green has positioned itself at the forefront of commercial forest restoration by restoring degraded land and selling carbon credits. The company currently operates across 34,000 hectares in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest regions and aims to restore one million hectares of tropical forest nationwide. Its work received global recognition after winning th...

    As water scarcity intensifies worldwide due to climate change, population growth and economic expansion, a new study offers an unexpected insight: aging populations may significantly reduce future water demand. Research published in Water Resources Research suggests that global water withdrawals could fall by as much as 31 percent by the middle of this century as societies age, potentially easing pressure on rivers, lakes and aquifers. Water scarcity has emerged as one of the most serious challenges of the 21st century. Climate-driven droughts and floods are becoming more extreme, while freshwater demand continues to rise. Traditionally, projections of water use have focused on population size, economic growth and climate trends. However, this study highlights that p...

India’s infrastructure spending has crossed three per cent of gross domestic product, but rising climate risks are increasingly threatening the insurability of critical assets such as highways, ports, hydropower projects and urban infrastructure, according to a new report by Climate Trends. The analysis warns that as climate impacts become more frequent and predictable, some regions of the country could move dangerously close to the threshold of uninsurability, raising serious fiscal and financial concerns for governments, insurers and investors. Titled Climate Risks and Insurance for India’s Infrastructure, the report finds that floods, cyclones, landslides and extreme heat are inflicting growing damage on capital-intensive infrastructure, pushing insurance premiums higher and exposing...

    People walking through fresh snowfall in Srinagar captured the harsh winter conditions gripping large parts of northern India as the India Meteorological Department issued a warning for another spell of rain and snowfall. According to the IMD’s forecast released on Wednesday, a western disturbance is set to bring widespread precipitation to regions that are already experiencing an intense cold wave. The weather department has predicted rain or snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh over the next two days, while Uttarakhand is likely to receive precipitation on January 27 and 28. The IMD said that a fresh wet spell with fairly widespread to widespread rainfall or snowfall is expected, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reachi...

    At a time when Punjab’s agriculture is struggling with falling incomes, rising input costs and heavy dependence on the wheat–paddy cycle, a young farmer from Bathinda has shown how technology-driven farming can dramatically change fortunes. Thirty-year-old Ramandeep Singh from Maur Khurd village has achieved a turnover of over Rs 1 crore in his very first year of aeroponic potato seed production, a method that grows plants without soil. Using advanced aeroponic technology, Singh cultivates potato seeds with their roots suspended in the air, allowing precise control over water, nutrients, temperature and disease. His success highlights a growing shift among a small but determined group of farmers towards high-tech, high-value agriculture. From Wheat and Paddy to Hi...