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    Extreme weather events are becoming far more frequent across the Arctic, according to a major new study published in Science Advances, offering one of the most comprehensive data-driven assessments yet of how rapid warming is reshaping one of the world’s most climate sensitive regions. The study, led by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, analysed more than seven decades of atmospheric reanalysis data to examine long-term changes in Arctic climate patterns. Researchers found that Arctic ecosystems are now being exposed to bioclimatic conditions that have never been observed before, signalling a profound shift in environmental stability and climate risk. While the Arctic is already known to be warming three to four times faster than the global average, the findin...

Delhi experienced its coldest morning of the winter season on Friday as the minimum temperature plunged to 4.6 degrees Celsius, following unexpected early morning rainfall, dense fog and persistent cold wave conditions. The sharp dip in temperature, around 2.3 degrees below the seasonal average, intensified the winter chill across the national capital. Several parts of the city recorded light precipitation in the early hours, adding to the bone-chilling conditions. Safdarjung, Delhi’s official weather station, reported a minimum temperature of 4.6 degrees Celsius, while Palam recorded 5 degrees Celsius, about 1.5 degrees below normal. Lodhi Road saw the temperature settle at 5.2 degrees Celsius, and the Ridge station recorded a minimum of 5.4 degrees Celsius. Ayanagar emerged as one of ...

    As the United States sharpens its focus on Venezuela’s vast natural resources, concerns are growing over whether some of South America’s most ecologically and culturally significant landscapes could come under pressure. While the Orinoco Belt holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, the mineral-rich Guiana Shield is also drawing attention for its abundant gold deposits. This renewed interest raises an unsettling question: could Mount Roraima, one of the continent’s most iconic geological formations, remain untouched amid expanding resource ambitions? Mount Roraima rises dramatically from the Guiana Shield, an ancient geological formation that dates back nearly two billion years. According to the National Trust of Guyana, the mountain is the highest peak in the ...

    Delhi experienced its coldest morning of the season on Thursday as the minimum temperature dropped to 5.8 degrees Celsius, according to data from the India Meteorological Department. The reading was recorded at the Safdarjung weather station, which is considered representative of the city’s overall weather conditions, and was 1.1 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average. Biting cold conditions have gripped Delhi and the National Capital Region, with residents stepping out in heavy winter clothing as both day and night temperatures continue to remain below normal. The IMD attributed the sharp chill to the combined effect of upper-level fog and icy northwesterly winds sweeping across the region. The minimum temperature recorded on Thursday was lower than the previ...

In the heart of Altamira, a city often overshadowed by its reputation as the most deforested municipality in the Brazilian Amazon, a small backyard business is redefining the local economy. Alessandra Moreira, a former administrative assistant who turned to sustainable crafting as a means of healing from burnout and anxiety, founded Ecoplante. This innovative company transforms discarded paper scraps into handmade, seed-embedded sheets that can be planted after use to grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers. The process begins with collecting waste paper, which is shredded and blended into a pulp before being spread over mesh screens. Moreira and her team then hand-sprinkle seeds ranging from basil and arugula to daisies onto the wet fibers. Once dried, the paper serves as a functional s...

The population of Asiatic lions in Gujarat has witnessed a remarkable surge, growing from 674 individuals in 2020 to 891 in 2025, according to the latest census by the Gujarat Forest Department. This 32% increase represents one of the highest growth rates for a big cat population globally. However, the census reveals a significant ecological shift: for the first time, a majority of the lions roughly 57% are now living outside the traditional core protected areas of the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. Expansion into "Satellite" Populations While the core Gir Protected Area remains the heart of their habitat, it is now considered "saturated," hosting 394 lions. The remaining population has fanned out into nine distinct "satellite" regions across the Saurashtra landscape. This...

    India’s persistent solid waste management crisis is rooted in the absence of robust mechanisms, inadequate infrastructure and a lack of accountability across institutions and citizens, experts said during a panel discussion held in Chennai on Tuesday. The discussion highlighted that while several pilot projects and city-level success stories exist, their impact remains limited due to weak policy implementation and poor coordination among stakeholders. The panel discussion titled Future of Waste Management: Innovation, Technology, and Behaviour Change was part of The Hindu Sustainability Dialogues 2026 in collaboration with Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS) under the theme Shaping Tomorrow’s Sustainable Narrative. Speakers at the session...

The prolonged dry spell over Tamil Nadu is expected to ease in the coming days as an unusual weather system over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression. Meteorological officials have forecast scattered to heavy rainfall across several parts of the State, particularly along the coast, for at least three days beginning Friday, January 9. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, the deep depression is currently positioned over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining east Equatorial Ocean. It is located approximately 810 kilometres southeast of Karaikal and about 980 kilometres south-southeast of Chennai. The system is likely to move west-northwestwards and cross the Sri Lanka coast between Hambantota and Kalmunai by Friday evening or night. ...

    Residents across several parts of south, southeast and north Delhi are likely to face disruptions in water supply over the next few days following damage to a major pipeline in north Delhi and a scheduled maintenance shutdown at a key water treatment plant, officials from the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said on Monday. In north Delhi, water supply has been affected after an 800-millimetre pipeline originating from the Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant was damaged. The disruption is expected to continue until the morning of January 8. Officials said technical teams have been deployed and repair work is underway on a priority basis, though restoration may take over 24 hours due to the depth of the pipeline and site-related constraints. Areas likely to be affected in north D...

Every winter, air pollution in India is treated like a seasonal inconvenience. Governments blame stubble burning, fireworks or cold weather, announce emergency measures, and wait for the season to pass. Once the air clears, so does public attention. What is rarely discussed is the real reason winter air becomes so deadly. Winter does not create pollution. It traps it. And by ignoring the basic physics of how air behaves in winter, governments continue to allow a predictable public health disaster to repeat itself every year. The most important factor behind winter pollution is a phenomenon called temperature inversion. Normally, warm air near the ground rises and carries pollutants upward, allowing them to disperse. In winter, especially during calm nights, the ground cools rapidly. ...