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The sacred Amarnath ice lingam, a natural stalagmite formation venerated by millions of Hindu devotees as a symbol of Lord Shiva, has melted prematurely once again raising urgent questions about the ecological toll of unchecked tourism, road expansion, and climate change in the fragile Himalayas. This year, the lingam had already melted by over 50% before the annual yatra began on July 3, and by mid-July, 95% of over 2.5 lakh pilgrims had to return without a glimpse of the sacred structure. Veteran Kashmir-based journalist Ashraf Wani, who has reported on the yatra for three decades, called the scene at the shrine “the most disheartening in recent memory.” Comparing visuals from 1998 and 2025, Wani said, “What was once a snow-filled spiritual journey is now a dusty, degraded trail ov...

A groundbreaking global study has revealed that over 90% of Earth underground fungal biodiversity hotspots are unprotected raising alarms over a hidden ecosystem that vital to combating climate change boosting crop productivity, and maintaining biodiversity. Scientists from the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (Spun) have unveiled the first high-resolution global maps of mycorrhizal fungi networks living beneath the soil that connect plant roots and regulate ecosystem health. The maps show that only 9.5% of these biodiversity-rich zones fall within legally protected areas, leaving the majority exposed to human threats like deforestation, land degradation, and climate stress. “These fungi are ecosystem engineers,” said Dr Toby Kiers, executive director of Spun. “They...

As Earth continues to heat up, scientists are detecting early warning signs of abrupt and potentially irreversible shifts in key climate systems from the Amazon rainforest to the Arctic Ocean and the Tibetan Plateau. In a groundbreaking study published in AGU Advances, researchers used a computer vision technique originally designed for identifying edges in digital images to scan through more than 150 years of simulated climate data. The technique helped flag when and where rapid climatic shifts could happen in the coming decades. The results are stark: Out of 57 advanced climate models analyzed, 48 showed at least one abrupt transition in a climate subsystem. These shifts could dramatically alter ecosystems, rainfall patterns, and global weather behavior. A New Lens on Climate In...

A dramatic geological transformation is quietly unfolding beneath East Africa, where scientists believe the continent is slowly splitting apart potentially giving rise to a brand-new ocean in the distant future. This tectonic activity is centered in the Afar region, where three major plates the Nubian, Somali, and Arabian are pulling away from each other. The movement is occurring along the East African Rift System, a 5,000-kilometre-long fracture zone that stretches from the Red Sea to Mozambique. Experts say this slow rifting could eventually separate eastern Africa from the rest of the continent and allow seawater from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to rush in, forming Earth’s next ocean. Recent satellite data and GPS measurements show that the Arabian Plate is moving away from ...

As the Maharashtra government pushes ahead with a massive redevelopment plan for Dharavi, one of Asia’s largest informal settlements, deep concern is growing among thousands of residents who may be forced to leave their homes. While the project promises sleek infrastructure and formal housing, many fear that relocation to some of Mumbai most hazardous areas could spell a public health crisis. The Dharavi Redevelopment Project launched in 2024, aims to transform the 620-acre slum into a modern urban township, spearheaded by a joint venture between the Adani Group and the state’s Slum Rehabilitation Authority. But not everyone in Dharavi will benefit. Up to 100,000 residents without the required documents have been deemed “ineligible” for rehabilitation within Dharavi and face being reloc...

Recent research reveals that the northeastern United States faces mounting threats from intensifying nor’easters, driven by warming oceans and changes in Arctic climate dynamics. Two new climate studies provide strong evidence that the strongest of these winter storms are becoming more destructive and may increasingly resemble hurricanes in their impact. The studies highlight a 17% rise in the destructive potential of the most powerful nor’easters since 1940. These storms, which typically develop along the U.S. East Coast between North Carolina and Massachusetts, are fed by interactions between cold air from the north and warm, moisture-laden air from the Atlantic’s Gulf Stream. The increase in sea surface temperatures and atmospheric moisture has contributed to more powerful storms, ch...

In a significant step toward addressing the global plastic waste crisis, German researchers have discovered freshwater fungi that can feed solely on certain types of synthetic plastic. Found in Lake Stechlin, the fungi are capable of breaking down polyurethane a widely used plastic in construction materials and foams offering a natural, eco-friendly way to tackle plastic pollution. The discovery was made by scientists at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, who studied 18 strains of microfungi living in aquatic habitats. Among them, four strains demonstrated a remarkable ability to thrive without any other carbon source, feeding entirely on synthetic polymers. These fungi not only survived but actually grew biomass while consuming plastic, signaling an evolv...

In a landmark statement, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres declared that the world is nearing a breakthrough in its battle against climate change, emphasizing that fossil fuels are “running out of road” as the cost of renewable energy continues to plummet. Speaking in New York, Guterres painted a hopeful picture of the future, asserting that “the sun is rising on a clean energy age,” driven by cheaper solar and wind power, global investment shifts, and geopolitical urgency. The UN chief underscored the staggering shift in energy economics: over 90% of renewable energy projects globally are now more cost-effective than fossil fuel-based alternatives. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), solar energy is already 41% cheaper than its cheapest fossi...

A landmark study has revealed that lands stewarded by Afro-descendant communities in Latin America experience 55% lower deforestation than national averages offering a compelling model for global climate and biodiversity goals. The findings, published July 22, 2025, in Nature Communications Earth and Environment, emphasize the powerful role of traditional knowledge and community-led conservation. The research, conducted by scientists from Conservation International, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and MIT, found that territories managed by Afro-descendant communities descendants of Africans enslaved and brought to the Americas preserve biodiversity-rich forests and store immense quantities of carbon. In fact, 57% of these lands rank among the world’s top 5% for biodiversi...

As Mumbai gleaming skyline grows taller, so does the silent threat lapping at its shores. A new warning signals that the city trillion-dollar real estate market may be heading for an unavoidable climate reckoning one that no longer decades away, but rapidly approaching. According to climate projections under high-emission scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), sea levels along Mumbai’s coast could rise by 25 cm by 2050. While that figure may seem modest, it carries profound consequences for a city already battling intense monsoon floods, crumbling drainage systems, and land subsidence. The global slowdown in decarbonisation efforts catalyzed by political shifts such as Donald Trump’s presidency and geopolitical turmoil like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine h...