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Southern Madagascar is in the grip of what the United Nations has called the world’s first “climate change famine,” with tens of thousands suffering catastrophic hunger. New research from climate scientist Chris Funk and his team at the University of California, Santa Barbara, links this crisis directly to years of failed rains and increasing climate volatility tied to warming oceans. According to Funk, five of the last six rainy seasons in southern Madagascar have failed, pushing the region into prolonged drought. Satellite data from the Climate Hazards Group’s Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) system has recorded rainfall totals that rank in the lowest 10% since 1981. Warmer-than-normal air temperatures in recent years have also led to higher atmospheric water demand, acce...

As climate change intensifies food insecurity across Africa, a new study offers hope rooted not in technology but in history. Researchers have revealed how African communities survived over 10,000 years of climatic ups and downs not through rigid plans, but by developing highly flexible, mixed food systems adapted to their environment. This historical resilience offers critical insights for modern food policies. The study, conducted by a team of multidisciplinary scientists and published this week, is the first to use isotopic data from human and animal bones at 187 archaeological sites across Africa to reconstruct continent-wide livelihood strategies. The researchers found that communities from ancient Botswana to Egypt survived drastic climate changes by blending herding, farming, for...

Torrential rains continued to lash parts of South Korea, leaving at least one person dead and forcing the evacuation of more than 100 residents, as authorities scrambled to respond to mounting landslide risks and flash flood threats. The brunt of the damage has been felt in the South Chungcheong province, just south of the capital Seoul, where relentless downpours since Wednesday have dumped over 400 millimeters of rain, paralyzing daily life and prompting the highest level of weather alerts. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety confirmed that the powerful storm system has triggered landslide warnings across multiple areas, including steep, vulnerable terrain. Emergency response teams remain on high alert, with officials urging residents to avoid low-lying or unstable areas and to re...

A powerful lightning strike turned a peaceful evening into tragedy at a New Jersey archery range, claiming the life of a 61-year-old man and injuring 13 others, including a 7-year-old child. The incident occurred around 7:15 PM on Wednesday at the Black Knight Bowbenders archery range in Jackson Township, amid forecasted thunderstorms. Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz confirmed that emergency responders rushed to the scene after reports of a lightning strike. One man, who went into cardiac arrest, required immediate CPR but later succumbed to his injuries. Several of the injured sustained burns and other trauma from the strike and were promptly hospitalized. The current medical conditions of the victims have not yet been disclosed by authorities. The National Weather Servic...

In a welcome change for residents long accustomed to smog-filled skies, Delhi recorded its cleanest air in nearly two years on Tuesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) slipping into the 'good' category a rare occurrence for the city. The 24-hour average AQI stood at 51 by 4 PM, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a level not seen since September 10, 2023, when it dropped to 45. The significant improvement comes as persistent rain and steady winds helped flush out pollutants from the air. In the early part of the day, the AQI hovered between 48 and 50, comfortably within the 'good' range a classification the capital seldom achieves outside of the monsoon season. Meteorologists from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the clean air to continuous l...

South Korea faced another grim chapter in its battle with extreme weather as torrential rains triggered a landslide in South Chungcheong province on Thursday, raising fears that two individuals might be trapped beneath the rubble. The relentless downpour, which has battered the region for days, forced authorities to sound urgent alerts and scramble emergency teams to the site. According to reports the incident occurred amid continued monsoon activity, with rain saturating the soil to dangerous levels. Search and rescue operations are underway, with responders navigating treacherous terrain in hopes of locating the missing individuals. So far, no official confirmation has been made on their status, but rescue teams remain cautiously optimistic. The South Korean Meteorological Administ...

The latest textbooks introduced by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) aim to bridge ancient Indian knowledge with modern science while championing gender sensitivity and interactive learning for school students. From Acharya Kanad early atomic theory to India’s ISRO missions and women in leadership, the new curriculum is being hailed as both rooted and forward-looking. In the Class 8 science textbook titled Curiosity, a section named Our Scientific Heritage draws connections between age-old practices and present-day advancements. For instance, it explains how variolation, a traditional Indian method used to protect against smallpox, predates Edward Jenner’s invention of vaccination. The chapter also highlights India’s key role in the global COVID-19 vaccin...

Sand and dust storms long seen as regional nuisances are emerging as a silent but devastating global crisis, significantly worsened by climate change and unsustainable land practices. A recent United Nations World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) report reveals these storms now impact more than 330 million people across 150 countries, with far-reaching health, environmental, and economic consequences. According to the WMO, climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of dust storms, especially in vulnerable regions like North Africa and the Middle East. The storms not only degrade ecosystems and disrupt agriculture and transport, but also pose a grave public health threat. Airborne dust particles contribute to around seven million premature deaths annually, primarily due t...

In an alarming sign of changing climate patterns, Srinagar recorded a searing 34.4°C on May 22 this year the hottest May day in nearly six decades. The heat continued into June, hitting a scorching 35.5°C by June 20, marking the hottest June day in 20 years. Nighttime brought little relief, with minimum temperatures hovering around 23.2°C among the highest night temperatures recorded in over a century. The heatwave peaked again on July 12, when temperatures touched 37.4°C, the third-highest July day temperature since 1946, according to Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar. As temperatures shift in lifestyle is already visible. Air coolers once a rare sight in the Valley are now becoming a household necessity, especially in urban areas. Priced under ₹10,000...

  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has once again accused the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) of triggering recurrent floods across south Bengal by releasing large volumes of water from its reservoirs without consulting the state government. Chairing a high-level review meeting at Nabanna on Tuesday, Banerjee said that DVC has discharged nearly 27,000 lakh cubic metres of water into Bengal's rivers since June 18, aggravating flood-like conditions in several districts. Expressing frustration over what she termed a "14-year-long fight without result," Banerjee said the releases from DVC’s Maithon and Panchet reservoirs were being done to protect Jharkhand at the cost of flooding West Bengal. “They are saving themselves, but letting Bengal suffer,” she said, stressing th...