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    A vast tree-planting campaign around the Taklamakan Desert in northwest China has transformed parts of the once-barren landscape into a seasonal carbon sink, according to new research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The Taklamakan, spread across roughly 337,000 square kilometres in China’s Xinjiang region, has long been considered one of the world’s most inhospitable deserts. Ringed by high mountain ranges that block moist air, it receives minimal rainfall often less than 16 millimetres per month even during the wet season. But satellite observations and ground measurements now indicate that the desert’s vegetated fringes are absorbing more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than they release during the summer months. In climate terms, that ...

    The Supreme Court on Tuesday closed a suo motu case initiated in 2021 to address the remediation of polluted rivers, bringing to an end five years of limited progress. The court directed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to reopen the matter and continue monitoring efforts related to river pollution. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant questioned the practicality of the apex court examining pollution levels in rivers across the country. “Is it possible for this court to look at all the polluted rivers? We can look at it one by one. We also keep entertaining so many matters and issue directions... we also have to see that we entertain matters together. Why should we have a multiplicity of issues like this?” the Chief Justice observed during the hearing...

    Microbes may be microscopic, but their survival strategies are remarkably sophisticated. A new study published in Cell Systems sheds light on why many bacteria choose cooperation over self-sufficiency and how nutrient sharing helps entire communities thrive in changing environments. Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed a mathematical model to understand how microbes trade essential nutrients, particularly amino acids. Their findings help explain why so-called “auxotrophs” microbes that cannot produce certain nutrients on their own are so common in nature. At first glance, auxotrophy appears to be a weakness. A microbe that cannot make a vital nutrient must depend on its surroundings or neighboring organisms to survive. Yet auxotro...

    Earth continents may one day merge into a single vast landmass once again and the consequences for life could be severe. New projections suggest that in about 250 million years, today’s drifting continents will collide to form a future supercontinent, dramatically reshaping global geography and climate. The study, published in Nature indicates that much of this merged landmass would experience extreme heat and widespread aridity, leaving only limited areas suitable for mammals. The research, led by scientists at the University of Bristol, used plate tectonic reconstructions to model how Earth’s landmasses may assemble in the distant future. Over millions of years, oceanic crust cools and sinks at subduction zones, pulling continents together and gradually closing ...

    In a renewed push to curb plastic pollution in ecologically sensitive forest zones, the Kanniyakumari forest department has intensified inspections at the Zero Point and Keeriparai check posts, key entry points to popular tourist destinations in the district. The move comes amid rising footfall to Kodhayar, Irattai Aruvi and Kalikesam, particularly during weekends, prompting concerns from environmentalists about the growing risk of littering in forest interiors. While check posts were already operational at these locations, residents and activists had called for stricter monitoring and greater awareness among visitors. Acting on these concerns, forest officials have stepped up vehicle inspections before granting entry into reserve forest areas. Cages have been ins...

    Rain once a rare occurrence on the frozen expanse of Antarctica, is becoming more frequent particularly along the Antarctic Peninsula and scientists warn it could fundamentally reshape the region’s glaciers, ecosystems and research infrastructure. According to new research led by Bethan Davies of Newcastle University, the peninsula already the fastest-warming part of the continent is likely to see more precipitation falling as rain rather than snow this century under all greenhouse gas emission scenarios. The findings suggest that as temperatures increasingly rise above 0°C, rainfall will accelerate surface melt, destabilise ice shelves and place growing stress on wildlife. Extreme events are already offering a preview of what lies ahead. In February 2020, temperat...

    In the dense forests of the Western Ghats and beyond, small pools of rainwater collected inside tree hollows are quietly sustaining entire ecosystems. An international study published in Ecology Letters has revealed that these water-filled cavities often described as “islands in the sky” host complex aquatic micro-communities of insects and larvae. Though modest in size, they play a disproportionately large role in maintaining forest health. Researchers found that these miniature habitats support intricate food webs that contribute to nutrient cycling and energy flow across forests. Their survival, however, depends on more than just rainfall or water quality. Forest connectivity is critical. When landscapes become fragmented, species struggle to disperse between t...

Climate change has added an average of 30 extra days of harmful heat each year to India’s coffee-growing regions between 2021 and 2025, according to new analysis by Climate Central. During this period, India recorded roughly 118 days annually with temperatures above 30°C the threshold at which coffee plants begin to suffer. Of those, about 30 days each year were directly attributable to climate change, based on modelling that compared today’s carbon-polluted world with a scenario without human-driven emissions. India produces about 3.5% of the world’s coffee, much of it cultivated across the Western Ghats. The state-level impacts are stark. Kerala saw an annual average of 65 additional extreme-heat days linked to climate change. Tamil Nadu experienced 43 extra days, while Karnataka t...

    Land-use change and rising elevation are reshaping spider communities in the north-western Indian Himalayas, with consequences that could ripple across fragile mountain ecosystems, according to new research published in Insect Conservation and Diversity. Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India examined spider assemblages across forests, agricultural lands and human-dominated areas along an elevational gradient from 1,500 to 4,500 metres in Himachal Pradesh. Their findings suggest that biodiversity in the Himalayas may be shifting toward functional regimes with lower resilience. Unlike simple species counts, the study focused on functional diversity the range of ecological roles species perform. Spiders are both predators and prey, consuming vast numbers of...

Forests have long been credited with reducing flood risk. But when it comes to the largest and most destructive floods, many scientists have argued that trees make little difference. A new study from the University of British Columbia suggests that conclusion may be based on flawed measurements rather than flawed forests. Published in the journal Ambio, the research challenges the widely used “before-and-after” method of comparing single flood peaks following logging, wildfire, or land-use change. According to the authors, floods are shaped by complex and variable conditions including soil moisture, snowpack, and storm intensity making simple peak-to-peak comparisons unreliable. Instead, the team argues that flood risk should be evaluated probabilistically. In other words, rather tha...