Breaking News Archives - Page 236 of 255

Jun182024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Water Shortages Feared as Hindu Kush Himalaya Records Second-Lowest Snow Persistence on Record, Warns ICIMOD Report

Snow persistence, the fraction of time snow remains on the ground, is significantly lower than normal in the Hindu Kush Himalaya this year, with serious implications for downstream communities’ water security. Leading experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), which publishes the annual Snow Update Report, warn water management officials to initiate drought management strategies and pre-emptive emergency water supply measures. The report reveals that snowmelt, a critical source of water, contributes approximately 23% of the total water flow to 12 major river basins originating in the HKH region. However, its contribution varies significantly among rivers: the Amu Darya receives 74% of its flow from snowmelt, the Helmand 77%, and the Indus 40%. ...

Jun182024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Major Earthquake 2,500 Years Ago Likely Altered Ganges River Course, Study Finds

Breaking News, Disasters, Learning & Developments

A major earthquake more than 2,500 years ago likely caused one of the world's largest rivers to change its course, according to a study published today in the journal Nature Communications. The findings by a global research team suggest that a similar event could have the potential to alter the river's course again in the future. The modern Ganges River, spanning 2,500 kilometers, flows from the Himalayas southeastward into Bangladesh, where it is known as the Padma River. It then connects with the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers. Currently, the Ganges-Padma is located around 50 kilometers south of Dhaka. However, satellite imagery has revealed evidence of its former course, approximately 100 kilometers from the city. This discovery indicates that a major event, likely seismic activity...

Jun172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Nepal’s Wildfires Intensify: Over 5,000 Blazes Recorded in 2024 Amidst Climate Change and Forest Mismanagement Concerns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Nepal is grappling with an alarming increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires, with nearly 5,000 incidents recorded this year alone. This makes 2024 the second-worst year for wildfires since records began in 2002, surpassed only by the devastating fire season of 2021, which saw over 6,300 outbreaks. In the past 12 months, more than 100 people have lost their lives due to wildfires, and the capital city, Kathmandu, was shrouded in hazardous wildfire smog for days on end. Climate models predict that Nepal will continue to experience more frequent drought conditions in the future, likely exacerbating the wildfire situation. However, forest scientists suggest that the increasing incidence of wildfires is not solely due to climate change. They point to changes in Nepalese communit...

Jun172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Crores of Premature Deaths Linked to Air Pollution in India Over Four Decades

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A comprehensive study led by researchers from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has revealed that air pollution from fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been linked to approximately 2.61 crore premature deaths in India between 1980 and 2020. This makes it one of the most extensive studies on air quality and climate, utilizing 40 years of data to assess the health impacts of PM2.5. According to the study, the average life expectancy in India has been significantly reduced due to conditions caused by PM2.5 pollution, such as strokes, heart and lung diseases, and cancer. The study also noted that weather patterns have exacerbated the impact of pollution, increasing the death toll by 14%. “Asia was estimated to have the largest number of PM2.5-attributable premature deat...

Jun162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Neptune Changes Color From Blue to Pale Yellow in image shown by NASA

Breaking News, Space

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) often captures stunning images of our universe that amaze space enthusiasts. NASA's social media accounts are gold for those who love educational videos and fun pictures of Earth and space. The agency's Voyager 2 spacecraft shared a photo of Neptune's south pole in its latest post. The image shows Neptune's south pole. NASA aptly described the image as "the curve at the bottom of the image is like a smile. From left to right, the planet changes color from blue to pale yellow." The space agency wrote on Instagram: "Our Voyager 2 spacecraft took this image of Neptune's south pole as it flew past the planet in 1989. Here's an interesting fact about Neptune's south pole: It's about 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer tha...

Jun152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Slowing of Earth’s Inner Core May Alter Length of Days, Study Reveals

Breaking News, Space

A groundbreaking study has found "clear evidence" that the Earth's inner core has slowed its rotation relative to the planet's surface since 2010, potentially affecting the length of a day by a fraction of a second. The inner core, a solid sphere of iron and nickel, is encased within the liquid outer core and stabilized by gravity. Researchers typically study the core through seismograms, which record waves generated by earthquakes. "When I first saw the seismograms showing these changes, I was shocked," said John Widale, Earth sciences professor at the University of Southern California. "But after finding dozens more observations with the same pattern, the conclusion was inescapable. The inner core has slowed down for the first time in decades," added Widale, co-author of the study ...

Jun152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Microplastics Detected in Human Semen: Scientists Sound Alarm Over Pervasive Pollution’s Potential Reproductive Impact

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

Scientists are finding microplastics in virtually every nook and cranny they inspect in the human body. The alarming discoveries are now stacking up with such speed, there's barely any time to let the news sink in before another part of our anatomy joins the list of contaminated sites. Shortly after researchers in the US confirmed that microplastics had infiltrated the tissue in human testicles, researchers in China have now detected the pollutants in sperm as well. The team found microscopic fragments of plastic in every sample of seminal fluid supplied by 36 male participants from inland China. Polystyrene (PS) particles were the most abundant type found, making up nearly a third of the plastic identified in the average sample. Researchers aren't sure, but they suspect that the ...

Jun152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Haryana Chief Secretary Declares Solid Waste Emergency in Gurugram: Urgent Measures Launched Following Supreme Court Directive

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Haryana Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad announced that there is a huge amount of solid waste in Gurugram due to the large amount of untreated sewage, which is adversely affecting the environment and public health. The move is in response to the Supreme Court's May 13 judgment and the National Green Tribunal's observations on the need for a cleaner environment. In its May 13 decision, the Supreme Court said that a large amount of unprocessed solid waste destroys the environment, which is the main factor affecting the unpolluted life of citizens guaranteed in Article 21 of the Constitution. The NGT, in its order dated September 23, 2022, observed that the situation is an environmental emergency, but the required seriousness has not yet been resolved. The chief secretary, in an order issued...

Jun152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Huge Success for Ozone Layer: Scientists Hail Rapid Decline in Harmful Gases, Thanks to Montreal Protocol

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Scientists said on Tuesday that international efforts to protect the ozone layer had been a "huge success" after they revealed that the harmful gas in the atmosphere is declining faster than previously thought. The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, aims to detect ozone-depleting substances found mainly in refrigerants, air conditioners, and aerosol sprays. New research has found that atmospheric levels of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), harmful gases that cause holes in the ozone layer, will rise in 2021—five years earlier than predicted. "This is a big achievement. We can see that things are going in the right direction," the lead author of the study, Luke Western, from the from the University of Bristol in England, told AFP. The most harmful CFCs were phased out in 2010 to...

Jun152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Scientists Warn Cascadia Faultline Could Trigger Catastrophic Earthquake and Tsunami on West Coast

Breaking News, Disasters

Scientists have raised alarms about the Cascadia Subduction Zone, an underwater faultline off the west coast of America, that could unleash a devastating earthquake and tsunami at any moment. This faultline spans 600 miles (966 kilometers) from Southern Canada to Northern California. Recent underwater mapping has revealed that this faultline, typically divided into two parts, is now splitting into four sections, indicating heightened risk. The Cascadia Subduction Zone has been identified as a major geological threat due to its immense potential for seismic activity. If there is even slight movement in the tectonic plates here, it could trigger catastrophic destruction. Scientists warn that this faultline could generate an earthquake with a magnitude exceeding 9.0, far surpassing the cap...