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    Tropical forests are not only vital carbon sinks and biodiversity strongholds they are also powerful “rain machines” generating billions of dollars’ worth of rainfall every year, according to new research led by the University of Leeds. The study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, calculates that each hectare of tropical forest produces around 2.4 million litres of rainfall annually roughly enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Researchers say putting a monetary value on this overlooked ecosystem service could strengthen global efforts to halt deforestation. Amazon’s Rainfall Service Valued at $20 Billion Annually To measure forest-driven rainfall, scientists combined satellite observations with next-generation climate model simulati...

    A proposal by the Lakshadweep Administration to take over Bitra, the smallest inhabited island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, has raised alarm among conservation scientists and local residents who warn that the move could disrupt one of India’s most ecologically sensitive marine landscapes. Home to just about 270 residents, Bitra is a narrow strip of sand barely 570 metres long. Yet the lagoon surrounding the island is among the richest in biodiversity in the archipelago. Marine researchers have described extraordinary aggregations of squaretail groupers along its coral reefs densities far exceeding previously recorded levels across South and Southeast Asia. For generations, islanders have depended on traditional fishing practices that many scientists say have in...

    In a creative step toward sustainable design, Recycledin has unveiled a unique poker set crafted entirely from recycled plastic collected from seas, beaches and landfills across the Mediterranean region. The eco-friendly poker chips aim to transform environmental waste into a functional, everyday product while addressing the growing global plastic crisis. The company says approximately 2.5 kilograms of recovered plastic are used to produce each set. The collected material is thoroughly cleaned, processed and melted before being molded into smooth, lightweight poker chips that resemble standard casino-grade pieces. Each set includes 300 chips in five different colours, all uniform in size, along with dedicated dealer, small blind and big blind chips. Designed for up t...

    India is set to stop the flow of surplus water from the Ravi River to Pakistan with the completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage by March 31, marking a significant shift in water management ahead of the summer season. The move comes at a time when ties between the two countries remain strained and the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended. For years, excess water from the Ravi flowed into Pakistan due to inadequate storage infrastructure on the Indian side. With the Shahpur Kandi barrage now nearing completion, Indian authorities say that “wastage” of water will end and the flow downstream into Pakistan will be curtailed from April onwards. Project Aims to Boost Irrigation in Jammu and Punjab The announcement was made by Jammu and Kashmir minister Javed Ahmed Ra...

    A new study has cast doubt on claims that Indonesia’s legal freshwater turtle trade meaningfully supports local livelihoods, arguing instead that the trade benefits only a few hundred people while pushing several species closer to extinction. Indonesia legally harvests nearly 50,000 freshwater turtles and tortoises each year, exporting most of them to China for meat. Four species dominate this trade: the vulnerable Asiatic softshell turtle, the endangered Southeast Asian box turtle, the Asian leaf turtle, and the Malayan softshell turtle. All four are regulated under CITES, meaning international trade requires permits, and collectors must be licensed within Indonesia. However, researchers say the legal trade contributes only marginally to incomes. Only a Few Hu...

Across the planet, scientists are documenting a subtle but striking transformation: the natural world is losing its colour. Coral reefs that once shimmered in electric pinks, neon greens and deep violets are turning ghost-white during marine heatwaves. Forests that should glow with lush viridescence are fading into dusty yellow-browns under prolonged drought. Even the bright plumage of certain birds appears less vibrant than in decades past. These changes may look aesthetic at first glance. But researchers warn they are anything but superficial. Colour Is More Than Beauty It Is a Measure of Ecosystem Health In a growing scientific field known as chromatic ecology, colour is understood as a biological signal a visible marker of energy flow, stress and ecological stability. Few e...

    India is set to stop the flow of surplus water from the Ravi River to Pakistan with the completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage by March 31, marking a significant shift in water management ahead of the summer season. The move comes at a time when ties between the two countries remain strained and the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended. For years, excess water from the Ravi flowed into Pakistan due to inadequate storage infrastructure on the Indian side. With the Shahpur Kandi barrage now nearing completion, Indian authorities say that “wastage” of water will end and the flow downstream into Pakistan will be curtailed from April onwards. Project Aims to Boost Irrigation in Jammu and Punjab The announcement was made by Jammu and Kashmir minister Javed Ahmed Ra...

    Parts of North India are set to witness rainfall late Tuesday night and early Wednesday as a fresh western disturbance moves across the region, bringing light showers to the plains and snowfall in the hills. According to weather updates shared by Devendra Tripathi, founder of Mausam Tak, parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand may receive light snowfall, while several areas in the northwestern plains could experience light rain and isolated thunderstorms. In the plains, southeastern Punjab including Ludhiana and Patiala may see rainfall. Multiple districts across Haryana such as Hisar, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Sonipat, Rohtak, Panipat, Karnal, Gurugram, Faridabad and Palwal are also expected to receive light showers. The national capital New Delhi and the surroundin...

    Dry desert winds flowing from the west and northwest of India may hold the key to predicting monsoon break periods, potentially giving farmers valuable time to prepare for rainfall deficits, according to a new study. Published on February 10, 2026, in the Journal of Climate, the research analysed data spanning more than eight decades and found a strong link between dry air intrusions and pauses in the Southwest Monsoon. The Southwest Monsoon accounts for more than 75% of India’s annual rainfall between June and September. However, it is marked by intermittent “break” periods days or weeks when rainfall significantly decreases across much of the country, while increasing in the Himalayan foothills and parts of the Northeast. These breaks can severely affect agricul...

    As climate risks intensify across the Eastern Himalayas, large hydropower projects once championed as clean energy solutions are increasingly being questioned for amplifying environmental and social vulnerabilities. A recent commentary by Sharon Sarah Thawaney argues that the rapid expansion of hydropower in the region may be locking fragile mountain systems into long-term maladaptation a term used to describe climate responses that ultimately increase risk rather than reduce it. Teesta Flood Exposed Structural Vulnerabilities The debate gained urgency following the devastating 2023 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) from South Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim. The flood unleashed an estimated 50 million cubic metres of water, striking the Teesta Stage III dam at Ch...