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    In a major scientific milestone for India’s livestock sector, the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) has successfully produced calves of the prized Sahiwal breed using advanced assisted reproductive technologies, marking a first for the institute. The achievement, announced by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), is expected to accelerate genetic improvement and conservation of indigenous cattle breeds. The breakthrough was accomplished using a combination of ultrasound-guided ovum pick-up, in vitro fertilisation, and embryo transfer collectively known as OPU–IVF–ET technology. Scientists at IVRI initiated a focused programme in 2022–23 aimed at enhancing the genetic potential of India’s native dairy breeds, including Sahiwal, Tharparkar an...

    Winter in Rajasthan is disappearing faster than ever, with rising temperatures, weak rainfall and shifting weather patterns severely disrupting agriculture and rural livelihoods, according to ground reports and scientific observations. What was once a gradual seasonal transition has now become abrupt. February and March are witnessing unusually high temperatures, with summer-like conditions arriving weeks earlier than expected. Experts say this shrinking winter window is already taking a heavy toll on crops, livestock and traditional farming cycles. Meteorological data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shows that rainfall during the 2025–26 winter season remained drastically below normal, with some regions recording deficits as high as 97 percent. At ...

    China has established the world’s largest and most comprehensive water infrastructure network, now covering more than 80 percent of its land area, according to an announcement by the country’s Ministry of Water Resources on World Water Day. The vast system is designed to support water distribution, flood control, and ecological protection across the country, marking a major milestone in China’s long-term water security strategy. Officials said the network reflects a shift from reactive water management to a more proactive and strategic approach aligned with national development goals. Across rural areas, the expansion of water infrastructure has significantly improved access to clean water. Authorities reported that nearly 83,000 rural water supply projects have b...

    A new generation of satellite-based technologies and artificial intelligence is reshaping water management across Asia, offering solutions to long-standing data gaps that have limited effective policymaking and climate resilience. According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP), these innovations are enabling governments to convert fragmented and scarce water data into meaningful, actionable insights. Water data scarcity remains a critical global concern. The United Nations estimates that only about 3 percent of global water quality measurements come from the world’s poorest regions, leaving large parts of Asia and other developing areas without adequate monitoring. Even where data is available, it is often dispersed...

    Scientists have created the first global map showing how ocean tides influence rivers far inland, revealing a major but overlooked flood risk affecting millions worldwide. The research, led by Technical University of Munich, shows that tides do not stop at coastlines. Instead, they travel upstream through rivers, increasing flood risks in inland areas. The study found that over 725 million people live in regions affected by tidal river influence, with more than 175,000 kilometres of rivers impacted globally. In some cases, tidal effects extend hundreds of kilometres inland, such as in the Amazon River. This new mapping tool helps identify vulnerable regions and track how risks may shift with climate change and rising sea levels. Researchers say the data will be...

    A new scientific study is challenging the way the world measures global warming, warning that current methods may be undervaluing some of the most effective ways to slow climate change particularly efforts to cut methane emissions. Published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, the research proposes a new framework called Radiative Forcing-based Accounting (RFA), which aims to more accurately capture how different greenhouse gases affect the Earth’s temperature over time. The study has significant implications for climate policy, carbon markets, and the valuation of emissions reduction projects. For decades, global climate policy has relied on a standard unit known as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) to compare the impact of different greenhouse gases. T...

    In the drought-stricken fields of northern Iraq, farmers are rethinking centuries-old agricultural practices as climate change disrupts rainfall patterns and threatens rural livelihoods. A new initiative supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is helping communities adapt through climate-smart farming techniques, offering a lifeline to families facing growing uncertainty. In Ewaynat village in Ninewa province, farming once followed a predictable rhythm shaped by seasonal rains. Today, that rhythm has been broken. Years of drought, rising temperatures, and erratic rainfall have made harvests unreliable and farming increasingly risky. “The land had a rhythm, but now that rhythm feels broken,” said Mohammed, a local farmer who has witnessed th...

    Rapid glacier melt in Bolivia is giving rise to dozens of new high-altitude lakes, increasing the risk of sudden and potentially devastating floods for mountain communities, according to new research published by The Conversation. Scientists warn that as glaciers retreat at an accelerating pace, these newly formed lakes could trigger dangerous events known as glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) sudden releases of water caused by the collapse of natural barriers such as ice or rock. Such events have already proven deadly elsewhere, including a 2023 disaster in India’s Teesta Valley that claimed dozens of lives. The study found that between 2016 and 2022, glaciers in the Bolivian Andes shrank by nearly 10 percent, losing surface area at an average rate of almost tw...

    A groundbreaking design inspired by nature is reimagining how degraded landscapes can be restored, turning one of the most iconic symbols of desolation into a tool for ecological recovery. Created by designer Yizhuo Guo, the “Wasteland Nomads: Bionic Tumbleweed Sower System” uses wind energy and biodegradable materials to regenerate barren land without leaving any environmental footprint. Developed in collaboration with Daheng Chu and supported by institutions including University of the Arts London and Imperial College London, the project draws inspiration from the natural movement of tumbleweeds. These plants, often associated with dry and abandoned landscapes, disperse seeds as they roll across terrain. Guo’s innovation builds on this principle, transforming it in...

    The world marked International Day of Forests on March 21 with a renewed focus on the economic value of forest ecosystems, as the 2026 theme “Forests and Economies” placed forests at the centre of global development and sustainability discussions. First established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, the annual observance aims to raise awareness about the importance of all types of forests and encourage conservation efforts through activities such as tree plantation drives and policy initiatives at local, national and international levels. This year’s theme underscores how forests are not only ecological assets but also powerful economic engines. From supporting livelihoods to driving sustainable industries, forests contribute significantly to global a...