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Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains is becoming a hub for cutting-edge wildfire research, where aerial imagery is helping scientists understand how fire transforms ecosystems. Spanning nearly 1,200 acres the preserve is offering a unique testing ground to merge traditional land practices with modern technology. For Ph.D. student Daniel Neamati, who studies aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford, a bird eye view is essential. “That top-down view is really important,” he explained. “My research would not be possible without it.” Neamati, a TomKat Center Graduate Fellow for Translational Research, is applying his expertise in GPS accuracy and 3D modeling to wildfire management. After prescribed burns at Jasper Ridge last year, his team be...

    Only 10 vaquitas (Phocoena sinus) — the world’s rarest marine mammal remain alive, according to a damning new report by the North American Environmental Commission (CEC). The tiny porpoise, endemic to the Upper Gulf of California is now perilously close to extinction. The CEC an environmental body established under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has squarely blamed the Mexican government for failing to enforce its own wildlife protection and trade laws failures that have allowed illegal fishing and wildlife trafficking to flourish in the vaquita’s last refuge. Illegal Gillnets, Totoaba Trafficking at the Heart of Crisis At the core of the vaquita decline is illegal gillnet fishing for totoaba a large fish whose swim bladder is highly prized i...

Ireland rugged western coastlines largely composed of hard limestone, are more resistant to pounding waves from the North Atlantic. Yet in regions of rapid retreat the combination of rising sea levels and wave action is eroding away glacial deposits left behind thousands of years ago. “What you're seeing, particularly where we have the most rapid retreat, is we've got a rising sea level, and we've got waves then eating away at material that was dumped there during the last glacial period,” explained Robin Edwards, assistant professor of geography at Trinity College Dublin, who studies physical indicators of sea level change. “We’ve been mapping Ireland for hundreds of years so it’s not a mystery where the stuff is or why it’s eroding away. The challenge is what you do with it.” Resea...

Efforts to tackle plastic pollution have hit a major roadblock after global negotiations in Geneva failed to produce a binding treaty. Despite the setback, scientists and innovators remain optimistic that biodegradable plastics and biotechnology could pave the way to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Innovations in Biotech Plastics Biodegradable plastics, designed to safely decompose into harmless substances, are emerging as one of the most promising solutions to the plastic waste crisis. Alongside them, researchers are exploring microorganisms and enzymes capable of breaking down existing plastic waste. Though these technologies are still in their early stages, experts believe they could reach large-scale implementation within the next 5–10 years, provided there is significant inv...

What villagers in Padlya once worshipped as sacred “kuldevta” stones have now been revealed as something far more ancient 70-million-year-old fossilised dinosaur eggs. The discovery, confirmed by scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow has placed central India on the global map as one of the largest dinosaur hatcheries ever found. For generations families like the Mandaloi clan revered the smooth, palm-sized stones as “Kakar Bhairav,” believed to protect farmland and cattle. Rituals involved offerings of coconuts and even goats. But the tradition took a scientific turn when researchers identified the objects as titanosaur eggs – relics of long-necked sauropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period. Ancient Valley Reveals Prehistoric Life The Narmad...

Bengaluru – A new study by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) has revealed that heavy commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses, though accounting for only 2 percent of India’s total vehicles, contribute to a staggering 70 percent of vehicular pollution. The report, launched at the India Clean Air Summit (ICAS) 2025 in Bengaluru, warns that ageing “super emitters” will continue to undermine India’s clean air efforts unless scrappage is made mandatory. The report notes that while the number of heavy commercial vehicles is projected to grow by 27 percent by 2035, emissions per vehicle will reduce with Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) standards. However, the real challenge lies with older trucks and buses that continue to release disproportionately high levels of poll...

The World Health Organization (WHO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have issued a stark warning on the growing dangers of extreme heat for workers worldwide. Their new joint report Climate Change and Workplace Heat Stress, reveals how rising global temperatures are reshaping work environments, threatening health, and undermining economic stability. Extreme Heat Already Impacting Billions The findings highlight a sharp increase in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, with daytime temperatures exceeding 40°C and in some regions, even 50°C becoming more common. The year 2024 was the hottest ever recorded, according to WMO. Health consequences of prolonged heat exposure include heatstroke, dehydration, kidney damage, neurological issues, and a steep decline in product...

Once celebrated as the Jungle Road for its Aravalli greenery and wildlife the Gurugram-Faridabad road now bears a grim identity ‘Malba Lane’. Hillocks of construction and demolition (C&D) waste have replaced the natural landscape turning what was once a scenic corridor into a dumping ground. According to estimates, Gurugram is currently burdened with nearly six lakh metric tonnes of legacy debris, with an additional 2,000 tonnes generated daily. Barely 15% of this is treated. The absence of a regulated pickup system and the rise of an organised ‘malba mafia’ have worsened the crisis, earning the city the mocking tag of ‘Malba Gram’. Aravallis under threat Activists warn that unchecked dumping is choking the fragile Aravalli ecosystem. “We have been raising alarms for years, bu...