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    While major metros like Delhi and Mumbai continue to choke under layers of haze, a handful of Indian cities are quietly standing out for their remarkably clean and fresh air. From hill stations surrounded by dense forests to coastal towns benefiting from steady winds, these regions show how natural surroundings and disciplined pollution control can make all the difference. Across the first week of December, Shillong, Ooty, Aizawl, Palkalaiperur and Tirunelveli recorded some of the lowest Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in the country. Shillong led the list with AQI readings as low as 15 on December 1, helped by its high elevation and lush green cover. Ooty maintained consistently clean air through the week, supported by its cool climate and vast green landscapes. A...

    Silfra, the world-famous fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, continues to captivate adventurers with a kind of beauty that feels almost otherworldly. For many travellers, the starkness of Silfra is precisely what makes it unforgettable. Unlike tropical destinations bursting with colour and marine life, this Icelandic wonder offers the rare sensation of floating in deep geological time. Its astonishingly clear water creates an illusion of weightlessness, reminding every diver of the ancient forces that shape continents beneath their fins. One of Silfra’s most remarkable stretches, known as The Cathedral leaves an especially lasting impression. Here, divers glide through a corridor so vast and transparent that it resembles a natural cathedr...

    A new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has placed Delhi as the fourth most polluted city in India for the month of November, highlighting a troubling rise in toxic air across the National Capital Region. The report shows that Ghaziabad recorded the worst air quality in the country, followed by Noida, Bahadurgarh, and then Delhi. Other cities in the top ten list include Hapur, Greater Noida, Baghpat, Sonipat, Meerut and Rohtak all of which experienced severe deterioration in PM2.5 levels compared to last year, except Delhi. Despite an 80 to 90 per cent drop in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana over the last four years, 20 out of 29 NCR cities recorded higher pollution levels than the previous year. The CREA November 2025...

    The dream of establishing permanent settlements on Mars has always been limited by one major challenge: how to build safe, durable structures on a planet with freezing temperatures, thin atmosphere, and constant radiation. Scientists now believe the answer may lie beneath the astronauts’ feet. New research shows that Martian regolith the dusty soil covering the planet could be turned into strong, concrete-like building material using living microorganisms through a process known as biomineralization. Biomineralization is a natural phenomenon where microbes create minerals as part of their metabolic activity. Dr. Shiva Khoshtinat of Politecnico di Milano is among the researchers studying how these microbes can be harnessed for construction on Mars. By examining bacter...

A new scientific study has revealed that China’s water cycle is undergoing major shifts, but these changes are far from uniform across the country. Researchers found a widening disparity between the eastern monsoon regions and the northern and western parts of China, raising fresh concerns about long-term water security for millions of people. According to the findings, the eastern monsoon region has experienced a decline in water availability, largely driven by an increase in evapotranspiration. In simple terms, more water is evaporating from land and vegetation than before, leaving less available for human use. In contrast, the Tibetan Plateau recorded a modest rise in precipitation. However, scientists emphasise that this additional rainfall is too small to balance the significant wa...

    Wildfires have returned to the bushland of New South Wales, forcing evacuations and destroying homes as authorities warn of an increasingly dangerous summer. Regions around the Central Coast, including Phegans Bay and Woy Woy, experienced intense fire activity over the weekend, with emergency crews working throughout scorching conditions to protect residents and property. Officials recorded temperatures reaching forty-two degrees Celsius, creating ideal conditions for flames to spread rapidly through dry terrain. More than fifty fires were reported across the state at the height of the crisis, with several classified as high-risk. Emergency alerts urged people to move toward safer areas, particularly around Woy Woy, where wind and heat made containment difficult. ...

    Delhi air pollution debate often focuses on particulate matter, especially PM2.5. However a more immediate threat has been steadily rising across the city’s busiest roads: nitrogen dioxide. This harmful gas, released primarily from vehicle exhaust during rush hour, regularly exceeds recommended safety limits and is directly linked to respiratory irritation, coughing, wheezing and reduced lung function. A recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment highlights a significant connection between traffic and daily pollution spikes. According to the findings, levels of PM2.5 tend to rise and fall in line with nitrogen dioxide during morning and evening congestion. While nitrogen dioxide levels surge immediately because of tailpipe emissions, PM2.5 builds slowly ...

    With the Capital’s air continuing to remain in the “severe” and “very poor” categories, the Delhi government has announced a new scientific study to identify sources of pollution across the city. The move comes after it emerged that key clean-air strategies were still being guided by a seven-year-old report. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Saturday that the government would sign a formal partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune. The study will aim to map both citywide and local pollution sources, track the scale of emissions, and update hotspot zones. He said the new exercise is essential to understand where the pollution is originating, how it is spreading, and which area...

    A severe cold wave tightened its hold over northern India on Saturday, with sub-zero temperatures recorded in many hill regions and dense fog blanketing large parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. Meteorological officials warned that the chill is likely to continue through the weekend, bringing discomfort to residents and impacting visibility on roads and highways. In Jammu and Kashmir, Shopian reported the lowest temperature in the region, with the mercury dipping to minus 6.4 degrees Celsius. Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius, while tourist destinations Pahalgam and Gulmarg registered lows of minus 4.4 and minus 2.6 degrees Celsius respectively. The Met department said light snowfall is expected i...

    India’s winter smog is often seen as a domestic problem, but new research shows that the toxic air choking millions is not confined by borders. Even as the government rolls out policies to control stubble burning, regulate industry and curb vehicular emissions, a significant share of the pollution drifting over Indian cities originates in neighbouring countries. Experts say that without coordinated regional action across South Asia, India’s efforts will continue to fall short. A report by the World Bank, titled Striving for Clean Air, shows that as much as 30 per cent of Punjab’s air pollution comes from Pakistan. Wind patterns carry emissions, dust and smoke across hundreds of kilometres, crossing state and national boundaries. The research also finds that around 30...