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Archaeologists working in Theopetra Cave in central Greece have uncovered what may be the world’s oldest surviving human-made structure a stone wall more than 23,000 years old. Built during the Last Glacial Maximum, the wall predates the Egyptian pyramids by nearly 17,000 years and offers rare evidence of early architectural planning. A shelter built for survival Researchers believe Paleolithic humans constructed the wall to block freezing winds at the cave entrance, effectively creating a primitive insulation barrier. Its deliberate placement and use of clay suggest an early form of climate-responsive construction. Excavation leader Dr. Catherine Kyparissi-Apostolika used thermoluminescence dating to place the wall between 21,000 and 24,000 years old. A site with 130,000 years of...

The Amazon rainforest is approaching a critical tipping point, with escalating deforestation, wildfires, climate extremes and criminal activity putting the world’s largest rainforest at risk of irreversible collapse. The Amazon Assessment Report 2025 Connectivity of the Amazon for a Living Planet warns that without urgent intervention, the region’s ecological and social systems could break down. Forest loss and climate extremes pushing ecosystem to the brink Scientists say nearly a quarter of lowland forests, rivers and wetlands have already been affected by droughts, heatwaves and land degradation. The Amazon generates up to half of the world’s rainfall and holds nearly 20 per cent of global river freshwater, while storing carbon equivalent to 15–20 years of global emissions. Its de...

Iceland has officially declared the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) as an existential threat, marking one of the strongest warnings yet over a key Earth-system tipping element. The highlights enormous influence AMOC has on Europe’s climate by bringing warm tropical waters into the North Atlantic and moderating winters across the region. Iceland climate minister, Johann Pall Johannsson, told that the weakening of AMOC is now considered “a direct threat to our national resilience and security”. It is the first time the country has formally placed a climate-related system before the National Security Council as a potential existential risk. Other North European governments, including climate and meteorological agencies, are now reassessing AM...

A deepening water crisis is unfolding across West Africa, placing millions of lives at risk, according to a new study released by WaterAid and Tree Aid. The report From Roots to Rivers: How Deforestation Impacts Freshwater Access reveals that 45 per cent of people across Ghana, Niger and Nigeria more than 122 million individuals are now exposed to unsafe drinking water. The number has surged by 20 million in just five years. Forest loss directly tied to shrinking freshwater systems The study highlights a direct connection between widespread deforestation and the decline of freshwater access. Forests and vegetation help stabilise soil, filter pollutants and regulate rainfall. As these landscapes disappear, the natural systems that maintain safe water supplies are breaking down, affect...

A prehistoric stone wall hidden deep inside Theopetra Cave in central Greece is rewriting the timeline of human architectural history. Archaeologists say the structure, built more than 23,000 years ago, predates the Egyptian pyramids by around 17,000 years and may be the oldest human-made construction ever identified. Located at the foot of the Pindos Mountains, the cave has long been known as one of Europe’s most important archaeological sites. But the discovery of a stone barrier crafted by Paleolithic humans during the Last Glacial Maximum offers new insight into early environmental engineering. Researchers believe the wall served as protection against freezing winds, acting as an early form of climate-responsive architecture. The structure was first documented by Dr. Catherine Ky...

A global move towards the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission diet by 2050 could help slow rising food prices, but may also deepen nutrient deficiencies in low-income regions unless backed by strong nutrition programmes, a new study has warned. Researchers from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and partner institutions modelled how adopting this largely plant-based diet centred on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, with modest fish and dairy and limited meat would affect calorie supply, nutrient intake, food budgets and commodity prices worldwide. The study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health found that global calorie availability would drop by 22 per cent under the EAT-Lancet diet compared with a business-as-usual scenario. By 2050, the average s...

Africa is witnessing its most severe cholera outbreak in a quarter of a century, with fragile water systems and ongoing conflicts accelerating the spread of the disease. According to the Africa CDC, the continent has recorded nearly 300,000 cases and more than 7,000 deaths, marking one of the most serious public health emergencies in recent years. Health authorities warn that the outbreak is intensifying in regions where clean water is scarce. Angola and Burundi have reported sharp increases in infections as limited access to safe drinking water and inadequate sanitation continue to fuel transmission. In many communities, damaged pipelines, contaminated sources and overcrowded settlements are forcing residents to rely on unsafe water, giving cholera the conditions it needs to spread rap...

India is preparing for a major biotechnology expansion as Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the national conclave ‘Cohort Connect 2025’ in Bhubaneswar. The two-day meeting aims to strengthen India’s health cohort ecosystem by enhancing collaboration among researchers, policymakers and institutions. The discussions emphasise the use of cohort data to improve health policies, boost disease prevention and accelerate biomedical innovation. Officials also highlighted ongoing national initiatives to standardise health data and promote multi-sectoral partnerships. Speaking earlier at the biotechnology council’s Foundation Day, Singh said India is emerging as a key player in the global biotech economy. He announced the BRIC-BIRAC Entrepreneur-in-Residence Programme, designed to suppo...

India’s public health has come under renewed scrutiny after a new report warned that imported PVC resin may contain dangerously high levels of carcinogenic chemicals. The assessment, released by the Centre for Domestic Economy Policy Research (C-DEP.in) at IIT Delhi, highlights a growing concern over Residual Vinyl Chloride Monomer (RVCM) found in PVC resin shipments, particularly those originating from China. According to the report, some imports contain RVCM concentrations nearly five times higher than accepted global safety limits. PVC resin is widely used across industries ranging from construction and healthcare to household utilities. Experts warn that exposure to elevated RVCM levels can significantly increase long-term cancer risks. With India relying heavily on imported resin, ...

In the heart of West Bengal industrial belt where smokestacks rise above the haze and gravel-laden trucks rumble through dusty roads a small patch of forest is waging a quiet war for survival. The forest lands of Kamalpur, Hetedoba, Bansgora, and Parulia mouzas in Paschim Bardhaman district, spread across nearly 548 hectares, are being stripped bare by rampant illegal gravel mining. Once classified as unclassed forest, over half of this area now lies ravaged and cratered. Yet, amid the destruction, a story of resilience is unfolding. On October 14, 2025, the West Bengal Forest Department offered a lifeline to this embattled ecosystem, declaring 166.6 hectares in Hetedoba Mouza under the Ukhra Forest Range as Protected Forest (Order No. I/699372/2025). The decision cited the presence ...