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New Delhi: The southwest monsoon is expected to arrive over Kerala on June 4, 2026, after a brief delay, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The onset will mark the official beginning of India's annual rainy season, which is crucial for agriculture, water resources and the overall economy. The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall activity across southern India over the coming week, with Kerala likely to experience the heaviest impact as the monsoon advances into the region. Several parts of Kerala are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next six to seven days. Rainfall amounts between 7 centimetres and 20 centimetres have been predicted at isolated locations, prompting authorities to closely monitor weather conditions and preparedness measure...

A small fish living in the rivers of Mexico and southern Texas is challenging one of biology oldest assumptions about survival and evolution. Known as the Amazon molly, this remarkable species has existed for around 100,000 years without producing male offspring, leaving scientists fascinated by how it has managed to avoid extinction. The Amazon molly is an all female fish species that reproduces through a rare process called gynogenesis. Females require sperm from closely related male fish to trigger reproduction but the male DNA is not passed on to the offspring. Instead, the young are essentially clones of their mothers, creating generation after generation of female fish. For decades, scientists believed such species should not survive for long. Traditional evolutionary theory su...

A new international study has found that India, Brazil and Indonesia can significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through better management of forests, farmlands and natural ecosystems, without relying heavily on changes in people's diets or reductions in food production. The research, conducted by scientists from institutions across France, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Austria and Japan, highlights the crucial role of the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector in helping developing countries achieve their climate goals. The findings suggest that transforming land-use practices could become one of the most effective ways for these countries to combat climate change while protecting food security and rural livelihoods. According to the study, India, Br...

As climate change continues to disrupt global agriculture, coffee farmers and researchers are increasingly turning their attention to a little known coffee species called Excelsa. Once considered a marginal crop in India, Excelsa is now being viewed as a promising alternative to traditional coffee varieties that are struggling to cope with rising temperatures, erratic rainfall and growing pest pressures. The global coffee industry relies heavily on Arabica and Robusta, which together account for the vast majority of coffee production worldwide. However, changing weather patterns are making cultivation of these varieties more difficult. Higher temperatures, prolonged heatwaves and unpredictable rainfall are reducing yields, affecting bean quality and increasing plant stress, particularly f...

From the crowded streets of Delhi to the remote mountain villages of Bhutan, from flood prone cities in Brazil to forests in Oregon, the effects of environmental change are becoming increasingly visible across the world. Climate change is no longer a distant concern discussed only in scientific conferences and policy meetings. It is influencing where people live, how they work, what they eat, how cities are built, and even how governments prepare for future disasters. Recent studies and reports from different parts of the world reveal a common reality: societies are entering an era of heightened environmental uncertainty. Extreme heat, floods, pandemics, migration pressures, biodiversity changes, and resource challenges are converging to create new risks that require urgent action and i...

As the world searches for cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels, scientists have developed a promising new technology that could transform the future of sustainable energy. Researchers have successfully engineered a strain of cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, that can produce key ingredients for biofuels using only sunlight, carbon dioxide and photosynthesis. The breakthrough could pave the way for a new generation of renewable fuels that are cheaper, cleaner and easier to produce than many existing biofuel sources. Turning Sunlight Into Fuel The study, published in Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, focused on cyanobacteria, microscopic organisms that naturally use sunlight to generate energy through photosynthesis. Scientists modified these bacteria to p...

The ongoing debate over pollution in Kerala’s Vembanad Lake has once again come into focus following recent government action against houseboats after directions from the Kerala High Court. While houseboats are often blamed for the lake’s deteriorating condition, experts argue that the environmental crisis affecting Vembanad is far more complex and rooted in decades of ecological and governance challenges. The High Court recently observed that the growing number of tourist vessels operating on the lake has exceeded its carrying capacity, contributing to sewage discharge, oil leaks and solid waste accumulation. The court called for stricter pollution-control measures and enhanced monitoring of vessels. However, environmental researchers and local communities say the pollution problem ext...

New Delhi: Tigers are often seen as silent and solitary predators, but wildlife experts say these majestic animals constantly communicate through an invisible network of scents, scratches, calls, and behavioural signals. These hidden messages help tigers establish territories, attract mates, avoid conflicts, and reveal valuable information to conservationists working to protect the endangered species. According to wildlife experts, forests are filled with signs left behind by tigers that function like a sophisticated communication system. While humans may rarely notice these clues, they play a crucial role in the daily lives of the big cats. Forests Act as Giant Message Boards Unlike social animals that rely on frequent vocal communication, tigers use environmental signals to conv...

New Delhi: A new 25-year satellite study has identified Bihar and West Bengal as major particulate pollution hotspots in eastern India, revealing a significant rise in air pollution across the Indo Gangetic Plain (IGP), the Himalayan region, and north-east India between 2000 and 2024. Researchers warn that biomass burning, including agricultural residue burning and the use of biomass fuels in rural households, is driving much of the worsening pollution burden. The study, published in the journal Atmospheric Environment found that particulate matter (PM) pollution increased by more than 20 percent across these regions over the last two decades. Scientists say the findings highlight the urgent need to expand clean air policies beyond urban centres and address pollution sources in rural ar...

New Delhi: Every winter, smoke from crop residue burning in Punjab, Haryana and other northern states blankets large parts of India, causing severe air pollution and health concerns. However, experts believe the same agricultural waste that contributes to smog could soon become a valuable resource for farmers through the production of green hydrogen, a clean fuel widely regarded as a key energy source of the future. As India accelerates its transition towards renewable energy, researchers and policymakers are exploring ways to use agricultural residue such as paddy straw, wheat stalks and maize waste to produce green hydrogen. The technology could not only help reduce pollution but also create new income opportunities for farmers. What Is Green Hydrogen? Green hydrogen is produced...