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    Deep beneath the waters of the Pacific Ocean, scientists have discovered a living structure so vast and so old that it challenges everything we understand about resilience in marine life. Hidden near the remote Mariana Islands, a massive coral colony has been found to be over 2,000 years old, making it older than the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Stretching more than 100 feet in height and nearly 200 feet across, the coral covers an area equivalent to three basketball courts placed side by side. Identified as Porites rus it is now considered the largest coral colony of its kind ever recorded, surpassing previous discoveries by a significant margin. What makes this discovery even more unusual is its location. The coral thrives inside the caldera of an active u...

    Chennai | May 2026 In a significant breakthrough for tackling plastic pollution, researchers in Chennai have identified a naturally occurring freshwater microalgae capable of breaking down plastic waste in polluted water bodies within just three months. A study conducted by the Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany at the University of Madras found that a species called Uronema trentonense isolated from plastic waste in Rajakilpakkam Lake, can degrade up to 27 percent of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and 21 percent of low density polyethylene (LDPE) over a 12 week period under controlled laboratory conditions. HDPE and LDPE are among the most widely used plastics in everyday life, commonly found in bottles packaging materials and household items, making the ...

Bhubaneswar, May 8: One of India’s most pristine wildlife habitats is now showing signs of an invisible threat. A new scientific study has found microplastics across all sampled sites in Odisha Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystem raising concerns about long term ecological damage in the protected sanctuary. The research published in Water, Air, & Soil Pollution detected microplastics at all 20 locations tested along the Brahmani river, both inside and around the sanctuary. Concentrations reached as high as 50.4 particles per kilogram of dry sediment, with fibres accounting for nearly 89 per cent of the total. Hidden crisis in a thriving ecosystem Bhitarkanika India’s second largest mangrove forest is known for its rich biodiversity, including saltwater crocodiles, migratory birds,...

    A long standing ocean cycle off the coast of Panama has abruptly failed for the first time in over four decades, prompting concern among scientists who see it as a potential warning sign of deeper climate disruption. For at least 40 years seasonal winds sweeping across Central America reliably triggered a process known as upwelling in the Gulf of Panama. This natural mechanism pulled cold nutrient rich water from the ocean depths to the surface, sustaining marine ecosystems and supporting coastal livelihoods. But in 2025, that cycle broke. Vital Ocean System Suddenly Goes Quiet  Researchers monitoring the region observed that while the seasonal winds did arrive, the ocean failed to respond. The expected rise of cold, nutrient-dense water did not occur, disru...

    The world largest and most productive marine ecosystems are undergoing a troubling shift, as scientists report a sharp rise in sudden ocean temperature spikes linked to human-driven climate change. A new study has found that abrupt warming events in key ocean regions have increased by nearly 130 to 140 percent, fundamentally altering how marine environments behave. Instead of gradual warming, many seas are now experiencing sudden jumps into warmer states changes that can disrupt ecosystems for years. The findings are based on an analysis of 150 years of temperature records across 66 coastal regions known as large marine ecosystems. These areas are critical because they support fisheries, biodiversity, and coastal economies. Researchers found that oceans are no ...

    Kashmir | May 8, 2026: In the high-altitude landscapes of Kashmir Himalayas where glaciers have quietly sustained life for centuries a rapid and alarming transformation is underway. Scientists are now turning to artificial intelligence to track this accelerating ice loss and to better prepare for the growing dangers it brings. The region, home to more than 12,000 glaciers, has long posed a challenge for researchers due to its rugged terrain and limited accessibility. But rising temperatures, changing snowfall patterns, and human pressures are now accelerating glacier retreat at a pace that is difficult to ignore. Studies show that the Himalayas are warming faster than the global average, intensifying the crisis. To bridge critical data gaps, researchers are increa...

A new study has revealed a growing challenge at the heart of climate science: while global warming trends are increasingly clear predicting exactly where rain will fall is becoming more uncertain than ever. Researchers from the University of Oxford and ETH Zurich say that current climate models may be missing a crucial piece of the puzzle the large-scale wind systems that steer storms across the planet. Their findings published in Nature, highlight why forecasting floods and droughts at a regional level remains a complex task. Problem beyond rising temperatures Scientists have long understood the basic physics of climate change. As temperatures rise, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, increasing the likelihood of intense rainfall events. This “thermodynamic” effect is well cap...

    New Delhi, May 7: A new public air quality dashboard has revealed a significant shift in Delhi pollution profile with ozone levels rising steadily even as traditional pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) show a gradual decline. The dashboard built using long-term data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and released by research organisation Envirocatalysts, provides a pollutant-wise analysis of trends in the national capital since 2015. Its findings point to a changing challenge: while efforts to curb emissions from vehicles and industries appear to be yielding results, a new and less visible threat is emerging in the form of ground-level ozone. Data shows that Delhi’s annual average ozone concentration increased from 52 m...

    May 7, 2026: Efforts to clean up air pollution around the world may be triggering an unintended and troubling side effect accelerating ocean warming by altering how clouds reflect sunlight, according to a new scientific study. Researchers have found that as air becomes cleaner and contains fewer aerosol particles marine clouds are becoming less reflective. This subtle shift is allowing more sunlight to reach the ocean surface, heating it faster than previously expected. The study estimates that cloud reflectivity over key regions such as the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific has dropped by about 2.8 percent per decade. While the figure may appear small, these regions together cover roughly one-seventh of the Earth’s surface making the impact significant on a gl...

    Global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have surged to a new record averaging 431 parts per million (ppm) in April 2026 according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The data was recorded at the Mauna Loa Observatory a key global site for tracking greenhouse gases. Experts say the milestone reflects a continuing and troubling rise in emissions linked to human activity. Climate scientist Zachary Labe described the development as “another record in the wrong direction,” warning that the steady increase signals ongoing planetary warming. Carbon dioxide concentrations typically peak in April due to seasonal plant cycles, but long-term data shows a clear upward trend. When measurements began in 1958, CO₂ levels were below 320 ppm. Before the industrial...