Breaking News

    In the forests and hills of Kashmir, barberry shrubs were once a familiar part of childhood summers. Their small, tangy berries known locally as Kawdach or Sumbal were eagerly picked by children and also served as an important food source for birds and small animals. Today, however, these hardy Himalayan shrubs are increasingly being uprooted for their medicinal roots, raising concerns about their long-term survival. Barberry belongs to the genus Berberis in the Berberidaceae family and grows widely across the Himalayan region. Several species occur in Jammu and Kashmir, including Berberis lycium, Berberis kashmirana, Berberis huegeliana, Berberis pachycantha, and Berberis aristata. These thorny shrubs are well adapted to harsh mountain environments and often thrive ...

    A new study has revealed that decades of rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are significantly transforming forests in central India. Researchers say these climate shifts, combined with human activities such as logging, grazing, and land conversion, are altering forest health and increasing the risk of forest fires. The research focuses on the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, one of the most important forest ecosystems in central India. Scientists found that the reserve lost nearly 13 percent of its forest cover between 1972 and 2020, which equals about 391 square kilometres of forest area. The study was conducted by researchers from the Central University of Jharkhand and Banaras Hindu University, who analyzed five decades of climate ...

    The rapid expansion of trout farming in Kashmir is facing a new environmental challenge as pesticide pollution from nearby apple orchards increasingly contaminates water sources used for fish ponds. Farmers say the excessive use of agricultural chemicals is leading to repeated incidents of fish deaths and significant financial losses. In the village of Zawoora in the Shopian district of south Kashmir, trout farmer Shakir Nazir has witnessed hundreds of fish dying in his ponds several times since he started his fish farm in 2012. According to him, mass fish deaths have occurred four to five times over the years, leaving fish floating belly-up in the ponds. Nazir and other fish farmers blame the problem on pesticides used in surrounding apple orchards. Farmers in th...

    Scientists monitoring glaciers in the Alps have issued a serious warning that glaciers in Austria are not only shrinking but are now entering a phase of structural disintegration due to accelerating climate change. According to a new report by the Austrian Alpine Club, most glaciers in the country have dramatically reduced in length, area, and volume over the past year. The monitoring project measured 96 glaciers across the Austrian Alps and found that 94 of them had continued to shrink. Researchers say the changes are becoming more severe, with glaciers breaking apart and collapsing in some areas. Andreas Kellerer-Pirklbauer, a scientist from the University of Graz, explained that many glaciers are now showing clear signs of structural collapse. He said expose...

    Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, enjoyed by billions of people every day. However, a recent scientific review suggests that a simple cup of tea might contain more than just brewed leaves. Researchers have found that some tea bags can release massive numbers of tiny plastic particles during the brewing process. The review analyzed findings from 19 different scientific studies and explored how microplastics and nanoplastics may enter tea. These particles, collectively referred to as MNPs, are extremely small. Microplastics measure between one micrometer and five millimeters, while nanoplastics are even smaller than one micrometer, making them invisible to the human eye. Scientists say these particles can reach tea through several pathwa...

    A new global study has revealed that extreme heat is significantly limiting daily outdoor activity for people in India more than anywhere else in the world. Researchers say rising temperatures driven by climate change are reducing the number of hours people can safely spend outdoors, especially affecting the elderly and outdoor workers. The study shows that India records around 100 billion people-hours of activity limitation for younger adults and more than 1 trillion people-hours for older adults every year due to extreme heat conditions. These restrictions occur when temperatures and humidity levels become so intense that even light outdoor activity becomes unsafe. The research highlights that the worst-affected regions include the Indo‑Gangetic Plain and the ea...

    Future human missions to the Moon and Mars will depend not only on advanced spacecraft and life-support systems but also on reliable food production. However, growing crops beyond Earth presents a major challenge because these worlds lack living soil. Their surfaces are covered with mineral-rich dust that contains almost no organic matter or nutrients required for plant growth. A new study by scientists at Texas A&M University suggests that recycled human waste could provide an unexpected solution. Researchers found that treated wastewater derived from human waste can extract essential nutrients from Moon- and Mars-like dust, potentially transforming barren mineral material into a fertilizer source for space farming. In laboratory experiments, scientists combi...

    Scientists are exploring a controversial new method that could help slow climate change by increasing the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide. The experimental technique involves adding alkaline chemicals to seawater, a process known as Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement. In August last year, researchers carried out a small-scale field test in the Gulf of Maine, located about 50 miles off the coast of Massachusetts in the United States. During the experiment, scientists released around 65,000 litres of the alkaline chemical Sodium Hydroxide into the ocean. The chemical was mixed with a red dye so that researchers could track how it spread through the water. The study was conducted under permission from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and involved ...

    A new scientific analysis has revealed that most dust rising from the Sahara Desert is not generated by strong surface winds alone, but by powerful “hidden thunderstorms” that occur high above the desert. The discovery is reshaping scientists’ understanding of how massive dust clouds form and travel thousands of kilometres across continents. Dust from the Sahara regularly reaches regions such as Europe and the United Kingdom, sometimes turning skies orange and producing vivid sunsets. These dust particles scatter blue light while allowing red and orange wavelengths to pass through, creating dramatic atmospheric colours. However, scientists say these events also highlight the complex connections within the Earth’s atmosphere. Dry Thunderstorms Drive Most Saharan Du...

    Scientists have discovered where pharmaceutical residues end up inside crop plants when they are exposed to treated wastewater used for irrigation. The new research shows that most of these drug compounds accumulate in the leaves of plants rather than in the parts people usually eat. The study was conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University and published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. The findings could help scientists better understand the safety of using treated wastewater in agriculture, particularly in regions where freshwater supplies are limited. Across many parts of the world, farmers are increasingly turning to recycled wastewater to irrigate crops. This practice helps conserve freshwater resources, especially in areas faci...