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Coastal and riverine wetlands, vital for flood protection and carbon storage in the Netherlands, are under increasing threat from salt intrusion, which is being amplified by climate change, according to new research from Eleonora Saccon at the NIOZ branch in Zeeland. Saccon master study investigated nature-based solutions to keep these crucial ecosystems effective, even as seawater flows further inland during storm surges and prolonged droughts. Black Alder Proves More Salt-Tolerant Than Willow Saccon investigated the salt tolerance of two tree species commonly found in Dutch floodplain wetlands: the black alder and the white willow. Willows have historically been planted to reinforce dikes, replacing the common black alders that predate the 14th century. In controlled containe...

A new observational study conducted by researchers in Brazil suggests a direct and statistically significant association between periods of disturbed geomagnetic activity caused by solar storms and an increase in heart attack admissions, particularly among women. The research, published in the journal Nature Communications Medicine, analyzed historical hospital admission data against daily space weather conditions. The study, led by corresponding author Luiz Felipe Campos de Rezende at Brazil National Institute for Space Research sought to determine if the timing of myocardial infarction (heart attack) admissions and in-hospital deaths aligned with fluctuations in Earth magnetic field. Women Show Higher Susceptibility on Disturbed Days Researchers utilized the Planetary Index, a s...

Major milestones in the race toward practical, fault-tolerant quantum computing were achieved in September 2025, with breakthroughs centered on increasing qubit count, enhancing operational stability, and demonstrating real-world commercial value. In a significant advance for scaling up quantum systems, Harvard scientists unveiled a system exceeding 3,000 qubits ten times larger than previous efforts that is capable of continuous operation without the need for frequent restarts. This was accomplished by implementing "optical lattice conveyor belts" and "optical tweezers" to continually and rapidly resupply lost qubits, with the system reloading up to 300,000 atoms per second. Separately, Caltech scientists built an even larger record-breaking array of 6,100 neutral-atom qubits, maint...

GUWAHATI, ASSAM — Harmful algal blooms driven by extreme eutrophication from untreated sewage, urban runoff, and solid waste, are causing severe stress in Deepor Beel, a Ramsar wetland site and crucial biodiversity hotspot in Assam. The blooms are threatening the wetland rich ecosystem, including its 68 fish species and over 234 native and migratory bird species, and jeopardizing the livelihoods of approximately 800 local fishing households. A study conducted by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, monitored the wetland from November 2024 to February 2025, focusing on two toxin-producing cyanobacteria: Planktothrix and Microcystis. Nutrient Pollution Drives Ecological Shifts The research clearly established that nutrient pollution sourced from untreated ...

WAYANAD, KERALA — A groundbreaking proposal has been submitted to the Kerala government to designate the site of the 2024 Wayanad landslide the largest recorded in India’s history as the country first landslide geoheritage site. The initiative seeks to transform the disaster zone, where over 400 lives were lost, into a "living laboratory" for research, education, and geotourism, while also serving as a solemn memorial. If approved, Wayanad would become a model for blending disaster memory with conservation, following international examples like Italy’s Vajont landslide memorial. The proposed geoheritage zone is located in the ‘no-go’ areas of Meppadi panchayat, running along the Punnapuzha river. Researchers argue that the scarred landscape strewn with buried homes, crushed vehicles,...

STANFORD, CA — A new study from Stanford University has overturned the assumption that diatoms tiny, single-celled algae encased in glass-like shells found in Arctic ice cores are dormant. Researchers found that these microscopic organisms are actively moving, or "skating," through the frozen environment, establishing a new record for movement in a complex eukaryotic cell at extremely low temperatures. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that the diatoms remain active and motile until temperatures drop all the way down to -15 °C {5 °F}. This figure marks the lowest temperature ever documented for movement in a eukaryotic cell. Mucus and Molecular Motors Power Icy Movement The diatoms were collected during a 45-day Arctic research e...

CHENNAI — A new and innovative tidal mangrove nursery, the first of its kind in Tamil Nadu, has been established at Killai near Pichavaram in Cuddalore district. The facility currently holds around three lakh saplings and is specifically designed to harden mangrove seedlings under natural tidal conditions, leading to significantly higher post-transplant survival rates. Unlike conventional nurseries that struggle to replicate the harsh coastal environment, this new method utilizes the area's natural tidal movement. Seedlings are kept on floating platforms in tidal waters for six to eight months, during which they acclimatize to salinity, water movement, and tidal fluctuations. This process physically transforms the seedlings from soft, tender growth into a hardier, more resilient form wi...

HYDERABAD — As Hyderabad grapples with recurrent flooding, the city's history with deluges spans more than four and a half centuries, according to historical records. Since the city's construction around 1592 AD, Hyderabad faced several major floods before the devastating event on September 28, 1908. The earliest recorded flood, occurring in 1572 AD, prompted the construction of the Purana Pul (Old Bridge). However, the city continued to see severe inundations: • 1631 AD: Hyderabad witnessed a major flood that overtopped the Old Bridge and swept away populous areas of the new city. Hyderabadis at the time regarded this as the worst flood on record. • 1831 AD: Another severe flooding led to a great loss of life and caused serious damage to the Chaderghat bridge, which was under con...

ZHUHAI, CHINA — A team of Chinese researchers has developed an 11-meter submersible unmanned vessel named the "Blue Whale" designed to collect crucial in situ data directly from typhoons and hurricanes, aiming to significantly improve storm modeling and prediction. This innovation directly addresses the high risk to human life and the instability of conventional vessels during extreme weather events. The Blue Whale is a core component of the new Intelligent Swift Ocean Observing System and its development was published in the Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Research journal. Overcoming Data Collection Challenges Typhoons and hurricanes are challenging to study in real time, with researchers citing three main barriers to obtaining direct storm data: real-time alignment with the cyclone’s pat...

GENEVA — Women and girls who survived the devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Afghanistan on August 31, 2025, are facing a "long-term disaster" due to exacerbated cultural barriers and the Taliban leadership's ban on Afghan women staff members working for the UN and aid contractors. Susan Ferguson, UN Women Special Representative in Afghanistan, stated on September 19, 2025, that while major aftershocks have passed, the lack of urgent assistance places women at risk. Tragically, women and girls accounted for over half of those killed or injured, and 60 per cent of those still missing. The humanitarian response has been significantly hindered since the Taliban ban became effective on September 5. While women staff are still operating in affected sites, the ban has...