Environment Archives - Page 40 of 45

Jun152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Haryana Chief Secretary Declares Solid Waste Emergency in Gurugram: Urgent Measures Launched Following Supreme Court Directive

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Haryana Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad announced that there is a huge amount of solid waste in Gurugram due to the large amount of untreated sewage, which is adversely affecting the environment and public health. The move is in response to the Supreme Court's May 13 judgment and the National Green Tribunal's observations on the need for a cleaner environment. In its May 13 decision, the Supreme Court said that a large amount of unprocessed solid waste destroys the environment, which is the main factor affecting the unpolluted life of citizens guaranteed in Article 21 of the Constitution. The NGT, in its order dated September 23, 2022, observed that the situation is an environmental emergency, but the required seriousness has not yet been resolved. The chief secretary, in an order issued...

Jun152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Huge Success for Ozone Layer: Scientists Hail Rapid Decline in Harmful Gases, Thanks to Montreal Protocol

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Scientists said on Tuesday that international efforts to protect the ozone layer had been a "huge success" after they revealed that the harmful gas in the atmosphere is declining faster than previously thought. The Montreal Protocol, signed in 1987, aims to detect ozone-depleting substances found mainly in refrigerants, air conditioners, and aerosol sprays. New research has found that atmospheric levels of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), harmful gases that cause holes in the ozone layer, will rise in 2021—five years earlier than predicted. "This is a big achievement. We can see that things are going in the right direction," the lead author of the study, Luke Western, from the from the University of Bristol in England, told AFP. The most harmful CFCs were phased out in 2010 to...

Jun102024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Newly Discovered Fossils Suggest Ancient Age of Monotremes in Australia

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Bones encased in rock rotted away, and water-borne silica seeped into the crevices, solidifying into opal and preserving precious details for 100 million years. The resulting fossils now provide evidence that there may have been an Age of Monotremes before other mammals came to dominate. "It's like discovering a whole new civilization," says Australian Museum paleontologist Tim Flannery. "Today, Australia is known as a land of marsupials, but discovering these new fossils is the first indication that Australia was previously home to a diversity of monotremes." Currently, only five species of these rare mammals exist: one platypus and four echidna species, shared between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Due to their reptilian-like egg-laying feature, it has long been thought that these...

Jun42024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Farmers in Manipur Turn to Climate-Resilient Millets Amid Agricultural Challenges

Breaking News, Environment, Thoughts & Talks

As climate change continues to pose serious threats to agricultural production and destabilize farmers' livelihoods, communities in Manipur's Ukhrul district are turning to a more resilient crop: millets. The close affinity our forefathers shared with nature is making more sense now as traditional crops like paddy have witnessed significant declines in yield. Last year, paddy production in the region fell by 45 to 50 percent, causing immense hardship for local farmers. One such farmer, 67-year-old K. Shangam from Chingjaroi village, has shifted his focus to cultivating millet crops. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about the potential of millets, which are not as affected by climate changes. Shangam has relied on selling his agricultural products at local markets, where the...

Jun42024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Return of La Niña Expected to Ease Global Heat, UN Weather Agency Reports

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced on Monday that the return of the La Niña weather phenomenon should help to reduce global temperatures after several months of record-breaking heat. This cooling phase comes as the El Niño pattern, which has been contributing to extreme global temperatures since mid-2023, is showing signs of ending. According to the WMO's latest update, the impacts of La Niña will likely be felt in the coming months. However, the organization warns that despite the cooling trend, long-term global temperatures will continue to rise due to human-induced climate change, which exacerbates extreme weather and disrupts seasonal rainfall and temperature patterns. La Niña is characterized by the cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the ...

Jun32024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Sunspot Region AR 3697 Returns with a Bang, Unleashing Powerful X-Class Flares

Breaking News, Environment, Space

The sunspot region responsible for the glorious auroras that shimmered over most of Earth in early May is back, and it's still engaging in shenanigans. Known previously as AR 3664, this region was behind several X-class flares, including the most powerful of the current solar cycle. After rotating away from view onto the far side of the Sun in the middle of May, it re-emerged in style with a brand new name – AR 3697. On May 27, AR 3697 erupted with another powerful X-class flare, this time an X 2.8. Since then, it has continued its activity, producing four more X-class flares, bringing the total to five as of the latest reports. The sequence of events began on May 29 with an X1.45 flare, followed by an X1.1 flare on May 31. On June 1, AR 3697 unleashed two more flares, an X1.03 and a...

Jun32024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

UN Report Reveals Alarming Degradation of Global Rangelands, Urges Immediate Action

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The United Nations (UN) has released a new report highlighting the alarming degradation of rangelands worldwide. Covering more than half of Earth's land surface, rangelands are crucial ecosystems that sustain billions of people by providing meat, dairy, fiber, and other staple foods. However, the report finds that up to 50 percent of these vital landscapes are now degraded, with previous assessments underestimating the extent of the problem. Poor land management practices, exacerbated by climate change, are identified as the primary drivers of rangeland degradation. These practices include land clearing, mining, overgrazing, soil nutrient depletion, erosion, and wildfires. Conflict and border issues in some regions further contribute to overgrazing, hindering livestock movement and exac...

Jun22024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Reveals Predictable Patterns in Stick Insect Evolution

Breaking News, Environment

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered that the evolution of camouflage patterns in stick insects follows a predictable pattern, challenging the long-held belief that evolution is a haphazard process. The study, led by evolutionary biologist Patrik Nosil from the French National Centre for Scientific Research, examined 30 years of data on Timema cristinae stick insects. Nosil and his team focused on the camouflage traits of these insects, which are essential for their survival as they blend into their environment to avoid predators. The study, conducted along roadsides in the mountains near Santa Barbara, California, involved netting and cataloging over 32,000 insects. The researchers found that in all 10 geographically separated populations, the frequency of green an...

May312024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Delhi’s Water Crisis Worsens Amid Scorching Heat, Delhi CM Appeals for Help from Central Govt

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

As Delhi battles an intense water crisis amidst soaring temperatures, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday appealed to the Centre and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to urge the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to assist in meeting Delhi's escalating water demand. Mr. Kejriwal emphasized the need for collective action rather than political disputes, stating that the water demand has surged due to the extreme heat while the supply from neighboring states has diminished. "In this scorching heat, the water demand has increased a lot. And the water that Delhi used to get from the neighboring states has also been reduced. That means the demand has increased a lot and the supply has reduced. We all have to solve this together," Mr. Kejriwal wrote in a post on X. "I see that...

May312024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Orange Peels: A Potential Heart Health Boost Hiding in Your Kitchen

Breaking News, Environment, Idea & Innovations

Orange peels, often discarded as waste, might hold significant health benefits, according to a recent study by scientists at the University of Florida and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The study has discovered a novel bioactive compound in orange peels, called feruloylputrescine (FP), which shows promise in promoting heart health. Feruloylputrescine, previously found in grapefruit leaves and juice, has now been identified in orange peels. This compound does not appear in other citrus fruits like limes, lemons, tangerines, or mandarins. FP has garnered attention for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may contribute to cardiovascular health. Research Findings In a six-week experiment, mice were fed a nutritious orange peel extract rich in FP. The resu...