Fact Check Archives - Page 7 of 13

Mar272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Bengaluru Student Study Shows Rejuvenating Lakes Can Solve Water Crisis

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Once known as the ‘City of Lakes’, Bengaluru now faces severe water shortages with demand outstripping supply as rapid urbanisation takes its toll. However student-led research project under the Anveshana initiative suggests that restoring the city’s historical lake system could help achieve water self-reliance. Historically Bengaluru’s lakes functioned as interconnected reservoirs storing rainwater and supporting agriculture drinking water needs, and groundwater recharge. They also helped control floods by gradually releasing excess rainfall. However over the decades, urbanisation and groundwater extraction led to widespread lake neglect and encroachment, with many turning into sewage dumps. The city, now reliant on importing water from the Cauvery River, faces a growing demand-supp...

Mar262025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Extreme Weather Drove 20% of Energy Demand Growth in 2024: IEA Report

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A surge in global temperatures and extreme weather events drove a 20% increase in natural gas and electricity demand in 2024, contributing to a rise in coal consumption, according to the Global Energy Review 2025 released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on March 24, 2025. Soaring Electricity Demand Global electricity consumption grew by 4.3% in 2024, nearly doubling the 2.5% growth recorded in 2023. The main drivers were: Increased cooling demand due to extreme heatwaves, particularly in China, India, and the U.S. Industrial expansion, especially in electro-intensive manufacturing Electrification of transport, with electric vehicle (EV) sales rising by over 25%, surpassing 17 million units Booming data centres, requiring massive power consumption The buildin...

Mar262025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Heat Poses New Threat to Bangladesh’s Fight Against Child Stunting

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Bangladesh has made remarkable strides in reducing childhood stunting, cutting rates from 42% in 2012 to 28% in 2019. However™a new less understood threat looms climate change. Could rising temperatures erase years of progress in child health and nutrition? A recent study, Extreme Heat Exposure in the First 1,000 Days: Implications for Childhood Stunting in Bangladesh, has drawn a direct link between heat exposure during early childhood and stunting. It found that a 1% increase in extreme heat days raises the odds of stunting by 56%, with heat exposure after birth having a 67% stronger effect than in utero exposure (28%). How Heat Impacts Child Growth Extreme heat disrupts critical biological processes in both mothers and children: Pregnant women exposed to heat suffer from r...

Mar252025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rethinking Flood Control Letting Rivers Roam Freely for a Sustainable Future

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Traditional flood management relies on higher stop banks, stronger levees, and concrete barriers to contain rising waters. But what if the best solution isn’t to confine rivers but to give them more space to move naturally? This alternative approach is gaining traction as a sustainable method to mitigate flood risks while providing crucial ecological benefits. Climate change is intensifying extreme weather events, making floods more frequent and severe. In places like Aotearoa New Zealand, decades of river confinement through artificial channels and land development have worsened flood risks. Restricting rivers transfers flood dangers downstream, increasing water speed and pressure while disrupting ecosystems that rely on natural water flow. Historically floodplain rivers have been d...

Mar252025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Temperatures Rising Heart Risks: How Extreme Heat Strains the Heart

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For years scientists have studied how heat affects the human heart. However new research suggests that the most commonly used testing methods may not accurately reflect what happens during real-world heat waves. As climate change drives global temperatures higher understanding the true impact of extreme heat on heart function has become more crucial than ever. A groundbreaking study has uncovered key insights into how the human heart responds to heat stress. This findings could reshape how health agencies protect vulnerable populations during extreme weather events. The study analyzed data from over 400 laboratory studies involving more than 6,800 participants, revealing significant differences in how heating methods influence heart performance. Researchers find that exposure to enca...

Mar242025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Himalayan Glaciers Melting Rapidly Raising Risks for 2 Billion People

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Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, a crucial freshwater source for nearly 2 billion people are melting at an alarming rate, heightening the risk of floods, landslides and infrastructure damage across Asia. The region home to the world's largest ice reserves outside the polar areas is experiencing glacial melt 65% faster than in the previous decade with the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) projected to triple by the century’s end. The impact is already being felt. In August last year, a glacial lake in Nepal's Everest region burst its banks unleashing a destructive flood in Thame village. Homes, farms, a school, and a hydropower plant were damaged, but timely evacuation saved lives. With such disasters set to become more frequent, governments and international organization...

Mar192025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Donald Trump Energy Emergency Sparks Controversy Over Fast Tracked Infrastructure Projects

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A new national energy emergency declared by former President Donald Trump has ignited fierce debate over the fast-tracking of major energy and infrastructure projects across the U.S. The United States Army Corps of Engineers recently compiled a list of hundreds of projects including oil pipelines natural gas plants, and mining operations potentially eligible for expedited approval. However after facing a wave of criticism from environmental groups the Corps removed the list and promised a revised version. The move has raised alarm among environmental experts who warn that bypassing standard review processes could lead to significant ecological damage, including the destruction of wetlands and contamination of drinking water sources. What Defines an Emergency? While federal law all...

Mar152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Board game boosts youth awareness on sea level rise

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Can a board game help young people grasp the impact of sea level rise? Researcher Nieske Vergunst from Utrecht University’s Freudenthal Institute explored this question through the Sea Level Game, a strategy-based board game designed to enhance climate awareness. Tested on 117 participants aged 16 to 25, the game divided players into two teams: the Sea Level team, which made choices affecting climate change, and the Solution Level team, responsible for societal responses. The study, published in Geoscience Communication, found that players felt more aware of sea level rise and more confident in their ability to influence it—regardless of their prior science knowledge. Vergunst sees the game as a bridge for climate communication, particularly for those with low science exposure. “Sea ...

Mar152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Small Mexico City Earthquakes Reveal Big Risks for Buildings

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A recent swarm of small, shallow earthquakes in Mexico City has raised new concerns about how moderate earthquakes might impact the city buildings. Researchers found that even relatively weak earthquakes produced surprisingly strong ground shaking prompting them to explore potential damage in future scenarios. In a study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America Miguel Jaimes and Gerardo Suárez from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México modeled the expected damage from moderate earthquakes in three key regions of the Mexico City basin. Their scenarios were based on past earthquakes including a 2023 event in La Magdalena Contreras the 2018 San Juan de Aragón earthquake and the 1995 Milpa Alta and 1985 Juchitepec earthquakes. Their findings highlight the criti...

Mar152025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Warns of Unexpectedly Strong Shaking from Moderate Earthquakes in Mexico City

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A new study has revealed that moderate earthquakes in Mexico City could cause significant damage to buildings, depending on the region’s underlying geology. The findings, published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America by Miguel Jaimes and Gerardo Suárez of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, highlight the risks posed by local seismic activity beyond the well-known large subduction earthquakes. Mexico City has recently experienced swarms of small, shallow earthquakes, particularly in 2019 and 2023, which generated unexpectedly strong ground shaking. These events prompted researchers to investigate how shaking from a moderate earthquake with a magnitude up to 5.5 might impact buildings across different parts of the city. Geology MattersDamage Varies by Region ...