Learning & Developments Archives - Page 5 of 13

Feb132025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate & Maternal Health Curtin Study Links Air Pollution to Prolonged Pregnancy

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments

New research from Curtin University reveals that exposure to outdoor air pollution and extreme temperatures during pregnancy may increase the risk of prolonged pregnancies, offering fresh insights into the effects of climate change on maternal health. The study, which analyzed nearly 400,000 births in Western Australia, found that higher exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) and biothermal stress a combination of temperature, humidity, wind speed, and human physiology was linked to pregnancies lasting beyond 41 weeks. Dr. Sylvester Dodzi Nyadanu, the study’s lead author from Curtin’s School of Population Health, explained that while preterm births have been studied extensively, this is the first research to explore the impact of environmental factors on prolonged pregnan...

Feb122025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Satellite Data Uncovers Years of Warning Signs Before Anak Krakatau’s Devastating 2018 Eruption and Tsunami

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Tech

A groundbreaking analysis of satellite data has revealed that the catastrophic 2018 eruption and collapse of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano which triggered a deadly tsunami was preceded by years of subtle but accelerating movements along its mountainside. Researchers at Penn State University found that the volcano's flank had been slipping for over a decade, showing signs that could have potentially served as an early warning if monitored in real time. The study, recently published in Geophysical Research Letters, highlights how advanced radar satellites can detect minute ground deformations, helping scientists track unstable ocean volcanoes and predict possible collapses before they occur. "Ocean volcanoes, when unstable, can collapse catastrophically and generate tsunamis," expl...

Feb82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Canada over 540,000 New Homes Built in flood-prone Areas to Tackle climate risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments

A groundbreaking report highlights how Canada can tackle its housing needs while avoiding catastrophic climate risks. It’s the first study in the country to quantify the economic damage of building homes in flood and wildfire-prone areas, urging a shift away from hazard zones to save billions and protect communities. The analysis warns that by 2030, over 540,000 new homes could be built in flood-prone areas, leading to $2 billion in annual damages. The financial burden will hit Manitoba and the Yukon hardest, with each new home in high-risk zones adding $1,200 per year in extra costs. The report calls for urgent action, recommending that housing developments be placed in safer areas. By planning smarter, Canada can prevent escalating disaster costs while ensuring its citizens have se...

Feb82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Crisis hits African Mountains Harder than Expected

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments

A new study from the University of York reveals that climate change is impacting mountain communities in equatorial Africa far more severely than previously thought, demanding urgent adaptation measures. Researchers interviewed 1,500 smallholder farmers across ten mountain regions in eight countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Rwanda and found widespread reports of rising temperatures, declining rainfall, increased extreme weather, and unpredictable seasons. These shifts are disrupting agriculture, reducing crop yields, and worsening food security for millions. Communities are adapting by changing farming methods, diversifying livelihoods, and improving water and soil management, but responses vary significantly across regions. Experts stress that a one-size-fits-all appro...

Feb62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Advances Biomedical Research with Key Facilities and Partnerships

Breaking News, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

India has taken a significant step forward in biomedical research with the inauguration of its first-ever Ferret Research Facility, the launch of the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data repository, and a pivotal technology transfer agreement, all aimed at strengthening its role in global health security and advancing research in maternal and child health. The groundbreaking event, held on February 3, 2025, at the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in Faridabad, Haryana, was led by Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Director General of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) and Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). First Ferret Research Facility: Boosting Disease Research The newly inaugurated THSTI Ferret Research Facility marks a significant milesto...

Feb52025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

A vast majority of earthquakes occur within the infamous Ring of Fire, a seismic hotspot encircling the Pacific Ocean. Yet, when these earthquakes strike, the areas that experience the most intense shaking aren’t always the ones that suffer the worst destruction. Recent research has uncovered a hidden factor contributing to earthquake devastation: migration patterns and housing vulnerabilities. The 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake Case Study Taiwan’s catastrophic Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999, which claimed over 2,400 lives, presented an unexpected pattern of destruction. Contrary to expectations, the worst damage was not in the bustling city centers but in the suburbs and outer regions. Similar trends have been observed in earthquakes that hit China, Chile, and Nepal, raising questions about wh...

Feb32025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Sikkim Flood Disaster Highlights Growing Climate Risks in the Himalayas

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

An international research team has concluded that the devastating flood disaster in Sikkim, India, in October 2023 was caused by the collapse of 14.7 million cubic meters of frozen moraine material into South Lhonak Lake, triggering a tsunami-like flood wave that reached up to 20 meters in height. This tragic event, which claimed at least 55 lives and caused widespread damage along the Teesta River, serves as a stark reminder of the escalating dangers posed by climate change in high mountain regions. A Massive Tsunami-like Wave On October 3, 2023, the collapse of frozen moraine material into the lake unleashed a catastrophic glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), releasing about 50 million cubic meters of water—equivalent to the volume of 20,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The flood c...

Jan292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New Study Warns of Potential 1.9 Metre Sea-Level Rise by 2100 Under High Emissions Scenario

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Learning & Developments

An international team of researchers from NTU Singapore and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands has projected a significant rise in global sea levels if carbon dioxide emissions continue to increase. According to their findings, published in the scientific journal Earth's Future, sea levels could rise between 0.5 and 1.9 meters by the year 2100 under a high-emission scenario. The upper limit of this range is nearly 90 centimeters higher than the latest United Nations (UN) projection, which estimates a rise of 0.6 to 1.0 meters. This study provides a "very likely range" (indicating a 90% probability of occurrence), offering a new dimension to sea-level projections. Previously, projections from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were based o...

Jan282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Expert Calls for Stronger Climate Risk Response to Tackle Extreme Events

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments

Katharine Mach, a climate risk management specialist and chair at the University of Miami’s Department of Environmental Science and Policy, emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive risk-response framework to address the increasing complexity of climate change. Drawing insights from her research on hazards like wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat, she outlines key strategies for adaptation and highlights challenges in implementation. Adapting to climate change means preparing for current risks and anticipating future challenges. With global temperatures surpassing a 1.5°C increase for the first time in 2024, communities are grappling with unprecedented climate extremes. Mach stresses that adaptation is crucial to ensuring safety and resilience in the face of these challenges. ...

Jan272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Finds Climate Change Fuels Rise in Multi-Year Droughts

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Learning & Developments

A groundbreaking 40-year study has revealed a troubling surge in long-lasting, multi-year droughts (MYDs), which have become more frequent, drier, and expansive with the warming climate. The findings, published in Science on January 16, emphasize the global challenge posed by these persistent dry spells, warning of their devastating impact on ecosystems, agriculture, and water resources. Between 1980 and 2018, global terrestrial land affected by MYDs expanded at an alarming rate of 50,000 square kilometers annually. Researchers documented 13,176 MYD events during this period, each lasting at least two consecutive years. These droughts not only grew in size but also experienced significant temperature anomalies in affected regions. Notably, the study identified 10 of the most severe M...