More than one in three tree species at risk of extinction
An alarming new assessment has revealed that the number of threatened trees now outweighs all threatened birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians put together. According to the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, a third of the world’s trees are now at risk of extinction. This number is more than double that...
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World’s largest coral discovered thriving in the Solomon Islands
A newly discovered, 300-year-old coral located in the Pacific Ocean offers a window into our planet's history and a warning for the future. Convinced that we know all there is to learn about the natural world? Think again. Researchers from a recent Pristine Seas expedition have uncovered a natural marvel...
Himalayan glacial lakes are expanding at an alarming rate
Driven by climate change and as a result of rising temperatures, this is rapidly heightening the risk of floods that have the potential to devastate communities across the region. Over the past 13 years, the overall area of Himalayan glacial lakes has increased by more than 10 per cent, from...
Darjeeling zoo’s trailblazing efforts to save the endangered red panda
Not only has it successfully rewilded nine in the past two years – with plans to release a tenth soon – but has established India’s first genetic biobank facility to preserve the DNA of vulnerable Himalayan species. At the heart of Darjeeling Zoo’s success is its Topkeydara Conservation Centre,...
Global warming confirmed to be supercharging deadly weather
A database of hundreds of studies compiled by Carbon Brief has provided overwhelming proof that previously ‘impossible’ heatwaves would have had virtually zero chance of happening without the additional heat trapped by fossil fuel emissions. Confirming what most of us already suspected, a new analysis has provided...
What sparked the violent clashes in Amsterdam?
Residents of Amsterdam witnessed violence erupting on their streets as clashes broke out between Israeli visitors and local pro-Palestine supporters. Yesterday evening, violence broke out on the streets of Amsterdam following a Europa League match between the local team Ajax and Israel’s Macaabi Tel Aviv. It is understood that the...
Female gig workers in India fight for recognition
India’s first women-led gig workers’ union just orchestrated a nationwide digital strike on Diwali. The protest marked a significant milestone in the fight for labour rights across the country. The Gig and Platform Workers Union (GIPSWU) made history last week by organising India’s first-ever digital strike across eleven major cities. Participants switched off their phones and refused to work on Diwali, which is traditionally one of the busiest...
What are the Taliban doing at COP29?
The fundamentalist group is attending the summit for the first time since its violent return to power in 2021. Though objections have been raised, poverty-stricken Afghanistan is ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries to the climate crisis and it’s for this reason that hosts in Azerbaijan extended the invitation. In 2021, the world watched in horror as the Taliban, taking advantage of America’s withdrawal from the region,...
Breaking down intersex variations in human biology
Recent studies indicate that intersex variations are as common as red hair, affecting approximately 1.7% of the global population. Public awareness about this facet of human biology remains limited however, highlighting the need for improved education and acceptance across the board. ‘Intersex’ is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of bodily differences, from variations in chromosomes and reproductive organs to atypical hormone levels and external genitalia. Specifically, it means...
India ranks lowest in Global Nature Conservation Index
The country’s environmental protection efforts are being scrutinised after it ranked 176th. India’s score of 45.5 out of 100 in this year’s Global Nature Conservation Index positions it among the worst-performing countries in the world. The assessment, conducted by Ben-Gurion University and BioDB, looked at land management, biodiversity threats, governance capacity, and future trends. India’s poor rating stems primarily from ineffective land management practices and escalating threats to its...
