Science
Down To Earth
OUT OF WILDERNESS
The wild seasonal fruit tendu is nutritious and must be mainstreamed with supporting policies and technologies
3 min |
May 01, 2025
Down To Earth
Invisible scars
Climate change and land-use changes exacerbate gully erosion, which is a major driver of land degradation across the world
3 min |
May 01, 2025
Down To Earth
India's landholdings shrink, food demand soars
SHRINKING LANDHOLDINGS and rising food demand are shaping a new agricultural landscape in India, highlights the latest policy paper by National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR-NIAP).
1 min |
May 01, 2025
Down To Earth
ORIGIN OF PROXIES
The revival of dire wolf by an American biotechnology company proves that it is possible to create proxies of extinct species through cutting-edge genetic editing and cloning technologies. But can this actually fix the extinction crisis?
10+ min |
May 01, 2025
Down To Earth
A sizeable threat
Increased interaction with human habitations has resulted in elephants contracting diseases not usually associated with the animal
3 min |
May 01, 2025
Down To Earth
Survival mode
MARCHING IN THE DARK SHINES A LIGHT ON MAHARASHTRA'S RESILIENT 'FARM WIDOWS' AND THE STRENGTH THEY FIND FROM MUTUAL SUPPORT
5 min |
May 01, 2025
Down To Earth
Shallow attempt
Uttar Pradesh is India's largest groundwater extractor. Water-guzzling crops, unregulated borewells and a lack of policy enforcement have pushed the state to the brink of water crisis
5 min |
May 01, 2025
Down To Earth
India's cooling paradox
Aerosols responsible for toxic air pollution could explain India's slower warming—but scientists warn there are no easy solutions
3 min |
May 01, 2025
Down To Earth
Fixing food
In an attempt to reduce human-wildlife conflicts around Jim Corbett National Park, the Uttarakhand forest department is replacing teak and eucalyptus plantations with native and fruit-bearing trees
3 min |
May 01, 2025
Down To Earth
In full retreat
Hindu Kush glaciers retreated 65 per cent faster in 2011-20, compared to previous decade. In a 2 °C warmer world, half of its glaciers could vanish
3 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
RESILIENT RURAL FUTURES
Ambuja Foundation Tackles Climate Vulnerability Head On ...
3 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
AN AI FOR AN AI
Countries and companies are engaged in geopolitical competition and are pouring billions to dominate Al economy. But dangers abound
5 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
Nature guides
A women's collective in Uttarakhand improves members' livelihoods through sustainable tourism initiatives
2 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
THE ENERGY PARADOX
As Al reshapes the world, can it curb its own environmental impact?
3 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
'Commission will provide legal aid to protect rights of elderly'
The Kerala Assembly has on March 19 passed the Kerala State Elderly Commission Bill, 2025, which allows the government to set up an Elderly Commission to protect the rights of the senior citizens and promote their welfare. In a conversation with K A SHAJI, the state's Minister for Higher Education and Social Justice R BINDU shares the mission of the country's first such commission. Excerpts:
4 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
SUNNY SIDE UP
The golden-hued egg fruit found in southern states is rich in nutritive and medicinal properties, but remains underutilised
3 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
TRUMP'S TARIFF FRENZY
India should be most concerned about 'reciprocal tariffs' as Donald Trump seeks to pry open the country's agricultural markets for US' agri-business companies
6 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
Discourse on plant, forest genetic resources
WITH AN aim to discuss strategies for conserving plant and forest genetic resources, global leaders convened in Rome for the 20th Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA 20) on March 24-28. CGRFA, part of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is the only permanent intergovernmental body that deals with all components of biodiversity for food and agriculture.
1 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
BIAS INBUILT
Exploitative use of AI by governments and private entities threatens humanity, emphasising the need for strong guardrails
5 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
ARTIFICIAL YOURS
Artificial Intelligence has made its way in everyday life. From Ghibli art to search engines to weapon systems, the technology's penetration is nearly complete. Trends show that organisations are rewiring to cope with the new reality. Governments are using private players to gain AI supremacy, while allowing them a greater say in public policy. India has entered the race late, but plans to develop its own model this year. What are the societal, legal and environmental challenges posed by the AI revolution?
7 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
Putting public health before patent rights
Roche's patent suit against Natco spotlights the problem of patients with rare diseases and access to pricey drugs
4 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
UPDATE REQUIRED
India needs to upgrade its legislative and legal framework to deal with the impacts of AI technology
4 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
The Big Pharma fix
Weight-loss drugs will not help India unless measures are taken to promote healthy diet and lifestyle
5 min |
April 16, 2025
Down To Earth
US tariffs on drugs and the end of WTO
Trump's plan to levy duties on pharma violates WTO rules, but there is no recourse as the trade regulator is dysfunctional
4 min |
April 01, 2025
Down To Earth
TAMING THE TEAK
Tissue-cultured teak has potential to boost India's timber cultivation and trade, but requires identifying best farm practices
3 min |
April 01, 2025
Down To Earth
MAGNETIC FLIP-FLOP
Earth's magnetic field, our shield against cosmic radiations, has a history of reversals and anomalies. From setting up observatories and satellites to analysing ship logs and archeological surveys, scientists are piecing together its past to uncover clues about future shifts. Yet, many mysteries remain
5 min |
April 01, 2025
Down To Earth
DUST TO DUST
Millions of Indians work in dusty mines, factories and construction sites, facing a deadly yet underreported lung disease called silicosis. National-level data on the illness caused by dust inhalation is virtually absent.
10+ min |
April 01, 2025
Down To Earth
Promising start
Sexed semen technology can revolutionise India's dairy sector. But its impact on biodiversity must not be ignored
6 min |
April 01, 2025
Down To Earth
TIRELESS CHRONICLERS
Every decade since 1974, scholars, activists, students and journalists have embarked on a unique 45-day journey on foot through the hinterlands of western Himalayas to revive and restore the lost ties RAJU SAJWAN
7 min |
April 01, 2025
Down To Earth
'Integrate health, physiology to assess heat impacts'
When we think of extreme heat, the discussion often focusses only on the mortality it causes. However, it affects individuals differently. JOY MERWIN MONTEIRO, assistant professor at the Department of Earth and Climate Science at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, is studying how a combination of environmental and individual factors determine the risk of heat-related health impacts. In an interview with HIMANSHU NITNAWARE, Monteiro discusses the concept of heat strain—the physiological burden extreme heat places on the body—and why understanding it is crucial to safeguard the population. Excerpts:
3 min |