Sanctuary Asia
The Cranes Come Home Again To The Pangchen Valley!
The excitement in Degin Dorjee’s voice was palpable as he shared the news of the arrival of Black-necked Cranes at their wintering site along the Nyamjang Chhu river this winter.
3 min |
February 2019
Sanctuary Asia
Thanal
More than three decades ago, in 1986, a small group of nature enthusiasts based in the southern state of Kerala in India were inspired to share their love for nature by helping people to become more environmentally aware and pro-active.
4 min |
February 2019
Sanctuary Asia
Photography As Art
Across the world fine art is taking huge strides towards the goal of stimulating and influencing public opinion in favour of nature conservation. Shaaz Jung, a talented young Indian wildlife photographer, is a pioneer in this field, and he uses his wildlife photographs, enhanced by digital imagery, to augment their impact. In his view, this will bring in new pools of support from artists whose creativity could help turn the tide, by attracting hitherto untapped potential for the critical task of saving our vanishing wilds.
2 min |
February 2019
Down To Earth
No Worries? Ask Simba
A furore over Disney's trademark on the Swahili phrase Hakuna Matata heats up the cultural appropriation debate
2 min |
January 16, 2019
Down To Earth
Worshipped And Abandoned
The circular economy of cattle has been ruptured. Restrictions on cattle trade are forcing cattle rearers to abandon the cows, and therefore, their livelihood. Jitendra and photographer Adithyan P C travel across the cow belt in the country and neighbouring Nepal to understand how it has hit the poorest
10+ min |
January 16, 2019
Down To Earth
Try Some Salt, Fresh And Seasoned
Uttarakhand's age-old flavoured salts loaded with micronutrients are not only a healthy option, but can also tickle your taste buds
3 min |
January 16, 2019
Down To Earth
Reign Over Rain
Rainfall deficit can be a challenge as well as an opportunity. Last year, Dhanbad faced a rainfall deficit of 60 per cent. EKLAVYA PRASAD narrates his personal experience of catching rainwater where it falls in his home, Uttarayan. By constructing rainwater harvesting structures, Uttarayan not only showed the way to address urban water scarcity, it also helped recharge groundwater with 1.06 million litres of rainwater
4 min |
January 16, 2019
Down To Earth
Love's Labour
The traditional dishes that pregnant women eat for centuries
2 min |
January 16, 2019
Down To Earth
Jamdani, Naturally
How the women of Burdwan and Nadia districts in West Bengal weave magic, turning raw cotton into niche and `climate-friendly' Jamdani
6 min |
January 16, 2019
Down To Earth
Corridor Catharsis
The proposed Similipal-Satkosia wildlife corridor in Odisha can be connecting link for the survival of endangered species. But mining activities need to be eliminated
3 min |
January 16, 2019
Down To Earth
Anthropocene In The Arctic
A behind the scenes account of how the scientific community came to terms with the changing landscape of the Arctic
3 min |
January 16, 2019
Down To Earth
Agenda For 2019
The governance blueprint to combat major environmental problems must be institutionalised and strictly enforced
2 min |
January 16, 2019
Down To Earth
`Capital Lies With A Few, Power With The Masses'
Soon after Independence, a good 350 newspapers started as a cooperative venture. But only Janmorcha, published from Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, has managed to survive. Its editor SHEETLA SINGH fearlessly wages a battle against the government which has made five attempts to shut the newspaper down. ANIL ASHWANI SHARMA spoke to the 87-year-old sentinel of cooperative journalism about the perils of newspaper publishing in the country
3 min |
January 16, 2019
Down To Earth
Wild And Nutritious
Gaithi, a tuber variety that grows in the hills of Uttarakhand, has both nutritive and medicinal properties
2 min |
January 01, 2019
Down To Earth
Fault Lines In Expressway
Construction of Char Dham national highway has cost Uttarakhand its ecological balance, as ISHAN KUKRETI discovers in his 250 km travel through the devasted terrain
6 min |
January 01, 2019
Down To Earth
The Right Pill
Africa will be setting up its first agency to check the spread of spurious drugs
3 min |
January 01, 2019
Down To Earth
Politicisation Of Rights
What impedes the Forest Rights Act, 2006, from being implemented in the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve in West Bengal?
4 min |
January 01, 2019
Down To Earth
Listen... Plants Too Speak
As early as in 1880, Charles Darwin demonstrated that plants could sense light, moisture, gravity, pressure and possessed several other qualities. Over the years, many scientists have proved that plants are sentient beings and move and respond to sensation. The subject is still controversial among the scientific community. Monica Gagliano is research associate professor of evolutionary ecology and former fellow of the Australian Research Council who has pioneered a brand-new research field of plant bioacoustics. In her latest book, Thus Spoke the Plant: A Remarkable Journey of Groundbreaking Scientific Discoveries and Personal Encounters with Plants, she, for the first time, has experimentally demonstrated that plants emit their own ªvoicesº and detect and respond to the sounds of their environments. In these excerpts, Gagliano writes about how the pea plant responds to acoustic vibrations to locate water
10+ min |
January 01, 2019
Down To Earth
Dormant Breakthrough
Scientists are working on induced human hibernation, as seen naturally in animals, to treat a range of diseases
4 min |
January 01, 2019
Down To Earth
Zika's Unborn Victims
As India fights its first Zika outbreak, BANJOT KAUR travels to the virus-hit districts of VIDISHA and BHOPAL in MADHYA PRADESH and finds a grievously unprepared response system
6 min |
December 16, 2018
Down To Earth
You Can Be Sued For Your Posts
Copyright issues related to social media posts are a concern as platforms are shutting down accounts without notice
2 min |
December 16, 2018
Down To Earth
Sum And Substance Of Climate Diplomacy
Climate change negotiations must move from being a zero-sum game to a positive-sum game.
3 min |
December 16, 2018
Down To Earth
Rise Of Lookalikes
Dairy units in India turn to cheaper alternatives; strike a blow to small farmers.
5 min |
December 16, 2018
Down To Earth
Brain-Teaser
A device that uses electricity to pass through your brain is believed to cure a range of diseases. But the jury is still out on its safety.
3 min |
December 16, 2018
Down To Earth
A Setback To Struggle For Health Rights
Amit Sengupta's optimism and persistence have inspired generations of public health activists in India and abroad.
2 min |
December 16, 2018
Scientific India
Smart Agriculture In India: Possibilities, Benefits And Challenges
In recent times, there has been a continuous debate on whether big data analytics is the next best thing in technology or just a technological bubble that will burst as the world explores it and begins to use it in real life and work.
6 min |
November - December 2018
Scientific India
Protein Rich Indian Food-Ideal For Weight Loss
With the growing fitness trend and weight loss wave, the concept of high protein diet has evolved and popularised in the Indian market.
5 min |
November - December 2018
Highlights Champs
Why Does Nature Paint Some Autumn Leaves Red?
Why does nature paint some autumn leaves red?
2 min |
November 2018
Down To Earth
The Trick Is In The Treaty Text
When rich nations insist on patent linkage provisions in bilateral and regional trade pacts here is a way out
2 min |
November 16, 2018
Down To Earth
The Lament Continues
The Alma-Ata Declaration failed to ensure health for all. Will Astana succeed?
3 min |