Science
Down To Earth
Heal the system
Hurdles in practising Ayurveda are limiting its potential to help India improve healthcare access
8 min |
July 16, 2023
Down To Earth
A job not done
As multiple states launch urban employment guarantee schemes, the need for a Central Act similar to MGNREGA becomes stronger
9 min |
July 16, 2023
Down To Earth
Al Throws The Patent System Into Turmoil
Artificial intelligence is overturning the conventional idea of intellectual property rights, especially in drug discovery
4 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
Should India Cap Tiger Population
In April 2023, India announced that its wild tiger population has increased to a healthy 3,167 from just 1,400 in 2006. However, almost 30 per cent of the tigers roam outside the protected areas and regularly enter human habitations. There is also concern over shrinking tiger corridors-patches that connect two large areas of forest-due to the construction of linear infrastructure such as railway lines, highways and canals. Moreover, tigers are believed to be leaving forests in pursuit of herbivores that are increasingly foraying into human-dominated landscapes since the natural flora on which they survive is overtaken by invasive species such as lantana, a plant introduced to India by the British. Does this mean that India's forests are nearing their carrying capacity to support tigers, who are apex predators? Should the country consider capping its tiger population or look at other solutions?
4 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
Train that moves Delhi
DELHI METRO IN RASHMI SADANA'S THE MOVING CITYIS A FORCE THAT ATTEMPTS TO BRING ORDER TO THE CITY
5 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
Engage
Time we solved the population question
2 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
Empowered by water
Access to water in households helps women save time to earn additional income and improve their quality of life RUBY SARKAR
2 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
Third pole melting away
Himalayan glaciers disappearing 65% faster since 2010. This will drastically reduce water flows in the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra
2 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
GREEN PROMISE
Although a weed, silver cockscomb is high in nutrients and shows potential for use as a leafy vegetable
3 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
Fix at source
Bengaluru must close data gaps, rope in bulk waste generators to cope with its growing piles of rubbish
3 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
TIME AFRICA SWITCHED
Africa has always been energy-poor, and the scenario has gotten worse in the past decade. The continent must leapfrog to renewables to become energy-secure, and the West would do well to aid the transition.
10+ min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
ALARMING TRENDS
Cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea provides yet another example of the changes that storm systems are exhibiting due to warmer waters
3 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
Writing on the wall
Excessive groundwater extraction is triggering subsidence in the Indo-Gangetic plain
4 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
Money matters
The last meeting before COP28 gets little work done as developed and developing countries fight over climate finance
3 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
TOXIC TRAIL
How a polluted seasonal rivulet in Ludhiana causes cancer, cognitive impairment and organ damage cases in districts 200 km away
7 min |
July 01, 2023
Down To Earth
Conflict Of Existence
Humans have an affinity for certain species. This is perhaps the reason stray dogs, monkeys and pigeons have always been part of Indian life. Their numbers have, however, reached unmanageable levels in urban areas in recent decades, so much so that they now pose a threat to public safety. Zoonotic diseases like rabies, caused by dog and monkey bites, and lung ailments, caused by pigeon droppings, are on the rise like never before. The behaviour of these city-bred species has also undergone changes. They now feed and breed profusely, and are fast adapting to urban settings. For peaceful coexistence, curbing the population of these species may not be enough. It requires a change in people’s etiquette so that these benign species do not become an urban menace
10+ min |
June 16, 2023
Down To Earth
Climate counsel
Farmers in Maharashtra alert each other about local weather conditions and share new agricultural strategies to cope with climate change SHEKHAR PAIGUDE
2 min |
June 16, 2023
Down To Earth
Delay tactics
Slow progress on treaty to end global plastic pollution as countries hold up negotiations with procedural objections
4 min |
June 16, 2023
Down To Earth
Act of faith
Why is Mendha fighting for community ownership of land under gramdan law at a time when most other villages want to give up the tag and states are diluting it?
7 min |
June 16, 2023
Down To Earth
Ominous change
A clear change evident in western disturbances that bring the crucial winter rains to India
2 min |
June 16, 2023
Down To Earth
India has lost its way on open access
New Delhi’s focus on striking a deal with the scientific publishing industry ignores the true spirit of open access and knowledge sharing
4 min |
June 16, 2023
Down To Earth
'Nature returning to modern poetry'
FOR POET, WRITER AND TRANSLATOR K SATCHIDANANDAN, NATURE WAS A THEME THAT WAS FADING FROM MODERN POETRY. BUT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE CAPITALIST IDEA OF DEVELOPMENT, FACILITATED ITS COMEBACK. MARKING THE EVOLUTION OF THIS ECOPOETRY, SATCHIDANANDAN, WHO IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF KERALA SAHITYA AKADEMI,ALONG WITH ASIAN-AMERICAN POET AND PLAYWRIGHT NISHI CHAWLA RECENTLY EDITED GREENING THE EARTH, AN ANTHOLOGY OF POEMS ON THE GLOBAL RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES. IN A CONVERSATION WITH ARYA ROHINI AND PREETHA BANERJEE, SATCHIDANANDAN EXPLAINS HOW POETRY AS A MEDIUM IS INSPIRING CHANGE. EXCERPTS:
3 min |
June 16, 2023
Down To Earth
Rise Of The Fungus
Fungal infections often go undiagnosed. Even when identified, they are among the most difficult diseases to manage. They are now quietly spreading across the globe, preying on people’s weakened immune system and taking advantage of the high diabetes burden. Some are even showing resistance to the existing arsenal of drugs and are becoming virulent in a warming world
10+ min |
May 01, 2023
Down To Earth
'ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO MARRIAGE'
Nearly five years after scrapping Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalised homosexuality, the Supreme Court in April 2023 began hearing petitions seeking legalisation of same-sex marriage, which would not just recognise unions within India’s LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, transgender, queer-identifying and others) community, but also allow partners to open joint bank accounts, make medical decisions and be eligible for inheritance. As a five-judge bench of the Apex Court headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud heard arguments both for and against the petitions, debates arose on the institution of marriage, on whether marriage equality was an “elitist concept”, and even on the biological definitions of a man and a woman. DOWN TO EARTH spoke to two experts on the fate of marriage equality in India.
3 min |
May 01, 2023
Down To Earth
PLANT BABOOL
The tree can grow well on degraded land, can survive droughts and floods, and has numerous medicinal properties
3 min |
May 01, 2023
Down To Earth
GREEN FLIGHT
From sustainable fuel to hydrogenpropelled engines, the aviation sector is experimenting with various technologies for a clean future
4 min |
May 01, 2023
Down To Earth
When generics turn into Big Pharma
Top generics firms, some from India, are charged with price-fixing and sleazy deals; Sun Pharma has paid up to settle claims
4 min |
May 01, 2023
Down To Earth
Every count matters
India’s first census of waterbodies is a much awaited one but experts question the methodology
4 min |
May 01, 2023
Down To Earth
POTENT EMITTER
Termites are a major source of methane, but determining the risk they pose to global warming is fraught with uncertainty
5 min |
May 01, 2023
Down To Earth
A silent crisis
Years of undernutrition and a heavy reliance on rice, supplied through public distribution system, could be fuelling diabetes among tribal population
10 min |