Science
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 |
April 01, 2025
Down To Earth
In search of new homes
As Asiatic lions outgrow their last refuge in Gujarat’s Gir forests, they are crossing the state borders and even venturing into unlikely coastal areas to establish new territories
4 min |
April 01, 2025
Down To Earth
Invisibilised localities
AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY ON THE NETWORKS, CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND OBSTACLES FACED BY RESIDENTS OF JHUGGIS AND TRANSIT CAMPS WHILE DEALING WITH EVICTION POLITICS AND INEQUALITIES IN DELHI
3 min |
March 16, 2025
Down To Earth
TUNNEL VISION
Bengaluru's civic body must ascertain suitability of the city's geology before moving ahead with its tunnel road project for seamless travel
3 min |
March 16, 2025
Down To Earth
SAFETY IN CIRCULARITY
Global standards of water availability show that India is water stressed. Reusing treated wastewater can augment water supply while solving the problem of its safe disposal. FARAZ AHMAD and SUMITA SINGHAL analyse wastewater management practices of 16 cities in seven states to understand the challenges and potential areas of reuse
10+ min |
March 16, 2025
Down To Earth
AGAINST THE GRAIN
India's two most valuable timbers-sandalwood and red sanders-have long been bound by restrictive regulations designed to curb illegal trade. Encouraged by the government decades ago with promises of windfall profits, farmers took to commercial cultivation, investing years of patience and effort. Now, as they prepare to harvest, a harsh reality is setting in-the promise of big profits is not quite holding up. HIMANSHU NITNAWARE travels to 19 villages across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to explore the reasons
10+ min |
March 16, 2025
Down To Earth
Guardians of forest
Communities across Maharashtra take on the mantle of biodiversity conservation; replicate sacred groves on common land
5 min |
March 16, 2025
Down To Earth
Climate talks
Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2025 sees discussions on the state of India's environment, energy ambitions and emerging health threats
3 min |
March 16, 2025
Down To Earth
Mission for inclusion
Vidya Rajput leads the fight for transgender community's rights and acceptance in Chhattisgarh
2 min |
March 16, 2025
Down To Earth
Ready for power shift
An unprecedented drought forces hydropower- dependent Zambia to diversify its energy portfolio, embrace solar power
4 min |
March 16, 2025
Down To Earth
THE GREAT FARM HUSTLE
Agroforestry is fast emerging as a win-win strategy to mitigate climate change and improve farmers' income. It is particularly so in India, home to one-fifth of the agroforestry carbon projects in the world. Over the past months ROHINI KRISHNAMURTHY has travelled to almost 20 villages across the country to understand how this market works. At all locations, she finds that communities and their land and labour are central to the projects. But they do not always benefit from the carbon revenue
10+ min |
March 01, 2025
Down To Earth
CAN AGROFORESTRY CREDITS BE SAVED?
Ensure that farmers benefit from the carbon revenue and stay protected against market failure
6 min |
March 01, 2025
Down To Earth
Urban trap
Fearing loss of autonomy and access to government schemes, several villages across India are protesting against the decision to change their status to town
6 min |
March 01, 2025
Down To Earth
Dubious distinction
How Madhya Pradesh displaced Punjab as the country's leading state in stubble burning
5 min |