Science
Down To Earth
Under The Cover Of Lockdown
With lockdown in force, governments across the globe are scrambling to implement steps they were unable to take due to opposition from people and political parties. India is no exception, and the government is blatantly diluting crucial laws in favour of the industry KUNDAN PANDEY analyses changes in labour laws, ISHAN KUKRETI on environmental laws and SHAGUN KAPIL on agricultural laws
10+ min |
June 01, 2020
Down To Earth
Infant Mortality Rate: Too Varied To Celebrate
It may bring some relief that the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in India has fallen from 50 to 32 per 1,000 live births over the past decade, but the wide variation in numbers across the country offsets the achievement.
1 min |
June 01, 2020
Down To Earth
TO TEST OR NOT
As India begins to relax lockdown rules, there is a growing demand for tests on a mass scale. But it might not help
4 min |
June 01, 2020
Down To Earth
The long walk home
AS INDIA WITNESSES ITS LARGEST MOVEMENT OF WORKERS, DOWN TO EARTH’S VIVEK MISHRA WALKS WITH THEM FOR OVER 500 KM, CHRONICLING THE CRISIS. THIS IS THE FIRST OF A TWO-PART REPORT
4 min |
June 01, 2020
Down To Earth
The order of spread
THE RULES OF CONTAGION IS LESS ABOUT DISEASES AND MORE ABOUT THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES OF CONTAGION
4 min |
June 01, 2020
Down To Earth
SAMPLE THE UNKOWN
Testing is no doubt the cornerstone of the fight against COVID-19. But the world’s growing obsession with tests might weaken our response to the pandemic.
9 min |
June 01, 2020
Down To Earth
A NEW STORM SURGE
Amphan’s rapid intensification underlines how cyclones are becoming terrifyingly unfamiliar AKSHIT SANGOMLA NEW DELHI and JAYANTA BASU KOLKATA
5 min |
June 01, 2020
Down To Earth
Burst of orange
THE LITTLE-KNOWN UTILITIES OF THE UBIQUITOUS GULMOHAR TREE
3 min |
June 01, 2020
Down To Earth
A burden too heavy
Social worker Abul Kalam Azad saves a newborn when an exhausted and hungry migrant worker abandoned him along the road
2 min |
June 01, 2020
Down To Earth
Roots Of Water Scarcity
Contrary to popular belief, afforestation programmes that blindly plant trees in the hope of conserving water only end up consuming more water
5 min |
May 16, 2020
Down To Earth
Immune To Corona!
An ancient herb is staging a comeback for its properties to boost immunity
4 min |
May 16, 2020
Down To Earth
WARNING SIGNAL
Why does India fail to caution its farmers of weather changes despite a rich meteorological infrastructure?
5 min |
May 16, 2020
Down To Earth
HAVE WE GIVEN IN?
Countries are taking a leap of faith to return to normalcy and get the economy going. India is desperately trying to follow suit. But can it do so without letting its guard down?
8 min |
May 16, 2020
Down To Earth
DISTRESS DRAFT
Centre is in a rush to amend power law. The draft bill takes away powers from state governments and gives them to private firms
5 min |
May 16, 2020
Down To Earth
Between A Cure And Access
As researchers scramble to come up with therapies to treat COVID-19, patents could keep the drugs out of reach for many
6 min |
May 01, 2020
Down To Earth
THE BIG PHARMA MESS
The pandemic has exposed a serious fault line in the global pharmaceutical supply chain, created by an industry that flourished by putting profit before public health. Amid shortage of life-saving drugs, countries now scramble for self-sufficiency. But circumventing market dynamics may not be easy
10+ min |
May 01, 2020
Down To Earth
“No single religious narrative has been able to assert claim over the Brahmaputra”
THE UNQUIET RIVER BY ARUPJYOTI SAIKIA TRACES THE TUMULTUOUS TRANSFORMATION OF THE BRAHMAPUTRA OVER THE CENTURIES. SAIKIA SPOKE TO ISHAN KUKRETI
3 min |
May 01, 2020
Down To Earth
Turmoil in the floodplains
IN THIS EXCERPT FROM THE UNQUIET RIVER, ARUPJYOTI SAIKIA NARRATES THE TENSIONS THAT ERUPTED BETWEEN ASSAM’S PEASANTS AND MIGRANTS FROM EAST BENGAL IN THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY
4 min |
May 01, 2020
Down To Earth
Reluctant game-changers
Fast-food industry has been playing a critical role in the fight against drug resistance in developed countries. Why is it dragging its feet over ending antibiotic misuse in chicken in India?
8 min |
May 01, 2020
Down To Earth
Silence grips forest
Communities and traders fail to earn from non-timber forest produce despite exemption from lockdown rules ISHAN KUKRETI NEW DELHI
6 min |
May 01, 2020
Down To Earth
MIMICKING MARS
A COMBINATION OF EXTREMITIES IN ETHIOPIA PRESENTS CONDITIONS MOST HOSTILE FOR LIFE THAN ANYWHERE ON EARTH. IT HAS TRIGGERED, YET AGAIN, A DEBATE OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF LIFE ON MARS
7 min |
May 01, 2020
Down To Earth
Damned by old age
Ageing dams and shrinking canal command area are the blind spots in the management of impending water and food crises
4 min |
May 01, 2020
Down To Earth
BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIA
India can replace China as the world’s preferred source of pharmaceutical ingredients
3 min |
May 01, 2020
Down To Earth
ANOTHER CURVE
The world witnesses a rare urban-to-rural exodus amid lockdowns and loss of livelihoods. Will our villages be able to support the millions of people again who had migrated due to distress conditions at home?
6 min |
May 01, 2020
Down To Earth
Covid-19 - When Will It End?
Most countries have adopted the ‘flatten the curve’ model to fight COVID-19 but the end is not yet in sight
4 min |
April 16, 2020
Down To Earth
“Water A Critical Weapon To Fight Pandemic”
This is the right time to accelerate efforts to ensure universal access to safe water and sanitation
3 min |
April 16, 2020
Down To Earth
FORTUNE TO MAKE
Vigorous research is underway to fight COVID-19 and pharma companies are ready to make a killing
5 min |
April 16, 2020
Down To Earth
SANITISE AND CONTROL
Yellow fever became a ruse for US intervention in Cuba
3 min |
April 16, 2020
Down To Earth
BEGIN AGAIN
Economies will recover once the COVID-19 crisis is over. Chances are that emissions will bounce back, too
5 min |
April 16, 2020
Down To Earth
Is Covid-19 Disease X?
The pandemic could be the unknown disease World Health Organization warned about in 2018
3 min |