Science
Down To Earth
AS IF A WHOLE CONTINENT OF HUMAN HISTORY IS GETTING SUBMERGED
There is very little chance that natural languages created by humans in past eras will continue to exist in their current form
1 min |
May 16, 2025
Down To Earth
THE CHRONICLER REAFFIRMS
We must incorporate politics in our everyday world-not party politics, but societal values that cherish inclusion and justice. After reporting for 33 years, this knowledge is now part of our DNA and is being reinforced through the writings on our times
3 min |
May 16, 2025
Down To Earth
THE PENS HAVE NOT TIRED
Poets, authors and non-fiction writers of our time consider all living beings and plants as equal citizens of the earth and raise a strong voice against their destruction
6 min |
May 16, 2025
Down To Earth
LANGUAGE OF HUNGER, ECO-COLONISATION
Devastation of nature and plight of humans have been dominant discourses in poetry and fiction
5 min |
May 16, 2025
Down To Earth
FROZEN IN TIME
The world is transforming rapidly, yet our literary focus remains tethered to familiar grounds
2 min |
May 16, 2025
Down To Earth
Guardians of groves
How women of an Uttarakhand village successfully revived a lost forest
3 min |
May 01, 2025
Down To Earth
The missing heart of pandemic treaty
The Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System that is central to the treaty is an annex, with details still to be worked out
4 min |
May 01, 2025
Down To Earth
Catch them young
A school in Odisha offers first-hand experience of sustainable living and resource conservation to children
2 min |
May 01, 2025
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 |