Coronavirus update: Phase 3 trial for Oxford vaccine likely to begin in India August 22

India registers decline in positivity rate of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 for the first time since May

Delhi tops in Asia among childhood cancers in boys in 0-14 yrs age group

Ratio of cancer in children to overall cancer cases declines marginally

Atlantic Ocean contains 10 times more microplastics than previously thought: Study

The ocean contains 12-21 million tonnes of microplastics; figure only for three of the most common types of plastic litter

Compensatory afforestation: 70% data with ministry incorrect, writes top forest officer

Inspector General of Forests AK Mohanty sent letter to all states, alleging discrepancies

Decline in monarch butterfly population not because of migration: Study

The ‘migration mortality’ hypothesis, highlighted by two scientific journals, is not backed by data, says the study’s author Chip Taylor

‘Save COVID generation’: Ex-world leaders, economists urge education reform

The world’s poorest children are locked out of learning, denied internet access and have lost free school meals, a lifeline for 300 million boys and girls

Mauritius oil spill: Potential government failures should be investigated

The government was well aware of the risk. Since the 1990s, Mauritius has received substantial capacity-building assistance to prevent an oil spill  

The great Indian river question: Three Bills threatening federalism

Three river Bills, if enacted, can upset the balance of power between states and the Centre

Forest dept finds irregularities in non-profit’s owl conservation efforts

Wildlife Research and Conservation Society accused of violations including straying from the core area of conservation, banding owl species without permission

Coronavirus update: Delhi’s 2nd sero survey results out, over 28% exposed to virus

The world tally crosses 22 mln

An Indian was the first to scientifically document a tornado’s path: Study

Babu ChunderSikur Chatterjee’s paper was the earliest record of a tornado’s dynamics in the history of meteorology, according to the study

Tobacco behind more than a quarter of India’s cancer cases

Released by the National Cancer Registry of India, a new report has profiled the country’s cancer landscape

COVID-19: What serosurveys suggest and what they hide

We know the results of serosurveys in five Indian cities now, the most recent being that of Pune, where more than half the sample size surveyed had antibodies. But this doesn't necessarily mean herd immunity. What it does mean is that we need to look much more critically at our numbers of infection and the death toll

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (August 18, 2020)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal

There’s a splitting dent in Earth's magnetic field; here’s why NASA will track it

The weakening field poses concern for low-Earth orbit satellites: Highly charged particles may cause a glitch in the satellite or permanently damage it

A sharp bite: Dog meat ban evokes some sharp reactions in Nagaland

On July 3, Nagaland Chief Secretary Temjen Toy tweeted that the state government has decided to ban import and trading of dogs and the sale of dog meat, both cooked and uncooked. In the message he tagged Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Maneka Gandhi, Parliamentarian and founder of non-profit People for Animals. A day later, the government notified that violations would attract punishments …

Sterlite Copper in Thoothukudi to remain shut: Madras HC

It also dismissed all petitions for the plant to resume operations

Maldives beaches have the most microplastics: Study

Microplastic concentration was found to be high in waters around Naifaru, the most populous island of Maldives

Coronavirus update: 51.5% exposed to virus in Pune, shows serosurvey

A mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 recently detected in Malaysia is more infectious, but also less deadly

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (August 17, 2020)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal

Teaching online isn’t a cakewalk: HP govt school teacher

There are several stumbling blocks in online teaching but with better management, these can be resolved