Scientists write to PM against ICAR ‘gag order’ on GM mustard

Health and safety of crops draw concern from scientific community

Rare disease patients yet to receive financial help promised by Centre, flags MP Varun Gandhi

More than 10 children who were awaiting treatment have already lost their lives

Over 200 newly discovered stars redefine outer limits of Milky Way: Researchers

Some stars are 320 kiloparsecs away; previous estimates put the stellar halo at 300 kiloparsecs from the galactic centre

5 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2021, 1.9 million stillborn: UN reports

A death of child or youth every 4.4 seconds; many could have been prevented with equitable access to high-quality healthcare

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (January 6, 2023)

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

Centre’s response on GM mustard proves regulatory violations, claim activists

Environment ministry releases response to Coalition of GM-free India’s allegations over environmental approval to GM crop

Mali Parbat bauxite mine: District judge presides over public hearing for EC but residents allege ‘mind games’

District administration slapped notices on 40 people and deployed paramilitary forces days ahead of hearing   

73 elephants, 4 lions run over by trains in 4 years along with 63,000 other animals: CAG report

Report found that preventive measures circulated to zonal railways to prevent animal deaths had not been implemented even after 10 years

Ozone layer to recover in 4 decades but aerosol injection may undo gains: UNEP

The success of the Montreal Protocol can inspire climate action, say scientists

Autonomous Africa CDC a game-changer on disease outbreak response: Experts

Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention will now be in a position to assess disease outbreaks on the continent and declare it an emergency if it’s beyond one country

National Green Hydrogen Mission will establish India as global market leader: Experts

Target of 60-100 gigawatts (GW) of electrolyser capacity by 2030, heavy investment needed

After Joshimath, it could be Karnaprayag, Nainital and other Uttarakhand towns next, say experts

Policy interventions are needed on construction work in Himalayan regions to avoid a repeat of Joshimath, according to experts  

Joshimath won’t be saved unless NTPC’s project is shelved: Expert’s dire warning

Big projects should never have been sanctioned in and around Joshimath without conducting proper studies first, say experts

After a brief lull, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts again

Sulphur dioxide can combine with the environment to form volcanic smog, which is dangerous to health

A new dwarf boa species discovered in Ecuador

Snake has an unusual vestigial pelvis; Its name honours Ecuadorian Indigenous activist

India’s kala-azar cases declined 98.7% since 2007: Health ministry

Around 99.8% endemic blocks in India have achieved elimination status, says Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Long COVID stemmed from mild cases of COVID-19 in most people, according to a new multicountry study

Long COVID is defined as the continuation or development of symptoms three months after the initial infection from SARS-CoV-2

Activists cite violations of statutory regulations in GM mustard approval ahead of SC hearing

GM mustard did not undergo even the limited testing that Bt brinjal underwent

Climate atlas finds summers, winters in India to get warmer, Kharif season to see more rainfall

Report by thinktank presents historical trends from 1990–2019 and projects future ones 

Half of glaciers will disappear by 2100 even if world sticks to 1.5°C goal: Study

Melting glaciers raise sea levels dramatically, jeopardising up to two billion people’s access to water and increasing the risk of natural disasters

108th Indian Science Congress: Research needed to ensure carbon capture tech is efficient, experts say

Directly Observed Short Course Therapy, vaccination can make India TB-free