A heatwave is raging during election season, but who will take responsibility of polling officers on duty?

The heat in Kalahandi district, Odisha claimed lives of a few election presiding officers after phase 1 of Vidhan Sabha elections 

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (May 17, 2024)

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

Simply Put: Lok Sabha Elections 2024

In 2023, 69 weather stations across India recorded their monthly highest 24-hour rainfall in 122 years, finds CSE-DTE analysis

Maharshtra and Madhya Pradesh had 9 stations each that saw record-breaking rainfall

Global life expectancy rebounds after COVID-19 dip, could go up by 5 years by 2050

Life expectancy projected to rise by 0.16 years per year 2022-2050 — notably lower than 0.27-year increase seen 1990-2019

Omicron subvariant KP.2 ‘FLiRT’ detected in Maharashtra to be dominant COVID-19 strain

Close to 100 cases detected in the state so far; Sub-variant characterised by ability to evade immunity & be fast spreading

India’s small cats have been ignored & overlooked, experts tell DTE as leopard cat spotted in Maharashtra’s Pench

These cats not only keep a check on small mammals, rodents, reptiles and birds but also indicate the health of their bigger cousins like tigers …

Why so many animals have a third eyelid, including our pets — yet humans don’t

Humans and most primates have evolved to the point where a proper third eyelid is no longer needed

Lok Sabha 2024: Is it too hot to vote?

DTE analyses if there is a direct correlation between rising temperatures and a decrease in voter turnout

Lok Sabha 2024: Did heat dissuade voters during phase 3?

Almost half of the districts analysed saw a rise in temperature as well as a lower voter turnout on polling day on May 7, 2024

Two years since Bihar’s ambitious solar streetlight project, village roads still engulfed in darkness

Only 20% of the target has been met with only few months left for the deadline, shows official data

Simply Put: Mumbai dust storm

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (May 16, 2024)

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

Minimum wage for South African farm workers: 2013 hike helped reduce poverty even though compliance was poor

Low minimum wage compliance was observed among the lowest paid workers — employers did not comply with the new minimum wage

Lok Sabha 2024: Too hot to vote during Phase 2?

DTE looks at if heat is playing any role in voter turnout this election or ECI’s heat-related concerns are unfounded

Global warming’s unforeseen outcome: How Spiti’s new crop of apple farmers are reaping a fortune

The transformation has helped marginalised farmers and also provided benefits beyond financial gains

How did Venezuela’s Humboldt glacier shrink to an ice field?

The Humboldt glacier has shrunk to an area of less than 2 hectares, leading to the downgrade in classification 

A mirror called Down To Earth

In this time of half-truths and no truths, we are determined to offer journalism that is fact-based and rigorous

Climate change responsible for over 80% of temperature rise within Asia last month, the hottest April ever: WWA

Climate change and El Nino combined to push minimum and mean temperature rise in eastern India to highest ever in April  

Kanwar lake, Bihar’s only Ramsar site, faces challenge of survival but not a poll issue

Encroachment and drying of the lake has badly affected birds who have lost their habitat

Waste to wealth: Understanding the synergy between formal & informal sectors

Technology and community participation play pivotal roles in bridging the formal-informal waste worker divide

Sultana’s Dream: Rokeya Hossain’s feminist utopian novel recognised as ‘Memory of the World’

Ramacharitmanas by Tulsidas, Panchatantra and Sahrdayaloka Lochana by Anandavardhana also recognised by UNESCO

Why have Bikaner and Barmer in Rajasthan reported land sinking in the last month?

Land subsidence occurred at two different places in Rajasthan, but the administration is yet to provide any concrete reason

Food labels misleading, India’s new dietary guidelines warn

Advisory cautions against 'sugar-free' foods, protein powder; urges consumers to read detailed information on packaging

Simply Put: Rise of the machines