EXPLAINED: WHY SNOW IN ANTARCTICA IS TURNING BLOOD-RED
Why in news? Snow around Ukraine’s Vernadsky Research Base, located off the coast of Antarctica’s northernmost peninsula, has started to take on a red tinge, courtesy of an algae that thrives in freezing weather. Because of the red tinge, the snow is often dubbed “watermelon snow”. Why is the snow turning red? Algae found around […]
EXPLAINED: AIR POLLUTION’S LINK TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Introduction to Connection between COVID-19 and Air Pollution Coronavirus (COVID-19): Even before the pandemic struck, outdoor air pollution was linked to the deaths of as many as nine million people each year. Now two new studies show that Covid-19 patients are more likely to die if they live in regions with high levels of air […]
INVASIVE, ALIEN, MOST FEARSOME
Introduction to the scenario Given the little knowledge we have about its origin, and given its rapid spread and massive impact on our lives, novel coronavirus is the most fearsome invasive alien species mankind has ever had to confront. Invasive alien species are species of plants, animals and microbes which move out of their native […]
SAFE FORESTS, SAFE PEOPLE: ZOONOTIC DISEASES
The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has brought into sharp focus the entry of pathogens originally found in wild animals into the humans In the recent years, the diseases of such nature that have raised alarm are: Ebola, HIV, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, bird flu and swine flu The origins […]
AMID LOCKDOWN, HUNTERS EYE RHINO HORNS
Why in news? The COVID-19 lockdown has activated poachers who had been forced into lying low for more than a year. At least six thwarted attempts have been made within a week in and around Assam’s national parks. The lockdown has inadvertently made it easier for the poachers by thinning the ranks of the network […]
WATER FROM GANGA, YAMUNA BEING TESTED
Why in news? The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) — the arm of the Water Ministry tasked with directing the ₹20,000 crore clean-up of the Ganga — and the Central Pollution Control Board are expected to find out if the lockdown had a measurable impact on the water quality of the Ganga and Yamuna, […]
GUJARAT TOPS IN DOMESTIC SOLAR ROOFTOP INSTALLATIONS
Why in news? Gujarat has topped the list in the installations of solar rooftop plants across the country with about 50,915 systems being fixed on domestic rooftops in the State as on March 2, 2020. Solar Power Generation in India’s States 1. Karnataka Karnataka tops the list of states with the highest installed solar power […]
WATER CRISIS LOOMS LARGE IN HIMALAYAN REGIONS
Why in news? Eight towns in the Himalayan region of Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Pakistan were nearly 20%-70% deficient in their water supply, says a survey. Unplanned urbanisation and climate change are the key factors responsible for the state of affairs. Dependence on Springs The places surveyed are extremely dependent on springs (ranging between 50% […]
NDIA IS HOST TO 457 MIGRATORY FAUNA, SHOWS LATEST CMS LIST
Why in news? With new additions to the wildlife list put out by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), scientists say that the total number of migratory fauna from India comes to 457 species. Birds comprise 83% (380 species) of these 457 species. Details The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) had for […]
SPARROW, THE ENDANGERED SPECIES
Why in news? House Sparrow, once an integral part of our immediate environment, all but disappeared almost two decades ago. The common bird that lived in the cavities of our houses and polished off our leftover food, today sits on the red list of the endangered species of The International Union for Conservation of Nature […]