CATEGORIES

TURNING TURTLE

Olive Ridley sea turtles have been coming to the Gahirmatha coast in Odisha for thousands of years for mass nesting. But for two consecutive years now they have failed to nest here, though they have shown up

A SILENT CRISIS

Years of undernutrition and a heavy reliance on rice, supplied through public distribution system, could be fuelling diabetes among tribal population

HOMELESS HILSA

The ocean fish that swims against the tide to spawn in rivers is moving away from Bangladesh

THE RULERS NOUVEAUX

Madhya Pradesh became the first state in the country to implement the 3-tier panchayati raj. But lack of finances might just undo the transfer of power to the people

IT's UNDERBELLY

India produces about 400,000 tonnes of electronic waste each year, growing exponentially. The country is one of the lead importers of all kinds of waste. Almost all of this is recycled or scrapped by the unorganised sector

PRIVATE (LTD)

A controversial plan to sell water from the Sheonath river

DEADLY TARGET

Health experts blame Centre's over-emphasis on women's sterilisation for the Chhattisgarh tragedy

ETHICS ON TRIAL

Five per cent of the clinical trials conducted across the world will be in India by 2012. While doctors and organisations conducting trials make big bucks, the rights and safety of the subjects are often overlooked

THE SALT OF THE EARTH

Moves are afoot to convert the brackish Pulicat lake into a freshwater one to supply water to Madras city and authorities seem to have little regard for its consequences on the environment

A FOREST DROUGHT NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT

Severe dry spells in Indian forests have hit the livelihood of more than 100 million people

ARE WE THERE YET?

Model villages are Still far from the goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022

ON SHAKY GROUND

Nearly half a million people living in and around the Jharia coalfield in Jharkhand have to be shifted to control underground fires

Avoid Over-Filtration: The Importance Of Optimization

Maintenance is the single most controllable expense in a facility. These words have been quoted time and time again, vis-à-vis controlling equipment failures.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) has entered into an agreement with Chevron

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) = has entered into an agreement with Chevron to manufacture, distribute, and market lubricants in India.

Lubricant Consolidation and Optimization: Which Lubes Stay and Which Lubes Go?

Lubricant consolidation is the practice of selecting lubricants, stocking only what is necessary for optimal machinery performance on-site.

POD RACING - Fluid Monitoring in Formula One™

While sending oil or fluid samples off to the lab is a great way to verify the cleanliness of your fluids and the health of your equipment, the process takes time.

How to Detect, Treat and Prevent Microbial Contaminants in Lubricants

Also called microorganisms, microbes are microscopic living organisms that can be beneficial or detrimental to human health.

Are You Ready?

Supply-chain Problems Spark the Need for Backup Lubricants

What's in the Box?

I’ve spent the past week helping a client get their lubrication program back on track.

The Importance of Proper Food-grade Lubricants

Optimal lubrication is acritical consideration in any production process. In food and beverage production specifically, a balance must be struck; machinery lubricat ion and food safety are both important.

Can Vaccines Help Beat Latest Surge

ON APRIL 14, the country recorded 11,000 new COVID-19 cases, the highest so far in 2023. As cases rose throughout the month, states and Union Territories issued advisories on wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings to prevent the infection.

Deserted by state

Rural households in West Bengal are pushed into debt traps and forced migration after the Centre’s decision to withhold funds to implement India’s flagship public wage programme in the state

Every count matters

India’s first census of waterbodies is a much awaited one but experts question the methodology

When generics turn into Big Pharma

Top generics firms, some from India, are charged with price-fixing and sleazy deals; Sun Pharma has paid up to settle claims

GREEN FLIGHT

From sustainable fuel to hydrogenpropelled engines, the aviation sector is experimenting with various technologies for a clean future

POTENT EMITTER

Termites are a major source of methane, but determining the risk they pose to global warming is fraught with uncertainty

'ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO MARRIAGE'

Nearly five years after scrapping Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalised homosexuality, the Supreme Court in April 2023 began hearing petitions seeking legalisation of same-sex marriage, which would not just recognise unions within India’s LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, transgender, queer-identifying and others) community, but also allow partners to open joint bank accounts, make medical decisions and be eligible for inheritance. As a five-judge bench of the Apex Court headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud heard arguments both for and against the petitions, debates arose on the institution of marriage, on whether marriage equality was an “elitist concept”, and even on the biological definitions of a man and a woman. DOWN TO EARTH spoke to two experts on the fate of marriage equality in India.

PLANT BABOOL

The tree can grow well on degraded land, can survive droughts and floods, and has numerous medicinal properties

A silent crisis

Years of undernutrition and a heavy reliance on rice, supplied through public distribution system, could be fuelling diabetes among tribal population

Tiger reserved

Fiftieth anniversary of Project Tiger means little to forest-dwelling communities