CATEGORIES

PLANT BABOOL

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

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

A silent crisis

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

Power of pine

Women in Solan, Himachal Pradesh use abundantly available pine needles to weave items of everyday use and decor, earning a handsome monthly income

RISE OF THE FUNGUS

Fungal infections often go undiagnosed. Even when identified, they are among the most difficult diseases to manage. They are now quietly spreading across the globe, preying on people's weakened immune system and taking advantage of the high diabetes burden. Some are even showing resistance to the existing arsenal of drugs and are becoming virulent in a warming world.

'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.

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

Every count matters

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

POTENT EMITTER

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

GREEN FLIGHT

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

Plants Emit Sounds Under Stress

The sounds emitted by plants are ultrasonic, beyond the hearing range of the human ear.

Atoms in preserving the past

Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci needs no introduction. He was a man apart.

Scientists identify compounds that reduce the harmful side effects of antibiotics on gut bacteria

Antibiotics help to fight bacterial infections, but they can also harm the helpful microbes living in the gut, which can have long-lasting health consequences.

Emerging zoonotic viral disease caused by Nipah virus; a spill over from fruit bats to human

Nipah virus (NiV), an emerging zoonotic virus, Nbelongs to the family Paramyxoviridae subfamily Paramyxovirinae and genus Henipavirus.

Life-Building Organic Molecules Found in Samples from Asteroid Ryuga

The asteroid Ryugu is rich in organic molecules that could serve as the building blocks of life.

Iniant formulas promise too much

Many infant formulas promise a lot. Several products claim that they help develop the brain, increase immunity and promote children's growth and development, among other things.

Impact of oil spills on marine life

Oil spills contamination has spread throughout the marine ecosystem as a result of human activity.

Drugs against drought

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone with essential functions in plant physiology.

Birds with neurotoxim-laden feathers

An expedition into the jungle of New Guinea has resulted in the of two new species of poisonous birds by researchers from the University of Copenhagen.

Discovery of Lithium in Jammu and Kashmir: an immense potential

Lithium is the third element in the periodic table after hydrogen and helium.

Extracting water from air

For human beings, nothing can replace water and drinking water has always been in demand with the increasing population.

Mined To Destruction

Sand is the second most exploited resource after water and the most mined material globally, as per the UN Environment Programme. Its extraction from riverbeds is often done without regard to the adverse impact on natural river ecology. In India, sand mining grew as a large and, in many cases, illegal industry after the rapid urbanisation brought on by the economic liberalisation in the 1990s

Displaced by settlers

Tribal communities in Kerala's Attappady block are being alienated from their land despite laws in place to protect their rights

Bedaquiline patent win is a half victory

India's ability to eliminate its huge TB burden by 2025 will be a test of both its patent laws and healthcare policy

HEAVY SWAY

India developed the concept of farmer producer company (FPC) two decades ago to help small farmers own and run businesses and gain standing in the market by negotiating collectively. In 2019, the government set a target of creating 10,000 FPCs by 2024. It also introduced the concept of cluster-based business organisation (CBBO) to provide hand-holding support to farmers in forming FPCs. The move, however, has led to creation of FPCs that are controlled by the bigger companies that operate as CBBOs

A brave, flimsy take

BHEED IS A LOUD SOCIAL COMMENTARY THAT FALLS FLAT DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF TOO MANY HALF-COOKED STORIES AND CHARACTERS SEQUENCED INTO A LINEAR PLOT

Fatal coincidence

Forest fire season in Uttarakhand coincides with flowering and breeding months of several vulnerable species, many of them native to Himalayas

Familiar discourse

The world met to discuss the burgeoning water crisis after nearly half a century; but commitments on action were largely a reiteration of ongoing work

Fake determinants

A series of research papers and an open letter by 200 global figures hold industries accountable for the growing publichealth problems, call for urgent actions

PERENNIAL GUAVA

Used in street food, chutneys and perfumes, the climate-resistant fruit is a clear option for farmers