Author: Deshwale Science and Environment Desk

By: Pratyush Bardoliwala Octopuses are fascinating creatures. They are fast, flexible and highly intelligent. But beyond these remarkable abilities lies something even more extraordinary: an octopus has three hearts, and its blood is blue rather than red. Many octopuses can also produce and release a dark ink from inside their bodies when threatened, using it as a defence against predators. Sounds crazy, right? There is, however, a fascinating scientific explanation behind these unusual features. The answer begins with the way an octopus breathes. Unlike humans, octopuses do not have lungs. They use gills to extract oxygen from water. Their circulatory…

Journalists uncovering the world’s most critical climate and ecological crises are facing an unprecedented wave of violence, intimidation, and legal persecution. A damning report by UNESCO, titled Press and Planet in Danger, reveals that at least 749 journalists and news outlets reporting on environmental issues were attacked across 89 countries between 2009 and 2023. The crisis has intensified sharply in recent years. More than 300 of these attacks occurred in the final five years of the study alone, representing a staggering 42 per cent surge in violence and harassment compared to the previous five-year period. A Deadly Beat: Killings and…

AI Generated image The BMC has launched a city-wide ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to clear all kinds of obstructions from footpaths by removing garbage, unauthorized hawkers and encroachments, while also undertaking measures for beautification and pedestrian safety. Under the guidance of BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, the first phase of the drive will cover 320 km of footpaths. Ward officers have been instructed to remove encroachments without any delay. According to the civic body, nearly 50% of Mumbai’s commuters use footpaths, making pedestrian safety a top priority.The campaign will target unauthorized hawkers, debris, abandoned or improperly parked vehicles, garbage piles, uneven surfaces,…

By: Pratyush Bardoliwala Every night, while you sleep, your brain is far from inactive. Beyond controlling breathing, heartbeat and dreams, it performs an extraordinary maintenance routine that helps keep your mind healthy. Scientists call this process autophagy, a Greek word meaning “self-eating”. Despite its unusual name, autophagy does not mean your brain consumes itself. Instead, it is the body’s natural recycling system that removes damaged cellular material and keeps brain cells functioning efficiently. Much of this important housekeeping takes place while you enjoy a good night’s sleep. What Is Autophagy and How Does It Work? Throughout the day, brain cells…

हम सभी के घरों में LPG cylinder आता है, लेकिन क्या आपने कभी गौर किया है कि यह हमेशा लाल रंग का ही क्यों होता है? क्या यह सिर्फ खतरे का संकेत है या इसके पीछे कोई वैज्ञानिक कारण भी छिपा है? आखिर LPG cylinder के लाल रंग के पीछे की कहानी क्या है? आइए जानते हैं उस वजह को, जिसे हम रोज देखते तो हैं, लेकिन शायद कभी सोचते नहीं। अक्सर जब हम लाल रंग देखते हैं, तो हमारा ध्यान तुरंत खतरे या चेतावनी की ओर जाता है। हमें लगता है कि अगर किसी चीज का रंग लाल है,…

Shri Kedar A. Naik, Director of Tourism, Government of Goa, has announced the enforcement of new rules for tourists, with fines of up to Rs 1 lakh for violating them. The move aims to protect Goa’s beaches and tourist destinations by keeping them clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone. So, if you are planning to visit Goa in the coming months, there are certain things you should avoid. The Goa Tourism Department has officially listed 19 activities that are now considered punishable under the notified ‘nuisance’ rules. These rules give the police and tourism officials the authority to take immediate…

“Every civilisation leaves behind two kinds of inheritance. One is memory. The other is knowledge. Memory tells us what our ancestors believed. Knowledge tells us what they actually discovered.” For nearly a century, India has argued over one question that belongs in a laboratory, not on television. Is gaumutra medicine? Or is it mythology? Perhaps the real question is different. Why has India, the birthplace of Ayurveda, not conducted enough world-class research to settle this once and for all? That may be the bigger story here. The civilisation that observed nature Long before microscopes and DNA sequencing, Indian physicians studied…

AI Generated image The final arm of the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road extension is structurally complete and now waiting only on a date for its inauguration. Going by the corridor’s own history, ‘ready’ and ‘open’ rarely arrive on the same day in Mumbai. As the city waits, again, for a bridge it has already built, it’s worth asking why some countries treat a ribbon cutting as a celebration rather than a precondition. Mumbai’s newest piece of road is, for all practical purposes, already there. The final arm of the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) extension – a 1.4-km stretch of flyover connecting…

“A treatment does not become medicine because it is ancient. Nor does it become medicine because it is natural. It becomes medicine only after repeated, rigorous evidence demonstrates that its benefits outweigh its risks.” This is the point where many promising substances fail. Thousands of compounds have shown remarkable results in laboratories, yet only a handful have survived the journey into hospitals. Cow urine, or more precisely Gomutra Ark and other carefully prepared formulations, now stands at this crossroads. The question is no longer whether it contains interesting chemicals. It is whether it can improve the health of real patients…

In laboratories far from the noise of television debates and political slogans, a quiet question is being asked about one of India’s most polarising substances: cow urine. Does it actually do anything? For years, the gaumutra debate has played out as a shouting match. One side insists science has already proved its healing powers. The other dismisses the entire idea as superstition. Neither side, it turns out, is being entirely honest with the evidence. Researchers who have spent years studying cow urine under controlled conditions offer a far more layered picture, one built on curiosity, caution, and a long list…