Author: Deshwale Science and Environment Desk

Buried quietly beneath the seabed of the North Atlantic lives a mollusc with a lifespan that rivals human civilization. The ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) is a species of clam renowned for its extraordinary longevity, with some individuals living more than 400 years. One famous specimen, nicknamed Ming, was recorded at over 500 years old, making it one of the oldest known non-colonial animals on Earth. These clams grow at an exceptionally slow pace, forming annual growth rings in their shells, much like trees produce rings to mark each year of life. Scientists can count these rings with remarkable precision to…

In the dark, near-freezing waters of the North Atlantic swims a creature that was already alive when Shakespeare was writing his plays. The Greenland shark is now recognised as the longest-living vertebrate known to science, with some individuals estimated to be 250 to over 400 years old. This extraordinary lifespan has transformed the species from an obscure Arctic fish into one of the most fascinating subjects in marine biology. This slow-moving shark inhabits deep Arctic and sub-Arctic waters, where temperatures hover just above freezing. Its world is one of dim light, immense pressure and near-silence. Sunlight barely penetrates these depths.…

Denmark recently drew global attention by switching to red streetlights in selected areas, especially near ecologically sensitive zones and low-traffic stretches. The reason was not aesthetic. It was ecological and safety-oriented, aiming to reduce light pollution and lessen harm to wildlife while keeping roads safe for humans. For cities around the world grappling with the effects of rapid growth on both people and nature, this experiment raises an important question, can something as simple as the colour of street lighting help save lives? In India, where urban expansion increasingly overlaps with natural habitats, this question is especially relevant. Most conventional…

When NASA’s Perseverance rover completed the first AI-planned drives on Mars, it marked more than a technical milestone. On 8 and 10 December 2025, the rover navigated rough Martian terrain using routes created by AI, without humans planning each step. This achievement raises questions about trusting machines when human intervention is impossible. Mars is about 140 million miles (225 million kilometres) from Earth. The distance causes communication delays of several minutes, making real-time control impossible. Traditionally, engineers on Earth analyse terrain images, plan safe routes, and send instructions to the rover. This time, AI took over, identifying obstacles such as…

NASA has officially launched Athena, its most powerful and energy-efficient supercomputer to date, marking a major leap in the agency’s high-performance computing capabilities required for advanced space exploration, artificial intelligence research, and scientific modeling. Athena is a next-generation supercomputing system designed to process extremely large and complex datasets at unprecedented speeds. With a peak performance of over 20 petaflops, Athena can perform more than 20 quadrillion calculations per second, enabling NASA scientists and engineers to solve problems that were previously too time-consuming or computationally expensive. The supercomputer is installed at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley and operates from…

Henkel India, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Navi Mumbai – Joy of Giving, and with support from the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), has successfully converted Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesha idols into durable educational assets under Project HARMONY. This circular reuse initiative not only prevents environmental pollution but also provides long-term benefits to local communities. During Ganesh Visarjan 2025 in Nerul, over 1,000 kg of PoP idols were collected and redirected from water bodies and landfills. The material was processed through an authorised recycling facility, with NMMC officials supporting the on-ground operations. The reclaimed PoP was then…

The ancient Aravalli Hills, one of India’s oldest geological formations, have become the centre of a heated environmental and legal clash as changes to their official definition have raised fears of accelerated ecological damage and renewed mining pressures. Stretching across Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and into Gujarat, the Aravalli range has long been valued for stabilising North India’s climate, replenishing groundwater, and acting as a natural barrier against desertification from the Thar. A recent Supreme Court decision to adopt a new uniform elevation-based definition of the hills has ignited widespread debate over the future of this fragile ecosystem and its governance.…

India’s highest court has stepped in to pause the implementation of a contentious environmental definition related to the Aravalli Hills, directing that a fresh expert assessment be carried out to resolve scientific and legal uncertainties. The Supreme Court made the decision after realising that the earlier definition, which sought to identify what constitutes the Aravalli range, had sparked disagreement among environmentalists, authorities and local communities. By taking up the matter on its own motion, the court underscored its concern that rolling out the previous formulation without greater clarity could have lasting ecological consequences. A constitution bench, led by the Chief…

In a major milestone for clean energy, the world’s largest offshore wind turbine has begun operating, marking a new frontier in renewable power technology. This massive turbine, developed and installed in China, represents a significant leap forward in wind energy capacity and innovation. The turbine has a capacity of 26 megawatts (MW) the highest for any single offshore wind turbine currently in service. Its rotor diameter exceeds 310 metres, larger than ten and a half football fields, and its hub height reaches 185 metres, equivalent to a skyscraper. When operating at full capacity, this giant turbine can produce about 100…

India’s space ambitions reached another important milestone with the successful launch of the LVM3-M6 mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah congratulated the scientists and engineers behind the mission, describing it as a proud moment for the nation and a clear sign of India’s growing strength in advanced space technology. The LVM3-M6 mission successfully placed the Bluebird Block-2 spacecraft into its intended orbit. The satellite is designed to enhance global communication capabilities, highlighting India’s increasing role in supporting international space-based services. With this mission, ISRO once again demonstrated its ability to execute…