Author: Deshwale Science and Environment Desk

In a significant step towards strengthening India’s self-reliance in the oil and gas sector, the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has partnered with Chennai-based Pon Pure Chemicals to establish the country’s first indigenous oil field laboratory fully supported through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding. The new facility, named the SRMIST–Pon Pure Chemicals Lab, will focus on research and development in drilling fluids and oilfield chemicals. The laboratory is being set up at SRMIST’s main campus with an investment of ₹75 lakh, of which ₹20 lakh has been contributed by Pon Pure Chemicals under its CSR initiative, while the…

Air pollution is usually discussed in terms of coughing lungs, hospital visits and long-term health risks. But look a little closer, and another cost becomes obvious. On Wednesday morning, as dense smog hung over Delhi, flights were cancelled, routes were disrupted and mobility across regions slowed to a crawl. Air pollution mobility, it turns out, is no longer a theoretical concern, it is now a daily operational crisis. At Indira Gandhi International Airport, poor visibility caused by fog and toxic air forced multiple flight cancellations. The ripple effects reached as far as Chennai, where flights linked to northern cities were…

When Delhi’s air quality index touched 461 on Sunday afternoon, it should have triggered alarm bells across the city. Instead, the reaction was muted. Schools carried on, traffic crawled as usual, and official advisories landed quietly on government websites. That, perhaps, is the most worrying sign of all. Delhi air quality, once a matter of emergency headlines, has slipped into a dangerous routine. ‘Very poor’ and ‘severe’ are no longer red flags. They are expectations. And if we are being real, that quiet acceptance may be doing as much harm as the pollution itself. Pollution fatigue sets in There was…

क्या मुंबई भी दिल्ली जैसी प्रदूषण की स्थिति की ओर बढ़ रहा है? महाराष्ट्र की राजधानी में तेजी से गिरती एयर क्वालिटी ने इस चिंता को जन्म दिया है। इस सप्ताह शहर का औसत AQI लगभग 270 रिकॉर्ड किया गया है, जो ‘खराब’ श्रेणी में आता है। मुंबई की बढ़ती प्रदूषण समस्या पर दायर पिटिशनों की सुनवाई के दौरान बॉम्बे हाईकोर्ट ने BMC और MPCB की कड़ी निंदा की। कोर्ट ने स्पष्ट किया कि केवल निर्माण स्थलों पर पॉल्यूशन मॉनिटरिंग सिस्टम और लंबी स्क्रीन लगाने का आदेश देना पर्याप्त नहीं है। असली बात यह है कि ये नियम धरातल पर…

Astronomy is on the brink of a revolution as radio telescopes continue to uncover the hidden secrets of the universe. Recently, scientists detected a colossal stellar eruption so powerful that it could strip the atmosphere from nearby planets. Observations like these highlight the limits of our current technology and point to the need for more advanced instruments. This is where the upcoming Square Kilometre Array (SKA) comes into play, promising to transform the way we observe the cosmos. The SKA will be the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope. Spread across multiple countries, including Australia and South Africa, it…

Even in the age of advanced space technology, nature still holds the ultimate power over rocket launches. This truth was clear when Blue Origin’s highly anticipated New Glenn rocket launch, carrying NASA’s ESCAPADE probes to Mars, was postponed due to weather conditions. The launch was originally scheduled for early November 2025. However, the team had to delay it because of a cumulus cloud rule, a safety guideline that restricts launches during certain cloud conditions. Such clouds can carry lightning, strong winds, and turbulence, all of which pose serious risks to rockets and payloads. Safety is always the top priority, and…

Deep in the heart of Brazil, where the Amazon rainforest meets the Atlantic Ocean, something remarkable is unfolding. From 10 to 21 November 2025, the world officially gathers for COP30, the 30th United Nations climate summit. The host city is Belém in Brazil’s Pará state, located at the mouth of the mighty Amazon River. Choosing Belém is no accident. It sends a clear message: climate change is not a distant threat; it is unfolding right here in the Amazon, and what happens in this region matters to the entire planet. The Amazon rainforest is often called the ‘lungs of the Earth’…

Every year, the world comes together on 10 November to celebrate World Science Day for Peace and Development. This special day highlights the importance of science in building a better, more peaceful, and sustainable world. Established by UNESCO in 2001, it reminds us that science is not just for laboratories, it shapes our daily lives, from clean energy and healthcare to technology and education. Theme of 2025 The theme for World Science Day 2025 is ‘Science for a Sustainable Future’ . It calls attention to how scientific research and innovation can help solve global challenges such as climate change, public…

A recent discovery in Morocco has revealed fossils that show evidence of parasitic worms living inside shellfish around 480 million years ago. This finding pushes back the known timeline for parasitism by about 60 million years, giving scientists a new perspective on early marine life. The fossils were found in the Fezouata Shale formation, a site famous for preserving marine life from the Early Ordovician period. Researchers studied 22 fossils of a small clam-like creature called Babinka. Seven of these fossils had question-mark-shaped burrows, indicating that parasitic worms had drilled into the shells and lived there, similar to how some…

Imagine two small spacecraft travelling all the way to Mars, built at a fraction of the cost of traditional space missions. That is exactly what NASA’s new mission, ESCAPADE, is about. It represents a fresh and more efficient approach to exploring the Red Planet, one that focuses on smart design, collaboration, and affordability. Scheduled to launch on 9 November 2025, the twin spacecraft, affectionately named ‘Blue’ and ‘Gold,’ will embark on their journey to Mars aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. This marks the first time NASA will use this commercial heavy-lift vehicle for an interplanetary mission. After a year…