Why do we need patents?
There is no empirical evidence that patents serve to increase innovation and productivity
Nuclear shield for MNCs
The new Indo-US agreement protects American companies from being held liable for nuclear accidents
Where is antimatter?
Scientists create heaviest antimatter. It will help understand evolution of the universe
The thalidomide story explained
How a drug prescribed for nausea in pregnant women led to severe limb defects in their babies
Zero-emission mass transport in hills: Lessons from Himachal
Hill states need a different demand-aggregation model for procurement of electric buses to meet their unique requirements
COVID-19 update: Over 1,000 daily cases in India for first time in 2023
Over 665,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the last seven days worldwide, along with 4,178 deaths
COP27 diary (November 10): Rich countries admit funding gap in addressing loss & damage
A round-up of what went on at the Sharm El-Sheikh summit
Global Eco Watch: How climate may have helped exacerbate Spanish Flu
Down To Earth brings you the top happenings in the world of global ecology
COVID-19 to Black Lives Matter: How the Columbian Exchange still shapes lives
Down To Earth talks with American journalist and author Charles C Mann about the relevance of the Columbian Exchange in today’s pandemic-…
Smoke and mirrors on COVID-19 drugs?
In a brutal fight to corner the successful outcome of research, governments are openly using money power to grab the first rights to promising …
Setback for clean innovation, boost to fossil fuels
USA’s exit from the Paris Agreement can lead to a higher degree of global temperature rise, with widespread impacts
Paris foretold and forewarned: what to expect from COP21
The French government knows it cannot make the same blunders as the Danish government made in Copenhagen in 2009, when trust between countries&…
Does Volkswagen fraud signal death of diesel?
Making diesel vehicles clean, powerful and fuel-efficient is no easy task, and the Volkswagen cheating case has exposed this. This should act as …
US’ revised Clean Power Plan not ambitious enough
The final plan boasts of only a marginal difference in the amount of power generation-related emissions reduced until 2030
'Cheap gas makes renewables appear less attractive'
Researcher and professor at University of Maryland, Klaus Hubacek, explains the costs of the natural gas boom in terms of its impact for overall …
Ignore US bullying on IPRs
Countries should not be stampeded into changing laws by the USTR's arbitrary Special 301 report
Polar vortex may freeze parts of US again this winter
Private weather forecaster AccuWeather forecasts a colder winter due to polar vortex; US Met office bets on El Niño
Why demand for Gondwana state continues to be scuttled
Successive governments have been rejecting demand for separate tribal state in central India on the ground that there is no unifying language. …
Lima climate summit: Commitment to deal with ‘Loss and Damage’ weakens
Least Developed Countries and civil society organisations call for an explicit inclusion of ‘Loss and Damage’ in the climate …
The Green World Order: India vs China — who can lead?
The world is sitting on the brink of a catastrophe. Neither the US nor China is keen to safeguard the world through their roadmaps on the Green …
Does India need a pact with China in Paris?
As India’s growth ambitions are different and more critical than that of China, the coalition may not be a good idea
Recession, not natural gas, was major cause of drop in US emissions
A recent study shows that the US power sector’s coal-to-gas switch played only a modest role
HPV vaccination crucial to reducing cervical cancer, says study
States in the US which have a higher rate of HPV vaccination have a lower rate of cervical cancer
Who are you?
Microorganisms have a complex equation with humans. From the structure of our bodies to cultural differences, the invisible beings influence our …
Brickbats for compulsory licences
US criticises India and BRIC group for strengthening provisions on life-saving medicines