How competent is Indian science?
A shoddy inter-academy report on GM crops casts a shadow on the integrity and competence of Indian science, while a US expert finds approval for …
Fossil fuels have no place in COVID-19 recovery plans: UN chief
“We can invest in fossil fuels that are lethal or we can invest in renewable energy which is reliable. We have a choice,” said Antonio&…
Boon or doom?
The commerce ministry's recommendation to impose duty on imported solar cells has started a debate. Will it boost the domestic solar power sector …
America’s inflection point: 4 key things Africa must watch for
In today’s America there are limits to blatant appeals to racial prejudice. Donald Trump absurdly claims to have done more for African-…
Cop-out
Hopes were pinned on the latest UN climate summit at Lima. It was supposed to prepare the ground for a new climate deal that will replace the …
‘Let me be blunt’: What’s bothering WHO chief on COVID-19
WHO Director-General expresses concern over rising cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
COVID-19 and the global energy structure’s geopolitical framework
The US — one of the largest consumers of global energy from the 1950s till 2018 — is now emerging as a major energy supplier to the …
Trimming fats
The US is determined to eliminate trans fatty acids from its food. Can India do the same?
Rogue GM crops wreak havoc
Monsanto’s unauthorised GM wheat in the US has spooked the world, but contamination is widespread
Climate of irrationality
Developed and developing countries are divided over regulating super greenhouse gases under Montreal Protocol
Think before you drink
Studies confirm energy drinks like Red Bull can be unsafe. India yet to limit their caffeine content
The gas game
Fluorocarbons, which created a hole in the ozone layer, have generated intense global debates. But these have been more about business than …
Traces of glyphosate found in breakfast cereal in US: study
Furious debate rages in the US following the report’s release over how much glyphosate is too much for humans
America’s urban timber movement
Instead of turning trees in urban areas into mulch or sending them to the sawmill, US cities are harvesting them locally, lessening their carbon …
Of whales and men
Is Japan’s decision to leave the International Whaling Commission really that big a deal?
Civil society calls on govts to reject WTO e-commerce talks
Some WTO members announce new talks, which were rejected by the membership at the last Ministerial, at the WEF
Indian-American’s start-up could revolutionise the fight against marine litter
Based in Los Angeles, ‘Moral Fiber’ has developed a three-step chemical process that can extract polyester from mixed blend materials …
Warming bad for rice
Rice is a staple diet for many. But a recent study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) under the United States department of agriculture has …
‘Predictions wrong, but give indications’
India Meteorological Department is often accused of making incorrect predictions. The Ministry of Earth Sciences regularly gets funds to …
‘Wait and see’ is an unsatisfying – but accurate – way to present election results
Perhaps news organisations and the public could wait for those charged with the counting to do the counting
US-China fight over fishing is really about world domination
In sending its fishermen far and wide, Beijing has, wittingly or not, followed America’s lead
Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis: What lies ahead can include a constitutional crisis over succession
Neither the Succession Act nor the 25th Amendment have ever been invoked for longer than a few hours
Biden wins – experts on what it means for race relations, US foreign policy and the Supreme Court
Three scholars discuss what a Biden presidency may have in store in three key areas: race, the Supreme Court and foreign policy
Yellowstone losing snow: Expect widespread problems for water, wildlife
Since 1950, average temperatures in the Greater Yellowstone Area have risen 1.3°C and it has lost a quarter of its annual snowfall
One month in, how Biden has changed disaster management and the US COVID-19 response
In direct contrast to his predecessor, US President Joe Biden is treating this as a national-scale crisis requiring a comprehensive national …