Traffic noise is affecting communication in birds
When noise due to traffic increases, the birds alter the length and frequency of their song to improve communication
Scientists develop new molecule to fight antibiotic resistance
A piece of synthetic DNA has been developed that restores effectiveness of a carbapenem
Bacteria resistant to 'last resort' antibiotic isolated from swine farm
Scientists in US isolate bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, resistant to carbapenems in the farm environment
Santa Clarita wildfire threatens air quality in Los Angeles
The Southern California Air Quality Management District and LA County Public Health have issued a smoke advisory for Los Angeles due to the smoke …
How will Brexit impact environmental policy in the UK?
If UK decides to leave the EU, experts fear it would lead to dilution of the EU’s stringent laws, making the environment vulnerable to …
Packaged food labels in US to have bigger, bolder display of calories
US Food and Drug Administration behind move aimed at helping people to make better informed choices
India’s FCRA does not conform to international standards: UN Special Rapporteur
The restriction may prove detrimental to the advocacy group engaged in critical human rights work, government accountability and those …
Finally, firm no to software patents
The Patent Office has clearly said software patents can only be granted if linked to novel hardware
US scientists come up with equation to measure natural capital
They used the same economic principles used to value traditional assets to calculate the value of natural capital, but factored in changes in …
One in nine people globally does not have enough food: UN agency
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest percentage of population with lack of enough food
Hackers—good and bad
Documentary>> We are a legion • directed by Brian Knappenberger
Reforming the cyber nation
Book>> I know who you are and i saw what you did; social networks and the death of privacy • Free Press • US $26
Animal rights primer
Book>> Animal Rights: What Everyone Needs To Know • by Paul Waldau • OUP, New York • US $10.7
The back up man
BOOK>> MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION, THE LONG JOURNEY HOME FROM THE MOON • by Buzz Aldrin and Ken Abraham • Bloomsbury • Rs 750
The file drawer bust
Daniele Fanelli, researcher at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, probes the problem of quantity versus quality in scientific research. …
G7 sets renewables target, no timeline for fossil fuel phase out
Gas investments and nuclear energy remain in play while urgent action is needed to phase out fossil fuels
COVID-19, war and hunger: Yemen’s humanitarian crisis is becoming worse
Over 10 million are on the brink of famine; as many as 400,000 children are at the risk of dying, according to UN
What does Boris Johnson’s plan to ban fuel-powered vehicles mean for UK
Several other countries may follow suit in the coming years to phase out petrol- and diesel-run vehicles
Women less likely to receive COVID-19 relief from government: UN Women report
At least 29% of working mothers living with children lost their jobs compared to only 20% of working men living with children; single women …
Joe Biden’s climate plan is investing too little in climate action
While the spending figure needs to be much higher, there is scope to keep up the pressure, both from domestic groups as well as international entities
The US just set ambitious offshore wind power targets: What will it take to meet them?
The Biden administration calculates that its new wind power goal would avoid 78 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, roughly equivalent to …
‘Planet wreckers’: 20 countries led by US to emit 90% carbon dioxide through 2050
5 countries in the global north — the United States, Canada, Australia, Norway and the United Kingdom — would contribute the majority …
Iraq eliminates trachoma as a public health problem
Becomes 50th country globally to eliminate at least one neglected tropical disease
We cannot leave AI safety in hands of tech giants; governments should step in, say experts
Experts at the 1st UN council meeting on AI expressed concerns over malfunctioning AI systems and the interaction between AI and nuclear weapons
India’s child wasting rate 18.7% as per latest UN inter-agency estimates
India is the largest country in southern Asia, where half of all children with wasting in the world live