Coronavirus vaccines: Tech transfer is the new mantra
A tech transfer hub for mRNA vaccines is being set up in South Africa, a first for the continent; but will the pharmaceutical companies play ball?
Book Excerpt: Tibet, a paradise lost
The planet’s Third Pole was a mighty empire once; but its status in international relations is disputed today. How and why did this happen?
South Africa: Gold mine pollution is poisoning Soweto’s water and soil — study finds food gardens are at risk
Soweto residents are affected by the mine dumps, toxic dust and the polluted land and rivers
Honk! These monkeys have truly legendary noses — now we better understand why they evolved
One of the largest monkey species in Asia, proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) are endemic to the island of Borneo
A psychedelic high
Driven by surge in global trials and low success rate of current medications in treating mental health problems, researchers call for home-grown …
The pill that’s roiling US drug regulation
The hard right is challenging FDA’s authority to regulate drugs with its lawsuit to ban America’s most used abortion pill
Americas: Yet another country in Western Hemisphere turns right as Panama elects Jose Mulino as president
Mulino joins Argentina’s Javier Milei & El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele even as Donald Trump & Jair Bolsonaro hope to return to power
DTE Coverage: How dangerous are microplastics?
A 3-part series which looks at the health impacts of microplastics
Amu Darya and Kabul river basins major sources of water for Afghanistan: Study
28.6 billion cubic metres of the country’s water is generated outside it, according to the study
Good for your health and the environment: why we should be eating oily fish
Given a wide range of uses, along with its nutritional benefits and low environmental impact, this type of fish should be making regular …
Plastic’s toxic trail: What are these polymers and what do they contain?
Between 2021 and 2024, the number of chemicals reported to be used by the plastic industry has gone up from around 10,000 to 16,000
DTE Coverage: Global plastic profiles
A 17-part series that examines who stands where on various aspects of plastic pollution
Deadly floods kill 38 in Kenya, destroy farmlands, property
Prolonged, large-scale crop loss, especially in key places considered as breadbaskets like central and western Kenya and Rift Valley regions, is …
Asian tigers get a boost: 10 countries pledge $1 billion over a decade for habitat conservation
Since 2015, tiger population globally has increased from 3,200 in 2015 to about 4,500 in 2022
DTE Coverage: Run-up to Ottawa
As countries meet in Canadian capital to decide on a global plastic treaty, Down To Earth looks at various dimensions of the problem
Once-mighty Rio Grande, other New Mexico rivers are ‘most endangered’ in the US: Non-profit
River that forms Mexican-American border endangered due to loss of federal clean water protections
Run-up to Ottawa: Arctic a ‘hemispheric sink’ for chemicals & plastics; 13 million people in region at risk, says report
Document calls for Just Transition framework; reconnecting with traditional values of Arctic indigenous peoples
‘Reality is not as fixed as people like to think’
Neuroscientist Nadine Dijkstra talks to Down To Earth about reality and perception
Taiwan earthquake: An earthquake scientist on what we know so far and what may happen next
Landslides also occurred along the mountainous central east coast
Southern Africa’s new ecoregion brimming with undocumented life but in urgent need of conservation
Despite its ecological significance, SEAMA has one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa
Humid heatwaves in southern West Africa made 10 times more likely by climate change: Study
At 2°C, similar events will occur about once every two years; West Africa will become a further 1.2-3.4°C hotter
Sweden has vast ‘old growth’ forests – but they are being chopped down faster than the Amazon
There is no direct monitoring of these forests, no thorough environmental impact assessments and most of the public don’t seem to be aware …
When polar bears hunt snow geese, hunger justifies the means
The adaptations that polar bears will have to make to meet the challenges brought about by climate change are numerous and unpredictable
Venomous snakes could start migrating in large numbers if we hit 5°C warming
Global measures to strengthen science, research and conservation policies are needed
DTE Coverage: WMO State of the Global Climate 2023 Report
Last year broke all records; DTE deconstructs document's main points