Scientific stutter
Do animals have a language, and hence a mind, of their own?
Octopuses are super-smart ... but are they conscious?
The idea of non-human consciousness raises a host of philosophical questions
This week in environment and science
Environment and science related updates from across the world
Green Climate Fund approves eight projects at Zambia meet
Approved projects worth US$ 168 million
‘Food was grown to keep community healthy’
The local system of agriculture produces more healthy and useful food, says Miller
Yaounde Declaration: Health ministers of 11 African countries commit to end malaria deaths
But experts insist that such expressed political will must be accompanied by action on the ground
AI can see you
A sophisticated and frightening face-recognition algorithm being employed by technology firms could be the end of privacy as we know it
As the world heats up, solar panels will degrade faster – especially in hot, humid areas. What can we do?
We’ll need to incorporate new ways of cooling panels and improve the materials used. We also need to improve manufacturing processes and …
Book Excerpt: Have you ever tried a sustainable safari in Africa?
In safari tourism, the balance between humans, development, and wildlife is a difficult one to strike; but there are safari companies trying to …
A new virus-like entity has just been discovered – ‘obelisks’ explained
Obelisks have a circular single-stranded RNA genome and no protein coat but, like viruses, their genomes contain genes that are predicted to code …
Simply Put: Alone
IPCC Special Report: Climate risks require India to rethink its approach
The report warns of increased risk of coastal flooding, heatwaves, food scarcity and vector-borne diseases
COVER STORY: Why are governments across Africa on a legislation spree to regulate seeds market
Countries and economic blocs across Africa are on a legislating spree to regulate the continent’s seed markets, ostensibly to overcome …
Megadrought along border strains US - Mexico water relations
A landmark 1944 US-Mexico treaty that governs water relations between the two countries, is buckling under the enormous strain of climate change
COVID-19: The poor must wait years for the jab
Intellectual property rights can act as a barrier against wide access to vaccines, treatments for the novel coronavirus disease
Virginity not a scientific term, but a social construct: UN
In a move to end gender-based discrimination and violence, UN agencies have called for a world-wide ban on virginity testing
4 charts show Venezuela's worsening migrant crisis
The exodus impacts even those who haven’t left. Many schools and medical centers have closed throughout the country due to lack …
Yak and reindeer herders meet on top of the world
Yak herders from Bhutan, Nepal, and China met with reindeer herders from Norway, Russia and found surprising commonalities in the challenges they …
Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet
From Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former head of the Sierra Club Carl Pope comes a manifesto on how the benefits of taking action on climate …
US biologist found dead during Crete conference, police suspect homicide
Suzanne Eaton was working as a developmental biologist at Germany’s Max Planck institutes
Five countries had zero malaria cases in 2018: WHO
While China and El Salvador reported no cases for second consecutive year; Iran, Malaysia & Timor-Leste had zero cases of the …
MIT researchers explore physics of evaporation
More than temperature, it's changes in pressure that influence how quickly liquid turns into gas
El Salvador recognises forests as living entities
The central American country has lost about 85 per cent of its native forests since the 1960s
Feathers came 100 million years before birds: Study
The structures formed 250 million years ago in the Early Triassic period not for display or flight, but purely for insulation
Meeting Paris climate goals can save lives. Here's proof
Paris Agreement, which aims to curbing emissions well below 2°C, can prevent 110 to 2,720 annual heat-related deaths in 15 US cities