News: New environmental standards require caustic soda plants using membrane cell technology to pass a fish-survival test for wastewater toxicity. About Caustic Soda It is also known as sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Properties: It is a corrosive white crystalline solid. It is highly alkaline and readily dissolves in water, releasing hydroxide ions (OH⁻) and resulting in… Continue reading Caustic Soda
Tag: down to earth
2026 Food Planet Prize
News: Andhra Pradesh’s community-led natural farming programme has won the 2026 Food Planet Prize. About 2026 Food Planet Prize About Food Planet Prize is the world’s largest environmental award. Presented by: It is presented annually by the Curt Bergfors Foundation in Sweden. It rewards innovative initiatives that will improve the global food system within ten years… Continue reading 2026 Food Planet Prize
Koala
News: New research has provided the first associative link between heat stress and koala mortality. It highlighted how even moderate temperature rises can increase hospital admission and mortality risk in koalas. About Koala They are a tree-dwelling herbivorous marsupial. Scientific name: Its scientific name is Phascolarctos cinereus. Family: They belong to the family Phascolarctidae. Habitat:… Continue reading Koala
Attenboroughnculus Tau
News: Scientists at the Natural History Museum in London, United Kingdom, have discovered a new species of wasp in Chile and named it Attenboroughnculus tau. About Attenboroughnculus Tau It is a tiny parasitic wasp discovered in Chile. It was collected from Chile’s Valdivia Province in 1983. It has been named after the famed British naturalist… Continue reading Attenboroughnculus Tau
World Migration Report 2026
News: The World Migration Report 2026 was released recently by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). About World Migration Report 2026 Released by: The report is released by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). First edition: The first World Migration Report was released in 2000. This report is the thirteenth in the series. Frequency: It is… Continue reading World Migration Report 2026
Prosopis Juliflora and Banni Grassland
News: Prosopis juliflora, which is a non-native and invasive tree species, has encroached over half of Banni Grassland in Gujarat. About Prosopis Juliflora Prosopis juliflora is one of the most widespread hyperaccumulating, phreatophytic, perennial tree/shrub species. Family: It is a member of the Fabaceae family. It is a representative species of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. … Continue reading Prosopis Juliflora and Banni Grassland
G7 Declaration on Desertification
Source: The post “G7 Declaration on Desertification” has been created, based on “Environment G7 puts desertification at centre of environmental agenda, flags land crisis as global security threat” published in “Down To Earth” on 29 March 2026. G7 Declaration on Desertification. UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Environment Context: The G7 Environment Ministerial Meeting 2026 placed desertification, land… Continue reading G7 Declaration on Desertification
Bering Strait and Diomede Islands
News: New research from Utrecht University suggests that building a dam across the Bering Strait could potentially help stabilise the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). About Bering Strait Location: The Bering Strait is the northernmost part of the Pacific Ocean. It is the only ocean gateway between the Pacific and the Arctic Ocean. Connecting: It… Continue reading Bering Strait and Diomede Islands
Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Region
News: According to a new report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region has recently recorded its lowest snow persistence, at 27% below the long-term average for the winter season from November 2025 to March 2026. About Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Region The Hindu Kush is a great… Continue reading Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Region
Barbary Macaques
News: According to a new study, Barbary macaques in Europe eat soil to help their digestive system cope with low-fibre junk foods such as crisps, chocolate, bread, and ice cream. About Barbary Macaques Barbary macaques are one of 25 species of macaque found around the world. Scientific name: Its scientific name is Macaca sylvanus. Family:… Continue reading Barbary Macaques
