How planet's 'blue forests', mangroves, protect coastlines, support wildlife and store up to four times more carbon than tropical rainforests

How planet’s ‘blue forests’, mangroves, protect coastlines, support wildlife and store up to four times more carbon than tropical rainforests |

Mangrove forests occupy only a tiny fraction of Earth’s land surface, yet they are among the planet’s most valuable ecosystems. Growing where land meets the sea, these salt-tolerant trees form dense coastal forests that shield shorelines from storms, provide nurseries for marine life and lock away enormous amounts of carbon. Their exceptional ability to capture…

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This Japanese village hides giant artworks in its rice fields: From Tanjiro to Napoleon, they only emerge every summer to mesmerise the world |

This Japanese village hides giant artworks in its rice fields: From Tanjiro to Napoleon, they only emerge every summer to mesmerise the world |

In Japan, rice isn’t just grown for consumption; it is also grown to create art. The fields in the country serve as a blank canvas for the creative farmers who use them to create characters including Demon Slayer’s Tanjiro and the French emperor, they have created it all.The colours are all different and the varieties…

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Global race for sixth‑gen fighters heats up as GCAP demonstrator to fly by 2027

Global race for sixth‑gen fighters heats up as GCAP demonstrator to fly by 2027

GCAP demonstrator displayed at the Farnborough Airshow. (Image credit: GCAP) BAE Systems has offered the clearest glimpse yet of the combat air flying demonstrator, the aircraft that will spearhead development of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and ultimately the sixth‑generation Tempest fighter. A newly released image shows the fuselage under construction at Samlesbury, while…

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Why are India's brightest minds leaving? Centre's reply on IIT migration raises more questions

Why are India’s brightest minds leaving? Centre’s reply on IIT migration raises more questions

The Centre has maintained that IIT graduates pursuing education or careers abroad do so by personal choice, shaped by academic, financial and professional factors. However, its failure to disclose migration figures in Parliament has intensified the debate over India’s ability to retain its brightest talent and whether stronger research, innovation and career opportunities are needed…

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Scientists are turning seawater into a ‘blood test’ that could reveal coral reef damage before it becomes visible |

Scientists are turning seawater into a ‘blood test’ that could reveal coral reef damage before it becomes visible |

Before major surgeries and operations, doctors often detect diseases in humans using minimally invasive methods like a blood or urine test, before symptoms become severe. Now, researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) are applying a similar concept to coral reefs. They have shown that the water surrounding reefs contains chemical and microbial signals…

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