General Awareness

ENVIRONMENT - August 2022

Aug 2022

Jan 25, 2025

Two Mountains 100 Times Taller than Mount Everest Discovered Deep Beneath Earth

Earth's biggest mountains, more than 100 times taller than Mount Everest, were discovered on the boundary between Africa and the Pacific Ocean. The two peaks lie deep beneath the Earth's surface and reach heights of around 1,000 km, far bigger than the 8.8 km height of Mount Everest. Researchers estimate that the mountains are at least half a billion years old but could date back to the formation of Earth four billion years ago.

Jan 23, 2025

Yala Glacier in Nepal Set to Vanish by 2040s

Yala Glacier, situated in Nepal's Langtang National Park, has been a focal point for glaciological studies due to its significant retreat over recent decades. New analyses predict that this glacier may vanish by the 2040s, underscoring the profound impacts of climate change on the Himalayan cryosphere.
Yala Glacier is the only Himalayan glacier included in the Global Glacier Casualty List, highlighting its critical status. This list, launched in 2024, identifies glaciers worldwide that are critically endangered or have already disappeared.

Jan 22, 2025

23 Blood Sucking Flies Discovered in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Indian zoologists discovered 13 species of blood sucking flies for the first time in India from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, underlining the importance of the archipelago as a storehouse of biological diversity.
The 13 biting midges are among 23 such flies reported from the islands. Of particular concern are five species known to transmit the Blue Tongue Disease virus, a condition that can be fatal to livestock and causes significant economic losses to the animal husbandry sector.
This discovery, according to ZSI officials, flags the need for enhanced vector surveillance and control measures in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to protect both livestock and the tourism industry.

Jan 21, 2025

Donald Trump Signs Executive Order to Pull US out of Paris agreement

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw from the ambitious Paris Agreement on Climate Change, a fulfilment of a campaign promise.
Notably Trump had withdrawn from the Paris Agreement immediately after his first inauguration in January 2017. Joe Biden reversed that decision later.
According to the Trump team, the Paris Agreement places unfair economic burdens on American workers, businesses, and taxpayers. It hampers the economic and national security of the United States while allowing the world's leading polluters such as China to continue to pollute.

Jan 16, 2025

India's Hydrogen Train Engine Sets a Power Benchmark

India's Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, recently shared a remarkable achievement in the field of green energy technology during the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. Indian Railways has developed the world's most powerful hydrogen fuel-run train engine, setting a new benchmark in global railway innovation. The engine, built with indigenous technology, reflects India's growing capabilities in green energy and sustainable development.
The engine generates 1,200 horsepower, surpassing the 500-600 horsepower engines developed by other countries.

Clouded Leopard Conservation Efforts in Asia

The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is an elusive predator found in Asia's ancient forests. Its striking coat patterns have made it a subject of fascination. However, its population is declining rapidly due to habitat destruction, hunting, and climate change. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the species as 'vulnerable'. Recent studies highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts to address these threats and ensure the species' survival.
Current Status of Clouded Leopard Populations
The clouded leopard's range includes the Himalayas in Nepal, Bhutan, and India, extending to South China and Peninsular Malaysia. Populations in Taiwan are extinct, while those in Vietnam and China are critically low. The IUCN classifies the species' range into four statuses – extant, possibly extant, possibly extinct, and extinct. The extant range currently includes Bhutan, northeast India, Myanmar, and parts of Southeast Asia.

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