Timor-Leste is strengthening disaster preparedness and climate resilience through a national civil protection initiative. More than 60 government representatives attended a National Civil Protection Workshop organised by the Ministry of Interior and UNDP Timor-Leste. Held on July 17, the workshop focused on shifting from disaster response towards prevention, preparedness and long-term resilience. Timor-Leste is highly exposed to floods, landslides, droughts and strong winds. Climate change is expected to intensify these risks, while population growth and environmental degradation add
Researchers have identified a 3.5-billion-year-old carbon-rich rock near Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, that may preserve early evidence of life. The chert was found near Bhitardari village in the Singhbhum Craton. Uranium-lead dating of zircon crystals placed the rock at roughly 3.497 billion years old. Researchers identified alternating layers of silica and carbon-rich material. These resemble fossilised microbial mats formed by ancient bacteria and archaea on the seafloor. Raman spectroscopy was used to analyse the carbon and compare it with younger graphite-bearing veins cutting through
Archaeologists have uncovered a 4,000-year-old painted limestone plaque on Wetar Island in eastern Indonesia. It was discovered by researchers from Australian National University and Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency. Charcoal from the surrounding layer dates the plaque to roughly 4,090–3,900 years ago. The stone measures about 9 by 7 inches and carries a red circular design with faded lines radiating outward. Researchers identify it with the Austronesian Painting Tradition, a style found across eastern Indonesia and parts of the Pacific. The discovery offers cl
The Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems of India was launched in Ulaanbaatar on August 17, 2026, highlighting India’s grasslands, savannas, deserts, and other open ecosystems. It examines their ecological importance, biodiversity, geographical settings, and socio-economic value. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav called the guide an important step toward recognising India’s open natural ecosystems. He stressed that these landscapes require science-based conservation alongside forests. The guide highlights the relationship between open ecosystems and local communi
Saudi Arabia has restored 1 million hectares of degraded land and planted more than 159 million trees under the Saudi Green Initiative, marking a major step in the Kingdom's environmental restoration efforts. Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli said the progress reflects coordinated work involving government agencies, the private sector and nonprofit organizations. The Saudi Green Initiative 1 million hectares milestone forms part of a much larger national target. The National Greening Program, which serves as the initiative's executive arm, aims to rehabilita
India has crossed 300 GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity, reaching 300.50 GW as of July 31, 2026. The milestone takes the country past 60% of its 500 GW non-fossil capacity target for 2030, marking a major step in its clean energy transition. According to the latest figures, India's renewable energy capacity is led by solar power at 164.59 GW, followed by wind power at 58.14 GW. Large and small hydro projects account for 57.24 GW, while bio-power contributes 11.75 GW. Nuclear power adds another 8.78 GW to the country's non-fossil capacity. Non-fossil sources now account for more than
An international team of scientists has captured the highest-resolution images of the Sun’s surface ever obtained, revealing small, swirling patterns linked to a phenomenon known as Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI). The discovery was announced by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s National Solar Observatory (NSF NSO) on August 5, 2026, with the findings published in Nature. The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability on the Sun was observed using the NSF Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in Maui, Hawaii. The images showed small whirlpool-like swirls forming around the edges of magnetic regio
Scientists in Western Australia have achieved a plant cloning breakthrough by successfully cloning the critically endangered Queen of Sheba orchid (Thelymitra variegata). The rare wildflower, found only on the Swan Coastal Plain, has fewer than 30 plants remaining in the wild, making it one of Australia's most threatened orchid species. Researchers at the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (BGPA) in Kings Park began the project in 2021 using a plant tissue propagation technique known as somatic embryogenesis. Starting with a single microscopic seed, the team has now produced more than 1,0
Scientists at the BRIC-National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS) have discovered a new gut bacteria species from the intestinal microbiome of Indian tribal communities, highlighting the country's rich and largely unexplored microbial diversity. The discovery builds on earlier research showing that India's tribal populations possess distinct gut bacterial communities shaped by geography, diet, and ethnicity. The latest finding expands knowledge of the Indian gut microbiome and underscores the importance of studying Indigenous populations to better understand human health. According to r
Nathan Thomas has become the youngest male professor in history, earning a Guinness World Record after teaching at Miami Dade College at just 18 years and 346 days old. Nathan Thomas, the youngest male professor, broke a 306 year old record previously held by Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin, who became a professor at the age of 19. Born on September 9, 2004, Thomas began teaching COP 2270: C for Engineers at Miami Dade College in August 2023, instructing students who were close to his own age. The Guinness World Record professor followed an extraordinary academic journey. Thomas