A letter from 25 leading experts, published in the journal Nature, warns that the coronavirus pandemic could wipe out populations of chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutan

Coronavirus poses fatal threat to great apes, experts warn

A letter from 25 leading experts, published in the journal Nature, warns that the&nbsp;coronavirus pandemic could wipe out populations of chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans.&nbsp;Our closest living relatives, which share about 98% of human DNA, are known to be susceptible to catching respiratory diseases from people. Even pathogens producing mild symptoms in humans have been lethal to these endangered species&nbsp;in the past. There's evidence that in 2016 scientists reported the&nbsp;transmission of a human coronavirus&nbsp;to wild chimpanzees in the Ta&iuml; National Park in Ivory Coast, and so we should prepare for the worst, say experts.

A letter from 25 leading experts, published in the journal Nature, warns that the coronavirus pandemic could wipe out populations of chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. Our closest living relatives, which share about 98% of human DNA, are known to be susceptible to catching respiratory diseases from people. Even pathogens producing mild symptoms in humans have been lethal to these endangered species in the past. There's evidence that in 2016 scientists reported the transmission of a human coronavirus to wild chimpanzees in the Taï National Park in Ivory Coast, and so we should prepare for the worst, say experts.

A huge iceberg (1270 km²) twice the size of Mumbai has broken off the 150-m thick Brunt Ice Shelf, almost a decade after scientists at British Antarctic Surve

A huge iceberg (1270 km&sup2;) twice the size of Mumbai&nbsp;has broken off the 150-m thick Brunt Ice Shelf, almost a decade after scientists at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) first detected cracks in the ice.
Separation of 1,270 sq km chunk of frozen water is the&nbsp;third major chasm to actively tear across the Brunt Ice Shelf in the last decade.&nbsp;
'Over the coming weeks or months, the iceberg may move away; or it could run aground and remain close to Brunt Ice Shelf,' said the BAS&nbsp;Director.&nbsp;

Global rising temperatures and the melting of Arctic ice has forced polar bears to adopt a land-based diet. They have switched from hunting seals to catching fish,

Global rising temperatures and the melting of Arctic ice has forced polar bears to adopt a land-based diet. They have switched from&nbsp;hunting seals to catching fish, geese and even lemmings, Russian scientists said on the eve of International Polar Bear Day.&nbsp;
Additionally, the iconic bear species is now using four times more energy to survive because of major ice loss in the Arctic, found a separate study.&nbsp;
As global warming rises, the already endangered species with a global population of up to 30,000, faces an uncertain future.&nbsp;

The livelihoods and food security of hundreds of millions of people in India stand threatened from overexploitation of vital water supplies, finds a new study publ

The livelihoods and food security of hundreds of millions of people in India stand threatened from&nbsp;overexploitation of vital water supplies, finds a new study published in the journal Science Advances.&nbsp;
The authors say groundwater,&nbsp;a critical resource for food security,&nbsp;makes up&nbsp;40% of the country's water supply&nbsp;has been steadily depleting for years. Over-extraction by way of tube wells has left "critically low groundwater availability" in the country's northwest and south, according to the research.
If the trend continues, winter harvests could decrease by 20% nationwide and by 68% in the most severely affected areas, noted the authors.&nbsp;

Childhood exposure to air pollution, including wildfire smoke and car exhaust, for even short periods of time, can lead to higher rates of heart disease and other

Childhood exposure to air pollution, including&nbsp;wildfire smoke and car exhaust, for even short periods of time, can lead to higher rates of heart disease and other ailments in adulthood, says a new Stanford-led&nbsp;study.&nbsp;
Published in&nbsp;Nature Scientific Reports, the study&nbsp;confirms previous research that bad air can alter gene regulation in a way that may impact long-term health.
Exposure to fine particulate known as PM2.5, carbon monoxide and ozone over time was linked to a&nbsp;change in gene expression which may be passed down to future generations.

In a step towards being a plastic free state, Tripura has got its first road constructed with non-recylable plastic waste under the Agartala Smart City Limited project

In a step towards being a plastic free state, Tripura has got its first road constructed with non-recyclable plastic waste under the Agartala Smart City Limited project . The the 680-metre long road in front of Women's College near BK Road in Agartala was unveiled and inaugurated by Chief Minister Biplap Kumar Deb. More such plastic roads will be constructed to manage the plastic waste crisis. The road has been made by mixing plastic waste with bitumen, an ANI report says.

With an attempt to tackle the ongoing plastic crisis, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has partnered with at least 25 eateries and restaurants as 'garbage caf

With an attempt to tackle the ongoing plastic crisis, the&nbsp;North Delhi Municipal Corporation has partnered with at least 25 eateries and restaurants as 'garbage cafes' in Karol Bagh. Five of these 'garbage cafes' were inaugurated at different places on Saturday.
If you provide one kg of plastic to these cafes, you get a meal free of cost. The collected plastic will be picked up by companies which will then recycle it.
The move was welcomed by many, who appreciated the effort as an important step in saving the environment.&nbsp;

Rohit Mehra, an Indian Revenue Officer in Amritsar has started a tree hospital along with an ambulance service to treat trees with diseases or injuries. Quoting scienti

Rohit Mehra, an Indian Revenue Officer in Amritsar has started a tree hospital along with an ambulance service to treat trees with diseases or injuries. The hospital, being dubbed as the world's first, offers a number of healing solutions, including services like tree transplants. The tree ambulance will help cater to the needs of unhealthy and rotting trees in the city. The team consists of experts like botanists and tree lovers. Previously, Mehra has developed over 500 vertical gardens with waste plastic bottles and 90 micro forests.

Israel closed all its Mediterranean beaches until further notice on Sunday, days after an offshore oil spill deposited an estimated dozens of tons of tar across m

&nbsp;Israel closed all its Mediterranean beaches until further notice on Sunday, days after an offshore oil spill deposited an estimated dozens of tons of tar across more than 100 miles of coastline in what officials are calling one of the country's worst ecological disasters.
Activists began reporting globs of black tar on Israel's coast last week after a heavy storm washed the petroleum byproducts ashore, wreaking havoc on wildlife.
Researchers with the country's Agriculture Ministry determined Sunday that a dead young fin whale that washed up on a beach in southern Israel died from ingesting the viscous black liquid, according to Kan, Israel's public broadcaster.
Israel's Nature and Parks Authority has called the spill &ldquo;one of the most serious ecological disasters&rdquo; in the country's history.

There are very few rivers across the globe that remain undamaged by humanity, according to a new study published in journal Science. The study states that biodiversity

There are very few rivers across the globe that remain undamaged by humanity, according to a new study published in journal Science.
The study states that biodiversity of more than half of rivers had been profoundly affected and a lot of the big fish species have been replaced.
Rising temperatures due to the climate crisis, pollution, overfishing and farm irrigation are some factors causing damage to the rivers.
The study adds that rivers in western Europe and North America are worst hit. Many rivers are now unrecognisable from how they looked before the industrial revolution.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Dolphins have developed several personality traits that are similar to humans, including curiosity and sociability, according to a new study by researchers from the&nbs

Dolphins have developed several personality traits that are similar to humans, including curiosity and sociability, according to a new study by researchers from the&nbsp;University of Hull.
The study states that despite evolving in very different environments, there is a convergence of personality traits between humans and dolphins.
It further states that dolphins have brains that are larger than what their body requires for bodily functions. This makes them highly intelligent and curious creatures.
The research however concluded by saying that it must not be assumed that these personality traits between humans and dolphins are identical.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Forty six pilot whales, stranded on the island of Madura in Indonesia have died and rescuers managed to push three back to sea, regional officials said. A rescue operat

Forty six pilot whales, stranded on the island of Madura in Indonesia have died and rescuers managed to push three back to sea, regional officials said. A rescue operation was launched on Thursday to save dozens of&nbsp;beached pilot whales. The bodies of the whales are likely to be buried on Saturday. East&nbsp;Java Provincial Governor stated that an investigation will be carried out and samples of the dead whales will be sent for analysis.

Locals in Navi Mumbai were in for a visual treat on the 19th of February as thousands of migratory flamingos flocked to the creek. The entire area looked like a sea of

Locals in Navi Mumbai were in for a visual treat on Friday as thousands of migratory flamingos flocked to the creek.
The entire area looked like a sea of delicate pink and people couldn't stop capturing the sight.
Every year, these migratory birds come to Mumbai&nbsp;from as far as Iran.&nbsp;
Research suggests flamingos form long lasting friendships and some even behave like married couples!

UN secretary-general, António Guterres has warned that humanity is waging a 'suicidal and senseless' war on nature, accelerating destruction of life on Eart

UN secretary-general, Ant&oacute;nio Guterres&nbsp;has warned that humanity is waging a 'suicidal and senseless' war on nature, accelerating destruction of life on Earth.
The secretary-general's warning came at the launch of a UN report that enlisted the triple emergency. This includes the pollution and climate crisis and the devastation of wildlife.
The key to a sustainable future is making peace with nature, he shared.
Certain measures like taxing carbon emissions and diverting destructive farming to green energy, must be inculcated.
&nbsp;

Residents, some of whom lack heat or basic amenities in their own homes due to the unusually chilly weather, have been rescuing cold-stunned sea turtles and taking them

Residents, some of whom lack heat or basic amenities in their own homes due to the unusually chilly weather, have been rescuing cold-stunned sea turtles and taking them to a convention centre in South Texas.
The Convention Center started pitching in Monday when it's neighbour, Sea Turtle Inc., could no longer handle the number of sea turtles being dropped off, and their mostly outdoor operation had lost power.&nbsp;
The centre&nbsp;says they've "collected" more than 3,500 sea turtles so far, hesitating&nbsp;to use the word rescued because they know they will end up "losing&nbsp;some."

Meet Santha, a 63-year-old woman from Kozhikode in Kerala, who's travelling from town to town to clean the streets and maintain 'swachhta'. Santha trave

Meet Santha, a 63-year-old woman from&nbsp;Kozhikode&nbsp;in Kerala, who's travelling from town to town to clean the streets and maintain 'swachhta'.
Santha&nbsp;travels as far as 200 kilometers from her home to pick up waste, plastic bottles and other items lying on the road.
She even nurtures plants and saplings along the way.
Passerby's often laud her efforts and even make donations to help her out.&nbsp;

Increased exposure to air pollution increases the risk of infertility, according to a new study by Peking University Third hospital in China. The study found that thos

Increased exposure to air pollution increases the risk of infertility, according to a new study by Peking University Third hospital in China.
The study found that those living with small particles of pollution had a 20% greater risk of infertility, which the researchers defined as 'not becoming pregnant within a year of trying'.
According to a Guardian report,&nbsp; while the scientists did not state how pollution poses a risk to fertility, it is believed that pollution particles cause inflammation in the body which could damage sperm and egg production.
It further added that weight, age and smoking also risk factors.&nbsp;

Released by Maxar Technologies, the high-resolution satellite images of the landslide at Uttarakhand show that flash floods in Rishi Ganga and Dhauli Ganga river c

Released by Maxar Technologies, the high-resolution satellite images of the landslide at Uttarakhand&nbsp;show that flash floods in Rishi Ganga and Dhauli Ganga river catchment areas. The landslides caused by a major snow avalanche near Raini village of Chamoli district and left behind the devasting trail of destruction. The death toll in the tragedy has now reached 58.&nbsp;As many as 146 people are still missing in the wake of the tragedy.
The devastating flash flood in Uttarakhand&rsquo;s Chamoli district was caused by landslides and a snow avalanche that brought down debris, mud and soil into the downstream areas of a stream.

Rescuers are finding it difficult to make further progress inside a tunnel of the disaster-hit Tapovan project in Uttarakhands Chamoli district due the presence of wate

Rescuers are finding it difficult to make further progress inside a tunnel of the disaster-hit Tapovan project in Uttarakhands Chamoli district due the presence of water and sludge. State DGP Ashok Kumar&nbsp;said due to the presence of water and sludge inside the tunnel, the excavation work is being hampered but he said the rescue operation would continue till the last man or body is found inside the tunnel. An NTPC official said the tunnel has already been dug at a level of 160 metres inside.

In a surprising find, scientists have discovered immobile life forms under a 900 metre thick Antarctic ice shelf and say it is life that shouldn't be there. The d

In a surprising find, scientists have discovered immobile life forms under a 900 metre thick&nbsp;Antarctic ice shelf and say it is life that shouldn't be there.
The discovery comes after a team led by the British Antarctic Survey drilled through the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf and dropped a camera down the hole to search for mud on the sea bed.
To their surprise, they found a boulder with nearly 16 sponges, 22 unidentified animals including some that appear to be barnacles.
The creatures found, scientists said, likely survive on photosynthetic organisms that need sunlight which is missing beneath the ice shelf and that's the reason they shouldn't be here.
The findings suggest that life in Antarctica's harshest environment is more diverse and adaptable than previously thought. The scientists now hope to study the creatures in more detail.

Scientists from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and British Antarctic Survey, have deployed a robot at the remnants of the A68A in Antarctica, which wa

Scientists from the&nbsp;National Oceanography Centre (NOC) and&nbsp;British Antarctic Survey, have deployed a robot at the remnants of the A68A in Antarctica, which was once the world's biggest iceberg.
The robotic glider will help investigate the impact of these remnants of the iceberg on the environment.
The glider will measure&nbsp;seawater salinity, temperature and chlorophyll close to the ice.
The iceberg has spent several months drifting towards the&nbsp;South Atlantic island of South Georgia, where it could pose a major risk to marine life.

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