Environment Explained News

All the what, why and how of the environment, explained. In this series, we break down complex concepts of the natural world into simple, easy-to-digest explainers. With our expertise in environment and conservation, we guide you through aspects of the topic that you are curious about and help you make sense of the news around you.

What are earth observation satellites? How do they support environmental research? [Explainer]

Anusha Krishnan 24 Mar 2025

A used lithium battery, if showing potential for a second life, is refurbished to be used as a stationary storage unit. This potential is determined by the battery’s residual capacity, which has to be around 70-80% once it reaches the end of its previous life cycle as an EV battery. Photo by RudolfSimon/Wikimedia Commons.

[Explainer] Can India sustainably manufacture and recycle EV batteries?

Zoya Ada Hussain 6 Nov 2023

Photo by Karolina Grabowska/ Pexels.

[Explainer] What happens when pharmaceutical pollutants enter the environment?

Mahima Jain 29 Sep 2023

[Explainer] Why are intense storms and erratic rainfall events becoming more frequent?

Max Martin 20 Sep 2023

Sulphur hexafluoride gas circuit breakers in a switchyard. Photo by Dingy/Wikimedia Commons.

[Explainer] What is SF₆? Why should we be monitoring it?

Pranav Sinha 5 Sep 2023

[Explainer] Why mitigating methane emissions matters

Mahima Jain 31 Aug 2023

[Explainer] Living with microplastics, is not fantastic

Mahima Jain 16 Aug 2023

[Explainer] As heat waves increase, are India’s Heat Action Plans effective?

Zoya Ada Hussain 24 Jul 2023

At the National Expo XIII (in 2009) that organised by the 'Central Calcutta Science & Cultural Organisation for Youth' at North 24 Parganas. Photo by Biswarup Ganguly/ Wikimedia Commons.

[Explainer] Why do we use jargon when talking about science?

Anusha Krishnan 26 Jun 2023

[Explainer] What are floodplains and how have they been managed in India?

Vinaya Kurtkoti 14 Jun 2023

[Explainer] What is organic food? How do we identify organic products?

Irfan Shakeer, Priya Ranganathan 8 Jun 2023

Image shows a bufaalo with starlins on its back followed by a calf near a water body

[Explainer] What is mutualism?

Anusha Krishnan 1 May 2023

[Explainer] Why is 2023 the International Year of Millets? What do we achieve by celebrating such years?

Mahima Jain 10 Mar 2023

Image shows a bush with purple flowers

[Explainer] Mass flowering and why some plants bloom and die together

Priya Ranganathan 29 Dec 2022

Image shows green mountains

[Explainer] Wastelands or grasslands? India’s history with defining open ecosystems

Mahima Jain 6 Dec 2022

Chennai city flooded after Cyclone Nivar in 2020.

[Explainer] What is Loss and Damage?

Mahima Jain 31 Oct 2022

Greenwashing protest

[Explainer] What is greenwashing?

Anusha Krishnan 10 Oct 2022

Image shows a woody climber twisting around a tree in a forest

[Explainer] Woody climbers, lianas, embody the inter-connectedness of a forest

Geetha Iyer 20 Sep 2022

[Explainer] What is biodiversity finance?

Anusha Krishnan 13 Sep 2022

[Explainer] Why do floods occur?

Anusha Krishnan 17 Aug 2022

[Explainer] What’s causing mass fish death in India’s ponds and lakes?

Ananya Vyas 19 Jul 2022

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