Nature challenge identifies 1,820 taxa in Coimbatore
Sundar Muruganandhan, Coordinator of CNC 2025, said, "The City Nature Challenge is a global initiative designed to bring people closer to nature while promoting citizen science. It encourages individuals from all walks of life to actively participate in documenting biodiversity, serving as a powerful platform to deepen our connection with the natural world and support conservation efforts."
"What made this year's event notable was the vibrant participation of students from schools and colleges. Their involvement reflected a growing awareness and interest in biodiversity among youth. Additionally, BioBlitz offers valuable insight into a city's biodiversity and emphasises the importance of preserving natural ecosystems," said S Saravanan of WWF.
This collective effort not only strengthened community bonds but also reinforced the city's commitment to conservation and environmental awareness.
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New Indian Express
7 days ago
- New Indian Express
Nature challenge identifies 1,820 taxa in Coimbatore
Sundar Muruganandhan, Coordinator of CNC 2025, said, "The City Nature Challenge is a global initiative designed to bring people closer to nature while promoting citizen science. It encourages individuals from all walks of life to actively participate in documenting biodiversity, serving as a powerful platform to deepen our connection with the natural world and support conservation efforts." "What made this year's event notable was the vibrant participation of students from schools and colleges. Their involvement reflected a growing awareness and interest in biodiversity among youth. Additionally, BioBlitz offers valuable insight into a city's biodiversity and emphasises the importance of preserving natural ecosystems," said S Saravanan of WWF. This collective effort not only strengthened community bonds but also reinforced the city's commitment to conservation and environmental awareness.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Time of India
How to remove heart attack causing microplastics from drinking water at home
Tap water is one of the most common way of hydration. The human body is made up of 62 to 70% water. No living organism can survive without water. Water helps in digestion, the respiratory process, and blood circulation. It is the primary element for survival for all. The most common way of consuming water is tap water. But it cannot always be a healthy option for people in many countries. Tap water comes directly from rivers or other sources. It is not filtered and may have contaminants and toxic particles in it. One of the most common concerns these days is the presence of microplastics in water. According to a study conducted by Orb Media titled "Invisibles: The Plastic Inside Us," it was found that tap water samples from 14 countries were found to contain microplastics. What came as a shock was that almost 83% of the samples contained microplastics. micro plastic are small particle size of 1m to 5m. What exactly is microplastic? Microplastic is a plastic particle sized between 1 nanometer to 5 millimeters, which makes it smaller than a grain of sand. Microplastic was usually found in oceans but has now made its way into daily life. A WWF report revealed that drinking water sources—groundwater, tap water, and surface water—are the biggest contributors of microplastic in daily life. On average, a person consumes 1,769 microparticles on a weekly basis. Another report from POLS One provided deeper insight into how microparticles vary with regional differences in water. In that report, it was found that 94% of US tap water contains microparticles, whereas 72% of European borders have microplastic particles, and India has over 82.4% microplastic in its tap water. The report also stated that an average person consumes 5,800 particles on a daily basis, 88% of which come from tap water. A New England Journal study has found that drinking microplastic water can increase risk by 4.5 times. Effect of microplastic on the human body Microplastic can cause significant damage to the human body. It can irritate the digestive tract, causing inflammation. A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine has found a link between microplastics in carotid arteries and an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death. Study found that individuals with microplastics in their carotid plaque had a 4.5-fold higher risk of these events compared to those without. Microplastic contains harmful chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and flame retardants. They can cause: Endocrine disruption (affecting hormones) Carcinogenic effects (linked to cancer) Neurotoxic effects (may harm the brain, especially in infants) One natural way to flush out the toxins, is by drinking adequate water. Recent studies to remove microparticles A recent study by scientists at Guangzhou Medical University and Jinan University said that boiling tap water catalyzes mineral (calcium carbonate) deposition, which captures microplastics. It removes up to 90% of particles. After boiling it, you have to filter it using a coffee filter or kettle mesh, allowing water to be filtered further. It is considered a low-cost, effective method that can be used in daily routine. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Time of India
Nations call for 'quieter' ocean to help marine life
NICE: Dozens of countries at the UN oceans summit on Tuesday took a first step toward recognising an invisible but growing threat to marine life -- underwater noise pollution . The din created by shipping and other human activities is rising at an alarming rate, marine conservation groups say, a major problem for sea life reliant on sound below water to survive. Whales and dolphins use clicks and whistles to communicate with their young, navigate the oceans and warn of danger and hunt for food. "Human noise pollution is drowning out these vital sounds," said Carlos Bravo from OceanCare, a marine conservation group. In a step toward a quieter ocean, 37 countries led by Canada and Panama have launched a new effort to reduce harmful underwater noise pollution. At the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, ministers from these countries committed to advancing quieter shipping design and including noise reduction protocols in their marine protected areas. "Too often, the issue of ocean noise has been sidelined in global environmental discourse," said Panama's environment minister Juan Carlos Navarro. "With this coalition, we are committing to act decisively to protect marine biodiversity from this invisible yet powerful threat." Whirling propellers from shipping, sonar from navy vessels and construction noise from offshore industry all emit sounds that can travel vast distances underwater, WWF says. Beluga whales can detect sounds from icebreaking ships up to 85 kilometres (52 miles) away, causing panic and flight, it added. Other marine mammals change their behaviour under acoustic stress, while smaller prey for these bigger ocean dwellers can also be scared off by human-made noise. One of the biggest contributors to underwater noise is cargo vessels, and cutting the acoustic footprint of the global shipping industry could have a major impact. Despite this, global efforts to reduce ocean noise "have been limited and fragmented", the coalition said. Bravo said this new coalition had taken a "crucial step towards giving marine life back their voice in the blue planet's symphony".
