pollution

A widely shared statistic states that 83 of the world's 100 most polluted cities are located in India, underscoring the severity of the country's air quality crisis. The figure has prompted discussion about pollution levels in Indian urban centres, their health impact, and the scale of the challenge facing Indian authorities in tackling air pollution.

Devastating floods in Nepal have killed dozens and displaced thousands, drawing renewed attention to the country's vulnerability to extreme weather. Commentators argue that nations like Nepal, which contribute little to global emissions, bear disproportionate losses, strengthening demands that wealthy polluting countries provide greater climate finance and compensation.

Environmental campaigner Bittu Tabahi says eight months of work cleaning the Ajnar River have been wasted after the waterway was found polluted again. The cleanup, which had drawn wide public attention, now appears to have been undone by renewed dumping or neglect, prompting frustration from the activist and concern among supporters about how the river can be protected long term.

Astronomers are pushing back against Reflect Orbital's plan to orbit giant mirrors that would reflect sunlight to Earth on demand, approved by the US Federal Communications Commission. A company representative cited a goal of launching 50,000 mirrors by 2035, and astronomers warn the resulting glare would be catastrophic for ground-based astronomy, joining broader concerns about commercial use of orbit and night skies.

Astronomers report new measurements showing satellites averaging seven times brighter than mitigation targets cited in FCC filings, with peak brightness over 200 times above the International Astronomical Union's recommended threshold of magnitude 7. The findings come as AST SpaceMobile prepares to deploy more spacecraft, raising concerns among researchers about interference with ground-based astronomy.