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A recent study funded by NASA has revealed that the Earth continues to get brighter every year, with a 16% increase in artificial light between 2014 and 2022. However, the progression has become increasingly volatile due to factors such as Covid-19, regulations on light pollution, and a faltering global economy.The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Connecticut (UConn), analyzed over 1.1 million satellite images taken over a nine-year period. The findings indicate that while some parts of the planet became dimmer, helping to offset a 34% overall rise in global radiance, others experienced significant brightening.Europe dimmed significantly due to efficiency regulations, while Venezuela lost more than 26% of its night-time light due to economic collapse. The Covid-19 pandemic also had an impact, with lockdowns, reduced industrial activity, and decreased tourism causing dimming in many areas.In contrast, Asia continued to lead all regions in brightening, with night-time light surging in China and northern India along with urban development. The study also revealed that energy conservation measures coincided with reduced light pollution in Paris and throughout France, which experienced a 33% dimming.The researchers used satellite images taken at approximately 1:30 am local time every day of the nine-year study period by NASA's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite. The study's co-author, Zhe Zhu, described the experience as "like watching the heartbeat of the planet".The findings have significant implications for energy security and environmental sustainability. As Deborah Gordon, senior principal of the Rocky Mountain Institute's climate intelligence program, noted, "Understanding where gas is being wasted around the globe, and to have this data be public, is huge for energy, and economic and environmental security."

In the rugged Hindu Kush mountains of eastern Afghanistan, hundreds of men are scouring the rocky Kunar riverbed for precious gold dust, creating a livelihood amid limited economic options.Against the backdrop of towering peaks, some still snow-capped in April, workers labour near the Pakistan border, seeking valuable flecks that could change their fortunes in a country plagued by low wages.Near Kharwalu village in Kunar province – with its mud-brick homes and terraced wheat fields – men excavate dry sections of the riverbed before washing their rocky hauls with river water.Delawar, 45, joined these gold prospectors after leaving his construction job seven hours from his Kabul home. “There are not many job opportunities in the country, and in this way, we have created work for ourselves,” said the father of eight who uses only one name.“The gold nuggets we find are usually smaller than a grain of wheat,” he added.In nearby Ghaziabad, hundreds chip away at the mountainside with picks, carrying heavy sacks down steep slopes to empty onto sieves for gold filtration.Others use yellow jerrycans attached to long wooden handles to pour river water over sieves, allowing smaller, potentially gold-bearing stones to slide onto mats. After two additional siftings, gold nuggets occasionally appear in metal pans.Gul Ahmad Jan, 35, claims the work can be lucrative. “We can get up to about 1gm of gold,” worth approximately 8,000 Afghani ($125) in just one week, he said.Afghanistan’s natural resources remained largely unexploited during decades of conflict, though a Kunar official told the AFP news agency that gold panning has occurred there for more than 10 years.

Rena Effendi, a photojournalist, embarks on a poignant journey in the documentary 'Searching for Satyrus', seeking the elusive butterfly named after her father, Rustam Effendi, a lepidopterist. Her father spent seven years hunting the Satyrus effendi, a rare and endangered species found in the Caucasus mountains.Effendi's quest is intertwined with her exploration of her father's complex legacy. He was a man of many marriages – Effendi humorously notes he lasted longer in his pursuit of the butterfly than in any of his four marriages. This personal history is set against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, where the butterfly's habitat lies.The documentary features Effendi's interactions with lepidopterists, including Dmitrii V Morgun, who describes the unique characteristics of various butterfly species. The Satyrus is portrayed as melancholic and brooding, mirroring the complex emotions Effendi experiences as she uncovers her father's past.The film is set to release in UK cinemas on April 19, 2026, offering audiences a thoughtful exploration of family, legacy, and conservation.

Asha Bhosle, the iconic voice of Bollywood, passed away at age 92 after being hospitalized in Mumbai with severe exhaustion and a chest infection, her family confirmed.Her son, Anand Bhosle, told reporters that his mother died on Sunday and that her last rites would be performed the following day at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.Over a career that stretched across nearly eight decades, Bhosle recorded more than 12,000 songs, pioneering cabaret and Western‑influenced styles that broadened the sonic palette of Indian cinema.India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow, noting that her "extraordinary musical journey" enriched the nation’s cultural heritage and will continue to inspire future generations.Born on 8 September 1933 into a musical family, she was the younger sister of the celebrated vocalist Lata Mangeshkar, often referred to as “India’s nightingale.” While comparisons were inevitable, Bhosle forged a distinct path, embracing genres from pop to folk.Her early years were marked by hardship, including a turbulent marriage at the age of 16, yet she rose to become one of Indian cinema’s most versatile singers, earning the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and receiving two Grammy nominations.Even in her later years, Bhosle remained artistically active, collaborating with the British virtual band Gorillaz on their album The Mountain, demonstrating her enduring global appeal.Beyond music, she pursued a passion for cuisine, establishing the Asha’s restaurant chain in Dubai and the United Kingdom, further cementing her status as a cultural entrepreneur.Agence France‑Presse and Associated Press contributed to this report.

Oppdal, a mountain village in central Norway, hosted its first interspecies council on a snowy morning at the Bjerkeløkkja conference centre. Thirty‑eight local participants each represented a different species – from a northern bat to a birch tree – and voiced the needs of the natural world in a structured decision‑making process.The council draws on the legacy of the Council of All Beings, a practice created in the 1980s by environmentalists John Seed and Joanna Macy. Phoebe Tickell, a scientist and “moral imagination” activist mentored by Macy, adapted the ritual into a governance methodology that expands representation beyond humans.Facilitators first identified the multispecies stakeholders in the region, then briefed human representatives – chosen either randomly or for expertise – on the perspectives they would embody. The session concluded with a manifesto of principles for human governance and an impact‑evaluation plan to track participants’ connection to nature six months later.Oppdal’s mayor, Elisabeth Hals, noted that the village’s population swells from 5,000 to over 30,000 in winter as tourists flock to private cabins (hytter). The municipality plans to add 1,000 new apartments by 2035 to promote year‑round tourism, a move that has sparked debate over land use, farming, and conservation.During the council, a birch “worried there’s too much of me,” while a rockfoil flower urged humans to “slow down and listen to where nature can tolerate more activity.” The River Driva lamented being treated as a mere resource, and a fox enthusiastically pointed at a wader, highlighting the emotional range the exercise seeks to capture.Proponents argue that such empathy‑building exercises are crucial as wildlife populations have fallen by roughly 70 % over the past 50 years. Tickell contends that “imperfect representation beats exclusion” and envisions interspecies councils becoming as routine as environmental impact assessments.Across the UK, 13 councils have recognised river rights since 2023, and a coalition of artists, ecologists, lawyers and policymakers is exploring similar biodiversity governance around the North Sea. In London, multispecies assemblies have already informed stewardship of the River Roding and land‑use consultations.Oppdal’s experiment aims to create “institutional trace” – genuine decision‑making power backed by robust methodology and longitudinal research – rather than a tokenistic green‑washing exercise. If successful, the model could be replicated internationally, giving non‑human nature a formal seat at the policy table.

Britain’s recent reversal of the on‑shore wind ban, announced by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, has set in motion a wave of proposals to install more than one hundred colossal turbines across the Cambrian Mountains of mid‑Wales. The Cambrians, a 500‑square‑mile stretch of moorland and high ground that remains the most extensive wilderness south of Scotland, could soon host turbines reaching 220–230 metres – roughly 50% taller than any existing on‑shore turbine in England and Wales and more than twice the height of Big Ben. Each turbine would sit on a 2,000‑tonne concrete foundation and require at least 100 tonnes of steel. The scheme also envisions over 200 km of new pylons to link the farms to the National Grid, alongside roads, repair bays and storage depots. Analysts note that the construction phase would generate a substantial carbon footprint, especially given the turbines’ relatively short operational life of 20–25 years. Environmental organisations, including the Wild Wales Trust and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, have rallied against the plans, warning that they would "degrade and industrialise huge areas of the uplands and valleys" and could encroach on Wales’s sole UNESCO biosphere reserve in the Dyfi valley. Local opposition is hampered by the region’s sparse population, but activists have been posting hand‑drawn notices on the Glaslyn uplands and highlighting the visual impact of proposed turbine clusters – for example, a hilltop site slated for 26 turbines that would dominate the skyline across the country, and a location dubbed “Artists Valley” that could be renamed after a row of 37 similar structures. Critics argue that Wales, which is moving toward renewable self‑sufficiency and already exports surplus power, does not need these installations for its own energy security. Instead, the turbines appear designed to feed the broader UK grid, echoing historic instances where Welsh resources were harnessed for the benefit of other regions, such as the 1960s water transfers to Liverpool. With the Cambrian Mountains lacking any national‑park protection – a status denied in the 1950s due to local farming opposition – the landscape remains vulnerable to large‑scale industrialisation. The proposed developments raise a fundamental question: should a politician’s ambition for renewable credentials outweigh the preservation of one of Britain’s most pristine natural areas?

In the 1970s and 80s, fewer than 250 mountain gorillas survived worldwide, prompting dire predictions of extinction. Decades of focused protection have lifted that number to over a thousand, and the trend continues upward.Recent patrols on the Democratic Republic of the Congo side of the Virunga range have documented an extraordinary event: two pairs of twin gorilla infants were born within a three‑month span. Twins are exceptionally uncommon in this species, representing less than 1% of all births, making the double occurrence a remarkable indicator of population health.Jacques Katutu, head of gorilla monitoring at Virunga, emphasized that the twin births “provide another vital indicator that dedicated conservation efforts… support the growth of the endangered mountain gorilla population within Virunga National Park.” Rangers suggest the thriving families are robust enough to meet the added demands of raising twins.Infant mountain gorillas face high mortality, often succumbing to infanticide, injury or disease. Yet the first twin pair, born in January, is reported to be alive and thriving, with troop members assisting the mother, Mafuko, in caring for her male infants.The achievements occur against a backdrop of extreme danger for park staff. More than 220 rangers have been killed protecting wildlife in the DRC over the past two decades, while rebel groups such as M23 continue to operate with impunity.Integral to this success are the Gorilla Doctors, a veterinary NGO whose interventions are credited with about half of the species’ population increase. Their teams trek daily through the dense forest, identifying each gorilla by name and providing medical care for injuries and disease in the isolated habitats of Virunga and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.Dr. Benard Ssebide, a leading Gorilla Doctor, guided the author through the gorilla family on Mount Muhabura, narrating each animal’s story as they foraged for thistles, leaves and wild blackberries.These twin births serve as a powerful reminder that, even amid global environmental challenges, concerted human effort can foster tangible recovery for one of the planet’s most iconic endangered species.

Argentina's lawmakers have given the green light to a bill championed by President Javier Milei that permits mining in sensitive glacier and permafrost regions. The move has sparked fierce criticism from environmentalists, who argue it jeopardizes vital water sources. The bill, which was already approved by the Senate in February, passed with 137 votes in favor, 111 against, and three abstentions in the Chamber of Deputies after a marathon 12-hour debate. This development is seen as a significant victory for Milei, who has been pushing for looser regulations to attract large-scale mining projects. Environmentalists have expressed deep concerns that the reforms will undermine protections for glaciers and permafrost, which are crucial for water supplies. Thousands of people demonstrated outside parliament, with some protesters clashing with police. Banners displayed slogans such as 'Water is more precious than gold!' and 'A glacier destroyed cannot be restored!' The bill allows for mining of metals like copper, lithium, and silver in the Andes mountains. Argentina is a major producer of lithium, a critical component for the global tech and green energy sectors. The central bank forecasts that mining exports could triple by 2030. Milei, who does not believe in man-made climate change, argues that the bill is necessary for economic growth. 'Environmentalists would rather see us starve than have anything touched,' he has stated. The reform gives provinces more power to decide which areas to protect and which to exploit economically. Environmental activist Flavia Broffoni countered that 'the science is clear' and that creating a 'sustainable mine' in a periglacial environment is not possible. With nearly 17,000 glaciers and rock glaciers in Argentina, concerns over glacial reserves shrinking due to climate change add urgency to the debate.

Argentina's congress has approved a bill promoted by President Javier Milei that authorizes mining in ecologically sensitive areas of glaciers and permafrost, sparking widespread environmental protests. The bill, which was already approved by the senate in February, will make it easier to mine for metals such as copper, lithium, and silver in frozen parts of the Andes mountains.The chamber of deputies approved the amendment with 137 votes in favor, 111 against, and three abstentions after nearly 12 hours of debate. Environmentalists argue that the legislative changes will weaken protections for crucial water sources, with thousands protesting outside parliament, holding banners with slogans such as “Water is more precious than gold!” and “A glacier destroyed cannot be restored!”Seven Greenpeace activists were arrested earlier in the day after scaling a statue outside parliament and unfurling a banner urging lawmakers “not to betray the Argentine people”. The passage of the amendment is a new coup for Milei, who pushed through looser labor laws in February despite repeated street protests.Environmental activists, such as Flavia Broffoni, argue that there is no possibility of creating a 'sustainable mine' in a periglacial environment. Argentina has nearly 17,000 glaciers or rock glaciers, with glacial reserves in the north-west shrinking by 17% in the last decade due to climate change.Milei, a free-market radical who does not believe in human-made climate change, says the bill is necessary to attract large-scale mining projects. The Central Bank of Argentina estimates that the country could triple its mining exports by 2030. Supporters argue that the bill will provide legal certainty and clear definitions, while critics, such as Enrique Viale, warn that it threatens the water supply for 70% of Argentinians.