Feature Article

For long, widely divergent views (based on isolated pieces of historical evidence or broad geological evolution of the subcontinent, notably the rise of the Himalayas in mid-late Miocene), had prevailed regarding origin and antiquity of the Thar Desert. Studies of the past few decades have since provided a wealth of new information on landform styles, evolutionary processes and palaeoclimate history with chronometric and isotopic constraints. Salt lakes, dunes and calcrete-bearing alluvial aggradations have been the focus of interest.

Nuclear India was conceived before independent India, and has undergone similar ups and downs in its development. Multiple conflicting opinions, controversies and secrecy have been its constant companions. The end result is that the common citizens of the country are not sure if nuclear power is good or bad for them. This article is an effort to collate different opinions and facts on the nuclear issue from the point of view of electrical energy production.

Water balance is a useful hydrologic tool. Recent literature has seen some studies on India’s water budget, which show that evapotranspiration estimate for India is much lower than what may be expected given the India’s climate and land use. This note attempts to find an answer to this puzzle and suggests how it can be resolved.

It is one year since the great eastern Japan earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster ravaged Japan. How is the country coping? Shriya Mohan travels to Tokyo and Fukushima to find out. My first impression of Japan, after landing at the Haneda international airport in the wee hours of the morning, was the sight of hundreds of people wearing white masks that stretched from ear to ear, walking briskly past me. It triggered a question: “radiation?”.

One impact of Japan's nuclear crisis is a dim but definite echo of Chernobyl, says Jim Smith — decades of caesium-137.