Malavika Vyawahare
Malavika Vyawahare tells science and environment stories using words, photos and multimedia. She studied environmental journalism at Columbia University and is based in Delhi.
Articles by Malavika Vyawahare
Electric vehicles in India: It is time to step on the gas
UPDATED ON SEP 14, 2018 01:27 PM IST
The government has an important role in creating a market for electric vehicles and shaping an industrial policy that encourages automakers to align their production with the targets set by the government
India needs transparent industrial pollution data, regulation reforms
Hindustan Times | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON AUG 21, 2018 02:21 PM IST
Though pollution regulators track emissions from industries, a lack of confidence in the data, and incomplete information, prevents it from being put to its best use: ensuring industries comply with standards and lowering pollution levels.
State apathy continues to choke Singrauli
Hindustan Times, Singrauli/Sonbhadra | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON AUG 20, 2018 03:53 PM IST
Declared as ‘critically polluted’ by the Centre in 2009, a little has been done to address the endemic pollution affecting lives for over nine years.
Nasa’s Parker Solar Probe takes off for tryst with the sun
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON AUG 12, 2018 08:46 PM IST
The probe launched aboard the Delta IV-Heavy rocket will, over the next seven years, come within 6.16 million kms (3.83 mn miles) of the sun, the closest a spacecraft has ever gotten to the star
US jury orders Monsanto to pay $289 million to cancer patient over weedkiller
UPDATED ON AUG 12, 2018 07:12 AM IST
The ruling is likely to have far reaching ramifications in other parts of the world including India, where glyphosate-based weedkillers are widely used.
NASA Solar Probe: Possibilities for discoveries are off the charts, says Kolkata scientist at US space agency
Hindustan Times | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON AUG 10, 2018 01:52 PM IST
NASA’S Madhulika Guhathakurta speaks to HT about how the mission that will “touch” the sun could revolutionise our understanding of our favourite star.
Set for red-hot voyage to Sun: All you need to know about NASA’s Parker Solar Probe
UPDATED ON AUG 10, 2018 01:52 PM IST
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will be the first spacecraft to “touch” the sun
Nasa to launch $1.5 billion spacecraft to ‘touch’ the sun
Hindustan Times | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON AUG 10, 2018 01:53 PM IST
The unmanned probe, over five decades in the making, will last nearly seven years and pass through the Sun’s corona 24 times.
El Nino looms over normal monsoon
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON AUG 04, 2018 07:02 AM IST
Rains in August and September will have to be better than expected for the monsoon this year to be considered normal
Skymet says monsoon will be below normal
New Delhi, Hindustan Times | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON AUG 02, 2018 08:51 AM IST
Deficient rain in India, the world’s second-biggest producer of rice, wheat and sugar and top grower of cotton, can lead to lower crop output and spur imports of commodities like edible oils, pulses and sugar.
Scientists discover new shape called scutoid after studying human cells
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 31, 2018 07:04 AM IST
The shape scutoid has five sides on one end and six on the other and a triangular surface on one of its longer edges.
Studying earthquakes in Himalayas, effects in Gangetic plains should be priority: Top woman seismologist
HT Correspondent, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 27, 2018 09:17 PM IST
Kusala Rajendran, professor at the Indian Institute of Science’s Centre for Earth Sciences, Bangalore, became the first recipient of the National Award for Woman Scientist, instituted by the earth sciences ministry on Friday.
Lunar eclipse: Astronomers dispel superstition about eating during the eclipse
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 26, 2018 09:30 AM IST
Astronomical Society of India has invited those defying the belief during the 6 hour, 17 minute, 18 second long eclipse starting at 10:44 pm on July 27 -- the longest lunar eclipse this century -- to post photographs on social media with the hashtag: #EclipseEating.
‘Meghalayan Age’ makes the state a part of geologic history
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 18, 2018 09:00 PM IST
Earth’s recorded history is divided into eon, era, period, epoch and age, with the age being the smallest unit of geologic time.
Delhi pollution: Fine dust killed 15,000 prematurely in 2016, says study
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 13, 2018 07:52 AM IST
Apart from the deaths in Delhi, the study also showed that Mumbai, which was one of five megacities considered from India, reported the fourth highest number of deaths among 12 megacities.
West coast, parts of central India put on red alert for heavy rain: IMD
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 11, 2018 07:04 AM IST
Goa, Gujarat and West Madhya Pradesh are on high alert, IMD said.
India’s perfume tree agarwood a step away from extinction
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 08, 2018 08:38 AM IST
The Aquilaria malaccensis tree, which produces one of the world’s most valued woods, moved from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘critically endangered’ as logging and deforestation caused population to decline by more than 80% over the past 150 years, the IUCN said.
Wildlife board recommends using Section 144 during animal emergencies
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 08, 2018 08:28 AM IST
The Union ministry is expected to issue advisories to the state governments. The District Magistrate (DM) is empowered to enforce section 144, that prohibits the gathering of more than four people.
As Earth warms up, expect intense, extreme rain leading to more flash floods
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 06, 2018 08:16 AM IST
Short bursts of extreme precipitation do not reduce water stress or help recharge the water table. Instead, they often lead to flash floods.
India may formulate standards for pharma industry’s antibiotic residue
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 05, 2018 11:16 PM IST
The Central Pollution Control Board was tasked with framing the standards that remain to be approved by the environment ministry.
A disaster in the making: How rising temperatures will affect India
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 05, 2018 12:17 PM IST
The past decade has been the warmest since 1901 in India. Effects of rising temperatures will manifest in frequent and intense heat waves that will impact lives and livelihoods.
ISRO conducts first escape test for India’s manned mision to space
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 05, 2018 10:46 PM IST
The crew escape system is an emergency escape measure designed to quickly pull the crew module along with the astronauts to a safe distance from the launch vehicle in the event of a launch abort.
Cabinet clears DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2018
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
PUBLISHED ON JUL 05, 2018 12:03 AM IST
The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2018, will help in solving crimes and in tracing missing people, say supporters.
Lightning strikes kill more than floods, cyclones; cities under increasing threat
New Delhi, Hindustan Times | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 04, 2018 08:18 AM IST
The average number of people who died of lightning strikes every year between 2006-2015 was about 50% higher than the decade before. Climate change is leading to extreme weather and lightning is getting more frequent and intense.
Monsoon deficit may get worse, cautions Met dept
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUL 02, 2018 10:47 PM IST
The poor showing in June, sparked fears that if July rains don’t make up for the deficit India could be grappling with a below normal monsoon this year.
Despite flak, Centre firm on forest policy
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
PUBLISHED ON JUN 28, 2018 10:45 PM IST
As per official data, the environment ministry rejected only 7% of the proposals for forest land diversion it received in 2016.
Water scarcity, climate change will lower living standards in India: World Bank report
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUN 28, 2018 07:28 AM IST
Overall 600 million Indians will be moderately or severely affected by changes in temperature and rainfall, the report said.
Environment ministry setting up expert group to look at air pollution warning system
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUN 25, 2018 11:33 PM IST
The ministry is gearing up for a spike in air pollution levels during winters that impacts Delhi-NCR and the northern plains.
Government backs campaign against animal sacrifice ahead of Bakrid
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare
UPDATED ON JUN 24, 2018 10:41 AM IST
There is no blanket ban on animal sacrifice in India. Under provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Rules and food safety standards, animals must be slaughtered at registered abattoirs and follow certain guidelines, but in the case of most ritualistic animal sacrifices, these are not followed.
Delhi to receive monsoon rains around June 29, but suffer intense heat till then
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By Malavika Vyawahare and Zia Haq
UPDATED ON JUN 24, 2018 09:38 AM IST
Heat wave conditions are expected to continue for a few more days until pre-monsoon showers hit the city on Wednesday.