The unknown Indian

Death by nitrogen

We are all familiar with the perils of a runaway carbon cycle but there is a lesser known one that may be worse, the rise of reactive nitrogen to dangerous levels.

In the fight of its life

Brexit and rise of the far right across Europe, along with an assault on democracy threatens the continent’s identity as a liberal, inclusive place.

Spreading fear in the air

Miners of the Devil's Gold

Working and dying in the sulphur mines of East Java

Japan writes out its war crimes from history

The World War II ‘comfort women’ mainly from Korea have neither got the genuine apology they deserve nor is Japan ready to renegotiate a treaty for their care.

Making sense of the universe

Rohini Godbole talks about her experiences as a particle physicist, the discovery of the Higgs Boson, and the story of Indian women in science.

Innovator and teacher

ECG Sudarshan was one of India’s best known physicists and made seminal contributions, including V-A theory and the Glauber-Sudarshan P representation.

People of the nowhere land

In the black hole

India has four million drug addicts, one million hooked to heroin. One in five of the latter is a minor. The story of Arman, an 11-year-old who can’t do without his fix.

Of tarsiers, tourists and trees

In the remote north of Indonesia’s Sulawesi lives the tiny tarsier, among the most rare primates in the world, found mainly on this island, which is a Noah’s Ark of rare and endangered species.

Malaysia's magical moment

A historic election and a new government promises to usher in an era of greater freedoms and create a more inclusive national identity.

A plan for the bustard

The Great Indian Bustard is staring at extinction. Though scientists have suggested plans to save it government commitment is slow in coming.

Fear and hope in the age of AI

To some, it is ‘deadlier than North Korea’ and to others it is the Second Coming. But once past the hype it is clear artificial intelligence is here to stay and will have a huge influence on us.

Finding the bhadralok

Patrons of the arts, proud file pushers who disdain manual labour, they are the upper caste elite of Bengal now struggling to face up to their waning dominance.

The Mahua story

Modern times and an iconic brew.

The one who got away

How Harjit Masih survived the ISIS in Iraq and why his story rings true.