In his small Freetown workshop, engineering student James Samba tinkered with batteries and electrical parts he hoped could help clean up Sierra Leone's polluting public transport system. - 'Good for business, environment' - Samba first ventured into engineering when he built an electric wheelchair for his uncle, who had long struggled to access public transport.

University of Birmingham researchers, collaborating with Chinese and German scientists, have developed an AI-powered method to detect harmful chemical combinations in rivers. Using water fleas (Daphnia) as bio-indicators, the team analyzed water samples from China's Chaobai River system.

India's ISRO and Europe's ESA have joined forces to boost human space exploration. The agreement covers astronaut training, joint research, and experiments on the International Space Station, including participation in the Axiom-4 mission. With India's own space station, BAS, on the horizon, the partnership aims to enhance interoperability between platforms.

The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), United States, released an updated version of the World magnetic model (WMM2025), forecasting shifts in Earth's magnetic field over the next five years. This model, which will remain valid until 2029, tracks the gradual movement of the magnetic north pole toward Russia. It also introduces a high-resolution update to ensure greater accuracy for navigation systems worldwide.

Scientists found 27 new species in Peru's Amazon rainforest. The expedition happened in 2022. New species include an amphibious mouse and a dwarf squirrel. Researchers also found 48 possible new species. The team recorded 2,046 species in total. Some of these species are endangered. Protecting the rainforest is crucial for these species' survival.

Five asteroids are approaching Earth in the coming days, with the largest, the airplane-sized 2024 XN1, passing by on December 24th at a safe distance of over 4.4 million miles. Several smaller asteroids will also make closer passes before then, all monitored by NASA's Asteroid Watch. None of the asteroids pose a threat to Earth.

NASA scientists have discovered a tilted black hole in galaxy NGC 5084, a finding made possible by a new image analysis technique called SAUNAS. This black hole, whose unusual orientation was hidden in old data, is surrounded by four plumes of hot gas, a rare phenomenon.

Nasa's James Webb and Chandra observatories have unveiled a stunning image of star cluster NGC 602, resembling a cosmic wreath. Located 200,000 light-years away, the cluster's ring of dust and gas, illuminated by young, massive stars emitting X-rays, offers insights into the early universe due to its low heavy element content.

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake devastated Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, leaving it without water and causing widespread damage. At least nine deaths were confirmed, with the number expected to rise as rescue efforts continue for those trapped in collapsed buildings. Hundreds are injured, and communication remains limited. Aid is being mobilized as the country grapples with the aftermath.

Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong set a new world record for the longest spacewalk, spending over nine hours outside the Tiangong space station. This surpassed the previous record held by US astronauts. The Shenzhou-19 crew, including Wang Haozhe, utilized robotic arms and ground control support.

International environmental negotiations are facing significant setbacks. Recent UN-sponsored talks on climate change, plastic pollution, biodiversity loss, and desertification have yielded limited results, raising concerns about the effectiveness of multilateral environmentalism. Experts cite various challenges, including the consensus-based decision-making process, influence of the fossil fuel industry, geopolitical shifts, and the sheer scale of the problems.

Cyclone Chido, having already caused fatalities in Mayotte, made landfall in Mozambique near Pemba with intense winds and heavy rainfall. Communication with Pemba has been lost, but reports indicate significant damage to homes, schools, and health facilities. Aid organizations are working with the government to provide essential services.

Six critically endangered Mekong giant catfish, weighing up to 287 pounds each, were recently discovered and released back into the Mekong River Basin. This unprecedented event offers hope for the species' revival, as conservationists gain crucial information about their ecology and migrations through tagging.

Ecologist Madhav Gadgil warns Western Ghats deterioration has reached a critical point, with landslides increasing tenfold. He blames continued mining and construction, despite his 2011 report recommending stronger ecological protections. Gadgil criticizes the subsequent Kasturirangan report for ignoring local communities and urges the government to implement his original recommendations.

France on Thursday urged the United Nations top court to clarify international law relating to the fight against climate change, saying judges had a unique opportunity to provide a clear legal framework. France is convinced that these advisory proceedings provide a unique opportunity for the court to contribute to identifying and clarifying international law in regard to the fight against climate change, said Diego Colas, the country's representative.

A long-abandoned Papua New Guinea mine once operated by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto poses environmental and safety concerns for nearby communities, who live under the threat of landslides, a new report shows. Australia's Human Rights Law Centre, which helped organise legal action against Rio Tinto, said communities continued to live with the devastating impacts of the mine.