Earth

More in Earth

Rare partial lunar eclipse to paint Moon red over UK on 28 August

A partial lunar eclipse will turn the Moon red over UK skies in the early hours of 28 August, with maximum eclipse at 05:12 BST. The Moon's low position will create a striking illusion, making it appear larger. Best viewing conditions expected in central and eastern England and Wales.

5 min read

A red-coloured full Moon in partial lunar eclipse against a dark night sky

Hawk wildfire near Reno reaches 27% containment as evacuation orders ease

The Hawk fire near Reno, Nevada, reached 27% containment on Monday as evacuation orders eased for thousands of residents. The human-caused blaze has burned over 15,000 acres, destroyed 32 homes, and injured seven people. More than 900 firefighters are working to contain the rapidly spreading fire.

6 min read

Tornado strikes French village, injuring dozens and damaging hundreds of homes

A tornado struck the French village of Pomas on 24 August, injuring at least 26 people and damaging around 100 homes. Winds reached 117 km/h, and rescue teams searched for two missing people overnight as the broader storm affected thousands of homes across the region.

3 min read

Pedestrians walk past a toppled tree after a tornado struck Pomas, southwestern France on August 24, 2026.

Massive wildfire forces 90,000 to evacuate near Reno, Nevada

Nearly 90,000 residents near Reno, Nevada, face evacuation orders as the rapidly spreading Hawk Fire consumes thousands of acres with zero containment. Governor Lombardo declared a state of emergency and mobilized the National Guard as six people sustained injuries.

4 min read

Two people look over what appears to be a domestic fence. They are looking at where smoke is rising from hills in the background.

After 30 years, Welsh woman's well runs dry in record drought

A 72-year-old woman in rural Ceredigion has lost her water supply for the first time in 30 years as her private well runs dry during Wales's record drought. More than 100,000 people across Wales rely on private water supplies vulnerable to prolonged dry weather.

7 min read

Genista Tanner stands beside an outdoor wooden table covered with large clear plastic containers filled with water. The containers are arranged in a line and dominate the foreground of the image. Behind them is a garden setting with trees, plants and outdoor furniture. The photograph illustrates her reliance on stored bottled water after the loss of a private household water supply.

Ocean temperatures hit record high as El Niño strengthens toward historic peak

Global ocean temperatures have hit a record 21.1°C as El Niño intensifies toward what scientists warn could be the strongest event in centuries, compounding decades of human-caused warming.

6 min read

The Sun sets over an ocean. The sky is dark red and the silhouette of a ship sailing across the ocean in front of the Sun.

From Chemical Industry Lawyer to PFAS Prosecutor: How One Lawyer Turned Against Her Former Employers

Environmental lawyer Hélène Duguy grew up near France's Chemical Valley and now leads legal action against the companies she once advised, pursuing landmark cases over PFAS contamination in France and Belgium.

7 min read

Duguy stands by a rusted wall and fence near a chemical plant

Scotland's fire chief demands stronger wildfire prevention strategy to save lives

Scotland's fire chief has called for a more formal, prevention-focused approach to wildfire management following a five-week blaze in the Cairngorms that burned 10 square miles. The incident prompted a major emergency response and a £3m recovery fund.

5 min read

A person wearing a cap, face covering and a protective jacket sprays water on to flames burning across an area of moorland

Unsettled weather brings rain, thunderstorms and flooding risk this week

Rain and thunderstorms return this week with a risk of localised flooding, particularly in southern England and Wales from Wednesday onwards. Temperatures will briefly rise to near 30C, but substantial additional rainfall will be needed to ease drought conditions.

4 min read

A man and a woman walk through torrential rain while holding umbrellas

Welsh County Ranked Among World's Worst for Wildfire Carbon Emissions After July Blazes

Torfaen in Wales ranked fourth globally for wildfire carbon emissions in July 2026 following major fires near Blaenavon, with smoke detected 30 miles away in Cardiff and health concerns raised for vulnerable populations.

4 min read

Smoke from a wildfire is blowing across a blackened mountainside with a few trees in the foreground which haven't been burnt.

Barnsley Council to Review and Likely Withdraw 2019 Climate Emergency Declaration

Barnsley Council plans to withdraw its 2019 climate emergency declaration and net-zero targets, redirecting resources to frontline services. The review will assess programmes against resident benefit and financial value.

3 min read

Barnsley Town Hall, a large, light-colored building constructed in a classical architectural style.

Belfast Garden Group Transforms Community Space Into Award-Winning Haven

Annadale Community Centre's volunteer gardening group has transformed a bare patch into a thriving community space, earning recognition as a finalist in the BBC Make a Difference Awards. Members report improved wellbeing and social connection through weekly gardening sessions.

5 min read