On June 26, a fiery meteor streaked across the sky over Georgia and South Carolina before crashing through a McDonough homeowner’s roof, penetrating ductwork, insulation, ceiling, and floor to leave a cherry-tomato-sized crater—all with no injuries reported. University of Georgia geologist Scott Harris confirmed the meteorite formed approximately 4.56 billion years ago—making it around 20 million years older than Earth—and originated from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Scientists are studying the fragment, proposing to name it the "McDonough Meteorite," and stress the research’s value for planetary defense and understanding solar system history. 

On August 5, a devastating cloudburst triggered flash floods and landslides in Uttarkashi’s Dharali and Harsil regions. At least five lives were lost, with many more missing. In Operation Dharali and Zindagi, Indian Army, ITBP, SDRF, NDRF, and BRO have evacuated over 1,000 residents and tourists using 33+ helicopter sorties, airlifting 195 civilians to safety while delivering critical aid . Rescue operations face continued disruption due to heavy rains and washed-out roads, though a temporary aerial corridor and bridge construction are underway . The administration, now establishing relief camps and forming a rehabilitation committee, has announced ₹5 lakh aid for each bereaved and destroyed-home household, alongside essential supplies and long-term recovery planning. (PC: PTI)

Firefighters have contained France’s largest wildfire in at least 50 years, which scorched 16,000 hectares in the southern Aude department. The blaze, fueled by scorching heat and dry winds, killed a 65-year-old woman, injured several residents, and left 19 firefighters hurt. Over 1,300 firefighters remain on alert as a heatwave, with temperatures nearing 40°C, threatens to reignite the fire. The disaster has devastated farmland and livestock, with some farmers losing most of their flocks. Authorities warn full extinguishment could take weeks. Experts link such extreme fires to intensifying summer heatwaves driven by climate change. (PC: NDTV)

Eight people, including two children, died after a wall collapsed in Delhi’s Jaitpur area amid heavy overnight rain. The victims, mostly scrap sellers living in jhuggis near an old temple in Harinagar, were trapped when the wall suddenly gave way. All were rushed to Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS but succumbed to their injuries. The deceased include Shabibul, Rabibul, Muttu Ali, Rubina, Dolly, Hashibul, Rukhsana (6), and Hasina (7). Authorities have since evacuated the jhuggis to prevent further tragedies. The collapse occurred during intense rainfall on Raksha Bandhan, which caused widespread waterlogging and traffic chaos across Delhi. IMD issued a red alert, and the Yamuna neared warning levels.

The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) identified a glacial lake upstream of Kheer Ganga in satellite images from 2014, 2020, and twice in 2022, measuring roughly 0.82 hectares and perched around 5,200 meters altitude . The lake’s position and drainage suggest hydrological links to Dharali, feeding flash floods down Kheer Ganga . While this supports glaciologists’ hypothesis that a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) could have triggered the devastating mudslide, NIDM emphasized that confirmation requires high-resolution imaging, field surveys, and hydrological modeling. (PC: HT File)  

A fast-moving wildfire, dubbed the Canyon Fire, has forced mandatory evacuations for 2,700 residents northwest of Los Angeles, with warnings issued to 14,000 more. Igniting Thursday along the Ventura–Los Angeles county border, the blaze swelled from 30 to nearly 5,000 acres within hours. Officials say it is 25% contained, but extreme heat and dry conditions, with temperatures expected to hit 100°F, are hampering firefighting efforts. Santa Clarita is on high alert, and authorities urge residents to heed evacuation orders. The Canyon Fire is one of several blazes in California, where climate change is driving longer, more destructive wildfire seasons. No injuries reported. (PC: BBC)

ISRO has released before-and-after satellite images showing extensive damage caused by recent flash floods in Dharali village, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. Triggered by intense rainfall, the floods have led to massive soil erosion, destruction of agricultural land, and infrastructure damage, including washed-away roads and houses. The Indian space agency's high-resolution Cartosat-3 satellite captured clear visual evidence of the landscape transformation. These images are aiding disaster response and recovery efforts by state and national agencies. Authorities are conducting rescue operations, while environmentalists raise concerns over the increasing frequency of such disasters due to climate change and unchecked development. 

ISRO’s very high-resolution satellite imagery captured the dramatic aftermath of the devastating flash floods in Uttarkashi’s Dharali village. The images reveal vast changes in river pathways and show a 20-hectare area buried beneath sediment and debris, with many structures destroyed or submerged under mud and water . Initial assessments pointed to a cloudburst, but recent expert analyses now suggest a glacier collapse or glacial lake outburst as the more probable triggers. (PC: India Today)  

A Nepali labourer couple, Kali Devi and Vijay Singh—who had just left Harsil Valley for Bhatwari—made a heartbreaking final phone call with their son, who cried, “Papa, we will not survive,” moments before he went missing in the devastating Uttarkashi flash flood . The disaster, centered in Dharali village, was triggered on August 5 by a destructive cloudburst—or possibly a glacier collapse or glacial lake outburst—causing torrents that washed away roads, homes, an army camp, and a highway . Search and rescue operations by the Army, NDRF, SDRF, and ITBP continue amid mounting casualties and missing persons. (PC: PTI)

A sharp decline in blue whale vocalizations has alarmed scientists, who report a 40% drop linked to marine heatwaves. The heat disrupted key food sources like krill and anchovies, forcing whales to focus on survival rather than communication. The massive warm water patch known as "The Blob" is blamed for sparking toxic algae blooms and food collapse in the Pacific. Experts warn this eerie silence signals deeper ecological damage. “It’s like trying to sing while starving,” said oceanographer John Ryan. Scientists say the crisis reflects climate change's growing impact on oceans and may signal a looming global tipping point. (PC: X)