I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
Volcanic smog (vog) is a visible haze comprised of gas and an aerosol of tiny particles and acidic droplets created when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and other gases emitted from a volcano chemically interact with sunlight and atmospheric oxygen, moisture, and dust. Called…
A major solar flare measuring X1.5 at its peak erupted on the Sun's NW limb — most likely from the newly-formed Active Region 2838 — on July 3, 2021, producing R3 – Strong radio blackout. The event started at 14:18, peaked at 14:29, and ended at 14:34 UTC….
At least 20 people are missing and two were found in a state of cardiac arrest after a large-scale mudslide hit Atami, a seaside resort town in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan at around 10:30 LT on July 3, 2021. Atami is about 100 km (62 miles) SW of Tokyo. The slide…
A moderately strong solar flare measuring M2.7 at its peak erupted from the newly-formed Active Region 2838 on July 3, 2021. The event started at 07:04 UTC, peaked at 07:17, and ended at 07:22. The position of this region does not favor Earth-directed coronal mass…
Tropical Storm "Elsa" strengthened into a hurricane at 12:30 UTC on July 2, 2021, 65 km (40 miles) W of Barbados, making it the first hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Elsa is the farthest east that a hurricane has formed this early in the…
A newly-discovered asteroid designated 2021 NA will fly past Earth at a distance of 0.17 LD / 0.00044 AU (65 820 km / 40 900 miles) on July 3, 2021. This is the 68th known asteroid to fly by Earth within 1 lunar distance since the start of the year. This object was…
Very heavy rain, strong winds, and intense hailstorms affecting parts of central Europe during the second half of June 2021 left more than 66 000 ha (163 090 acres) of crops damaged or destroyed. The figure doubled within just a few days and it still might rise as…
A new powerful paroxysmal episode started at Etna's Southeast Crater, late July 1, 2021, and lasted approximately 120 minutes. This was the 5th paroxysm since June 25 and the first since June 28. Strombolian activity at the Southeast Crater resumed at 22:40 UTC…
New activity/unrest was reported for 3 volcanoes from June 23 to 29, 2021. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 11 volcanoes. New activity/unrest: Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica | Sarychev Peak, Matua Island (Russia) | Suwanosejima, Ryukyu…
A second tornado in just 8 days hit Belgium on June 27, 2021, this time in the province of Luxembourg. The tornado hit the hamlet of Bernistrap in Houffalize where a square farmhouse-castle collapsed amid strong winds. While there were no injuries, its inhabitants…
