Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) discovered more than 500 towering hydrothermal chimneys on the seafloor off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, in an area known as the Endeavor Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Research on the…
A swirling sinkhole swallowed a huge chunk of land in the county of Kericho in Great Rift Valley, Kenya, on May 1, 2020, as heavy rains continue to pound the country. As of May 4, the death toll across the country reached 164, government officials confirmed….
Torrential rains affecting French Guiana from May 2, 2020, caused severe flooding and resulted in the evacuation of hundreds of residents in Saint-Laurent du Maroni. Much of the Camopi-Trois Sauts commune was almost entirely submerged. About 127 mm (5 inches) of…
Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds caused the Lake Albert to overflow in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo, on May 2, 2020, damaging or destroying hundreds of homes. Flooding affected the Djugu territory and the surrounding areas. Media reported…
The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) dubbed the "murder hornet"– the world's largest wasp with an appetite for honeybees– has been spotted in the U.S. for the first time, particularly in Washington state. Entomologists are now on a hunt to wipe…
A study by an international team of researchers found considerable variation in trends even among adjacent sites but an average decline of terrestrial insect abundance by ~9% per decade and an increase of freshwater insect abundance by ~11% per decade. This study…
Heavy rains battering much of Rwanda since May 1, 2020, triggered severe flooding and landslides, resulting in eight fatalities and hundreds of damaged homes and roads, the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MINEMA) reported on May 4. The affected areas are mostly…
A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.4 hit southern Puerto Rico at 11:13 UTC (07:13 LT) on May 2, 2020. The agency is reporting a depth of 9 km (5.6 miles). The quake occurred at Tallaboa, with extensive damage reported on the island, including…
Heavy rains triggered a large mudflow in Isfana, Kyrgyzstan on May 2, 2020, damaging homes, roads, and gardens. A state of emergency has been declared for the town, as well as other areas in the southern region. The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported major…
At least six people died and 5 000 were displaced as intense rains continue to flood parts of Uganda, local authorities confirmed on Sunday, May 3, 2020. In the western region, severe flooding affected parts of the Isingiro District from May 1, including the…
