Severe hailstorm causes widespread damage in Baoding, China
A severe hailstorm struck Baoding, Hebei Province, on May 5, 2025, covering streets with hailstones up to 2 cm (0.8 inches) in diameter. The storm caused significant agricultural losses.
I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.
Tornado outbreak causes damage in Portugal’s Alentejo region
Two F1 tornadoes and a waterspout caused structural damage across Portugal’s Alentejo region and nearby districts between May 2 and 3, 2025. Emergency crews were deployed to clear debris and restore utility services.
Floods and landslides claim 48 lives, damage nearly 60 000 homes in Ecuador since January
Severe floods and landslides have killed at least 48 people and affected more than 182 000 across Ecuador since January 1, causing widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and agriculture in 23 of the country’s 24 provinces.
Severe weather in Iran claims 9 lives, injures 86
At least nine people died and 86 were injured in Iran due to severe storms in early May 2025, with significant damage reported in Karaj and Tehran.
Wildfires burn over 2 500 ha (6 200 acres) on North Dakota tribal lands
Wildfires burned over 2 500 ha (6 200 acres) across North Dakota’s Turtle Mountain and Fort Berthold reservations in early May 2025, threatening homes. Coordinated efforts by state, tribal, and federal agencies saved most structures, with only one abandoned trailer lost.
First real-time observation of volcanic eruption on a mid-ocean ridge
Scientists aboard the Alvin submersible witnessed an active volcanic eruption at the Tica hydrothermal vent on April 29, 2025, along the East Pacific Rise. The event, which buried a vibrant ecosystem under fresh lava, marks the first confirmed real-time observation of such an event on a mid-ocean ridge.
Ancient rocks link Late Antique Little Ice Age to Roman Empire decline
Historians have long debated whether climate change contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. New geological evidence from Iceland supports that link, showing that a sudden surge of Greenlandic iceberg transport during the Late Antique Little Ice Age coincided with a period of instability, famine, and migration across Europe. The ice age is thought to have been triggered by volcanic ash from three massive eruptions, which blocked out sunlight and lowered global temperatures.
Unrest at dormant Uturuncu volcano driven by gas and fluid movement, not magma
A new study published in PNAS provides the most detailed view to date of the dormant Uturuncu volcano in southwestern Bolivia, revealing that its long-standing ground deformation and seismic unrest are driven by the movement of hot fluids and gases, not by magma ascent. Researchers conclude there is no immediate eruption risk, but confirm that a deep magmatic system remains active beneath the surface.
Flash floods in Jordan claim two lives, prompt evacuation of 1 700 in Petra
A Belgian mother and her son died in flash floods in Jordan’s Shoubak District on May 4, 2025, with their bodies recovered the following day. A total of 1 700 tourists were evacuated from the ancient city of Petra, with no casualties reported at the site.
Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks May 5–6, 2025
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower, caused by debris from Halley’s Comet, peaks on May 5–6, 2025. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere may see up to 50 meteors per hour under dark skies before dawn, while those in mid-northern latitudes may observe 10–20 meteors per hour.
