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.

  • Ionospheric disturbances from solar flares modeled as possible secondary triggers for large earthquakes

    ByTeo Blašković

    A team of scientists from Kyoto University has developed a capacitive-coupling model linking the ionosphere and Earth’s crust, showing that enhanced electron density during strong solar-flare activity could induce measurable electrostatic pressure inside fractured rock. The findings, published February 3, 2026, suggest space-weather disturbances may act as an additional stress factor when faults are critically loaded.

  • Fatalities, evacuations, and agricultural losses mount as Storm Marta strikes Portugal and Spain

    ByTeo Blašković

    Storm Marta swept across Portugal and Spain between February 6 and 8, 2026, killing at least two people and displacing more than 11 000 as torrential rain, snow, and winds up to 120 km/h (75 mph) caused extensive flooding and agricultural losses. It was the third major Atlantic storm in less than two weeks, following Leonardo and Kristin.

  • Impulsive X4.2 solar flare erupts from geoeffective Active Region 4366

    ByTeo Blašković

    An impulsive X4.2 solar flare erupted from geoeffective Active Region 4366 at 12:13 UTC on February 4, 2026. The flare originated from a magnetically complex beta-gamma-delta region that produced dozens of M- and 5 other X-class flares since February 1. Its location near the central solar disk raises the possibility of Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) this week.

  • Cascades snowpack remains below 50 percent following late January storms

    ByTeo Blašković

    Four atmospheric rivers affected the Pacific Northwest between January 27 and February 1, 2026, producing 150–300 mm (6–12 inches) of rain in the Olympic Mountains and 100–200 mm (4–8 inches) in the North Cascades. Snowfall reached up to 900 mm (36 inches) in high elevations near Mount Rainier, while snowpack remains below 50% of normal.

  • Strong M6.1 earthquake hits Kermadec Islands, New Zealand

    ByTeo Blašković

    A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 struck the Kermadec Islands region, New Zealand at 10:39 UTC on February 4, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 184.2 km (114 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.1 at a depth of 197 km (122 miles).

  • M5.9 earthquake hits Rakhine-Magway border region, Myanmar

    ByTeo Blašković

    A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.9 struck Myanmar at 15:34 UTC (22:04 LT) on February 3, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 62.7 km (39 miles). EMSC is reporting M5.9 at a depth of 55 km (34 miles). The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses.