• Mount Sinabung enters a period of heightened activity

    Indonesian Sinabung volcano entered a phase of increased activity several days ago. The volcano has reportedly generated frequent small to moderate pyroclastic flows accompanied with strong vertical explosions. The pyroclastic flows at the southeastern and eastern…

  • Russian metal giant fined for turning river red with pollution

    Norilsk Nickel from Russia, the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium, was fined over a spillage near the Nadhezda metallurgical factory. The spillage occurred in early September 2016 and turned the Daldykan river red. After the images showing the…

  • Lightning bolt sets a car on fire, Israel

    Intense thunderstorm, accompanied by heavy rainfall swept Eilat, Israel on October 27, 2016. Severe flooding forced the officials to shut down the roads as several weather-related incidents occurred. Luckily, no serious injuries or deaths were reported. The National…

  • Tornado hits Akita city, Japan

    An apparent tornado swept the Akita city in northern Japan on October 31, 2016. Several locals reported funnel-like winds which appeared as a tornado while other eyewitnesses describe a twister which appeared suddenly and out of nowhere near the city center. …

  • Rare tropical storm forms in the Mediterranean Sea

    A rare tropical storm – medicane – named Invest 90M, formed in the Mediterranean Sea on October 31, 2016. The phenomenon started as a low pressure system located east of Malta on October 29 and strengthened afterward. In a meteorological setting, a low-pressure…

  • Risky glacial lake near Mount Everest drained

    Because Himalayan glaciers are undergoing an incredibly fast melting process, to minimize the risk of devastating floods, Nepal has drained portion of a large glacial lake near the Mount Everest. According to researchers, the climate change has caused the glaciers…

  • Scientists discover why satellites black out over equator

    ESA's Swarm satellite trio has discovered why GPS navigation systems on low-orbiting satellites sometimes black out when they fly over the equator between Africa and South America. Swarm itself has experienced this anomaly numerous times before its scientists…

  • Thousands homeless after devastating quakes hit central Italy

    Another strong earthquake, the strongest in 36 years, hit central Italy on Sunday, October 30, 2016, and was followed by a series of dangerous aftershocks. Between 18:21 UTC on October 30 and 11:23 UTC on October 31, 63 aftershocks were reported, the strongest of…

  • More bursts of frigid air as Arctic polar vortex shifts

    A new research suggests that North America will experience more outbursts of frigid air in February and March as the wintertime Arctic stratospheric polar vortex continues its persistent shift toward the Eurasian continent. For parts of Europe and Asia, it would…