• Very bright fireball over central Finland, sonic boom reported

    A very bright fireball streaked across the sky over Finland around 18:06 UTC (20:06 local time) on Friday, December 22, 2017. The phenomenon was visible on the northernmost side of Lapp and southernmost coast of Finland. Experts said fireballs as bright and…

  • Thomas Fire grows to largest in California history

    At 273 400 acres (110 641 ha) on Saturday, December 23, 2017, the Thomas Fire has become the largest wildfire in the history of California. So far, it destroyed 1 063, damaged 280 and still threatens 18 000 structures. It is now 65% contained and the estimated…

  • How cosmic rays produce clouds and influence Earth’s climate

    A new study published in Nature Communications this week reveals how atmospheric ions, produced by the energetic cosmic rays raining down through the atmosphere, helps the growth and formation of cloud condensation nuclei – the seeds necessary for forming clouds in…

  • Bright fireball over Lake Michigan, Wisconsin

    A bright fireball lit up the night sky over Lake Michigan at 05:53 UTC on December 19, 2017 (23:53 CST, December 18). The event lasted several seconds. The American Meteor Organization (AMO) received 61 reports. The fireball was seen over Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio,…

  • Fireball recorded blasting above Sochi, Russia

    A bright meteor was captured streaking through the night sky over Sochi, Russia on Friday, December 15, 2017. Alexander Ivanov, head of the Kuban University laboratory of astrophysics, said the object was the size of a soccer ball, adding that it burned down 20 km…

  • Earthquake swarm under Skjaldbreidur volcano, Iceland

    An intense earthquake swarm is in progress at the southern end of Prestahnúkur volcanic system (Langjökull icecap) since early Saturday, December 9, 2017. More than 100 quakes were registered within 40 hours, with 4 above M3.0. There have not been…