Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred made landfall on March 8, 2025, on the Queensland coast, bringing heavy rain, severe flooding, and strong winds that caused widespread damage. The landfall coincided with one of the highest tides of the year, leading to severe beach erosion along some of the region’s most popular coastal areas.
A new study by researchers at the University of Tsukuba examined the role of solar heat in earthquake activity. By analyzing seasonal variations in seismicity, correlations between solar activity and earthquakes, and the influence of atmospheric temperature on earthquake predictability, the study provides new insights into how solar-driven thermal effects may contribute to stress changes in the Earth’s lithosphere.
Argentina has declared three days of mourning after extreme rainfall and severe flooding resulted in the deaths of 16 people and 2 children missing in the coastal city of Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, on March 7, 2025.
Scientists in Australia have identified what is now the world’s oldest known impact crater, a 3.5-billion-year-old geological structure that could reshape our understanding of Earth’s early history.
The uncrewed SpaceX Starship exploded mid-flight on Thursday, March 6, 2025, after lifting off from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas at 17:30 CST (23:30 UTC). The Super Heavy booster successfully executed a return and mid-air catch, but the Starship upper stage was lost in a spectacular explosion, causing temporary air traffic disruptions.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to make landfall between the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, southeast Queensland, late Thursday, March 6, or early Friday, March 7, 2025 (LT). Alfred will be the first cyclone to hit this part of Queensland since Wanda in 1974, bringing destructive winds and the risk of severe flooding.
A massive forest fire has burned approximately 1 400 ha (3 460 acres) in Akasaki Town, Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, since it broke out on February 26, 2025. This is now the largest wildfire in modern Japan history, surpassing the previous record of 1 030 ha (2 545 acres) set in Kushiro, Hokkaido, in 1992.
Two studies published in Nature Communications explore and provide insights into efficient planetary defense strategies. These studies came out during the period when 2024 YR4 made headlines with its potential for impact in 2032. The results provide valuable insights into how to create better planetary defense procedures based on the behavior of asteroid Dimorphos ejecta produced by NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission.
Nearly a month after satellites detected massive methane plumes spewing from Ethiopia’s Mount Fentale on January 31, 2025, new data shows emissions have declined since February 9—yet ongoing seismic unrest, including a magnitude 6.0 earthquake on February 14, keeps scientists and locals on high alert.
Schools in Santorini, Ios, Anafi, and Amorgos will remain closed at least until February 21, 2025, as the Greek government prepares for another meeting to assess seismic risks in the Aegean Sea near Santorini. Over 1 300 earthquakes were recorded with a magnitude above 3.0 in the sea area near Anydros since the beginning of the month, with the strongest reaching M5.3. The government also announced plans to build an emergency escape port in Santorini in addition to the new port under development.
