Environment

August disguised as fall: Thunderstorms, extreme heatwave expected as Israel nears end of summer

The unusual forecast follows heavy rainfall in eastern Israel on Saturday, when large amounts of rain fell within a short period, causing flooding and flash floods.

People walk in the rain in Jerusalem, August 15, 2026.
A wildfire burns in a canyon near Asomatos village on the island of Crete, Greece, July 30, 2026.

Israeli arrested for allegedly lighting barbecue at rented villa, sparking wildfire in Crete

A man cries as he embraces a rescue worker in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Cali, Colombia, August 13, 2026.

Race to reach trapped survivor offers hope in Colombia quake zone

A satellite image shows Qeshm Island following suspected oil spills at sea, off the coast of Iran, August 10, 2026.

Two slicks appear in Gulf as huge oil spill off Oman threatens disaster


Lebanese firefighters accuse Israel of intentionally causing fires during strikes - report

“Most of our missions are now related to fires,” Hussein Fakih, the head of the civil defense in the Nabatiya region, told the Guardian. “There are enormous areas of woodland that have burned."

Explosion of infrastructure in southern Lebanon, as seen from the Israeli side. August 10, 2026.

Arson suspect in court as wildfires rage around Spokane, Washington

The suspect is accused of starting one of the three fires in Washington state that have blackened more than 10,000 acres, destroyed over 700 hours, and forced 64,000 residents to evacuate.

Pink tape surrounds an area near the starting point of the Old Trails Fire after authorities arrested a man accused of deliberately starting one of three fires, in Spokane, Washington, US, August 4, 2026.

Record heatwave expected to hit Israel this weekend with potential 47°C in Sea of Galilee region

Extreme heat is forecast for the southern Golan Heights, the northern valleys, the Lower Galilee, the Kinneret Valley, the Dead Sea coast, the Jordan Valley, the Arava, the Judean Desert, and Negev.

Pigeons fly in front of the sun as it rises over Kuwait City on August 23, 2025.

New monkey species, orange-lipped Likweli monkey, known as 'branch shaker,' identified in DRC

An FAU statement described the monkey as “draped in glossy black fur with cape-like shoulders, a long sweeping tail and a vivid orange-cream patch around the mouth and nose.”

Two 'Likweli' monkeys of a newly-identified species of Colobus monkey, discovered in Lomami National Park, sit on a tree branch, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in this undated handout image.

Living near green spaces can reduce long-term stress during pregnancy, Israeli-led study finds

Bar-Ilan University researchers found greener neighborhoods were linked to lower stress hormone levels in pregnant women, highlighting the health benefits of residential green spaces.

A pregnant woman is seen holding her stomach in front of foliage (illustrative)

US government reverses longstanding endangered species regulation, opens habitats to development

Environmentalists, such as Earthjustice attorney Kristen Boyles, responded negatively to the changes, challenging the new legislation's legality.

An American bald eagle sits in a tree adjacent to Mill Pond on August 15, 2018 in Centerport, New York; Illustrative.

Red Dot winner Yanice Yang pioneers AI-driven health technology through innovative research

Red Dot laureate Yanice Yang is leveraging AI-driven research and design to create new solutions for health monitoring, air quality awareness and human-computer interaction.

AI researcher and designer Yanice Yang showcases Breezy, an innovative technology bridging artificial intelligence, design, and public health.

European data record over 10,000 excess deaths during record-breaking heatwave

The vast majority - more than 9,000 - were among people aged 65 and above, according to data published by EuroMOMO, a network backed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and WHO.

Smoke billows from a wildfire that has been ravaging mountain vegetation for several days, amid a heatwave affecting a large part of the country, at sunset near Die in the Drome department, France, July 9, 2026.

Breathing Data: How environmental data is rewriting public health in Israel

Ben-Gurion University’s Prof. Lena Novack turns pollution, climate, and even drinking water into large-scale health data that is shaping national policy.

Prof. Lena Novack at Soroka Medical Center

At least 14 killed in India, Bangladesh as heavy rainfall wreaks havoc across South Asia

Rains also triggered landslides on the expressway connecting Mumbai with Pune, forcing its closure and disrupting traffic between the two cities.

A worker clears fallen trees after heavy rainfall in Mumbai, India, July 5, 2026.