On October 15, a powerful dust storm originating from the Sahara Desert crossed the Mediterranean Sea, affecting multiple regions in Spain. Skies turned orange in cities including Madrid and Granada, with PM10 concentrations exceeding 500 micrograms per cubic meter in several areas—10 times the EU safety threshold. The orange dust cloud not only altered regional…

At the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in 2025, the endangered status of Arctic seals took center stage: The hooded seal was upgraded from “Vulnerable” to ‘Endangered’ due to melting sea ice, while the bearded seal and harp seal shifted from “Least Concern” to “Near Threatened.” This assessment is based on scientific evidence…

The China Scenic and Historic Interest Areas Association showcased achievements in World Heritage conservation at a side event in Abu Dhabi, with sites like Huanglong and Jingbo Lake sharing experiences in community co-management. As a member of the IUCN Green List, Huangshan’s ecological conservation model has been incorporated into the global case repository, advancing the…

On October 9, Ukrainian forces destroyed the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline during their retreat, causing a massive leak of liquid ammonia. The escaping ammonia formed a white cloud of gas. While no casualties were reported, the incident may cause long-term contamination of surrounding soil and water sources.

A major public health incident erupted at Devaraha Baba Medical College in Deoriya, Uttar Pradesh, India: Cleaners discovered a highly decomposed male corpse in a water tower that had supplied drinking water to the entire campus—including students, faculty, and outpatient clinic patients—for nearly ten days. During this period, some individuals experienced gastrointestinal discomfort, but the…

The Fitz Roy and Las Vueltas rivers in El Chaltén, Patagonia, have been continuously discharging untreated sewage due to prolonged malfunctions at wastewater treatment plants. This has led to the detection of multidrug-resistant E. coli in the water. Among 27 bacterial strains, five are resistant to three classes of commonly used antibiotics, potentially triggering a…

Despite September marking the onset of autumn, wildfires persist across multiple regions of the UK due to summer drought and high temperatures. By mid-September, fire services in England and Wales had responded to 380 wildfires, with over 24,000 hectares burned, making this one of the worst years for wildfires in the country’s history. The UK…

Following an August recall, the U.S. FDA announced another recall on September 22 of 85,000 bags of frozen shrimp sold at supermarkets across 31 states, including Walmart and Kroger. Testing revealed traces of radioactive cesium-137 in some products—though below regulatory limits, it poses long-term health risks. The contamination source points to Indonesia’s BMS Foods factory,…

The World Meteorological Organization released a report stating that Earth’s ozone layer is recovering at an “unprecedented rate in history.” The Antarctic ozone hole shrank to its smallest size since 2020 in 2024 and is projected to return to 1980 levels by 2066. This progress stems from the global regulation of ozone-depleting substances like CFCs…

Delhi’s toxic air has caused a black crust to form on the walls of the Red Fort, a historic site from the Mughal era. PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter react chemically with the red sandstone, leading to blistering and peeling of the walls. Research indicates that black deposits on the red sandstone surface have reached…