Shubanshu Shukla healthy, on a medical routine to restore baseline health

England saw a shocking 60% spike in serious water pollution incidents last year, marking the worst record ever for water company-related contamination. It’s a glaring sign that environmental safeguards are failing—or being ignored.

Editor’s Note: Clean water isn’t just a basic need—it’s a measure of how well we’re protecting our environment. This surge in pollution suggests systemic neglect, whether from aging infrastructure, underfunding, or lax oversight. For communities downstream, it’s a health risk; for the rest of us, it’s a wake-up call that regulations might be toothless.

Grab your blankets and find a dark spot—the Perseid meteor shower is putting on its annual show, with peak nights on August 12-13. You could catch 50-75 shooting stars per hour if you’re lucky, though city dwellers might need to escape light pollution for the best view. The cosmic light show comes from Earth plowing through debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. UK viewers might battle clouds, but elsewhere, it’s a prime chance to marvel at the universe’s fireworks.

Editor’s Note: Meteor showers like the Perseids are one of the easiest ways to feel connected to the cosmos—no telescope required. Beyond the "oohs" and "aahs," events like this remind us of Earth’s place in a messy, beautiful solar system. Plus, in a world glued to screens, it’s a rare excuse to just look up and wander outside after dark.

On August 2, 2027, a rare and breathtaking total solar eclipse—nicknamed the "Great North African Eclipse"—will sweep across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, casting some areas into complete darkness for over six minutes. This is a big deal because eclipses with such long periods of totality are incredibly uncommon, happening maybe once every 100 years. If you’re in the right place, you’ll witness a stunning, almost surreal daytime nightfall.

Editor’s Note: Solar eclipses are always awe-inspiring, but this one’s extra special. Six minutes of totality is unusually long—most last just a couple of minutes—making it a must-see for skywatchers. It’s also a reminder of how small we are in the grand scheme of things, and how cool it is that we can predict these cosmic events down to the second. If you’re anywhere near the path, start planning now; you won’t get another chance like this in your lifetime.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pushing back deadlines for cleaning up toxic coal ash landfills, a move that could leave communities near these sites exposed to harmful pollutants for longer. Coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal, contains dangerous heavy metals like arsenic and lead, which can seep into groundwater and pose serious health risks. The delay has sparked criticism from environmental groups, who argue it prioritizes industry convenience over public safety.

Editor’s Note: Coal ash is nasty stuff—linked to cancer, neurological damage, and other serious health problems—and many of these landfills are poorly contained. The EPA’s decision to slow-walk cleanups means nearby residents, often in low-income or marginalized communities, will keep living with these risks. It’s a classic case of bureaucracy favoring industry timelines over urgent public health needs, and it’s drawing fire from advocates who say the government isn’t moving fast enough to protect people.

Japan was all set to tap into a $26 billion underwater treasure trove of cobalt and nickel near Minami-Tori-shima—key metals for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. But now, a breakthrough in battery tech might make that whole plan obsolete. Scientists have created a new type of battery cathode using cheap, abundant materials (disordered rock-salt particles) that don’t rely on these rare metals. If this innovation takes off, Japan’s deep-sea mining project could end up being a costly relic before it even gets started.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about Japan losing out on a potential payday—it’s a sign of how fast clean energy tech is evolving. Mining the ocean floor has huge environmental risks, so if we can skip it altogether with better batteries, that’s a win for sustainability. But it also shows how shaky the economics of resource extraction can be when science moves faster than digging machines.