Canada's record 2023 wildfire season emitted so much carbon into the atmosphere that it put the country on par with the annual fossil fuel emissions of India, a new study finds.
Why it matters: The fires, which burned 4% of the nation's vast forest area, demonstrated the effects that extreme heat and drought have on the boreal forests that ring the Arctic — greatly increasing their tendency to burn.
The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily grounded SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets on Wednesday after a booster failed to land upright and exploded following the successful launch of Starlink satellites.
Why it matters: The grounding pending the outcome of an investigation into Wednesday's incident comes as SpaceX prepares for its Polaris Dawn mission featuring four private astronauts who are set to attempt the first-ever space walk by private citizens.
A relatively brief but intense heat wave peaks Wednesday from the Ohio Valley, Tennessee Valley eastward into the New York to Washington corridor.
Threat level: Heat advisories and warnings are in effect for 55 million people in at least 10 states as temperatures soar into the low 100s°F, and heat indices climb to dangerous levels as high as 115°F.
Why it matters: The reduced activity highlights the challenge of long-term forecasting, even as short-term forecasts indicate things will soon kick back up.
