Best science pictures of the week at a glance
The best science pictures of the week highlight breathtaking sights from Earth and space. They feature an interstellar comet, fiery wildfires, glowing marine animals, and mysterious caterpillars.
Record warm seas feature in the best science pictures of the week
Britain’s seas recorded their warmest start to the year ever. Average temperatures from January to July were 0.2°C higher than any year since the 1980s. The unusual warmth has brought bluefin tuna and salps to UK waters. Salps are glowing, jelly-like animals that rarely appear so far north. Experts link these changes to the growing effects of climate change on marine life.
An interstellar comet races through the Solar System
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured the clearest image yet of comet 3I/Atlas, a rare interstellar visitor. The comet races through space at 130,000 miles (209,000 km) per hour, the fastest ever recorded. Astronomer David Jewitt compared spotting it to “glimpsing a bullet for a fraction of a second.” Its origin remains a mystery.
Hairy caterpillars and their mysterious cycles
Every ten years, Western tent caterpillars swarm across British Columbia, Canada, then vanish without a trace. Professor Judith Myers has studied them for five decades. Her research shows that a species-specific virus drives their population cycles. Despite warming conditions, these caterpillars show surprising resilience to climate change.
Europe faces devastating wildfires
Southern Europe has endured record heatwaves, with parts of Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy reaching 40°C (104°F). The scorching temperatures sparked dozens of wildfires. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes. Scientists warn climate change is creating longer and more intense fire seasons. Europe’s average temperature has risen twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s.
The Perseid meteor shower lights up the night sky
The Perseid meteor shower gave skywatchers across the northern hemisphere a dazzling show. The meteors are dust particles from comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun every 133 years. Each August, Earth crosses the comet’s debris trail, creating one of the brightest and most reliable meteor showers.
