Maps can show more than just where things are—they can also show how things change. New maps of artificial light reveal a planet that has been reshaping its nights through patterns of brightening and dimming.  The maps are based on a recent analysis of NASA’s Black Marble data, which found that instead of a gradual increase in

Satellite observations are capturing the rapid retreat of Antarctica’s Hektoria Glacier, where ice loss has accelerated dramatically in recent years. The imagery reveals fractured ice, expanding melt zones and newly exposed terrain as the glacier continues to destabilize. Scientists attribute the retreat to a combination of ocean warming and structural weakening of the glacier’s ice

Nearly all of Florida faced at least “moderate” drought in April 2026, and nearly 80 percent of the state fell under “extreme” conditions—some of the worst on record. The Floridan aquifer dropped to its lowest levels since 2011, prompting water-management districts to issue mandatory outdoor watering restrictions across multiple regions.  The map above combines data

At the top of the planet, the cap of sea ice across Arctic waters grows and shrinks with the seasons, usually reaching its annual maximum extent in March. In 2026, this peak occurred on March 15, when the extent reached 14.29 million square kilometers, matching the lowest maximum observed since satellite monitoring began in 1979. One