Europe’s highest mountains, a continental backbone
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has begun the Legacy Survey of Space and Time, a 10-year program that will image the southern sky every few nights. The telescope has started regular operations from its Chilean mountaintop site and is already returning new detections, including thousands of asteroids and transient views such as Comet 3I/ATLAS.
Kuss has crashed twice on Stage 20 of the 2026 Tour de France but netting appears to have prevented a fall down the mountainside. Carapaz won the stage; Pogacar leads the overall.
A newly reviewed biography of John Berger places his Ways of Seeing within a broader political project, showing how Berger linked looking to culture, capitalism and power. The work situates Berger beyond the “rock star” image and threads his ideas into a wider narrative about art, politics and society.
Kim Le Court has won stage six of the Tour de France Femmes, launching from a small eight-rider breakaway to beat Cedrine Kerbaol on the Mont Lalouvesc climb in Tournon-sur-Rhône. Marlen Reusser retains the overall lead ahead of Demi Vollering after a 153.4km stage from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône.
Rising heat and drought across Europe have lowered river levels, exposing World War II ships, mammoth remains and ancient structures. Analysts warn climate-driven extremes are intensifying, threatening ships, power plants and freight, while historians document maritime relics surfacing along the Danube and Rhine.
Gardeners are updating displays as summer fades. Impatiens have given way to fall plants like pansies, Sedum Autumn Joy and chrysanthemums. Firecracker plant, croton and azaleas are recommended for color and resilience across zones, with careful choices for containers and borders as the season changes.
France has temporarily loosened production rules for key cheeses after a historic drought dried pastures, allowing farmers to supplement cattle diets. The move targets Abondance, Beaufort and Comté in the Alps and Jura, with a broader plan to extend to other varieties. Authorities say the measures are temporary and aimed at preserving terroir while acknowledging climate impacts on farming.
A massive section of glacier and bedrock has collapsed near Langtang Lirung and has triggered a fast-moving flood that has killed hundreds, left thousands missing and displaced tens of thousands across Nepal and Tibet. Rescue teams from Nepal, China and international partners are searching for survivors while authorities warn of further flood risk from newly formed barrier lakes.
Investigators have found a Luger pistol in Lake Annecy; authorities say it may be connected to the 2012 al-Hilli family killings near Annecy. Forensic tests are examining whether the weapon is the P06 model used in the attack. The case has seen multiple leads and several suspects over the years.