Environment: 1)Radar satellite launched by India and NASA will track miniscule changes to Earth’s land and ice; 2)How to watch two meteor showers peak together in late July [and August]; 3)The Sun is damaging your eyes: What you need to know this summer (and all year long)
1)Radar satellite launched by India and NASA will track miniscule changes to Earth’s land and ice
Courtesy Barrie360.com and The Associated Press
By Marcia Dunn, July 30, 2025
NASA and India paired up to launch an Earth-mapping satellite on Wednesday capable of tracking even the slightest shifts in land and ice. The $1.3 billion mission will help forecasters and first responders stay one step ahead of floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions and other disasters, according to scientists.
Rocketing to orbit from India, the satellite will survey virtually all of Earth’s terrain multiple times. Its two radars — one from the U.S. and the other from India — will operate day and night, peering through clouds, rain and foliage to collect troves of data in extraordinary detail.
Microwave signals beamed down to Earth from the dual radars will bounce back up to the satellite’s super-sized antenna reflector perched at the end of a boom like a beach umbrella. Scientists will compare the incoming and outgoing signals as the spacecraft passes over the same locations twice every 12 days, teasing out changes as small as a fraction of an inch (1 centimeter).
“Congratulations India!” India’s minister of science and technology, Jitendra Singh, said via X once the satellite safely reached orbit. The mission “will benefit the entire world community.”
NASA’s deputy associate administrator Casey Swails, part of a small delegation that traveled to India for the launch, said it “really shows the world what our two nations can do. But more so than that, it really is a pathfinder for the relationship building,.”
It will take a full week to extend the satellite’s 30-foot (9-meter) boom and open the 39-foot-in-diameter (12-meter) drum-shaped reflector made of gold-plated wire mesh. Science operations should begin by the end of October.
Among the satellite’s most pressing measurements: melting glaciers and polar ice sheets; shifting groundwater supplies; motion and stress of land surfaces prompting landslides and earthquakes; and forest and wetland disruptions boosting carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
It’s “a first-of-its-kind, jewel radar satellite that will change the way we study our home planet and better predict a natural disaster before it strikes,” NASA’s science mission chief Nicky Fox said ahead of liftoff. She was part of the NASA delegation that attended the launch in person.
NASA is contributing $1.2 billion to the three-year mission; it supplied the low-frequency radar and reflector. The Indian Space Research Organization’s $91 million share includes the higher frequency radar and main satellite structure, as well as the launch from a barrier island in the Bay of Bengal. It’s the biggest space collaboration between the two countries.
The satellite called NISAR — short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar — will operate from a near-polar-circling orbit 464 miles (747 kilometers) high. It will join dozens of Earth observation missions already in operation by the U.S. and India.
2)How to watch two meteor showers peak together in late July [and August]
Courtesy Barrie360.com and The Associated Press
By Christina Larson, July 27, 2025
This image provided by NASA shows comet 96P Machholz which orbits the Sun about every 6 years, and is suspected to cause the Southern Delta Aquariids meteor showers. (NASA/ESA/SOHO via AP)
It’s almost time for summer’s meteor shower duet.
The Southern Delta Aquariid and the Alpha Capricornid meteor showers peak at the same time — in the early morning of July 30.
Without too much interference from moonlight — the waxing moon will be only about a quarter full — the meteors should appear bright and clear in regions away from city lights.
With each shower expected to produce up to a dozen visible meteors per hour under dark skies, the doubleheader means the total number of meteors “do add up,” said Thaddeus LaCoursiere, planetarium program coordinator at the Bell Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“Look for flashes of light in the night sky,” he said, adding that both are “very nice classic meteor showers.”
The Alpha Capricornids — produced by slower-moving meteors — may have tails that linger slightly longer in the sky, said Nick Moskovitz of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Viewing of each shower lasts through August 12.
What is a meteor shower?
As the Earth orbits the sun, several times a year it passes through debris left by passing comets and sometimes asteroids.
The source of the Delta Aquariids is debris from comet 96P/Machholz. The Alpha Capricornids stem from the comet 169P/NEAT.
When these fast-moving space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere, the debris encounters new resistance from the air and becomes very hot, eventually burning up.
Sometimes the surrounding air glows briefly, leaving behind a fiery tail — the end of a “shooting star.”
You don’t need special equipment to see the various meteor showers that flash across annually, just a spot away from city lights.
How to view a meteor shower
The best time to watch a meteor shower is in the early predawn hours when the moon is low in the sky.
Competing sources of light — such as a bright moon or artificial glow — are the main obstacles to a clear view of meteors. Cloudless nights when the moon wanes smallest are optimal viewing opportunities.
And keep looking up, not down. Your eyes will be better adapted to spot shooting stars if you aren’t checking your phone.
When is the next meteor shower?
The next major meteor shower, the Perseids, peaks in mid August.
3) The Sun is damaging your eyes: What you need to know this summer (and all year long)
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Marie Gagne, July 28, 2025
From cataracts to painful sunburns on the surface of the eye, unprotected exposure to ultraviolet radiation can harm your vision over time.
The good news?
Most of this damage is preventable — if you know how to protect yourself.
Let’s unpack what UV rays can actually do to your eyes, bust a few common myths, and go over simple ways to keep your sight safe all year long.
UV rays and eye damage: What’s the risk?
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun doesn’t just cause sunburn — it can also seriously harm your eyes. Long-term exposure to UV rays is linked to conditions like:
- Cataracts – Clouding of the eye’s natural lens, leading to blurry vision.
- Photokeratitis – A painful “sunburn” on the surface of your eye.
- Macular Degeneration – A leading cause of vision loss later in life.
According to Naomi Barber, Clinical Services Director at Specsavers, “Just as we wouldn’t go outside without sunscreen, we shouldn’t spend time outdoors without eye protection. UV damage is preventable — but many people don’t realize the risks until it’s too late.”
5 common myths about UV and eye protection — Debunked
According to Naomi, there are 5 big misconceptions about sun safety that can put your eyes at risk. Here’s what you need to know:
Myth #1: All sunglasses are created equal
Fact: They’re not. Only choose sunglasses labeled with 100% UV protection or UV400. That’s what shields your eyes from both UVA and UVB rays.
Myth #2: Eye colour doesn’t matter
Fact: It does. People with lighter-coloured eyes — like blue or green — have less melanin, which makes them more sensitive to light and UV exposure.
Myth #3: Kids don’t need to worry about UV damage
Fact: Children’s eyes are more vulnerable than adults’. Their lenses are clearer, which lets in more UV light — making early protection extra important.
Myth #4: UV damage doesn’t cause long-term eye disease
Fact: It absolutely can. UV exposure increases your risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other sight-threatening conditions over time.
Myth #5: Reflected rays aren’t a big deal
Fact: Water, sand, snow, and even pavement can reflect UV rays and intensify your exposure. That’s why wraparound sunglasses and wide-brim hats matter, especially near reflective surfaces.
How to protect your eyes this summer (and all year round)
- Wear quality sunglasses with UV400 protection — every time you go outside, even on cloudy days.
- Consider polarized lenses to reduce glare from reflective surfaces like water and pavement.
- Use wide-brimmed hats for extra shade.
- Make eye protection a habit for kids — their eyes are still developing and need extra care.
- Get regular eye exams — an optometrist can detect early signs of damage before symptoms appear.
A clear view for the future
Your eyes are just as vulnerable to sun damage as your skin — and the effects are often permanent. But with awareness and the right sun protection for your eyes, you can enjoy the sunshine without damaging your vision.
So this summer, don’t just reach for the SPF. Grab your sunglasses, too — your future self will thank you.