May 2025 has been an active month for planetary science, particularly within the United States, as researchers and enthusiasts alike have turned their eyes to a variety of celestial events and fresh discoveries. According to NASA, skywatchers are enjoying a rare opportunity to view four bright planets throughout the month. Mars and Jupiter are clearly visible in the western sky following sunset, though Jupiter is setting earlier each evening and will soon be harder to spot. Early in the month, the first quarter Moon appeared remarkably close to Mars, an alignment visible in the western sky that drew interest from both professional and amateur astronomers. Meanwhile, in the eastern morning sky, Venus and Saturn have been paired, with Saturn rising higher as the month progresses. Alongside these planetary spectacles, anticipation is building for the potential new nova in the constellation Corona Borealis. Although astronomers have been monitoring this star since mid-2024 due to unusual dimming similar to what preceded its previous nova outburst in 1946, the event has not yet occurred. The nova, when it flares, is expected to be visible to the naked eye only for a few days and will not happen again for another 80 years, prompting a surge of interest among observers.

In research news, scientists have marked the arrival of a new year on Mars, a milestone that takes place every 687 Earth days. This period serves as a reference point for ongoing missions and data analysis. Additionally, NASA’s Planetary Data System has released new aperiodic datasets, including results from a dust devil field campaign at the Nevada National Security Site and updated hyperspectral data from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s CRISM instrument. These contributions expand the scientific community’s ability to explore planetary atmospheres and surface compositions.

On a broader scale, two new studies have found that Uranus emits more energy than previously believed, radiating more heat than it absorbs from the Sun. This unexpected finding could challenge existing models of ice giant planets and prompt further investigation into their internal heat sources, as reported by Science News.

The known asteroid count has now reached 1,351,400, the majority found between Mars and Jupiter. This continued cataloging effort, supported by US-based observatories and data centers, provides crucial insight into solar system evolution and potential threats from near-Earth objects. Public engagement remains strong, with hybrid events such as the Lunar and Planetary Institute’s presentations on NASA’s Europa exploration, offering accessible updates on mission progress and scientific advances.

Altogether, these developments illustrate a thriving field driven by both persistent observation and new technological capabilities, with the United States at the forefront of international planetary science efforts. As planetary scientists, data analysts, and the public look upward and outward, each new discovery deepens our understanding of not only our own solar system but planetary systems throughout the galaxy.

This past week has seen significant developments in the water sector across the United States. American Water joined communities nationwide in celebrating Drinking Water Week from May 4-10, a tradition that has continued for more than 40 years. The company highlighted the importance of resilient water infrastructure and announced plans to invest between $40 and $42 billion over the next decade for pipe replacement and upgrading aging facilities.

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority also commemorated Drinking Water Week, emphasizing their efforts in watershed protection that have created what they call an "accidental wilderness" while maintaining water quality that meets current state and federal standards for PFAS.

In financial news, American States Water Company released its first quarter 2025 earnings report on May 7, showing consolidated diluted earnings of $0.70 per share, an increase from $0.62 per share in the first quarter of 2024.

Water diplomacy made headlines as Mexico promised increased water deliveries to the United States via the Rio Grande. This development comes as the western United States faces challenging water conditions, with snowpack melting rapidly in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah mountains. Warm and dry April conditions in the Colorado River basin have negatively impacted the region's water supply forecast, with projected runoff into Lake Powell dropping from 67 percent of average on April 1 to just 54 percent as of May 4.

Meanwhile, the Water Systems Council recently released the 2025 State of the U.S. Water Well Industry Report, providing a comprehensive analysis of challenges and trends shaping the industry.

Federal researchers contributed to a study on drinking water well contamination in southwestern Wisconsin, finding that nitrate levels and animal fecal microbes were associated with proximity to farmland rather than septic systems. The EPA Office of Inspector General has also announced an investigation into the construction bidding process for water infrastructure projects funded through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

Looking ahead, water industry leaders will gather at the Global Water Summit in Paris from May 12-14, where discussions will focus on critical issues including water scarcity, climate change, infrastructure modernization, and sustainable financing for water management solutions.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced it will no longer track the cost of climate change-fueled weather disasters beyond 2024. This significant policy shift affects NOAA's Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database, which has documented hundreds of major events across the United States since 1980, totaling trillions of dollars in damage. NOAA Communications Director Kim Doster stated the change aligns with evolving priorities, statutory mandates, and staffing changes.

Scientists continue to warn that extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent, costly, and severe due to climate change. Recent examples include debilitating heat waves, Hurricane Milton, Southern California wildfires, and severe cold spells.

Looking ahead to the remainder of May 2025, the Climate Prediction Center forecasts well above average temperatures across most of the northern, central, and eastern parts of the nation, as well as southern Alaska. Precipitation patterns show a mixed outlook, with above-average rainfall expected from the Southern Plains into the Intermountain West, while the Great Lakes region and parts of the Northern Plains may experience below-average precipitation.

Drought conditions are projected to persist across the Southwest and northern Plains in May, though some improvement is anticipated in the central Great Basin. The upper Mississippi Valley might see drought development, while drought conditions in the Carolinas and western Virginia will likely persist and expand.

Wildfire risk for May is elevated in parts of the Southwest, upper Mississippi Valley, and from the Mid-Atlantic coastal regions down to Florida.

On the international front, the GenZero Climate Summit 2025 is currently underway in Singapore from May 5-8. Under the theme "Overcoming Paralysis," the summit focuses on addressing inaction and indecision on climate initiatives. The event includes specialized forums such as a Carbon Regulatory Roundtable and a CEO Gathering bringing together leaders from climate solutions companies, technology firms, and government representatives to discuss carbon market resilience.

Meanwhile, ENSO conditions in the tropical Pacific remain neutral, with experts expecting this pattern to continue throughout the Northern Hemisphere summer.

This week, natural hazards and disasters have continued to impact the United States, with recent severe weather patterns leading to significant destruction and raising important questions about emerging trends. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the first quarter of 2025 saw an unusually high number of tornadoes in the United States, with 461 reported between January and early April, including 59 rated as EF-2 or higher. In mid-March, a powerful weather system that began as an atmospheric river in Southern California unleashed heavy rains that triggered mudslides, trapping people and vehicles and engulfing roadways across the region. As this system moved east, it fueled wildfires in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, where hurricane-force winds drove more than 130 wildfires across Oklahoma alone, burning 200,000 acres in less than two days. Oklahoma officials reported at least 400 homes damaged, and the governor declared an emergency across a dozen counties. The same system also brought deadly dust storms, severely reducing visibility and causing dangerous travel conditions.

Further east, Mississippi experienced severe weather events on March 14 and March 15, resulting in six fatalities, three people missing, and 29 injuries. Twenty-one counties were affected, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency. Arkansas was also hard-hit, with two nighttime EF-4 tornadoes recorded on March 14. The tornado that struck Diaz reached winds of 190 miles per hour, narrowly missing the threshold for an EF-5, while the Larkin tornado packed winds of 170 miles per hour.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has responded to a string of disaster declarations in recent days, including wildfires in North Carolina and severe storms with straight-line winds in Kentucky. Such events add to the tally maintained by the National Centers for Environmental Information, which reports that, from 1980 through 2024, the US experienced more than 400 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters.

Globally, this past week has seen a series of major events, as reported by Atlas Magazine. Los Angeles has faced significant threats from uncontrolled wildfires, while a massive snowstorm disrupted parts of the US. Internationally, a powerful earthquake struck Tibet, and deadly Cyclone Chido caused severe devastation in Mozambique. The cost and frequency of disasters are rising, reflecting both growing exposure and evolving climate-related risks. Analysts are noting that both the severity and diversity of recent hazards suggest a pattern of intensifying weather extremes, underscoring the urgent need for disaster resilience and preparedness in the United States and worldwide.

Recent developments in the U.S. game and fish sector have been marked by significant organizational changes and upcoming regulatory meetings. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is set to meet on May 9, 2025, at the Mohave County Auditorium in Kingman. This public meeting begins at 8 a.m. and will address various wildlife management issues facing the state.

In Arkansas, the Game and Fish Commission has undergone a leadership transition with Doug Schoenrock named as its 20th director. Schoenrock, who brings extensive experience in conservation and business management from his time with Ducks Unlimited, will assume the role this month. He replaces former director Austin Booth who vacated the position earlier this year. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission also passed nearly 150 new regulations or changes to established regulations at its May 2024 meeting, signaling substantial policy updates in the state.

California's Fish and Game Commission has scheduled upcoming meetings, with the Fish and Game Commission meeting planned for May 14, followed by the Wildlife Resources Committee meeting on May 15.

On the federal level, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently faced significant challenges with approximately 370 employees terminated on February 14, 2025. These firings disproportionately affected biologists and natural resource professionals, raising concerns about the agency's ability to fulfill its conservation mission. The National Wildlife Refuge Association expressed alarm, noting that these cuts further strain an already understaffed system responsible for managing 573 national wildlife refuges spanning 95 million acres of land and 750 million acres of marine habitat.

Despite these challenges, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continues its conservation efforts, with recent updates on juvenile lake trout management released on May 8, 2025. The agency remains committed to working with partners to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and their habitats across the country.

These developments highlight the ongoing evolution of game and fish management in the United States, balancing conservation priorities with organizational challenges as agencies work to protect wildlife resources for future generations.

Recent developments in geology across the United States reveal concerning disruptions to vital water management systems. The Trump administration has terminated leases for 25 U.S. Geological Survey Water Science Centers nationwide, with 16 centers facing closure by August 31, 2025. These centers provide critical data from stream gauges used for drought measures, flood alerts, river water administration, and Clean Water Act compliance. Staff members at these targeted facilities remain uncertain about future operations as the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, continues this controversial move affecting water resource management nationwide.

Meanwhile, volcanic activity continues to be monitored at Kilauea in Hawaii, where the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that Episode 20 of the ongoing Halemaʻumaʻu eruption ended on May 6. Scientists predict Episode 21 will likely begin within the next 2-4 days. All volcanic activity remains contained within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with no significant developments along Kilauea's East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

In other geological news, researchers have discovered that the Wasatch Fault in Utah shows particular vulnerability to earthquakes based on recent rock sample analysis. New hydrological studies also reveal that spring runoff in Western U.S. mountains is actually melted snow from a multi-year underground journey, averaging about 5 years in transit.

Flood risk assessments indicate growing dangers in the Pacific Northwest, where a combination of potential earthquakes and rising sea levels threatens thousands of residents across northern California, Oregon, and Washington.

Looking ahead, geologists are preparing for several significant events including the GeoHab Marine Geological and Biological Habitat Mapping conference in Key West, Florida, scheduled for May 12-16, and the IUGS Initiative on Forensic Geology conference in Rome, Italy, planned for May 21-23.

The USGS continues its resource assessment work, recently estimating 35.8 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered gas along the Gulf Coast in the Hosston and Travis Peak formations, equivalent to about 14 months of national supply. Additionally, the agency projects that global production capacity for lithium and cobalt will nearly double between 2025 and 2029, while other critical minerals are expected to maintain current production levels.

The Trump administration has taken aggressive steps to boost domestic mineral production through a March 2025 Executive Order titled "Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production." The order aims to fast-track permitting, leasing, and financing of domestic mining projects while reducing regulatory burdens. It covers critical minerals like lithium and copper, while specifically adding uranium, potash, gold, and potentially coal to the list of priority resources.

On April 18, the administration's Permitting Council added ten mining projects to a federal permitting dashboard, establishing clearer timelines and improving coordination between agencies. These projects include the controversial Resolution Copper mine in Arizona, opposed by members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and the expansion of the Warrior Met coal mine in Alabama. Other projects involve mining for lithium, gold, phosphate, and potash across several states.

According to Matt Sands' May 1st Mineral Rights Podcast, the administration is working to accelerate energy project approvals and critical minerals development, particularly focusing on lithium. The podcast noted that natural gas prices remain stable, providing some security for royalty owners during a period of oil price volatility in the energy sector.

The head of the National Energy Dominance Council highlighted in late April that protecting the supply of critical minerals vital to the renewables market is emerging as a significant threat to energy security. This aligns with the administration's efforts to reduce reliance on foreign sources of essential minerals.

The Executive Order also makes novel use of the International Development Finance Corporation's powers, typically aimed at promoting development financing in lower and middle-income countries, by turning these capabilities inward to support domestic mineral production through federal assistance, loans, loan guarantees, and offtake contracts.

Industry experts anticipate increased investment in the mining sector, with previously dormant mining proposals potentially receiving renewed consideration. Meanwhile, environmental organizations are expected to oppose some of these deregulatory measures, particularly for minerals found in areas where Native American tribes or rural communities have historically resisted mining activities.

Recent news highlights significant ecosystem developments across the United States. Maine Governor Janet Mills has signed legislation creating programs for disaster resilience, implementing recommendations from the Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience Commission. The bill establishes a new state Resilience Office, launches a flood-risk preparedness program, and creates a grant program to help homeowners protect their property against storm damage. These measures come after winter storms in 2023 and 2024 caused an estimated $90 million in damages.

Maryland has permanently protected nearly 1.9 million acres of land from development, becoming the first state to achieve the goal of conserving 30 percent of its land by 2030 nearly six years ahead of schedule. The state has now set a more ambitious goal of protecting 40 percent of its land by 2040.

In positive news for marine ecosystems, researchers have noticed more North Atlantic right whale calves in Massachusetts waters in 2025. This is encouraging for the endangered species, which has suffered from fishing gear entanglements and climate change impacts. Right whales play a critical role in marine ecosystems, feeding phytoplankton and storing carbon in their bodies.

A concerning study of the 28 most populous U.S. cities finds that all are sinking to varying degrees, including cities in the interior, not just coastal areas. The research reveals that some cities are sinking at different rates in different locations, or sinking in some places while rising in others, potentially creating stresses that could affect infrastructure.

In the Florida Everglades, scientists have discovered that sulfur from sugarcane crops is flowing into wetlands, creating toxic methylmercury that accumulates in fish, presenting a new ecosystem challenge.

On a positive note, March 2025 marked a milestone for clean energy in the United States, with renewable energy providing 51 percent of U.S. electricity compared to fossil fuels at 49 percent. This was the first time renewable energy provided more electricity to the U.S. grid than fossil fuels, demonstrating the continued strength of the clean energy transition despite regulatory challenges.

Michigan has updated its building codes, making new homes 32 percent more energy efficient and potentially saving households an estimated $7.2 million in energy costs while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 45,000 metric tons.

Extreme fire danger warnings have been issued across parts of the United States as unseasonably warm temperatures, high winds, and dry conditions set the stage for rapid wildfire growth. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, a Red Flag Warning was declared for multiple counties in northwest Minnesota, including Beltrami, Clearwater, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau. This warning was prompted by a combination of strong winds and low humidity, making fires likely to ignite easily and spread rapidly. State officials emphasized that no open burning permits would be issued during the warning, and all campfires are discouraged. Residents are urged to check any previous burns to ensure they are fully extinguished given the severe risk. In addition to these measures, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for sixty-one additional counties in Minnesota for the following day, indicating that similarly hazardous conditions may persist or worsen.

Elsewhere in the United States, fire risk remains elevated across several regions as the country heads further into spring. The National Interagency Fire Center, in their latest outlook, notes that while recent rainfall is moderating fire potential in some western states, other areas are facing a rapid escalation in risk as temperatures rise and dry air persists. In particular, the Southwest—including California, Arizona, and New Mexico—faces significant fire danger due to ongoing drought stress and a buildup of flammable vegetation. Southern California has already experienced an unusually high number of acres burned, with urban-wildland interface zones proving especially vulnerable.

Experts from the wildland fire community point to several emerging patterns contributing to heightened fire danger this year. Fire seasons are lengthening, with some regions experiencing nearly year-round fire activity. Long-term drought, accumulation of dry vegetation due to limited prescribed burns, and invasive plant species such as cheatgrass are combining to create dense, highly flammable fuel beds. Human activity, particularly in areas where communities border wildlands, continues to be a leading cause of ignitions, further increasing the chances of fast-moving and destructive wildfires.

In the central United States, notably Texas and Oklahoma, grassland fires remain a significant threat due to dry and windy conditions. The Great Plains region is expected to see above-normal fire activity in the coming weeks. Even in areas like the Southeast, where rainfall is more common, fire officials caution that weather variability and fuel conditions could still produce dangerous wildfires.

Globally, fire risk remains a concern as other countries adapt best practices to reduce losses, but the growing population in high-risk U.S. zones coupled with climatic trends suggest the 2025 fire season will continue to challenge fire managers and residents alike.

Over the past week, the United States has experienced several noteworthy earthquakes, with the most significant event being a magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Greenback, Tennessee. According to The Network Journal, this earthquake occurred on May tenth and was felt across seven states in the Southeast, including Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Fortunately, officials report that there was no significant damage or injuries associated with the quake. The United States Geological Survey is continuing to monitor the region for potential aftershocks, as seismic activity in this area, while not uncommon, does occasionally remind residents of the broad reach of the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone, which is one of the more active earthquake regions in the eastern part of the country.

Earlier in the week, on May sixth, a smaller but still notable earthquake occurred near Dillwyn, Virginia. The United States Geological Survey classified this event as significant due to the number of people who reported feeling the tremor, though no damage or injuries have been reported there either. These incidents follow a broader pattern of low to moderate magnitude seismic activity across the United States, particularly in regions not typically associated with high seismic risk. Such events reinforce the importance of public awareness and preparation, particularly in areas where residents may not expect earthquakes.

Further afield, the U.S. territory of the Virgin Islands also experienced a magnitude 5.7 earthquake northeast of Cruz Bay on May fourth. While there were no reports of major damage, the event was felt widely throughout the region and underscores the seismic vulnerability of the Caribbean due to its position at the edge of tectonic plate boundaries.

On the West Coast, while no large earthquakes were reported in California or the Pacific Northwest over the past week, authorities continue to emphasize the value of early warning systems, such as ShakeAlert, which can provide critical seconds of notice before ground shaking begins. These systems are part of broader efforts by agencies like the United States Geological Survey to enhance rapid earthquake detection and public notification, helping communities to prepare and respond more effectively when earthquakes strike.

Globally, the past week also saw significant seismic activity, including a magnitude 7.4 earthquake offshore near Magallanes, Chile, according to the worldwide earthquake report from May second. While this event did not result in widespread destruction, it is a reminder that large earthquakes continue to pose risks in tectonically active regions around the world. Patterns emerging from recent seismic data highlight that while the United States has mostly experienced moderate quakes in the past week, ongoing vigilance and preparedness remain crucial, both domestically and internationally, as seismic risk is inherent to many parts of the globe.