The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and open science by NASA has been reported to significantly advance disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts. According to the space agency, NASA’s Disasters Program, supported by the agency’s commitment to open science, has been developing innovative tools and datasets to assist in managing natural disasters like hurricanes. These tools aim to equip communities and emergency responders with accurate, timely data for informed decision-making, as highlighted by the programme’s application during Hurricane Ida in 2021.

Hurricane Ida and NASA’s Contribution

Hurricane Ida, which struck Louisiana on August 21, 2021, was among the most destructive hurricanes in the US history. While emergency teams worked on the ground, NASA’s Disasters Program utilised satellite-based models and tools to provide critical data.

Reports indicate that information on soil moisture, precipitation, vegetation changes, and power outages was shared through the NASA Disasters Mapping Portal. This data enabled organisations to understand the storm’s impact and prioritise response strategies effectively.

Innovative Use of AI in Disaster Assessment

A notable application of NASA’s AI tools was the detection of blue tarps covering roofs post-hurricane, a method designed to assess the extent of damage in affected regions. Based on a study by the Interagency Implementation and Advanced Concepts Team (IMPACT), such technologies have been recognised as valuable for gauging damage severity and aiding recovery efforts.

This approach was initially tested following Hurricane Maria in 2017 and has since been refined, as reported.

Open Science and Future Applications

NASA, in collaboration with IBM, is currently developing open-source AI models to process the agency’s extensive satellite data archives. According to Kevin Murphy, NASA’s Chief Science Data Officer, these models aim to reduce technical barriers, allowing users to apply the data for various purposes, including disaster prediction and agricultural management.

Murphy stated that such efforts align with NASA’s objective of making scientific resources accessible to global communities, as per reports.

An explosion occurred during a test of the second-stage engine for Japan’s Epsilon S rocket on November 26, according to officials. The engine failure, which took place at the Tanegashima Space Center, has cast uncertainty on the rocket’s development schedule. The Epsilon S was expected to debut in March 2025 with the launch of a Vietnamese satellite, but the incident raises doubts about its readiness.

Investigations to Determine the Cause

The explosion, which happened 49 seconds into the engine test, marked the second such incident involving this design in less than two years. A similar test failure in July 2023 at JAXA’s Noshiro Rocket Testing Center resulted in significant damage to the facility, according to reports from The Asahi Shimbun.

In response to the explosion, officials from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced plans to launch an investigation in an official statement. The cause of the malfunction remains unknown. Takayuki Imoto, Project Manager for the Epsilon S programme, expressed regret during a press briefing, as reported by Kyodo News.

He said that they are extremely sorry for being unable to meet expectations. He further added that they can learn from failure and will use this opportunity as a lesson to develop a more reliable rocket.

Significance of Epsilon S for Japan’s Space Programme

The Epsilon S rocket has been positioned as a key vehicle for boosting Japan’s presence in low Earth orbit. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, speaking to reporters, emphasised the importance of flagship rockets for the nation’s space autonomy, as reported by the Associated Press.

This setback is part of a broader series of challenges for JAXA. The agency has faced multiple high-profile failures, including the first launch of its H3 rocket in 2023 and issues with its SLIM lunar lander earlier this year.

A recent study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has identified regions globally experiencing extreme heatwaves surpassing climate model predictions. These anomalies, spanning every continent except Antarctica, have been linked to thousands of deaths, agricultural failures, and severe wildfires in recent years, according to several reports. The research highlights the challenges in understanding and projecting the physical dynamics driving these unexpected temperature extremes, raising concerns about the adequacy of current climate models in estimating regional risks.

Heatwave Intensification and Global Hotspots

The study, led by Dr Kai Kornhuber, an adjunct scientist at Columbia Climate School and senior research scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, analysed data from the past 65 years. It identified areas where extreme heat is intensifying more rapidly than moderate temperatures, resulting in record-breaking maximum temperatures.

Examples include the June 2021 Pacific Northwest heatwave, where temperatures in Lytton, British Columbia, soared to 121.3 degrees Fahrenheit, causing a wildfire that decimated the town.

Regions most affected include northwestern Europe, parts of Asia such as central China, and regions in Australia, Africa, and South America, accoridng to sources. Northwestern Europe has seen the most consistent signals, with heatwaves contributing to 60,000 deaths in 2022 and 47,000 in 2023.

According to the study, summer peak temperatures in this region are increasing at twice the rate of average summer temperatures, exacerbated by the lack of widespread air conditioning.

Understanding the Underlying Mechanisms

Scientists attribute some of these extremes to disruptions in the northern hemisphere’s jet stream, which is influenced by Arctic warming. This destabilisation has created Rossby waves, trapping hot air over temperate regions.

Dr Samuel Bartusek, a co-author of the study, highlighted the interplay of factors behind the Pacific Northwest heatwave, including vegetation drying and atmospheric heat transport. However, the study acknowledges gaps in understanding, with some events described as “grey swans,” lying between predictability and randomness.