Unbelievable!’: Backshall overjoyed at rare sighting of orcas

Wildlife adventurer Steve Backshall celebrated a rare moment of joy after encountering two of the UK’s final surviving orcas, which he dubbed “international celebrities.” These male members of the West Coast Community pod, named John Coe and Aquarius, were spotted near Lizard Point on Wednesday. The TV presenter, who resides close to Penzance in Cornwall, captured the event on camera. This was the first time the pair had been seen in that area since May 2021.

“International celebrities”

The Met Office has issued yellow severe weather warnings for wind and rain, affecting the UK. Meanwhile, in space, the 98-meter-tall Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft undertook a four-mile journey from their assembly facility to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

France’s Eiffel Tower and Barcelona’s Sagrada Família Basilica joined a global list of landmarks that dimmed their lights for an hour on Saturday night. Storm Therese, which hit Tenerife with snow, caused disruption across the Canary Islands.

Global Landmarks and Space Milestones

During the same weekend, stargazers were captivated by a range of celestial phenomena, including meteor showers and supermoons. In North York Moors National Park, an astronomical event was recorded on 13 August.

President Trump recently proposed that wind power contributes to rising energy costs in the UK. BBC Verify’s Ben Chu examined the data to assess this claim.

Research and Records

Scientists analyzing ice sheet samples have uncovered an environmental record spanning over a million years. A pioneering animal rights activist, who passed away at age 91, dedicated their career to studying chimpanzees.

Space Travel and New Discoveries

Researchers examining the atmosphere of planet K2-18b identified molecules typically associated with simple Earth organisms. The all-female crew, which launched on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket, returned to Earth after reaching space with pop star Katy Perry among the six participants.

London Zoo in Regent’s Park conducted its annual animal weigh-in, monitoring the health of over 10,000 creatures. Storm Floris is set to bring unseasonably strong gusty winds to the UK.