As millions of migratory birds traverse the United States en route to wintering grounds in South America, conservationists are urging Americans to reduce light pollution during nighttime hours to protect avian populations. Warblers, swifts, and flycatchers often fly nonstop for up to three days over the Atlantic Ocean, but their journey across land is fraught with danger as brightly lit buildings can disorient them, causing fatal collisions with windows. An estimated one billion birds die annually in the U.S. due to such impacts. Experts recommend that unnecessary outdoor lights be dimmed from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. throughout September and October’s peak migration period.

Seismic activity has been recorded in multiple regions worldwide over the past week. Tokyo experienced a magnitude 5.0 earthquake centered northeast of the city. Additional tremors were reported in northeastern Papua New Guinea, western Java, Nepal, southwestern Germany, Hawaii’s Big Island, Costa Rica, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

In energy developments, global coal consumption is projected to reach a record 8.94 billion metric tons in 2026, a 1.2% increase according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). This rise reverses prior forecasts of a decline and complicates international efforts to phase out coal-fired power plants. The surge is driven primarily by disruptions to natural gas supplies stemming from ongoing hostilities around the Persian Gulf, prompting utilities—especially in South Korea—to increase coal plant operations. Additionally, an intensifying El Niño contributes to higher cooling demand and reduced hydropower availability in India and Vietnam. China has also stepped up coal usage in chemical production. In contrast, U.S. coal consumption is expected to decrease by approximately 7% this year compared to 2025 levels.

Unusually, the Atlantic hurricane basin recorded no hurricanes by September 18, marking the first such instance on record. This is attributed chiefly to persistent wind shear across the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean caused by the near-record-strength El Niño in the Pacific. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Dujuan emerged near the Northern Mariana Islands with a trajectory toward Japan’s Iwo Jima, and Tropical Storm Norbert tracked between Mexico and Hawaii over open waters.

In wildlife news, researchers have tracked the remarkable journey of three brother African wild dogs departing their birthplace in Zambia to seek new territory and mates. Fitted with GPS collars, the siblings traversed approximately 2,564 miles, looping near urban areas Kitwe and Ndola and crossing unprotected lands before settling within the Luangwa Valley. While potential mating has not been confirmed, researchers believe the pack has found unrelated female companions.

Off Australia’s southeastern coast near the Gold Coast, scientists observed a female humpback whale exhibiting prolonged behavior consistent with caregiving toward a presumed stillborn calf. The adult maintained close proximity, touched the calf on the seafloor, and appeared to remain with it for hours or days. While such “post-mortem attentive behavior” is documented more frequently among dolphins and toothed whales, this case adds rare baleen whale data. Scientists caution that this behavior does not necessarily indicate grief in the way observed in other species.

Volcanic activity has disrupted operations at Sicily’s Mount Etna, prompting a temporary closure of Catania airport amid renewed eruptions. Additionally, three Indonesian volcanoes—Mount Semeru, Mount Ili Lewotolok, and Mount Ibu—have erupted, following recent activity at Sinabung and Anak Krakatau volcanoes.