Daily Recap: Science — 6 September 2026

Natural hazards dominate the science file today, with powerful weather systems and a volcanic eruption disrupting travel and putting coastal and island communities on alert. Alongside those immediate risks, the day also brings a look at longer-term recovery after earthquakes and...

Indonesia halts flights for several hours at Jakarta’s main airport after Anak Krakatau erupts and sends volcanic ash over parts of Java and Sumatra. The shutdown affects hundreds of flights as aviation authorities and airlines respond to the ash plume, which poses a serious hazard to aircraft operations across western Indonesia.

Hurricane Lowell remains a Category 4 storm as it tracks toward Hawaii, prompting preparations across the islands. Officials and residents move into a heightened state of readiness as forecasters warn the storm could pass close enough to bring hazardous weather and possible disruptions, even if its center stays offshore.

Parts of Hawaii are under tropical storm warnings as Lowell passes west of the state, with authorities urging residents and visitors to prepare. Forecasters warn of heavy rain that could trigger flooding, along with the risk of mudslides in vulnerable terrain, making runoff and saturated ground a central concern.

Hurricane Marie drives dangerous surf and coastal flooding into Southern California over the Labor Day weekend. Large waves, strong currents and an elevated rip-current risk create hazardous beach conditions, while some low-lying coastal areas see localized flooding as the storm’s energy reaches shore even from offshore waters.

The Anak Krakatau eruption also disrupts international air travel, with dozens of cancellations affecting routes between Jakarta and Australia. Airlines adjust schedules as ash conditions shift, adding to wider regional travel problems caused by the eruption and complicating service on one of the busier cross-border corridors in the area.

In Venezuela, one family continues searching through damaged areas of La Guaira months after two destructive earthquakes, looking for an 18-year-old relative who remains missing. Carrying flyers and moving carefully through rubble, relatives and friends underscore how disaster impacts can persist long after the initial emergency has passed.

India’s space regulator signals that the state will continue to anchor the country’s space program even as private activity grows. The head of IN-SPACe says ISRO will remain the sector’s bedrock, pointing to a model in which government capability and commercial participation expand side by side rather than replacing one another.

Firaxis says Civilization VII will extend into the Atomic Age in 2027 through a major free update, alongside a first expansion called Earthrise. The plan pushes the game’s timeline into the mid-to-late 20th century, marking a significant addition to its historical scope and long-term post-launch roadmap.