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Climate Threat  Global Challenges
Satellite to See Through Leaves and Map Earth's Forests

A new satellite is being sent into space today that can see through both clouds and foliage. The goal is to map how the world's rainforests protect the planet from climate change, reports the BBC.

- Most of the radars we have in space today take fantastic pictures of icebergs, but when they look at forests, they only see the treetops - the small branches and leaves - they don't penetrate the forest itself, says Ralph Cordey at Airbus, the company behind the project.

- But what we discovered was that, by using a much longer radar wavelength, we could see down into the depths of the forest.

For example, until now it has been impossible to calculate how much carbon dioxide the 1,500 billion trees bind, but the hope is that the satellite will give scientists a better idea. It will also make it easier to monitor deforestation.

Tourism on Fuji
Climber rescued from Fuji – twice in one week

A 27-year-old man was rescued from his hike on Mount Fuji in Japan after falling ill. He suffered from altitude sickness when he reached the summit of the mountain, which is located at an altitude of 3,776 meters.

Three days later, Japanese authorities rescued the same man from the same mountain. He had returned to the mountain to retrieve his mobile phone and other belongings that he had forgotten on the mountain. However, he had to be rescued from an altitude of 3,000 meters when he felt sick again.

The man made the hikes to Japan's most famous mountain outside the official climbing season, which runs from July 10 to September 10.
Major fire in London – 100 firefighters on site

A major fire has broken out in west London and around 100 firefighters are battling to put out the flames.

Smoke billows out of a building where an electrical substation has caught fire. The roof of a nearby apartment building also caught fire and 80 people were evacuated, writes The Telegraph.

– This is a very visible fire that produces a lot of smoke, Paul Morgan, who is the head of the emergency services, told Sky News.

It is unclear how the fire started.

Mushroom case in Australia
Designated mushroom killer not convicted in case with ex-husband

Suspected mushroom killer Erin Patterson, 50, will not be convicted of attempted murder of her ex-husband. This is clear after the prosecutor in Australia dropped the charges against him.

– In other words, you have to try to put them out of your mind, the judge told the jury that was appointed today.

Pattersson is still charged with three murders, including that of her in-laws, after she offered her a beef wellington containing poisonous mushrooms two years ago. Her ex-husband also became seriously ill, but survived after several weeks in hospital. Erin Patterson herself claims she is innocent.

The trial is now starting in the Supreme Court of the state of Victoria. The trial is expected to last just over five weeks. The case has received enormous attention both in and outside Australia.