Climate and Earth Physics News Explained for Pupils

Recent climate, Earth observation, atmosphere and geophysics stories connected to school physics.

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Week beginning 2 November 2026

Is It Cheaper to Leave the Heating On All Day? The Physics of Heat Loss

A house is not a flask that stays warm once it has been heated. Follow where its energy goes, why reheating does not automatically erase a saving, and why advice for a gas boiler cannot simply be copied onto a heat pump.

Energy Engineering Climate/Earth 9 min

Week beginning 19 October 2026

Hunter's Moon 2026 UK: When to See October's Full Moon and Why It Looks Orange

October's full Moon is on Monday 26 October. You can look for it on the surrounding evenings without staying up for the exact moment. Here is what to watch for, why it may look orange and how to test whether it really looks bigger.

Space Climate/Earth 7 min

Do Solar Panels Work in Winter and on Cloudy Days? The Physics Explained

Yes, solar panels can generate electricity in winter and under cloud. The useful questions are how much light reaches them, for how long, and how much becomes electrical energy. Cold weather and low winter output are not the same thing.

Energy Engineering Climate/Earth 7 min

Week beginning 12 October 2026

When Do the Clocks Go Back in 2026? Why UK Evenings Get Darker

At 2am on Sunday 25 October, UK clocks return to 1am. Here is what changes, what happens to sunset times, and why turning a clock back cannot change the amount of daylight.

Space Climate/Earth 7 min

Why Is There Condensation on My Windows? The Physics Explained

A wet window on a cold morning is a change of state happening in your home. Follow the water from the air to the glass, then see what temperature, ventilation and insulation each change.

Energy Climate/Earth Engineering 7 min

Week beginning 28 September 2026

Northern Lights UK: What Causes Them and How to Check the Forecast

A good aurora forecast is only part of the story. You also need darkness, clear skies and the right view. Here is how to read UK alerts and understand the light you are looking for.

Space Climate/Earth Quantum 7 min

Week beginning 21 September 2026

How Do Heat Pumps Work in Cold Weather? The Physics of 300% Efficiency

A heat pump can supply more heat than the electrical energy it uses. The missing part of the explanation is an extra input: energy taken from outdoors. Here is how that still works when the air feels cold.

Energy Engineering Climate/Earth 7 min

Week beginning 31 August 2026

Harvest Moon 2026 UK: When to See It and Why the Moon Looks Orange

Look east on the evening of Saturday 26 September. September's full Moon is a chance to see familiar physics at work: reflected sunlight, atmospheric scattering and an illusion you can test with a camera.

Space Climate/Earth 7 min

Week beginning 24 August 2026

Autumn Equinox 2026 UK: Exact Time, When Autumn Starts and Why Days Get Shorter

The 2026 autumn equinox occurs at 1:06am BST on Wednesday 23 September. It is the exact instant when neither hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. It marks the start of astronomical autumn for many people in the UK, but day and night will not be exactly 12 hours each.

Space Climate/Earth 9 min

Week beginning 13 July 2026

Why AI data centres use so much electricity

AI is rapidly increasing data-centre demand, but the physics is clearer than the headlines: electrical power runs the processors, and nearly all of that energy ultimately has to leave the building as heat.

Energy Engineering Climate/Earth 12 min

Tiny infrared chip could spot heat leaks and gases more clearly

MIT researchers have made a chip-based infrared device whose tiny pixels can be controlled independently, potentially helping compact cameras detect heat leaks, gases and atmospheric pollutants.

Materials Engineering Climate/Earth 10 min

Week beginning 6 July 2026

AI helps physics models predict rare extreme heatwaves

Researchers have combined fast AI weather forecasts with physics-based climate modelling so rare, dangerous heatwaves can be sampled more efficiently and studied with better statistics.

Climate/Earth Energy Engineering 11 min

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