This November, the world’s eyes will be on Belém, Brazil, as leaders gather for COP30—the UN’s critical climate summit where countries must negotiate stronger emission cuts to keep the 1.5°C goal alive. With global temperatures inching closer to disaster (current policies could lead to 3.1°C of warming!), this summit is a rare chance to turn pledges into action.

The stakes? Huge. A recent UN report warns that emissions must drop 42% by 2030 and 57% by 2035 to avoid climate chaos. But current promises are falling short, risking a 2.6-2.8°C future even if met. Brazil’s hosting this year adds symbolic weight: the Amazon, a climate linchpin, will take center stage, pushing talks on forest conservation and indigenous rights.

Expect heated debates over climate finance (who pays?) and adaptation (how do vulnerable nations survive?). Brazil’s COP30 president is calling for a “global mutirão”—a collective effort inspired by Indigenous communal work—to bridge divides. The goal? Move beyond “blah blah” summits and lock in binding commitments before it’s too late.

Forget jargon—this is about survival. Will COP30 be the moment we finally pivot from talk to action? The clock’s ticking.

Watching that video made me realize just how little we really know about the deep ocean. For a century, this giant creature was mostly known from bits found in sperm whale stomachs or caught by fishermen. Now, seeing a live one moving gracefully in its dark, cold home feels like unlocking a secret of the ocean. It’s humbling to think that this mysterious animal has no idea humans even exist, and yet here we are, finally catching a glimpse of its world.

This sighting reignited my fascination with the ocean’s mysteries and reminded me how much there still is to explore beneath the waves. It’s a thrilling moment for science and a beautiful reminder of nature’s wonders hidden in the deep.