El Niño rains in Peru disrupt access to Machu Picchu

Prof Gustaf Hugelius warns wildfires could accelerate release of methane and carbon as vast regions approach irreversible thresholds Heatwaves and wildfires are not just scorching forests, they are adding to the tipping point risks in the world’s vast permafrost regions, which contain three times more carbon than all the living vegetation on Earth. This is a major concern for Gustaf Hugelius, a professor at the Bolin Centre of Climate Research at Stockholm University, Sweden, and a leading authority on the risks from thawing tundra and peatlands. In this Q&A, he explains why the world should pay attention...

The heatwave has taken a heavy toll on much of the agricultural sector, but it is also benefiting a lucky few. The high temperatures are providing ideal conditions for salt harvesting in the famous salt marshes of Guérande in Western France, where the harvest this summer looks set to be particularly bountiful.

A summer swim in wild waters can bring escape and exhilaration. Here are six places on state and national park land across the United States to backstroke, butterfly or just beat the heat.