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Eclipses are astronomical phenomena defined by the darkening, either total or partial, of a celestial body due to another object intervening in the path of the light source. Recently, in 2026, both a total lunar eclipse, known as the 'Blood Moon,' and an annular solar eclipse were recorded, which generated a 'Ring of Fire' over Antarctica.

The year still has two more events, both scheduled for August; the first will be a total solar eclipse, expected next week. The season will culminate with a partial lunar eclipse, visible throughout Brazil between the 27th and 28th.

The fundamental difference between lunar and solar eclipses lies in the arrangement of the three celestial bodies. In the case of a lunar eclipse, the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, allowing its shadow to obscure the satellite. In a solar eclipse, the Moon intervenes between the Sun and the Earth, casting its shadow onto an area of the planet and covering the Sun, totally or partially.

According to the Time And Date platform, there are three main categories of solar eclipses: partial, annular, and total. However, there is also a fourth standard, considered more uncommon, that combines characteristics of the others: the hybrid, exemplified by the event in April 2023.

A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a section of the solar disk, resulting in a 'piece' missing from the edge of the Sun. This is the most frequent type and can be observed in significantly larger regions than those affected by the Moon's densest shadow.

In an annular solar eclipse, the Moon aligns directly with the Sun but is farther from the Earth, making it appear smaller in the sky. Because it cannot completely cover the solar disk, a luminous circle remains visible around the Moon, a phenomenon popularly called the 'Ring of Fire.'

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon completely covers the Sun for those located in the narrow band hit by the most intense shadow. For a few minutes, the sky darkens as if it were sunrise or sunset, allowing the appearance of brighter stars and planets, as well as making the solar corona, the atmosphere around the Sun, visible to the naked eye.

Finally, the hybrid solar eclipse is the rarest. Its appearance varies as the Moon's shadow travels across the Earth: at certain times it manifests as annular, and at others, it transforms into total. This change is attributed to the curvature of the Earth and the variation in distance between the Moon and observers along the eclipse trajectory.

Details of the next solar eclipse

On the following Wednesday (the 12th), the Sun may be seen completely covered in the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and a small part of Portugal. The partial phase will be visible in the rest of Europe, northern Africa, and the eastern part of North America.

This event begins at 12:34 PM (Brasília time) at an isolated point in the Arctic Ocean, north of Siberia, when the lunar penumbra first reaches the Earth, initiating the partial phase. The spectacle ends just over four hours and twenty minutes later, at 4:55 PM, in an area of the Mediterranean Sea, west of Italy.

The most notable moment should occur near the west coast of Iceland, where totality may last up to two minutes and eighteen seconds. In Spain, which has not witnessed a total solar eclipse on its continental territory for over one hundred years, the total darkness will be shorter, approaching one minute.

During the summer and rainy seasons, mosquito activity sharply increases. During rains, water accumulation around residential buildings promotes mass insect reproduction. The situation reaches a point where windows and doors must be closed in the evening, otherwise, a swarm of mosquitoes enters the house. Usually, people use sprays, coils, and other repellents for protection against them.

However, it turns out that mosquitoes can be repelled without resorting to coils and sprays. If you are looking for a natural way to combat insects while simultaneously increasing greenery at home, some special plants can help you. The strong aroma or natural oils released by the leaves and flowers of these plants are capable of repelling mosquitoes and other pests. The advantage is that many of these plants are easy to grow in pots, which allows you to improve the appearance of the balcony, window, or garden while helping to protect against mosquitoes.

Mosquito Repellent Plants:

1. Tulsi: The Tulsi plant is widely found in Indian homes. Its strong smell is disliked by mosquitoes. Since Tulsi does not require much space for planting, it can be placed in a pot near the balcony or window.

2. Lavender: The next plant on the list is lavender. The lavender plant with purple flowers decorates the garden, and its special aroma helps repel mosquitoes due to its natural oils. Since this scent is very pleasing to people, it is also a good option for home decoration.

3. Lemon Balm: Lemon Balm belongs to the mint family. It contains the compound citronellal, which is used in many natural insecticides. Its leaves emit a citrus aroma.

4. Rosemary: Rosemary is used to enhance the taste and aroma of food, but it has another advantage. Its strong smell can help repel mosquitoes and some other pests. It is also easy to grow in pots.

5. Mint: Mint is also included in this list. Its pungent smell is disliked by mosquitoes and many other insects. Since this plant spreads quickly, it is better to keep it in a pot rather than planting it directly in the ground.

6. Lemongrass: Lemongrass is known for its citrus scent. It contains elements such as citronella, so it is considered a natural mosquito repellent plant. It can be planted in the garden or on the home balcony.

7. Citronella: The essential oil of citronella, used in many mosquito products, is associated with this plant. Its unique aroma can help repel mosquitoes. If you have space in the garden, you can plant it.

8. Marigolds: The yellow and orange flowers of marigolds brighten up any garden. Marigold flowers are used to decorate the home during holidays and on any special occasion. Furthermore, their special aroma can help repel many pests, providing an additional benefit beyond decoration.

9. Peppermint: Peppermint is usually associated with cats, but this plant is also on the list of mosquito-repelling plants. If you want to grow something unusual in the garden, you can try this.

10. Garlic: The strong smell of garlic can bother not only people but also many pests. It can be planted in the vegetable garden along with other vegetables.

German designer Aaron Moser created the Symbios buoy system, designed for ecologically sustainable cultivation and farming of seaweed. Initially, this concept was presented as part of a bachelor's thesis at the Bauhaus University in Weimar.

The project aimed to study how product design can contribute to creating a more sustainable and environmentally sensitive form of oceanic farming. The resulting structure, Symbios, is a network of interconnected buoys that control the depth of seaweed growth.

During warm months, air chambers allow cultivation lines to descend into cooler, deeper waters, which helps maintain favorable growing conditions throughout the year. This enables continuous farming regardless of the season.

The system solves the problem of constant monitoring of marine crops faced by aquaculture farmers. Sensors in the buoy system collect environmental data and transmit it to a digital display, allowing farmers to remotely monitor conditions.

To ensure the durability and sustainability of the equipment, the buoy system is designed modularly, which facilitates the replacement or repair of individual components. The development of Symbios involved extensive research and consultation with experts in marine biology, engineering, and seaweed farming.

The goal of Symbios is to increase yield while supporting marine biodiversity by maintaining continuous seaweed growth, instead of seasonal harvesting and replanting of crops. The design received recognition with the Green Concept Award.