August 2026 ties record as global temperatures reach 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels

 August 2026 was the joint warmest month ever recorded, tying with July 2023, as global temperatures reached 1.65°C above the estimated pre-industrial level, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

The month was the first since November 2025 in which the global average surface air temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The new figures also point to exceptional warming of the oceans. Average sea surface temperatures over the extra-polar oceans reached a record high for August, tying with March 2024. The highest daily global sea surface temperature ever recorded was also reached in August, at 21.11°C.

C3S, which is implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), attributed the warming to human-driven climate change caused by the continued burning of fossil fuels, combined with rapidly rising sea temperatures in the equatorial Pacific linked to strong El Niño conditions.

The warming Pacific is already influencing conditions on land. In Indonesia, the combination of hot and dry conditions has contributed to an environment favourable for the intensification of seasonal wildfires, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.

Europe also experienced an exceptional summer.

Western Europe recorded its warmest summer on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2003. Heatwaves continued into August after an extended period of extreme heat that began in May.

Dry conditions affected large parts of western, central and eastern Europe, with severe drought reported in France, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Romania and Serbia. Several major rivers, including the Rhine, Danube, Southern Bug and Dnieper, recorded exceptionally low flows.

Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at ECMWF, said the latest figures show how climate change is increasingly driving extremes across the atmosphere and oceans.

“August 2026 was a remarkable month in the global climate record,” Burgess said. She noted that the combination of record global temperatures, exceptionally warm oceans and western Europe’s warmest summer on record was increasingly affecting communities, economies and ecosystems.

The August figures come as scientists continue to monitor the developing El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific and their potential effects on temperatures and extreme weather around the world.

Source: Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), September 2026. Data source: ERA5.

When AI Can See Your Brand but Still Won’t Recommend It

AI is changing the way people use search engines to discover information and businesses. Instead of simply typing a query into Google and choosing from a list of links, people are increasingly asking AI systems for direct answers and recommendations.

This creates a new challenge for businesses: being visible online is no longer enough — AI needs to understand a brand, its expertise and credibility well enough to recommend it. The big unanswered issue is measurement, because businesses may influence a customer’s decision through an AI-generated answer without knowing that it happened.

1. Is AI changing how people discover brands? AI-generated answers are becoming part of the early research process. People may ask AI for recommendations before they ever use Google, visit a website or click an advert. 

2. Is being visible enough?
No. A brand may have plenty of content but still be left out when AI produces a shortlist or recommendation. 

3. What is the “dark funnel”? It is the part of the customer journey that businesses cannot easily see or attribute. Someone can receive an AI recommendation, consider a company and even make a decision without creating the usual trail of clicks, website visits or form submissions. 

4. Can this influence be measured?
This is one of the biggest unresolved questions. How can businesses measure whether AI mentioned them, recommended them or influenced a customer. Marketers may have to look at patterns and trends rather than expect perfect attribution. 

5. What makes AI recommend one brand over another?
 Authority, credibility, clear positioning, useful content, third-party references, reviews, case studies and other trust signals. Being understood and trusted may matter as much as being ranked. 

6. Does this make PR more important?
If AI systems draw on information from across the web, credible media coverage and other independent mentions could become part of how a brand establishes authority. 

7. Does AI mean businesses should simply produce more content?
Not necessarily. Original, human content may become more valuable as generic AI-generated material fills the internet. Expertise, experience and distinctive perspectives can give content something that automated material may lack. 

8. Is AI search really a completely new game?
AI visibility is being overstated because AI answers still depend on content quality and distribution. In that view, the fundamentals of good marketing have not disappeared. 

9. What happens when AI gets it wrong?
Accuracy is another concern. AI can misunderstand or misrepresent a company, so appearing in an AI-generated answer is not automatically beneficial. The issue is not just visibility but how accurately a brand is represented. 

10. What should marketers do now?
There should be a shift from thinking only about rankings and clicks to building clear, credible and consistent authority across a brand's digital presence. 

I Wrote to Check on Him, and His Reply Reminded Me Why I Do Science Journalism

Every so often, I find myself going through my email, deleting old messages and thinking about people I have not spoken to in a while. Sometimes I stop and wonder how they are doing and, if I can, I reach out.

This time, I found myself writing to my former director, Boyce Rensberger, who led the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship when I was at MIT in 2008. It has been many years, and he is one of the many people who played a part in shaping my journey in science journalism. I simply wanted to know how he and his wife, Linda, were doing.

I wasn't expecting anything profound in his reply. But then he wrote:

“I think of you often and marvel that you are still engaged in the great work of health journalism, and in one of my favorite parts of the world.”

And then came the words that really stayed with me:

“You are one of the best investments the Knight Fellowship ever made.”

I honestly had to sit with that for a while.

Science/health journalism is not always an easy road, particularly here. There are many moments when you question yourself, wonder whether anyone is paying attention, or ask whether it is worth continuing to push for evidence, clarity and good journalism when so many other forces seem to be working against it.

I have been doing this for a long time now. Since my time at MIT in 2008, I have continued to report on health and science, train journalists, build networks (e.g www.hejnu.ug), and create spaces where scientists and journalists can talk to each other and make science understandable to the people who need it  “so that my grandmother in the village can understand it.” That is also why we started the media science cafés in 2014: to bring scientists and journalists together, break down the jargon, and make scientific knowledge more accessible to the public.

Sometimes I forget how far that journey has been. So Boyce's words came at a very good time.

A reminder that the work we do can leave a mark, even when we don't see it immediately. A reminder that someone is watching. A reminder that perhaps that investment all those years ago was not wasted. Boyce reminded me why I keep going.

Thank you, Boyce. ❤️

And thank you to the Knight Science Journalism community for believing in me back in 2008.

Still here. Still asking questions. Still trying to make science matter to people.

Easter marked highest Bible engagement day in YouVersion history globally and across Sub-Saharan Africa

Easter 2026 became the most engaged day in the history of YouVersion, as millions of people worldwide turned to Scripture during Holy Week in what the platform described as a sustained global surge in Bible reading and reflection.

Across its Family of Apps, YouVersion recorded an average of 18.7 million people engaging with the Bible each day during Holy Week.

On Easter Sunday alone, engagement peaked at more than 21.6 million people, setting a new record for the holiday and becoming the highest single day of Bible engagement in the platform’s history. Notably, all ten of the highest engagement days ever recorded on YouVersion occurred in 2026.

The growth was not limited to a single region. Global Bible engagement during Holy Week rose by 15 percent compared to the previous year, with every region reporting increases. Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the strongest growth, rising by 37 percent year over year, while Latin America saw a 22 percent increase. These gains represented millions of additional readers engaging with Scripture during the Easter period.

In Africa, Easter-related engagement reached particularly significant levels. Easter Sunday ranked as the number one Bible engagement day in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. South Africa saw its highest engagement on Good Friday, while in Kenya Palm Sunday led as the top day, with Easter Sunday coming second. The patterns reflected how Holy Week traditions continued to shape digital Scripture reading habits across the continent.

The momentum also extended to accessibility-focused platforms. Bible App Lite, designed for offline and low-data environments, was ranked the number one most downloaded app in nine African countries on Easter Sunday, including Uganda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The trend underscored growing reliance on mobile Scripture access in regions where connectivity constraints remain significant.

Scripture engagement during Easter also reflected familiar thematic patterns. In previous years, John 15:13—“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”—was the most engaged verse across African countries during Holy Week. In 2026, the most read verse shifted to Matthew 28:6: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay,” highlighting the central Easter message of resurrection.

Joseph Gachira, YouVersion’s Kenya Hub Leader, said the surge reflected a broader regional shift in Bible engagement. He noted that interest in Scripture had continued to grow steadily across Africa, especially during Easter when both committed Christians and those exploring the meaning of the season turned to the Bible for guidance, encouragement, and understanding.

He said the rising engagement across the continent was a reminder of how deeply people were connecting with Scripture at significant moments of the Christian calendar.

The YouVersion Family of Apps provides access to the Bible in more than 2,400 languages and 3,750 translations, alongside devotional content and Bible reading plans developed with global ministry partners. During Holy Week, featured video content from The Chosen, BibleProject, and the Museum of the Bible also helped bring the Easter story to life for millions of users.

Bobby Gruenewald, founder and CEO of YouVersion, said Easter had historically remained one of the highest engagement periods each year, adding that the continued growth reflected a deepening global interest in Scripture. He noted that the Easter season remained a key moment when people reflected on themes of sacrifice, hope, and renewal.

As Easter 2026 concluded, the data pointed to a broader trend: Bible engagement was not only increasing during religious holidays but showing sustained growth across regions and platforms throughout the year, with Sub-Saharan Africa emerging as one of the fastest-growing centers of digital Scripture engagement.

Africa’s Digital Ambitions Face Transmission and Fragmentation Risks

Africa is increasingly united in its ambition to build a competitive, AI-enabled digital economy. Governments and investors across the continent are scaling digital infrastructure, recognising data centres as the backbone of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and modern digital services.

The opportunity is significant. Africa’s data centre market is projected to grow from US$3.49 billion in 2024 to US$6.81 billion by 2030, while the AI market is expected to expand from US$4.51 billion in 2025 to over US$16.5 billion by 2030. Together, these sectors underpin a broader US$1.5 trillion digital economy potential by the end of the decade.

Yet structural weaknesses threaten this trajectory. Transmission—both of power and connectivity—remains one of the continent’s most persistent barriers. Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive for West Africa at Africa Data Centres, argues that while power generation exists, outdated grids and weak fibre networks prevent effective distribution.

“Building data centres is the easy part,” he says. “If connectivity is unreliable or power transmission is weak, these facilities become stranded assets.”

Fragmentation compounds the challenge. Divergent regulations, data localisation rules, and uneven digital maturity across countries raise costs, limit scale, and undermine cross-border investment. Instead of a unified market, Africa risks developing isolated digital hubs that struggle to compete globally.

While momentum is growing—from Egypt and Kenya to Nigeria and South Africa—progress will depend on coordination. Africa’s cloud market is projected to reach US$45 billion by 2031, and fintech US$65 billion by 2030, but realising this potential requires aligned policies, shared standards, and regional collaboration.

“The question is not just data centres,” Dr. Ranganath notes. “It is how Africa builds a complete digital ecosystem—power, networks, skills, and markets working together.”

Africa’s digital future is within reach. But without fixing transmission fundamentals and overcoming fragmentation, the continent’s AI and digital ambitions risk falling short of their promise.

Africa’s AI Moment Arrives as Egypt Takes Center Stage

For years, conversations about artificial intelligence have been dominated by Silicon Valley, Europe, and East Asia. But that narrative is shifting fast. Africa is no longer watching from the sidelines—it is building, scaling, and increasingly shaping how AI is deployed for real-world impact. That momentum comes into sharp focus this February as Egypt hosts Ai Everything Middle East & Africa (MEA) Egypt 2026, the world’s first all-AI industry summit and showcase of the year.

Held on 11–12 February 2026 at the Egypt International Exhibition Center, the event places Africa firmly in the global AI spotlight. It arrives at a defining moment: artificial intelligence is projected to contribute more than US$1.5 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2030, driven by rapid adoption in public services, finance, health, telecoms, and industrial systems.

Egypt as a Gateway for Africa’s AI Ambitions

Egypt’s role as host is symbolic and strategic. As a bridge linking Africa, the Arab world, and the Gulf, the country has positioned itself as a regional AI hub—ranking first in Africa for Government AI Readiness and third in the Arab region for AI Resilience. Backed by its Second National AI Strategy, Egypt is investing heavily in cloud infrastructure, digital public services, and Arabic-first AI models tailored to local realities.

By convening policymakers, investors, startups, and global technology giants, Ai Everything MEA Egypt is designed to move AI beyond policy documents into deployment—turning ambition into economic value across African markets.

More than 350 AI enterprises and startups from over 30 countries will showcase solutions spanning cloud computing, cybersecurity, data centers, fintech, healthcare, mobility, and public services. Global leaders such as Microsoft, AWS, Cisco, HPE, and Capgemini will share the stage with African and regional innovators—including Egypt’s own Olimi AI, whose multilingual agents understand Arabic dialects across North Africa and the Gulf.

This blend matters. Africa’s AI story is not about importing technology wholesale, but about localising intelligence—building systems that reflect African languages, institutions, and social contexts.

Africa’s Startup Powerhouse

Egypt now leads Africa’s startup ecosystem, accounting for 31% of total continental startup funding in the first half of 2025 alone. That surge reflects a broader trend: African entrepreneurs are leveraging AI to solve practical challenges—from healthcare delivery to digital payments and climate resilience.

At Ai Everything MEA Egypt, startups from across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East will demonstrate AI in action, reinforcing Africa’s role as both a market and a source of innovation.

Beyond technology showcases, the summit tackles deeper questions: how can African countries build sovereign AI systems, retain data control, develop talent, and ensure AI serves the public good? Leaders from the World Bank, UN agencies, development banks, and global AI firms will confront the realities of compute power, financing, ethics, and inclusion.

As Africa accelerates into the AI era, these conversations are no longer theoretical—they are urgent.

Ai Everything MEA Egypt 2026 signals something larger than an industry event. It marks Africa’s transition from AI consumer to AI architect. With rising investment, expanding infrastructure, and a new generation of innovators, the continent is staking its claim in the global AI economy.

The future of artificial intelligence will not be built in one region alone—and Africa, increasingly, is helping to shape it.

“We Found Those Beliefs and Followed Them”: Karamoja Elders Push to End Open Defecation

In the sweeping plains of Karamoja, elders are urging communities to abandon open defecation, a long-standing practice they say is harming public health but remains deeply rooted in cultural beliefs.

For generations, myths have shaped people’s attitudes toward toilets. Pregnant women are warned that using a latrine could cause miscarriage. Families fear “mixing waste” with in-laws. And in some communities, using the same toilet as everyone else is considered awkward or disrespectful.

Despite years of interventions—sensitization campaigns, construction of toilets, and behaviour-change programs—many of these facilities remain unused.

Joseph Angolere, a member of the Karamoja Elders Association in Kangole Town Council, said most communities still lack proper sanitation facilities and struggle with both cultural barriers and environmental challenges.

“Our soil is too loose. Only those with money can construct proper toilets,” Angolere explained. “The ones we build temporarily often collapse during the rainy season.”

But even where toilets exist, many remain empty.

Angolere said a lingering myth keeps people away from shared latrines: “They fear piling their waste in the same latrine with other family members, especially the in-laws.”

In Naitakwae Parish, he recalled, partners constructed toilets—but residents later turned them into shelters for themselves and goats during the rainy season.

Still, he believes progress is slowly taking hold. “Health programs have created awareness, and people are gradually adopting the use of the facilities,” he said, adding that elders are intensifying efforts to persuade households to abandon open defecation.

Another elder, Timothy Adiaka, has also noticed change—small, but meaningful. “People no longer defecate within the gates like before,” he said. “In those days, feces were everywhere. Now, with sensitization, the compounds are clean from such dirty things.” Adiaka is hopeful the practice will fade as more children attend school.

For many residents, the cultural weight of tradition runs deep.
Anna Mary Namer, from Lolain Cell, said, “We grew up knowing that defecating in the toilet is an abomination.” She explained that women fear the smell from toilets could “enter their reproductive system,” and pregnant mothers worry about “losing a baby in the process of pushing the feaces.”

“We found those beliefs and just followed,” Namer added. “But slowly, we are also embracing toilets.”Still, practical barriers persist. “Termites disturb us when we use local materials. Even digging a pit is a challenge,” she said.

For the younger generation, awareness is increasing but frustration remains.
Joyce Akiteng, a youth from Nadunget Town Council, said many people simply do not know how to use a toilet properly. “Instead of dropping the feaces inside, they smear them all over the floor,” she lamented

“Most of these latrines—you're welcomed with feaces right at the doorway. Now tell me why I should not go to the bush!” She worries the poor use of latrines can spread bacterial infections “more than defecating in an open space.”

According to Ministry of Health guidelines, every household must have a latrine. Yet in Karamoja, about 70% of communities still practice open defecation. A Karamoja Resilience Support Unit report found 64.3% of households lacked latrines entirely. Amudat District had the lowest coverage—just 2.6 percent—while Kaabong, at 69.8 percent, fared best.

The report concluded that cultural beliefs remain a major obstacle—and called for innovative, community-led strategies to improve latrine ownership and use.

But for elders like Angolere, the mission is simpler: keep talking, keep persuading, and keep challenging old myths.

“We are not giving up,” he said. “People are changing—slowly, yes—but they are changing.”