Could El Niño mean there are no Atlantic hurricanes this year?

Key Takeaways

September saw zero Atlantic hurricanes for the first time in over 30 years.

El Niño is creating high wind shear, which disrupts hurricane formation.

The 2026 season could be the first without a hurricane in the satellite era.

The Eastern North Pacific has remained active despite the Atlantic's quiet season.

For the first time in over three decades, the Atlantic basin has seen no hurricane activity throughout September, typically the peak of the season. Experts suggest that a strong El Niño event is the primary driver, creating wind shear that prevents storm development.

With the season nearing its end on November 30, meteorologists are considering the possibility of a hurricane-free year, an event not recorded since the satellite era began. While tropical storms have formed, none have intensified into hurricanes.

Related summaries

SciencebiotechOct 5, 2026

Manganese-doped carbon nanodots as next-gen MRI contrast agents

Researchers at CIC biomaGUNE have identified manganese-doped carbon nanodots as a promising alternative to traditional MRI contrast agents. These innovative compounds offer enhanced tissue differentiation and improved diagnostic visibility. The study, led by Lucia Cardo and Maurizio Prato, suggests that these nanodots could represent the next generation of medical imaging technology, potentially offering safer and more effective clinical analysis.

MRI nanotechnology medical-imaging biomedical-research innovation

SciencebiotechOct 5, 2026

Nobel Prize awarded for revealing inner workings of the brain

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel for their pioneering work in optogenetics. This revolutionary technique uses light-sensitive proteins from algae to control neural activity, allowing scientists to map brain circuits with unprecedented precision. By enabling researchers to switch specific neural pathways on or off, optogenetics has opened new doors for understanding complex brain functions, including memories and behaviors. The technology is already being explored for clinical applications, such as restoring vision in patients with degenerative eye diseases.

Nobel Prize Neuroscience Optogenetics Medicine Brain Research

SciencespaceOct 5, 2026

Scientists Uncover Recurrent Patterns in Chaotic Quantum Behavior

Physicists have made a breakthrough in understanding complex quantum systems, which typically lose their initial state patterns due to rapid interactions. By utilizing effective phase space mathematical maps, researchers can now identify and track regular and chaotic motion within these systems. This discovery provides a new framework for analyzing quantum dynamics. It allows scientists to predict behaviors that were previously considered too chaotic to model, opening doors for advancements in quantum computing and material science.

quantum physics chaos theory quantum mechanics mathematical modeling science

Key Takeaways

Recommended for you