As wildfires ravage the dry California landscape, scientists at the University of Hawaii have created a new satellite/computer tool to help keep tabs on fires and identify a blaze within minutes of the time it starts, even in extremely remote regions.

As the Eastern U.S. continues to suffer from this summer's record-breaking drought, scientists are scrambling to find ways to better understand what happens to forests and crops during such extended dry spells. Researchers from the University of Montana are offering a new tool to identify what areas are first affected by a lack of rainfall and keep watch on regions hardest hit.