Spectacular stars over Stonehenge and more — August’s best science images

Greek tragedy. In mid-August, ferocious wildfires reached the outskirts of Athens after spreading from the nearby town of Varnavas, where the blaze is thought to have been triggered by a faulty electrical pole. Homes, hospitals and monasteries across the region were forced to evacuate, as the flames engulfed buildings and damaged 10,000 hectares of land. Although wildfires in Greece are a yearly occurrence, scientists say they are becoming more intense and frequent because of climate change. The country experienced its hottest June and July on record this year, with unparalleled heat drying out the land and creating the perfect conditions for fire to spread.