Wildfires are becoming more intense, frequent and destructive. This endangers lives, ecosystems and the climate itself. I’ve seen the effects first-hand in my home state of Montana.

But a groundbreaking new satellite could change how we fight back.

EDF scientists helped launch FireSat, a first-of-its-kind system capable of detecting wildfires in real time from space.

By identifying fires within minutes of ignition, FireSat could revolutionize how we protect communities, forests and the planet. Honored by TIME as one of the best inventions of 2025, this “firefighter in orbit” offers new hope in the face of a growing global threat. See how it works.