Machines can't always take the heat − two engineers explain the physics behind how heat waves threaten everything from cars to computers

People aren’t the only ones harmed by heat waves. The hotter it gets, the harder it is for machines to keep their cool.

Matthew T. Hughes, Postdoctoral Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) • conversation
Aug. 29, 2023 ~9 min

Saving lives from extreme heat: Lessons from the deadly 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave

A new report lays out steps communities can take to help their residents survive heat waves as the risk of dangerous temperatures rises.

Brian G. Henning, Professor of Philosophy and Environmental Studies, Gonzaga University • conversation
June 20, 2023 ~10 min


Planting more trees could reduce premature heat-related deaths in European cities by a third – new research

In 2015, 6,700 premature deaths were caused by urban heat – this can be reduced by a third by planting more trees.

Tamara Iungman, PhD researcher, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) • conversation
Feb. 1, 2023 ~8 min

Planting more trees could reduce premature deaths in European cities by a third – new research

In 2015, 6,700 premature deaths were caused by urban heat – this can be reduced by a third by planting more trees.

Tamara Iungman, PhD researcher, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) • conversation
Feb. 1, 2023 ~8 min

Landsat turns 50: How satellites revolutionized the way we see – and protect – the natural world

With decades of images and data from the same locations, these satellites can show changes over time, including deforestation, changes in waterways and how loss of trees corresponds to urban heat.

Stacy Morford, Environment + Climate Editor • conversation
July 21, 2022 ~7 min

Landsat at 50: How satellites revolutionized the way we see – and protect – the natural world

They’re crucial for tracking deforestation, pinpointing dangerous heat, and helping people respond to fires, floods and insidious risks that might not be obvious from the ground.

Stacy Morford, Environment + Climate Editor • conversation
July 21, 2022 ~7 min

Satellites zoom in on cities' hottest neighborhoods to help combat the urban heat island effect

Extreme heat waves are putting lives in danger, with some of the hottest urban neighborhoods 10 degrees hotter or more than their wealthier neighbors. Often, these are communities of color.

Daniel P. Johnson, Associate Professor of Geography, IUPUI • conversation
June 14, 2022 ~9 min

Satellites zoom in on cities' hottest neighborhoods, some 10+ degrees hotter, to help combat the urban heat island effect

Satellites like Landsat play a crucial role in helping cities prepare and respond to extreme heat, a leading weather-related killer.

Daniel P. Johnson, Associate Professor of Geography, IUPUI • conversation
June 14, 2022 ~9 min


Cities worldwide aren't adapting to climate change quickly enough

More than half of the world’s population lives in cities, and that share is growing. Rapid climate change could make many cities unlivable in the coming decades without major investments to adapt.

John Rennie Short, Professor, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
Oct. 20, 2021 ~9 min

Dangerous urban heat exposure has tripled since the 1980s, with the poor most at risk

Hot, humid population centers are becoming epicenters of heat risk as climate changes worsens. It’s calling into question the conventional wisdom that urbanization uniformly reduces poverty.

Kathryn Grace, Associate Professor of Geography, Environment and Society, University of Minnesota • conversation
Oct. 4, 2021 ~8 min

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