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Heat’s effects on police and judges

High temperatures reduce emotional control and increase aggression in police officers, resulting in more dismissals of hot-day arrests. Judges also make harsher decisions on hotter-than-average days, issuing longer prison sentences and higher fines.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateMay 14, 2024

Bleaching of coral reefs shows severe ocean circulation changes

The study reveals that coral reefs are suffering from widespread bleaching and deaths, with the highest temperatures recorded in 175 countries. The researchers found that heat transport from the tropics to the polar regions has accelerated, causing sea surface temperature increases and exacerbating global warming feedbacks.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalOxford Open Climate Change·TypeObservational study·DateMay 9, 2024

Study led by ORNL informs climate resilience strategies in urban, rural areas

A new study led by ORNL provides valuable insights into vegetation resilience in response to extreme heat events, informing pathways for climate mitigation. The analysis found that impervious surfaces, moisture conditions, and type of land cover affect vegetation resilience, with preservation and enhancement of vegetation contributing ...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 8, 2024

How light can vaporize water without the need for heat

MIT researchers demonstrate that light can break water molecules away from the surface and float them into the air, causing evaporation in the absence of heat. This phenomenon has significant implications for understanding cloud formation and precipitation, as well as designing new industrial processes such as solar-powered desalination.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 24, 2024

A new type of cooling for quantum simulators

A new technique has been developed to cool quantum simulators, allowing for more stable experiments and better insights into quantum effects. By splitting a Bose-Einstein condensate in a specific way, researchers can reduce temperature fluctuations and enhance the performance of quantum simulators.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2024

Cool paint coatings help pedestrians feel up to 1.5 degrees Celsius cooler in urban setting, NTU Singapore field study finds

A study by NTU Singapore researchers found that cool paint coatings can reduce city heat by up to 2 degrees Celsius, improving pedestrian thermal comfort levels. The coatings reflected sunlight and absorbed less heat, resulting in cooler temperatures and reduced indoor air-conditioning energy consumption.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalSustainable Cities and Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 25, 2024

Study: Historic racial covenants in property deeds linked to disparities in exposure to dangerous heat

A study by Rebecca Walker found that places with historic racial covenants had lower temperatures, more tree canopy, and less impervious surfaces, indicating reduced exposure to extreme heat. This is particularly pronounced in middle- and lower-income neighborhoods where the covenants have a significant impact.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalLandscape and Urban Planning·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 5, 2024

New technique developed for measurement of temperature distribution inside single catalyst particle

Researchers developed imaging technique with 800nm spatial resolution to measure three-dimensional temperature distribution inside industrial zeolite-catalyst particles. The technique revealed utilization of active sites and evolutions of reaction intermediates during MTO reactions.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMar 5, 2024

Hourly heat exposure and acute ischemic stroke

A study of 82,000 patients found a strong association between hourly heat exposure and the onset of acute ischemic stroke. The findings suggest that high ambient temperatures may contribute to an increased risk of cerebrovascular events under global warming.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateFeb 28, 2024

Butterflies could lose spots as climate warms

Research by University of Exeter scientists found that females with warmer temperatures have fewer spots, challenging long-held views on the reason for this variation. The study suggests that butterflies adapt their camouflage based on temperature, which could lead to a decrease in spotting over time.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalEcology and Evolution·DateJan 17, 2024

We are much more sensitive to temperature than we ever thought: A Eurac Research study reveals

A Eurac Research study conducted in the terraXcube simulator found that humans can perceive temperature differences as small as 0.92 degrees Celsius. This sensitivity suggests an inherent characteristic of human perception, influencing our thoughts and actions. The study's results have implications for energy sustainability in buildings.

SourceEurac Research·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 10, 2024

Some mosquitoes like it hot

New research found significant differences in heat tolerance among mosquito populations, with some more resilient to heat waves than others. Climate factors such as precipitation and humidity play a crucial role in determining their thermal limits, which may impact disease transmission.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 8, 2024

Air conditioning has reduced mortality due to high temperatures in Spain by one third

A study published in Environment International found that air conditioning reduced heat-related mortality in Spain by up to 31.5%, while heating systems contributed to a decrease of 50.8% in extreme cold-related fatalities. However, the effect may be attenuated by an ageing population.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalEnvironment International·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 18, 2023

Tropical ice cores offer deeper insights into Earth’s temperature record

Scientists at Ohio State University discovered that tropical ice cores can provide accurate measurements of surface global mean temperature. The study found that the temperature in the middle and upper troposphere cooled by 7.35 degrees Celsius during the Earth's glacial period, shedding light on new theories about climate dynamics.

SourceOhio State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Thermal impact of 3D stacking photonic and electronic chips

The study found that 3D integration can lead to significant heat spreading and crosstalk, reducing heater efficiency by up to -43.3% and increasing thermal crosstalk by up to +44.4%. However, optimizing design variables, such as spacing between µbumps and interconnect linewidth, can minimize the thermal penalty of 3D integration.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Optical Microsystems·DateDec 7, 2023

Plant diversity stabilizes soil temperature

Researchers found that high plant diversity acts as a buffer against fluctuations in soil temperature, protecting ecosystems and agricultural productivity. Plant diversity increased shading and organic carbon content, reducing heat conduction and stabilizing soil temperature.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2023

Unlocking climate puzzle: Study reveals hidden physics in quasi-linear temperature-radiation link

A recent study explores the complex links between surface temperature and outgoing longwave radiation, uncovering hidden mechanisms shaping Earth's climate. The research reveals that vertical convective energy transport acts as an atmospheric mixer, suppressing nonlinearity between OLR and surface temperature.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateDec 5, 2023

Wind of (climate) change

Researchers discovered that rising temperatures trigger katabatic winds in Himalayan glaciers, cooling the air and preserving surrounding ecosystems. The team used climate models to demonstrate this phenomenon across the Himalayan range, suggesting that some glaciers may have a chance to 'save' themselves by reacting to global warming.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeObservational study·DateDec 4, 2023

New research explores future limits of survival and livability in extreme heat conditions

A new study explores the future limits of survival and livability in extreme heat conditions, finding that current estimates may not accurately represent impacts on human health. The research provides a range of safe temperatures based on factors like humidity, age, activity level, and sun exposure.

SourceArizona State University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 30, 2023

New cooling ceramic can enhance energy efficiency for the construction sector and help combat global warming—City University of Hong Kong research

Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have developed a passive radiative cooling material that achieves high-performance optical properties. The cooling ceramic reduces thermal load, provides stable cooling performance, and can be used in various building applications.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 10, 2023

Study reveals factors affecting response of temperate lakes to atmospheric warming

A recent study investigating the thermal response of temperate lakes to atmospheric warming found that local climate, land cover, geomorphology, and water transparency play significant roles in shaping lake responses. Clear, cold, and deep lakes are more responsive to warming, while those with nutrient pollution exhibit lower sensitivity.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 31, 2023

Does urbanization trigger plant evolution?

Researchers found that urbanized creeping woodsorrel plants exhibit red leaves, which thrive in urban areas due to high stress tolerance. Genome-wide genetic analyses revealed multiple evolutionary origins of the red-leaf variant from ancestral green-leaved plants.

SourceChiba University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2023

Pivotal breakthrough in adapting perovskite solar cells for renewable energy at City University of Hong Kong; published in Science

The CityU innovation has dramatically enhanced the thermal robustness of perovskite solar cells, retaining over 90% of efficiency even under high temperatures. This breakthrough could significantly broaden the utilisation of these cells and contribute substantially to combating the global climate crisis.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2023