Sweaty, shirtless football players lying on the pitch have seldom raised eyebrows as they did last week when photographs of European players struggling to train in the heat sparked concerns over sweltering US summer temperatures at the World Cup. Scientists have long cautioned that extreme heat could disrupt sporting events. Last month, climate experts warned…
Lagos city is among African cities in the 50@50 initiative. PHOTO/UGC. By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT More than 50 cities across the world have joined UNEP’s new 50@50 activation to confront one of the world’s fastest-growing and deadliest climate risks: extreme heat. Launched on Heat Action Day, ahead of tomorrow’s World Environment Day, 50@50 brings together cities to…
Each animal species has an optimal temperature at which it can metabolise food and its immune system can best fight off pathogens. As our recent research shows, temperature directly affects the immune systems of vertebrates – regardless of how they moderate their own body temperatures. At first, slightly hotter temperatures actually give many animal immune…
Extreme heat is pushing global food and farming systems to the brink, threatening the livelihoods of over a billion people as rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves redefine how food is produced worldwide, a new UN report warns. The joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) finds…
Investors are becoming wary of AI companies’ spending on AI. (Graphic: Nicola Mawson | GenAI and Freepik) The concerns US investors have over the sustainability of hyperscalers’ artificial intelligence (AI) spending has crossed the Pacific, to not only weigh on Naspers subsidiary Tencent, but also on the JSE-listed company. These worries are reflected in the…
Insects make up to 90% of all animal species on the planet, and most of them can be found in the tropics, the regions around the equator. Yet we still know surprisingly little about how these species will cope with rising temperatures driven by climate change. I am an animal ecologist, studying how organisms respond…
People often think of a heatwave as a temporary event, a brutal week of sun that eventually breaks with a cool breeze. But as the climate changes globally, in parts of Africa, that level of heat is becoming a permanent part of the weather. Research shows Africa’s exposure to dangerous heat is rising rapidly. Until…
With the hot summer season approaching in South Africa, Samsung’s WindFree air conditioners will make a great addition to your home. They are engineered to deliver a comfortable climate, energy efficient and quiet, draft-free cooling, whether you’re trying to fall asleep or be productive in your home office. With intelligent airflow, adaptive cooling and a…
“When there’s no power, banks are closed, the whole system just stops,” Tehran restaurant owner Edo Mansourian said. “And now the country’s basically closed for the next few days.” The 72-year-old added that “working conditions have become frustrating and its hard to keep the place running.” Mohammadreza Tavakoli runs a hostel on the island of…
Barcelona recorded its hottest June in more than a century, the summit of Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors and hundreds of French schools closed on Tuesday as Europe sizzled in its first major heat wave of the summer. Health warnings remained in effect in several European countries. The worst heat was felt…
