February 2025 - Page 9 of 11

Feb82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Warns World Cup 2026 Stadiums Face Extreme Heat Risk

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A new study has raised serious concerns about the impact of extreme heat on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that nearly 90 percent of the tournament’s stadiums could face dangerous temperatures. Researchers found that 14 of the 16 host venues across the United States, Canada, and Mexico are at risk of exceeding critical heat stress levels, potentially affecting players, officials, and spectators. The research, conducted by Brunel University London, Queen’s University Belfast, and other institutions, analyzed 20 years of weather data and found that heat stress levels could surpass the 28°C threshold set by governing bodies as unsafe for play. If the summer of 2026 is hotter than average, as climate trends suggest, at least nine stadiums could see these extreme conditions for half the to...

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Los Angeles Fires Leave Lasting Impact on Health, Environment, and Community

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

The flames may have died down, but the aftermath of Los Angeles’ devastating wildfires continues to affect public health, the environment, and daily life. Experts at a recent UCLA Fielding School of Public Health event warned that the city is facing an epochal disaster that has transformed air, soil, and institutions. Air Quality and Health Risks Even miles away from the burn zones, smoke and toxic particles have impacted the air. PM2.5 fine particulate matter from wildfires can lodge deep in the lungs, causing heart and respiratory issues, said Yifang Zhu, a professor of environmental health sciences. Even when air looks clear, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may linger, making exposure dangerous. Michael Jerrett, an expert in climate and public health, highlighted the severe h...

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

January Breaks Heat Record Despite La Niña, Cooling Predictions

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

The world witnessed yet another record-breaking warm month in January 2025, defying expectations of a cooler year due to a developing La Niña and a frigid winter in the United States, according to data from the European climate service Copernicus. Unprecedented January Heat Copernicus reported that January 2025 was 0.09°C hotter than January 2024, the previous warmest January on record, and 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels. This marks the 18th month out of the last 19 that global temperatures have touched or exceeded the 1.5°C warming limit set by international climate agreements. Despite La Niña’s typical cooling influence, global temperatures have not dropped as expected, raising concerns among climate scientists. Scientists Warn of Accelerating Global Warming A new stud...

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Public Investment in Climate Finance & Care Services Essential for Adaptation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

Climate finance plays a crucial role in addressing climate change, but one often-overlooked sector is care services the work of caring for people, both paid and unpaid, largely performed by women. As climate change intensifies, caregiving demands rise, yet infrastructure and resources remain inadequate. Why Care Services Matter in Climate Adaptation Extreme heat, floods, wildfires, and storms disproportionately impact vulnerable groups like young children and the elderly, increasing the need for healthcare, childcare, and elder care. However, most disaster preparedness plans fail to prioritize care services, leaving caregivers especially in urban informal settlements struggling with limited access to clean water, energy, and healthcare. Despite the growing urgency, climate finance...

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A vast majority of earthquakes occur within the infamous Ring of Fire, a seismic hotspot encircling the Pacific Ocean. Yet, when these earthquakes strike, the areas that experience the most intense shaking aren’t always the ones that suffer the worst destruction. Recent research has uncovered a hidden factor contributing to earthquake devastation: migration patterns and housing vulnerabilities. The 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake: A Case Study Taiwan’s catastrophic Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999, which claimed over 2,400 lives, presented an unexpected pattern of destruction. Contrary to expectations, the worst damage was not in the bustling city centers but in the suburbs and outer regions. Similar trends have been observed in earthquakes that hit China, Chile, and Nepal, raising questions about...

Feb62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Hidden Risk Behind Earthquake Destruction: How Migration Shapes Disaster Impact

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

A new study has uncovered a hidden factor behind the devastating impact of earthquakes in suburban areas migration. Researchers at the University of Washington found that workers moving from rural regions to city outskirts often live in low-quality housing, making them more vulnerable to destruction when a major quake strikes. The study, published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, analyzed the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan, which killed over 2,400 people. Surprisingly, the most severe damage was not in city centers but in suburban areas where migrants had settled. Similar patterns were observed in past earthquakes in China, Chile, and Nepal. Lead researcher Tzu-Hsin Karen Chen explained that many migrants do not officially update their residence, leading to underestim...

Feb62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Finds Greenland Ice 930 million cubic meters Fracturing at Alarming Rate

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

Scientists have discovered that Greenland’s ice sheet has developed 930 million cubic meters of crevasses in just five years equivalent to a Great Pyramid of Giza-sized crack forming every few days. This rapid fracturing, particularly in fast-moving glaciers, could trigger a feedback loop that accelerates ice loss and raises global sea levels. A new study by researchers from the University of Florida, Durham University, and other institutions analyzed satellite imagery from 2016 to 2021, marking the first large-scale, multi-year assessment of Greenland’s crevasse formations. Automated machine learning techniques were used to track these changes, as manual methods proved too dangerous and time-consuming. Findings show uneven crevasse activity across the ice sheet, with some regions es...

Feb62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Arctic Heatwave North Pole Temperatures Soar 20°C Above Normal, Pushing Ice to Melting Point

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

In a dramatic climate event, temperatures at the North Pole surged more than 20°C above average on Sunday, surpassing the melting threshold for ice. According to European and U.S. weather models, regions north of Svalbard, Norway, had already experienced an 18°C temperature anomaly on Saturday, bringing actual readings dangerously close to 0°C. By Sunday, the anomaly had exceeded 20°C, marking one of the most extreme winter warming events recorded in the Arctic. “This was a very extreme winter warming event,” said Mika Rantanen, a scientist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute. “Probably not the most extreme ever observed, but still at the upper edge of what can happen in the Arctic.” Scientists attribute this rapid warming to a combination of human-induced climate change and r...

Feb62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Severe Water Shortages in 2024 Spark Warnings for Future Drought Preparedness

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

The U.S. Northeast, long considered safe from severe water shortages, faced an unprecedented drought in the second half of 2024, forcing major cities to impose water restrictions and raising alarms about the region’s preparedness for future crises. After a summer of record-breaking heat and minimal rainfall, states like New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania saw reservoirs drop to critical levels. Residents in New York City and Boston were urged to conserve water, while Philadelphia struggled with saltwater intrusion into its drinking supply as the Delaware River’s flow weakened. Wildfires, once rare in the region, erupted across parched landscapes, further underscoring the severity of the drought. Experts warn that this crisis is not an isolated event. As global temperatures rise...

Feb62025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Advances Biomedical Research with Key Facilities and Partnerships

Breaking News, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

India has taken a significant step forward in biomedical research with the inauguration of its first-ever Ferret Research Facility, the launch of the GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data repository, and a pivotal technology transfer agreement, all aimed at strengthening its role in global health security and advancing research in maternal and child health. The groundbreaking event, held on February 3, 2025, at the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) in Faridabad, Haryana, was led by Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Director General of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) and Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). First Ferret Research Facility: Boosting Disease Research The newly inaugurated THSTI Ferret Research Facility marks a significant milesto...