Extreme heat is already creating “nonsurvivable” conditions for humans in heatwaves that have killed thousands and likely many more, according to new research that warns people are more susceptible to rising temperatures than first thought.
Scientists re-examined six extreme heatwaves between 2003 and 2024 and found that when temperature, humidity, and the body’s ability to stay cool were accounted for, all were potentially deadly for older people.
The absolute limit for humans to survive had been assumed to be a six-hour exposure to a wet bulb temperature of 35C (95F)—a measure that accounts for temperature and humidity but has rarely been observed on the planet at that level.
Heatwaves in Mecca (Saudi Arabia, 2024), Bangkok (Thailand, 2024), Phoenix (United States, 2023), Mount Isa (Australia, 2019), Larkana (Pakistan, 2015) and Seville (Spain, 2003) saw thousands of deaths, despite none approaching that wet bulb limit, the research found.
But when scientists applied a new model of human survivability that takes into account the body’s ability to function and stay cool depending on age, they found all six events had seen nonsurvivable periods for older people who could not find shade.
When I was in grade school. I guess sometime in the late 90s, We learned about global warming in school.
I remember thinking it was terrifying that we would all be cooked alive.
That night I had this terrible dream that it was a hot sunny day but we had to stay in the house until dusk. And when I did venture out, our outdoor dog was dead and the yard was full of dead birds. And it was so silent.
I still remember that dream.
Ministry for the Future, anyone?
One of those books you hope never comes true, yet here we are.
That book was a little too real for me honestly.
Matter of when, not if, pretty much that exact thing happens. At least the beginning part.
The absolute limit for humans to survive had been assumed to be a six-hour exposure to a wet bulb temperature of 35C (95F)—a measure that accounts for temperature and humidity but has rarely been observed on the planet at that level.
I don’t know who was making that assumption, but they obviously never went into a steam engine room before…
Like, obviously it’s terrible for you and you can’t do any physical activity, but I was 6 hours on, six hours off, in 110-120 wet bulb.
But when scientists applied a new model of human survivability that takes into account the body’s ability to function and stay cool depending on age, they found all six events had seen nonsurvivable periods for older people who could not find shade.
Fucking obviously the elderly are going to handle this worse, they handle everything worse.
Maybe there’s decent science somewhere, but this article is garbage
Fucking obviously the elderly are going to handle this worse, they handle everything worse.
Maybe there’s decent science somewhere, but this article is garbage
Science doesn’t care about obvious, it cares about provable fact.
Science doesn’t care about obvious, it cares about provable fact.
And loads of people all over the world survive longer than 6 hours at higher temps…
You should be made at the author for assuming humans can’t survive what they’ve been surviving longer than the author has been alive, regardless of how old they are.
I think you need to do some reflection on your thought process here.
If your first reaction to this sort of thing is “I did this and I’m fine”, you’re just another part of the problem on the issue.
What about 20 years from now when it’ll be hot enough to kill even you? Or when you’re old and those temperatures are not just in a steam engine room, but spread over an entire country?
Come on now, grow up.
Edit: Also, sorry but I’m going to call bullshit on your claim of working in those conditions. I lived through the pacific heat dome, thousands died, I felt that heat and there is no chance that someone exposed to that peak heat for 6 hours with no escape would survive.
If your first reaction to this sort of thing is “I did this and I’m fine”,
“This sort of thing” meaning:
The absolute limit for humans to survive
It’s obviously not the absolute limit, because loads of people survive it every day.
An operating steam engine room is not the harshest environment on the planet.
Next time you don’t understand something, try asking questions instead of getting belligerent about it tho.
When people do explain shit, it’s usually as a final reply before blocking.
Then who’s going to answer your inevitable follow up questions?
The decent science is from the Secretary of Health. We should all be working out in a sauna while wearing jeans to prepare for climate change.
