extreme heat

New data indicates the current El Niño is the strongest ever measured, marking a major shift in global weather patterns. The development is drawing attention because a powerful El Niño typically brings droughts, floods and heat extremes to different regions worldwide, with scientists watching closely for effects on temperatures, agriculture and extreme weather in the months ahead.

New reporting highlights that the global heatwave season has quietly expanded by 39 days, with high-temperature periods now starting earlier in the year and ending later than they once did. The finding is being shared as fresh evidence of shifting climate patterns, prompting discussion about longer exposure to dangerous heat and the growing strain on health systems, infrastructure and summer planning.

Thousands of people took to the streets in cities across France to demand stronger climate action. Organisers and participants expressed disappointment at the turnout, with one marcher saying: 'I wish there were more of us, after the summer we've just had' — a reference to the recent season of heatwaves and extreme weather. Demonstrators are calling on the French government to accelerate emissions reductions and strengthen environmental policy.

Thousands of people marched in cities across France to demand stronger climate action, with demonstrators saying the country's recent extreme summer should have drawn bigger crowds. One participant told reporters they wished more people had turned out 'after the summer we've just had'. The protests reflect growing public frustration in France over heatwaves and slow government responses to the climate crisis.

A new study finds that climate change-driven evaporation made Ireland's record July drought eight times more likely than it would have been in a pre-industrial climate. The finding highlights how warming conditions intensify drought risk even in typically wet countries like Ireland, adding to growing scientific evidence that human-caused climate change is reshaping weather extremes across Europe.

Winemakers worldwide are adopting new strategies to cope with climate change, as rising temperatures and extreme weather disrupt grape growing. Reported approaches include shifting to more resilient grape varieties, moving vineyards to cooler regions and higher elevations, adjusting harvesting times, and using new vineyard techniques to protect vines from heat and drought.

Scientists report the discovery of a so-called 'fire amoeba', a single-celled organism said to survive temperatures far beyond what was thought possible for life. The finding challenges established assumptions about the upper heat limit for living cells. Details beyond the headline remain scarce, but the claim is drawing attention because it could reshape understanding of how and where life can exist, including in extreme environments.

Austrian cooling specialist Noctua says it is working on bringing server-grade cooling capable of handling around 2000W of heat to desktop PCs. The technology, used in data centre environments to cool extremely power-hungry processors, would address the rising thermal demands of high-end desktop chips. The announcement has caught the attention of PC hardware enthusiasts watching power consumption climb.