How heat domes form, intensify, and what they do to the body
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM More than 1,300 people die from extreme heat in the United States each year. The events behind the worst of those deaths usually share the same explanation: a heat dome, a ridge of high atmospheric pressure that parks itself over a region and won’t Read More...
Researchers identify three factors to help prevent mosquito-spread disease
With the variabled future of weather in an ever-changing climate, the prevalence of mosquitoes is expected to increase or at least become more unpredictable. This is expected to exacerbate the spread of certain diseases, like malaria and dengue fever. In places like Sri Lanka, this represents a top Read More...
Researchers have taught drones to survive any weather
Drones have provided humanity with many simple solutions and conveniences. These flying devices have helped prevent the spread of diseases, regenerate agricultural land and forests, track wildlife for conservation purposes, aided search and rescue missions, and much more. Drones commonly fly in Read More...
The strange sounds of Mars have been recorded for the first time
If you’ve ever wondered what Mars sounds like, then NASA’s Perseverance rover has answers for you! The robot landed on the Red Planet in early 2021 where it has been conducting experiments and collecting samples for scientists here on Earth to analyze. We’ve previously reported on its Read More...
This algorithm makes predicting the future more accessible
Some professions require the prophetic task of using existing data to predict future outcomes as accurately as possible. This can come in the form of trying to predict the upcoming week's weather, estimating a person's risk of developing a disease, or anticipating the best time to sell Read More...
This non-profit aims to harness the power of weather events on land and sea
When it comes to hurricanes, wildfires, and other environmental hazards, early alerts are key to minimizing risk to people from these high-powered natural phenomena. What if there were a system that both warned individuals of weather events like these and then converted their power into usable Read More...
How sea turtles are helping protect people from cyclones
Tropical cyclones are a recurrent phenomenon on the islands of the southwest Indian Ocean, such as Madagascar, where people expect to be affected by an average of 1.5 cyclones a year. Unfortunately, the most inhabited area are the ones most exposed to these devastating air masses. Predicting Read More...
World Meteorological Organization welcomes new leader
Amanda Lynch has been appointed to chair the board of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This United Nations agency has four main focuses: weather, climate, water, and environment. They research many aspects of the Earth’s behavior to provide vital information to the organization's 193 Read More...
Public libraries are climate justice tools
We’ve written about how libraries should double as food banks, but did you know that public libraries are also essential to climate justice? As more regions face extreme temperatures due to climate change, libraries are increasingly serving as refuges for heat-vulnerable residents. For Read More...