Feeling the heat: fossil-fuel producers linked to dozens of heatwaves

00:45 Attributing extreme heat events to major energy producers

Major energy producers increased the likelihood and intensity of heatwaves, according to research published in Nature. Using data from an international disaster database, a team developed a methodology to investigate how much anthropogenic climate change had influenced heatwaves. They conclude that many of these events would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change, and that nearly a quarter of the heatwaves recorded from 2000 to 2023 can be directly linked to the greenhouse-gas emissions from individual energy giants.

Research Article: Juvé et al.

News and Views Forum: Heatwaves linked to emissions of individual fossil-fuel and cement producers

News: Dozens of heatwaves linked to carbon emissions from specific companies

10:47 Research Highlights

How shifting coastal tides may have spurred the rise of the world’s oldest civilization — plus, the liquid crystal lenses that can refocus in a flash.

Research Highlight: Changing tides ushered in the world’s first civilization

Research Highlight: Liquid-crystal specs refocus with the push of a button

12:40 The growing resistance to the US war on science

Science in the United States is facing an increasing crisis, in the face of swinging cuts and President Donald Trump’s ongoing attack on anything with a connection to diversity, equity and inclusion. In the face of this crisis, many researchers are fighting back — we hear about some of their efforts, and what they think about their chances of success.

News Feature: Scientists take on Trump: the researchers fighting back

27:28 Briefing Chat

How CRISPR-edited pancreas cells could offer new hope for those with type 1 diabetes, and what brain scans reveal about how we process colour.

Nature: Hope for diabetes: CRISPR-edited cells pump out insulin in a person — and evade immune detection

Nature: My blue is your blue: different people’s brains process colours in the same way

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