Air conditioning is not enough to keep people cool. Can scientists find an alternative?0

• SCIENCE, Science / Health, Science Mission Directorate, scientists, Space, Space Communications & Navigation Program, Space Launch System (SLS), Space Telescope, space-x-ipo, SpaceX
• July 26, 2026

Air conditioners generate heat and are expensive to operate.Credit: Ezra Acayan/Getty As large swaths of Europe and Asia suffer record heat waves this summer, discussions have focused on an obvious way to keep people cool: more air conditioners. Popular in high-income countries such as the United States, Japan and Australia, these units are less common