It’s so hot in Germany this summer that Cologne started a “Cooling Cologne” initiative: Chilled groundwater is dispersed through fine-mist sprays connected to fire hoses. Kadir Ilboga/Anadolu via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Kadir Ilboga/Anadolu via Getty Images In a summer of extreme heat, we asked our NPR readers to share the ways they
Forget about cheating homework buddies and chatbot. Some kids are jumping on a new AI trend: thinking it sucks. In the four years since chatbots became mainstream and their marketing campaigns accelerated, young people have become increasingly skeptical of the hype around LLMs. Yes, many of them still use technology for schoolwork and company, but
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
It is a summer of extreme heat in much of the world. I know what it feels like. In Uttar Pradesh, India, where I grew up, temperatures easily exceed 120 degrees in May and June. But few people have access to air conditioning. With a per capita income of around $1,000 a year, many people
Curacao’s team doctor hands out ice jackets to help players cool down during a 2026 men’s soccer World Cup match in Kansas City, Missouri.Credit: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Twice a match, the 2026 World Cup pauses. Drinks appear, ads go up, and fans boo. Football’s governing body FIFA says these ‘hydration breaks’ are aimed at the
