Global heat stress intensification and its expanding footprint on the human population (opens in new tab)

Climate warming is driving more frequent and intense heat extremes. Yet, changes in heat stress, the leading cause of weather-related mortality, remain poorly quantified at the global scale. Here, using the Universal Thermal Climate Index, we assess heat stress globally since 1950, examining daytime extremes, nocturnal heat and compound daytime–nighttime events, revealing a pronounced, multidimensional intensification. Extreme ‘feels-like’ temperatures have become more frequent on every conti...