In 2024, Phoenix City Council planned to plant over 27,000 new trees and build 550 new shade structures under a $60 million plan to combat extreme temperaturesIn 2024, Phoenix City Council planned to plant over 27,000 new trees and build 550 new shade structures under a $60 million plan to combat ...
26 Aug, 2026, 12.02 AM IST
In 2023, researchers found shade cooled Singapore streets by 0.8°C across 20 sites. Today, vegetation is estimated to save 228 GWh of energy yearlySingapore's trees offer significant cooling benefits for city streets. Shaded areas were found to be cooler, reducing heat stress for peopl...
25 Aug, 2026, 05.18 PM IST
Americans discard about 15 million tons of asphalt roof shingles a year, but old roofs can be ground up and put straight back into the roads people drive onMillions of tons of asphalt shingles are disposed of annually in the United States. These old roofing materials can be processed into recyc...
25 Aug, 2026, 01.20 PM IST
In 2024, Phoenix started its very first 24/7 cooling and heat respite center to provide life-saving refuge from extreme desert temperaturesIn 2024, Phoenix started its very first 24/7 cooling and heat respite center to provide life-saving refuge from extreme desert temperatures...
25 Aug, 2026, 12.08 AM IST
Philadelphia painted black pavement with a light-coloured coating to fight extreme heat. A year later, researchers found one clear differenceTo tackle urban heat island effects, Philadelphia is trialing cool pavement solutions. In Hunting Park, a reflective light-colored coating ...
24 Aug, 2026, 08.45 PM IST
In 1978, Turkey Point workers found 1 crocodile nest when Florida had fewer than 300 left. 48 years later, about 400 live in its canals, turning a nuclear plant into an unlikely crocodile habitatAn unexpected discovery at Turkey Point nuclear plant in 1978 initiated a crocodile recovery. Engineers built canals which created an accid...
24 Aug, 2026, 07.54 PM IST
In 2019, Sydney replaced part of a busy road with concrete made from industrial waste. Five years later, the experiment had a surprising resultA road trial in Sydney tested the durability of concrete created from industrial waste, revealing impressive results. The geopolymer concre...
24 Aug, 2026, 07.40 PM IST
In 1973, Skylab lost its heat shield and reached 130°F; NASA cooled the station with a parasol built from fishing rods and foil-like fabricIn 1973, Skylab, the United States' first space station, suffered from overheating just after its launch. Ingenious engineers quickly came ...
22 Aug, 2026, 06.30 PM IST
In 2023, Liz and Rich Muller founded Deep Fission to put working nuclear reactors underground. 4 years later, its Kansas pilot is targeting a 5-MW reactor by late 2027Kansas experiment represents something larger than one company’s attempt to reinvent the nuclear power plant. Deep Fission is testing wheth...
21 Aug, 2026, 09.31 PM IST
Stanford ran water beneath mirror-like rooftop panels; they cooled it 3–5°C below the surrounding air by sending heat into spaceResearchers at Stanford have created innovative panels that cool water exclusively using sunlight and mirrors. These panels effectively ref...
21 Aug, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
Earlier this year, New York City committed $95 million to turn Brooklyn parks and courts into stormwater storage. Today, the project can manage nearly 30 million gallons of rainwater a year, easing pressure on sewers and streetsNew York City is using an innovative Cloudburst strategy to help manage heavy rainfall by turning everyday public spaces into temporary sto...
21 Aug, 2026, 12.37 AM IST
In 1914, USDA researchers imported Australian melaleuca seeds into the United States. 100 years later, the fast-growing tree had conquered 500,000 acres of South Florida after being planted to help dry the EvergladesAustralian melaleuca seeds were imported to the United States in 1914 for agricultural purposes. Later, the Army Corps of Engineers planted...
20 Aug, 2026, 01.11 AM IST
In 2024, scientists tested a zigzag-shaped wall prototype; it was up to 3.1°C cooler than a conventional radiative-cooling wall in outdoor testsEngineers have created a groundbreaking zigzag wall that cools itself through a unique design. This structure lowers its temperature by dir...
19 Aug, 2026, 02.30 PM IST
Over 2 years, across Miami-Dade, more than 9,000 trees reveal a hidden journey of heat: Mature canopies can pull temperatures down by 10°F, turning scorching streets into cooler urban spaces for residentsTrees offer significant cooling benefits to urban areas. FIU researchers found that tree canopy coverage can reduce temperatures by ten deg...
18 Aug, 2026, 10.23 PM IST
A road in Surrey could soon send its summer heat 100 metres beneath the surface, store it underground and bring it back during winter, turning geothermal energy into a defense against potholesWhat if roads could store summer heat and use it to prevent winter damage? A University of Surrey trial is exploring exactly that. Its geot...
17 Aug, 2026, 09.38 PM IST
Morocco swapped scorching black asphalt for porous “sponge” pavement; the experimental surface ran up to 16°F cooler, offering cities a surprising new way to beat urban heatMorocco is testing permeable “sponge” pavement in selected urban areas of Marrakech and Agadir as cities look for ways to manage extreme he...
15 Aug, 2026, 10.50 PM IST
In 2019, scientists tested a diaper-like superabsorbent polymer in lab-made asphalt samples; the water-storing material cooled the specimens by up to 12°CResearchers from China have pioneered a groundbreaking asphalt composite integrated with superabsorbent polymers aimed at cooling city envi...
08 Aug, 2026, 07.04 PM IST