From raging wildfires to melting climate milestones and cosmic discoveries, this week’s science roundup is hotter than a California heatwave. Let’s dive in! 🌡️
🔥 California’s Wildfire Recipe Southern California’s wildfires weren’t just bad luck—they were a climate cocktail. Imagine Santa Ana winds hitting 161 km/h, mega droughts, and overgrown vegetation turned to tinder. Throw in a wobbly jet stream and spark-prone power lines? Scientists say global warming is the ultimate mixologist here.
🌡️ Earth’s Hottest Year Ever 2024 just smashed 2023’s temperature records—like a TikTok trend gone wild. We’ve blown past the 1.5°C Paris Agreement limit, with fossil fuels keeping the heat on. Spoiler: This isn’t the kind of ‘hot girl summer’ we wanted.
❄️ Ice Time Machine Scientists drilled 2.8 km into Antarctic ice, unearthing 1.2-million-year-old samples! Turns out, pre-industrial CO2 levels never topped today’s pollution buffet. Think of it as Earth’s ancient Instagram story—with way fewer filters.
🚀 Moon’s Magnetic Past China’s Chang’e-5 mission revealed the moon had a magnetic field 2 billion years ago—weak but persistent, like your ex’s TikTok likes. This lunar ‘glow up’ could rewrite how we understand Earth’s celestial BFF.
