columbia university

Unexplained heat wave hotspots

December 27, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

2023 and 2024 have been the hottest years since records have been kept. But above and beyond the upward march of average temperatures around the globe, there has been the phenomenon of distinct regions across the globe experiencing repeated heatwaves that are so extreme that they cannot be accounted for in any models of global warming.

A new study by Columbia University’s Climate School has provided the first worldwide map of such regions, which have emerged on every continent except Antarctica. Heatwaves in these regions have killed thousands of people, withered crops and forests, and triggered devastating wildfires.

These recent regional-scale record-breaking temperature extremes have raised questions about whether current climate models can provide adequate estimates of the relationship between global mean temperature changes and regional climate risks.

Some of these regional events in recent years include a nine-day heatwave in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and southwestern Canada in June 2021 that broke daily records in some places by 54 degrees Fahrenheit. Across Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, and other countries, the hottest days of the year are warming twice as fast as the summer mean temperatures.

There is yet little understanding of the phenomenon. Some theories related to destabilization of the jet stream don’t really explain all the temperature extremes observed. But regardless of the underlying causes, the health impacts of these heat waves are severe, as are the effects on agriculture, vegetation, and infrastructure. Society is not built to quickly adapt to them.

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Unexplained Heat Wave ‘Hotspots’ Are Popping Up Across the Globe

Photo, posted August 16, 2022, courtesy of Alisdare Hickson via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Tracking Down Gluten Sensitivity | Earth Wise

October 6, 2020 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Celiac disease is a well-documented autoimmune disease triggered by exposure to the dietary proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. Celiac disease affects less than 1% of Americans yet many more people claim to be sensitive to gluten.

When people with celiac disease eat gluten, their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. These attacks lead to damage on the villi, the small projections that line the small intestine that promote nutrient absorption. Symptoms range from various digestive problems to fatigue, weight loss, bloating, and anemia. Ultimately, it can lead to a variety of serious health complications.

Until recently, there was a tendency by doctors to dismiss the complaints of people who claimed to be sensitive to gluten but do not have celiac disease. That is starting to change, in part as a result of studies conducted at Columbia University that looked at the biological basis for non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

The new study shows that people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity produce a high level of anti-gluten antibodies but that these antibodies are different from the ones triggered by celiac disease and that the inflammatory responses they instigate are also different. The more restrained inflammatory response is much less likely to be associated with autoimmune activity and intestinal cell damage. In addition, the immune system of people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity appears to be able to gradually reduce its inflammatory response over time.

Discovery of these antibodies could be used in the future to help doctors more readily identify people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which now is difficult to diagnose. The researchers also believe that their work could lead to potential new therapies for celiac disease, which is currently treated only with dietary restrictions.

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Unique Antibody Profile Sets Gluten Sensitivity Apart from Celiac Disease

Photo, posted November 27, 2010, courtesy of Francis Storr via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Fumes From Gas Stations

November 15, 2018 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

A study by environmental health scientists at Columbia University examined the release of vapors from gas station vent pipes and found that emissions were 10 times higher than the estimates used to establish setback regulations that determine how close schools, playgrounds, and parks can be to the facilities.

Energy From Evaporating Water

November 17, 2017 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Researchers at Columbia University have demonstrated a potential new energy harvesting technique based on the natural evaporation of water. Every day, vast amounts of water evaporate from the surfaces of lakes and rivers, a process powered by the heat energy of the sun. The amount of energy involved is enormous but generally speaking is not something we can tap into.