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Experts Warn: Devastating Weather Event Predicted to Strike the U.S. in 2026

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Scientists are closely monitoring the Pacific Ocean as one of the most significant climate changes in recorded history rapidly unfolds beneath its surface.

Latest predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicate a 61 percent chance of an El Niño event—the periodic warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean known for altering global weather patterns—developing by July.

While El Niño occurs every few years, this instance could be unprecedented. NOAA reports a 1 in 4 chance that it will reach “very strong” intensity, potentially categorizing it as a “super” El Niño. Such powerful events have historically led to droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures across various continents.

Furthermore, researchers warn that the combination of these phenomena with human-caused climate change might create impacts unlike anything previously experienced.

“Currently, I estimate a 50 percent chance that this event could be the strongest in history,” stated Paul Roundy, a professor of atmospheric science at the University at Albany. BBC Science Focus. “Just weeks ago, my estimate was closer to 20 percent.”

What is El Niño? Why is this Different?

El Niño describes a recurring climate cycle driven by the warming of the surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

Every few years, normal trade winds that typically push warm water westward weaken or reverse, allowing the heat to disperse eastward along the equator.

A Super El Niño is characterized by a rise in sea surface temperatures exceeding 2°C (3.6°F) above normal in central Pacific regions. Historically, only three such significant instances have occurred: in 1982/1983, 1997/98, and 2015/16.

In 1876, a Super El Niño caused a global famine and is believed to have resulted in the deaths of as many as 50 million people.

This satellite data reveals the development of the 2015 Super El Niño as warm water accumulated in the Pacific Ocean. This year could see similar strength, but under a warmer global climate – Photo credit: NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison

Roundy explained that this year, a series of unusually robust westerly winds in the Pacific are pushing accumulated warm water eastward.

The phenomenon mirrors the early 1997 wind event that precipitated what is considered the strongest El Niño of the 20th century.

“Currently, the warm water east of the westerly winds is about half a degree warmer than during the same timeframe in 1997,” Roundy observed. “We have the momentum needed to increase the intensity of this event beyond what was achieved then.”

The ultimate outcome remains uncertain; future wind shifts may partially mitigate the ongoing phenomenon.

“Drawing from historical trade wind patterns, it would require significant surges in severe trade winds to prevent this El Niño from becoming extremely intense,” Roundy added.

In essence, a very strong El Niño is highly likely, but whether it will set new records is still uncertain.

What Does Super El Niño Actually Cause?

The impact of El Niño is felt globally, from declining fish stocks off the coast of Peru to reduced monsoons and rainfall in India, China, and much of Southeast Asia.

“Typically, wet regions dry up and wildfires ensue, while dry areas become saturated,” Roundy explained.

The United States may experience the effects of the ongoing El Niño this summer, with increased rainfall in the Midwest and West, while dry conditions could persist from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast.

As El Niño establishes itself during winter, a strengthened southern storm track will likely result in heavy rain from California to the East Coast.

Roundy recalled that both 1982 and 1997 were “notorious flood years” in the U.S., while the northern parts experienced warmer winters.

A potential advantage of a strong El Niño is its capacity to suppress the Atlantic hurricane season, as increased wind shear inhibits storm formation.

During El Niño winters, the Pacific jet stream is redirected, bringing increased moisture to the typically dry southern U.S. This could bolster reservoir levels but poses flooding risks – Photo credit: NOAA

Into Unknown Territory

Assessing this situation is not straightforward in any year, but 2026 is particularly complex. Global temperatures have already surged more than 1.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and a strong El Niño integrated with this elevated baseline could push the climate system into uncharted territory for modern humanity.

“The world has never encountered a strong or very strong El Niño event coupled with such elevated baseline temperatures,” stated Dr. Daniel Swain from the University of California College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR). “Thus, unprecedented global impacts related to extreme flooding, droughts, and wildfires could emerge late in 2026 and extend into 2027.”

“There’s a significant likelihood that a new global temperature record will be established in either 2026, 2027, or potentially both years.”

With such elevated temperatures, the risk of wildfires looms large. A Super El Niño “could amplify the risk of extensive or unusually intense fires in humid regions where they typically do not occur, particularly given the rise in reference temperatures,” Swain specified, highlighting regions like the Amazon and Oceania, where peatlands “can smolder for months.”

A December 2025 study published in Nature Communications underscores these concerns. Analyzing prior Super El Niños alongside climate model predictions, it suggests that such significant events may markedly heighten the risk of “climate regime change,” causing abrupt and persistent shifts in temperature, sea level, and soil moisture for years or even decades following the El Niño.

This implies that the repercussions of Super El Niño in 2026 may not simply disappear even if Pacific temperatures return to normal; some alterations might become permanent.

However, Roundy cautioned against overestimating this conclusion. With only three Super El Niños historically documented, predicting future events remains precarious.

“Scientists should exercise caution when extrapolating future outcomes from a limited pool of past events,” Roundy cautioned.

Ultimately, the extraordinary scale and trajectory of developments in the Pacific are underway during a climate phase hotter than any in the post-industrial age.

“Ecosystems have adapted to El Niño dynamics for millions of years, and such extreme events play a crucial role in ecosystem rejuvenation,” Roundy noted. “However, they significantly impact human societies and life overall.”

What remains uncertain is the extent to which the effects will be severe, harmful, or long-lasting.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Accidental Heat Therapy Saves Man Predicted to Develop Alzheimer’s Disease

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Doug Whitney (left, pictured with his son Brian in November 2022) is genetically predisposed to developing Alzheimer’s disease, but has so far avoided the condition.

Shelby Lum/Associated Press/Alamy

An American man, Doug Whitney, whose genetics indicated a high likelihood of developing early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, has surprisingly managed to evade its effects. This remarkable outcome may be linked to unintentional heat exposure he experienced while working in a ship’s engine room, aligning with emerging evidence that suggests heat therapy could play a role in preventing symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

Whitney’s family carries the Presenilin 2 genetic variant, a mutation traced back to a small village in Volga, Germany, during the 18th century. Individuals with this mutation are typically predisposed to Alzheimer’s in their late 40s or early 50s.

“My family has been devastated by this disease,” Whitney remarked in a press statement. “My mother had 13 siblings, and 10 of them died before the age of 60. It was an epidemic.”

Despite sharing the same mutation, Whitney has reached his late 70s without experiencing significant memory loss or other Alzheimer’s symptoms, making him the only known mutation carrier to avoid the condition long after it was expected to manifest.

Dr. Jeffrey Kane from the French National Center for Scientific Research, became intrigued by Whitney’s case after discussing it with Dr. Randall Bateman, who has been studying Whitney for years.

At a conference, Kane presented research on the supportive effects of hyperthermia on mouse brains. A Finnish study found that frequent sauna users are 65% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Kane and colleague Emmanuel Planel from Université Laval in Quebec initiated a study to explore the underlying mechanisms.

The findings were compelling since Bateman knew of Whitney’s two-decade-long work in the extremely hot engine rooms of steam-powered naval vessels starting at age 18. Bateman discussed these circumstances with Kane and Planel, leading them to investigate further.

Engine room temperatures could soar up to 50°C (122°F), where Whitney would remain for extended periods, often needing to be hosed down to prevent overheating.

This prolonged heat exposure may have led to elevated levels of heat shock proteins in Whitney’s cerebrospinal fluid. These proteins are produced in response to heat and facilitate the repair and refolding of other proteins damaged by increased temperatures.

These heightened levels of heat shock proteins may have helped regulate tau, a crucial brain protein involved in Alzheimer’s disease. In affected individuals, tau misfolds and aggregates, which correlates with cognitive decline. Brain imaging studies reveal that Whitney’s brain holds negligible amounts of abnormal tau, likely explaining his absence of symptoms. Although his brain contains misfolded amyloid proteins associated with Alzheimer’s, symptoms remain unpredictable as evidenced in studies.

Whitney prepares for a PET scan in March 2025 as part of an Alzheimer’s Research Program at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

M. Scott Brauer 2025/ Redux/eyevine

Support for their hypothesis emerged when Kane and Planel discovered that exposing mice to heat helped maintain the tau protein structure and facilitated increased clearance from the brain. Moreover, tau clearance was found to be more efficient in awake older adults compared to when they sleep, likely due to the natural elevation of body temperature during wakefulness.

Dr. Rebecca Nisbet from Australia’s Florey Brain Research Center notes that Whitney’s occupational heat exposure may elucidate his resistance to Alzheimer’s, yet genetic factors likely contribute as well. Whitney may carry a specific protective gene absent in affected family members, highlighting the complexity surrounding Alzheimer’s disease.

Nisbet has personally begun using saunas, inspired by this new evidence of their cognitive benefits. “I believe this is a harmless activity that can mitigate dementia risk,” she asserts.

Interestingly, regions with the lowest rates of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s in individuals over 60 tend to be located in very hot climates, such as Ballabgarh, India and the Bolivian Amazon. “While high temperatures alone can’t explain everything, they may be a significant contributing factor,” reflects Canet.

On the contrary, cold exposure could heighten Alzheimer’s risk. For instance, tau exhibits dysregulation in bears during hibernation, according to Nisbet. “The tau in a hibernating bear appears abnormal, yet normalizes promptly upon waking and warming up,” she explains.

Research has shown that general anesthesia, which lowers body temperature, can contribute to short-term cognitive issues reminiscent of Alzheimer’s disease, potentially due to its effects on tau. “Caution is advised in mouse studies, as prolonged anesthesia can lead to tau dysregulation,” warns Nisbet.

Topics:

  • Alzheimer’s Disease/
  • Heat Therapy
  • Genetics

Source: www.newscientist.com

Astronomers Discover Fewer Potentially Hazardous Asteroids Near Earth than Initially Predicted

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astronomer using Zwicky Temporary Facility (ZTF) investigated. Taurus resonance groupa large interplanetary system containing Comet 2P/Encke, several meteor showers, and possibly numerous near-Earth asteroids.

This image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows comet 2P/Encke running along a pebble trail of its debris. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / University of Minnesota.

“We can take advantage of the unique opportunity that this asteroid swarm has to approach Earth to more efficiently search for celestial objects that may pose a threat to Earth,” said Dr. Kuanji Ye, an astronomer at the University of Maryland. ” he said.

“Our results suggest that the risk of impact from large asteroids in the Taurus group is much lower than we thought, which is good news for planetary defense.”

Prior to this study, astronomers had predicted that the Taurus resonance complex contained a significant number of large kilometer-sized space rocks, probably left behind by large objects up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) wide. I was guessing.

If a large object were to hit Earth, like the Chelyabinsk asteroid in 2013, it could cause regional damage.

Even larger objects can cause extinction-level events, like the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs more than 66 million years ago.

“Fortunately, we found that there are likely only a small number of asteroids in this large size class, perhaps only nine to 14, in this population,” Dr. Ye said.

“Judging by our findings, the parent object that first spawned the swarm was probably closer to 10 km (6.2 miles) in diameter, rather than a giant 100 km diameter object.”

“We still need to be cautious about asteroid impacts, but knowing this result will probably help us sleep better.”

The Taurus swarm holds important clues about planetary evolution, especially because of its association with Comet Encke.

This comet has the shortest orbital period of any known comet, at just 3.3 years.

It is also unusually large and dusty for a short-period comet that orbits the sun within 200 years.

Considering all available evidence, scientists believe that Encke has experienced significant fragmentation in the past and may continue to do so in the future.

“Studying the Taurus swarm helps us understand how small objects like comets and asteroids form and break up over time,” said Dr. Ye.

“Our research has implications not only for asteroid detection and planetary defense, but also for our broader understanding of the solar system's celestial bodies.”

The researchers presented their findings. findings this week's DPS56Annual Meeting of the Planetary Science Division of the American Astronomical Society.

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Yosenshi others. 2024. In search of potentially dangerous asteroids in the Taurus resonance group. DPS56

Source: www.sci.news

Miracle Needed for White Christmas Wishes, extensive warmth predicted

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Are you dreaming of a white Christmas?

If so, that dream may have to wait until 2024. Above-average temperatures are expected across much of the United States from December 21-27.

For the second year in a row, weather conditions across the country for the week ending December 25 are expected to be characterized by widespread shortages of cold air and precipitation, the two elements necessary for snow formation.

However, in some northern and mountainous regions, old snowpack from previous winter storms could help us have a white Christmas. This includes parts of the Rocky Mountains, Cascades, Sierra Mountains, and the northernmost parts of Minnesota, Michigan, and Maine.

Official definition of white Christmas According to the National Weather Service, this refers to the state in which at least 1 inch of snow has accumulated on the ground as of 7 a.m. local time on December 25. Snow can be old or new.

Outside of 2023, the chances of a white Christmas are generally fading away for much of the country, in part due to climate change.

When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) updates its information Probability of white Christmas The study, based on typical weather conditions for thousands of locations across the United States from 1991 to 2020, found that more than half of weather stations had a higher chance of a white Christmas compared to the period before 1991. It was found that it was decreasing.

In the latest releaseNOAA scientists say that while direct comparisons of snowfall amounts on specific days over decades are more tied to daily weather patterns, the probability of a white Christmas is more likely to be due to changes in temperature and precipitation patterns across the country. It reflected trends, which are consistent with the effects of climate change, he said. climate change.

NOAA officials said in a statement that “there were more areas where the likelihood of a white Christmas decreased than where the likelihood of a white Christmas increased,” and these results reflect long-term global warming. It added that this is consistent with the data on

Compared to past decades, the cities where the probability of a white Christmas has decreased most dramatically are Denver (down from 40% to 34%), Minneapolis (down from 80% to 74%), and Chicago (down from 41%). 34%). %), Columbus, Ohio (29% to 23%).

17% of St. Louisans are now more likely to experience a white Christmas than 13% of New Yorkers. And Minneapolis has a better chance at 74% than Buffalo’s 53%. The odds for buffalo are about 50/50, but this is due to fluctuations associated with lake-effect snow events during the early winter months of each year.

There were also some surprising associations between major cities, including Seattle and Washington DC (both 4% chance) and Chicago and Denver (both 34% chance).

With 2023 set to be another harrowing year for those wishing for a white Christmas, it might be time to rethink the lyrics of Christmas classics.

Source: www.nbcnews.com