The Right Chemistry: Heat may do more than make us feel miserable

This memory was rekindled as a result of my delving into the history of heat waves, stimulated in turn by questions being raised about the consequences of global warming. It turns out the heat wave of 1936 was very real. Temperatures soared to all-time highs, actually hitting 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade in the southern United States. New York City sweltered in 106-degree temperatures and record highs were noted as far north as Ontario and Manitoba. Dust storms were prevalent and a grasshopper infestation that had affected the Midwest now saw the creatures literally fall from the sky, broiled and lifeless. Hospitals and morgues were overrun with an estimated 5,000 Americans and 1,100 Canadians dying as a result of the heat. Read More