Penn State researchers found that the maximum wet-bulb temperature humans can endure is lower than previously thought — about 31°C wet-bulb or 87°F at 100% humidity — even for young, healthy subjects. The temperature for older populations, who are more vulnerable to heat, is likely even lower.
The study? That a couple dozen random Americans from the northeast suddenly thrust into high temperatures suffer horribly much sooner than expected based on existing research. People adapt to the temperature they live in long term, so someone used to carefully climate controlled environments struggles to handle heat.
Also people who live in the most extreme climates have developed various ways of mitigating that, whether in things like clothes that reflect sunlight and whisk away sweat while remaining breathable or in architecture that helps keep living and working spaces cool by doing things like channeling wind through cisterns or cellars and building cities to create strong, shaded breezes, along with behavioral things like just not doing heavy work during the hottest times of day.
The study? That a couple dozen random Americans from the northeast suddenly thrust into high temperatures suffer horribly much sooner than expected based on existing research. People adapt to the temperature they live in long term, so someone used to carefully climate controlled environments struggles to handle heat.
Also people who live in the most extreme climates have developed various ways of mitigating that, whether in things like clothes that reflect sunlight and whisk away sweat while remaining breathable or in architecture that helps keep living and working spaces cool by doing things like channeling wind through cisterns or cellars and building cities to create strong, shaded breezes, along with behavioral things like just not doing heavy work during the hottest times of day.