50 years ago, scientists warned of the ‘neglected dangers’ of heat islands

Excerpt from the October 20, 1973 issue of Science News

Person riding a bicycle in Phoenix during a period of extreme heat.

A person rides a bicycle in Phoenix on July 25, 2023, during a period of extreme heat. Cities already run hotter than outlying areas, an effect that’s made worse by climate change.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Neglected dangers of thermal pollution Science News, October 20, 1973

Most urban dwellers have experienced the swelter of a summer night in the city, but higher temperatures in the atmosphere over such “heat islands” may have more insidious effects, which urban planners seldom consider.…