Heat stress to `cripple` densely populated regions by mid-century

Washington D.C: Extreme heat can be fatal and now, a team of researchers has projected crippling heat stress in densely populated regions by mid-century.

Humans' response to extreme heat leads to heat stress, an illness related to the body's inability to cool itself. Humidity plays a crucial role, because as humidity increases, the ability of sweat to evaporate and cool the body decreases.

Using climate models and weather indices such as dry- and wet-bulb temperatures, researchers at Columbia University were able to make projections to the year 2070 and found that many populations may be negatively affected.