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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Wet bulb conditions occur when <keyword id="6359239" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="heat">heat</keyword> and <keyword id="53981" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="humidity">humidity</keyword> are too high for sweat to evaporate.</li><li>Such conditions can be fatal for humans if the temperature and humidity both exceed 95.</li><li>Extreme heat and humidity are growing more common due to climate change. </li></ul><p>People across the US and Canada are trying to stay cool as an <a href="https://www.insider.com/record-breaking-temperatures-northeast-2020-7">historic heat wave</a> sweeps the northern hemisphere.</p><p>Air-conditioning is in high demand, and even <a href="https://www.insider.com/heat-wave-pacific-northwest-canada-photos-melts-warps-items-2021-6">squirrels are vying for shade</a> in the <keyword id="1284618" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Pacific-Northwest">Pacific Northwest</keyword>. For hundreds of people who couldn't stay out of the heat, this month's temperatures have been <a href="https://www.insider.com/pnw-heat-wave-sends-more-than-1100-people-to-hospitals-2021-6">deadly</a>.</p><p>The human body has some natural cooling mechanisms in place, but our tolerance for heat only goes so high. When the heat and humidity reach a certain point, there's nothing the body can do to cool itself down.</p><p>The phenomenon is called wet bulb temperatures, and it's becoming dangerously common around the world. The combination of high heat and humidity can cause even the healthiest people to overheat and die.</p><h2><strong>'Wet bulb' conditions occur when it's too hot and humid for sweat to evaporate</strong></h2><p>Humans typically stay cool by sweating. As sweat droplets form on the skin, they evaporate in the heat and cool the skin, bringing down the body temperature.</p><p>However, sweat can only evaporate if the air is dry enough to take up moisture. Once the relative humidity surpasses 95%, your sweat will simply collect on your skin and make you feel even hotter and stickier.</p><p>If you prefer dry heat over a more tropical climate, now you know why humid days can feel so suffocating.</p><p>When that humidity is combined with high heat (88 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), it's called wet bulb conditions. Such conditions can be fatal, and they're happening <a href="https://research.noaa.gov/article/ArtMID/587/ArticleID/2621/Dangerous-humid-heat-extremes-occurring-decades-before-expected">earlier than anticipated</a>.</p><p>The coastal Middle East is experiencing the worst wet bulb heat in the world, but it's been happening in the US too. Southeastern states have reported multiple incidences of wet bulb temperatures at or above 88 degrees in recent years. Parts of Arizona and California have reported wet bulb temperatures as high as 95 degrees.</p><h2><strong>Even healthy people can die of overheating on a humid day</strong></h2><p>According to a 2020 study, wet bulb conditions are becoming increasingly common due to climate change.</p><p>The study, which was published in <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/19/eaaw1838">Scientific Advances</a>, found that the human body cannot withstand wet bulb temperatures of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above. </p><p>That level of extreme heat and humidity wasn't expected until the mid 21st century, according to climate models. But the study found more than 7,000 instances of wet bulb conditions between 1979 and 2017.</p><p>"Even if they're in perfect <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword>, even if they're sitting in the shade, even if they're wearing clothes that make it easy in principle to sweat, even if they have an endless supply of water," co-author Radley Horton told <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/93ynm5/scientists-studying-temperature-at-which-humans-spontaneously-die-with-increasing-urgency">VICE News.</a> "If there's enough moisture in the air, it's thermodynamically impossible to prevent the body from overheating." </p><p>Understanding wet bulb conditions is an important step to avoiding overheating. As more areas of the world see high temperatures and humidity, weather advisories for dangerous heat could help people know when to shelter indoors. However, those <a href="https://www.insider.com/seattle-portland-going-through-heat-wave-lowest-rate-ac-units-2021-6">without access to AC</a> will have a harder time cooling off and face a greater risk of heat death.</p>

The US is experiencing 'wet bulb' heat, which can be deadly even to healthy people

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Droplets containing the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-live-updates-latest-news">coronavirus</a> can survive for a time <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-long-can-coronavirus-live-on-surfaces-how-to-disinfect-2020-3">on surfaces</a> before drying out.</li><li>A new study found that higher temperatures and lower humidity shorten the lifespans of <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> droplets on surfaces.</li><li>The research also showed that in cities where weather made the droplets' drying time longer, coronavirus infection rates rose faster.</li><li>This could in part explain why New York City was hit harder by the pandemic in March compared to, say, Singapore. </li></ul><p>A city's weather could be linked to how hard it got hit by the coronavirus.</p><p>According to <a href="https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0012009.">a study</a> published Tuesday, the amount of time coronavirus-laden droplets last on surfaces depends on the surrounding temperature and humidity, as well as type of surface they settle on.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-live-updates-latest-news">virus</a> typically spreads via <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html">droplets</a> when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks loudly. Because some of those microscopic droplets settle on surfaces, a team of researchers decided to measure how long it took the droplets to dry out, thereby killing the virus inside. The longer that process takes, the more likely it is that the droplets could infect someone new.</p><p>The scientists found that higher temperatures and lower humidity dry out droplets faster — which could in part explain why the coronavirus took hold in some geographic areas more than others.</p><p>The researchers compared droplets' average drying time in six cities with differing temperatures and humidity levels. Their results showed that "a longer drying time correlated with a larger growth rate of the pandemic," according to Raneesh Bhardwaj, one of the study co-authors.</p><p>"Certain outdoor weather is something that matters in the growth of infections," he told Business Insider.</p><p><div type="image" title="New York Coronavirus" height="1316" width="2000" msid="76287479" hostid="261"></div></p><h2>Low temperatures and high humidity help the virus survive</h2><p>For their investigation, the researchers looked at the most common size of droplet that people with <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> spew out: about 5 nanoliters, or "the width of a human hair," Bhardwaj said.</p><p>They did not look at the lifespan of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-coronavirus-travel-through-air-droplets-aerosols-2020-3">aerosols</a>, which are clouds of even tinier viral particles.</p><p>Once droplets evaporate, the coronavirus that's left behind quickly dies. So the chances of transmission depend on the droplets' lifespan.</p><p>The study authors compared drying time in two different temperatures: 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) and 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), both with 50% humidity. That 15-degree increase halved the time it took droplets to evaporate, they found.</p><p>They also observed that an increase in relative humidity from 10% to 90% increased the evaporation time of a droplet almost seven-fold (with a steady temperature of 25 degrees Celsius).</p><p><div type="image" title="queens new york coronavirus" height="1000" width="1500" msid="76287483" hostid="261"></div></p><p><a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30003-3/fulltext">An April study</a> found a similar link between the virus' lifespan and the surrounding temperature. At 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit), the virus lasted up to two weeks in a test tube. When the temperature was turned up to 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit), that lifespan dropped to one day.</p><h2>Longer drying times are linked to quicker outbreak growth </h2><p>To investigate whether outdoor weather conditions were connected to the severity of outbreaks in different cities, the researchers compared the growth of infections in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Sydney, and Singapore between March 1 and April 10. The results showed a correlation between the average drying time of a droplet in those cities (based on humidity and temperatures during that time period) and the growth rate of the local outbreak.</p><p>"If the drying time is less, the growth rate of infection in that city is expected to be less," Amit Agrawal, another co-author of the study, told Business Insider.</p><p>New York City, for example, had a growth rate of new infections per day that was 35 times higher than Singapore's. On average, the drying time for coronavirus droplets in New York was close to a minute — nearly double the drying time in Singapore.</p><p>"While the humidity is comparable between the two cities, New York was cold compared to Singapore when the pandemic started," Bhardwaj said.</p><p>Other factors could have influenced the differing severity of those cities' outbreaks, however. Singapore, a small island nation, was quicker than New York (and the rest of the US) to implement widespread coronavirus testing and contact tracing, as well as social distancing measures. </p><p><div type="image" title="singapore coronavirus" height="1333" width="2000" msid="76287487" hostid="261"></div></p><p>The researchers suggest that their research could provide clues about which countries and geographic areas might experience a more severe second wave this summer and fall.</p><p>"Infection rates in the Northern Hemisphere are decreasing with the warmer and drier summer, but the monsoon season is coming to southeast Asia, and bringing with it higher humidity and a higher growth rate," Bhardwaj said.</p><h2>The coronavirus' lifespan on surfaces</h2><p>A person can get the coronavirus if they touch a surface or object that has virus-laden droplets on it and then touch their mouth, nose, or eyes. The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> says it "does not spread easily" that way, however.</p><p>The new study suggests that droplets take longer to dry on certain surfaces — like smartphones, cotton, and wood — than on surfaces like glass and steel.</p><p><div type="image" title="Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a department store in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 2, 2020. South Korea has the world's second-highest cases. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)" height="3186" width="4944" msid="76287492" hostid="261"></div></p><p>That's because those latter surfaces are hydrophilic, meaning they're more easily wettable. When a droplet hits a hydrophilic surface, it spreads into a thin film, which then evaporates more quickly into the surrounding air.</p><p>Wood, cotton cloth, and smartphone screens, by contrast, are hydrophobic — they stop liquid from spreading.</p><p>"If you put water on your phone screen, it becomes a blob. That blob will take longer to dry out than that water spread out over a larger area," Bhardwaj said.</p><p>The researchers found that the evaporation time can increase by 60% for a hydrophobic surface compared to a hydrophilic one. That finding could indicate which surfaces should be cleaned most frequently, Agrawal said.</p>

The coronavirus survives longer on surfaces when temperatures are low and humidity is high. That could explain why New York was hit so hard, while Singapore was not.

<br /><ul><li><strong>The national capital region is choking under a thick blanket of smog with pollution levels as high as 1,000 units.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>Last week, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority issued a ‘public health emergency,’ considering the ill-effects of <keyword id="55910" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-Pollution">air pollution</keyword> on health.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>Over 4 million people die of poor air quality indoors, gobally, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).</strong></li></ul>The national capital region is choking under a thick blanket of smog with pollution levels as high as 1,000 units. Government agencies and environmental groups are insisting that people lower their exposure to pollution and work remotely. <br /><br />"Public and private organisations in Delhi/NCR should allow people to work from their homes," said Ajay Mathur, TERI Director General.<br /><br />Last week, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority issued a ‘public health emergency,’ considering the ill-effects of air pollution on health. Over four million people die of poor air quality indoors, gobally, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). <br /><br />However, the toxic air exists when indoors as well. Here are the ten houseplants that can help combat air pollution.<br /><br /><strong>Aloe Vera </strong><br /><br />
	
  <div type="image" title="Aloe vera" msid="71888638" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Flickr&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



<br />Aloe Vera, which is known to cure skin burns and irritation is easy to grow indoors. Keeping it helps to filter out chemical compounds such as benzene that is produced from carpets and boards. However, Aloe Vera requires plenty of sunlight as it helps removing air pollutants.<br /><br /><strong>Rubber Plant</strong><br /><br />
  
  <div type="image" title="rubber plant" msid="71888668" hostid="261"></div>



<br />Rubber plants make for a good indoor air cleansing option as they can grow in dim light too. However, it does not tolerate over-watering. It absorbs harmful chemicals, thereby improving indoor air quality. It can in fact absorb other harmful gases such as carbon dioxide.<br /><br /><strong>Peace Lily<br /><br />
  
  <div type="image" title="peace lily" msid="71888669" hostid="261"></div>



</strong><br />Peace Lily can work as both <keyword id="1606234" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-Purifier">air purifier</keyword> and humidifier too. It cleans the air off alcoholic elements and acetone. The plant is known to improve indoor air quality by nearly 60% due to its absorption capacity. It absorbs dust particles and consumes them as food.<br /><br /><strong>Money Plant<br /><br />
  
  <div type="image" title="money plant" msid="71888670" hostid="261"></div>



</strong><br />Money plant removes toxic chemicals from the air, thereby cleaning away the air pollutants. It removes harmful organic compounds that originate from synthetic paints and carpets.<br /><br /><strong>Spider Plant<br /><br />
  
  <div type="image" title="spider plant" msid="71888735" hostid="261"></div>



</strong><br />It is also commonly referred to as air plant and treated as an antioxidant. It filters the carbon monoxide present in the air. According to studies, this plant can remove over 90% of air pollutants in a span of two days.<br /><br /><strong>Areca Palm<br /><br />
  
  <div type="image" title="areca palm" msid="71888736" hostid="261"></div>



</strong><br />Areca palm, also known as butterfly palm releases a large amount of water vapor into the air, which in turn removes toxins from the atmosphere. It filters chemicals like acetone, xylene and toluene, which are present in cosmetics and detergents.<br /><br /><strong>English Ivy<br /><br />
  
  <div type="image" title="ivy" msid="71888737" hostid="261"></div>



</strong><br />English Ivy is beneficial for people with breathing problems. It is known to stimulate mucus glands. The leaves of this plant is used to medicate blockages and swelling in the body. It also helps to cure headaches.<br /><br /><strong>Bamboo Palm<br /></strong><br />The Bamboo palm is very effective in removing benzene from the air — which is used to make dyes, lubricants and detergents. It does not require over watering. It is good for areas having high levels of humidity.<br />

These 8 houseplants can save you from plummeting air quality levels

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div>This spring, you'll want to have a great dehumidifier in your house.</p><p>Things start to get extra damp and sticky as temperatures rise, so a dehumidifier will be especially useful in making your home more comfortable.</p><p>If the comfort aspect hasn't convinced you, <a href="http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&amp;ContentID=498">excess humidity can lead to fungi </a>and weird insect infestations. So, take our word for it, a dehumidifier is good to have in your bedroom and laundry room.</p><p>We've put together a list of four great (and discounted!) dehumidifiers - with tips on which kind you should get. Check them out.</p><h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CEZA018/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00CEZA018&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=biipdehumidifiers-20&amp;linkId=CMCW6W4MJBBLDTCN">Keystone energy star dehumidifier</a></h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></p><p>This is the largest dehumidifier of the bunch - made for rooms up to 4,500 square feet.</p><p>If you need to de-moisturize larger rooms in your house (or even a large basement or garage) this is your go-to.</p><p>It has a transparent water level indicator and a full bucket alert with automatic shutoff.</p><p>Price: <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">$229.99</span> <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CEZA018/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00CEZA018&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=biipdehumidifiers-20&amp;linkId=CMCW6W4MJBBLDTCN">$199.99</a> <span style="color: #ff0000;">[13% off]</span></strong></p><h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GZ5BSBY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00GZ5BSBY&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=biipdehumidifiers-20&amp;linkId=GPGTBXADYAGXMEVH">Ivation powerful thermo-electric dehumidifier (medium sized)</a></h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></p><p>This is a medium-sized dehumidifier, which makes it suitable for 2,200-cubic-foot spaces. That's great for bathrooms, bedrooms, and even if you're storing antique cars or boats.</p><p>You'll only need to empty out the water tank every 3 days.</p><p>Price: <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">$129.99</span> <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GZ5BSBY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00GZ5BSBY&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=biipdehumidifiers-20&amp;linkId=GPGTBXADYAGXMEVH">$84.99</a> <span style="color: #ff0000;">[35% off]</span></strong></p><h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MQ7T038/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00MQ7T038&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=biipdehumidifiers-20&amp;linkId=ZY3OOXBNLRSVKW76">Ivation powerful thermo-electric dehumidifier (small sized)</a></h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></p><p><span>This is a smaller version of the above model, which means that it's better suited for people who live in apartments, or those who have small laundry rooms, <span>RVs, or boats.</span></span></p><p>Price:<span style="text-decoration: line-through;"> $79.99</span> <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MQ7T038/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00MQ7T038&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=biipdehumidifiers-20&amp;linkId=ZY3OOXBNLRSVKW76">$39.99</a> <span style="color: #ff0000;">[50 off]</span></strong></p><h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RZVHB7M/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00RZVHB7M&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=biipdehumidifiers-20&amp;linkId=RMBJMG2F4DCACWZT">Ivation mini dehumidifier</a></h3><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"></div><p></p></div></p><p>And here's a mini dehumidifier.</p><p>This one is best for small rooms, musty cupboards or closets, stored boats and antique cars, and attics.</p><p>Price: <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">$99.99</span> <strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RZVHB7M/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00RZVHB7M&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=biipdehumidifiers-20&amp;linkId=RMBJMG2F4DCACWZT">$59.99</a><span style="color: #ff0000;"> [40% off]</span></strong></p><p> </p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span></strong></p><p class="tagline">Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Business Insider's Insider Picks team. We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale. This is not an advertiser sponsored post and we operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback.Have something you think we should know about? Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-headphones-tricks-2015-2">14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="o2OGM3czpWcydnvhjbkDBd6feXPuExiD" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div></hr></hr></hr></hr></hr>

Survive the springtime humidity with these 4 dehumidifiers [up to 50% off]

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Wearing a face mask helps prevent the spread of the novel <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword>. </li><li>But some people say they can't or won't wear one for a variety of medically invalid reasons, including they can't breathe or that oxygen levels drop behind a cloth shield. </li><li>A doctor debunked these myths by testing her heart rate and oxygen levels while wearing different <keyword id="9418" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="masks">masks</keyword> for five minutes each. </li><li>Health professionals have also said claims that certain medical conditions should make you exempt from mask wearing aren't sound. </li></ul><p><keyword id="1252845" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="face-masks">Face masks</keyword> are recommended, if not required, in public settings throughout the US to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-face-shields-may-be-better-coronavirus-tools-than-masks-2020-5">protect wearers from contracting or spreading the novel coronavirus</a>. </p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/face-masks-effective-in-protecting-against-coronavirus-2020-6">That's because they work</a>. A <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspa.2020.0376">recent study</a> out of the UK, for example, showed that mandates to wear masks could be enough to contain an outbreak without a lockdown. </p><p>Case reports have illustrated their effectiveness too, with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/two-missouri-hairstylists-with-coronavirus-saw-140-clients-none-infected-2020-6">two infected (and masked) hairstylists able to do their jobs</a> on 140 masked customers without spreading the illness. </p><p>But some Americans are pushing back, saying they're unable to breathe while wearing a mask or pointing to bunk <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">science</keyword> claims that the strips of fabric limit wearers' oxygen intake. </p><p>A doctor set out to prove them wrong. In an experiment <a href="https://www.facebook.com/megan.thompson.90226">she documented on Facebook</a>, Megan Hall wore four different masks, each for five minutes, while testing her oxygen saturation and heart rate. </p><p>She found no significant change in either measure when she compared not wearing a mask with wearing various kinds of masks.</p><p>"Though maybe inconvenient for some, you can still breathe," she wrote. "As a physician, I urge you and ask you to please wear a mask to protect yourself and those who cannot safely wear a mask (many of my patients because they are under 2 years old)." </p><h2>Other 'anti-maskers' have claimed they can't wear masks because of medical conditions, but doctors don't buy it </h2><p>Other people have said they're "exempt" from mandates requiring mask wearing in public because they have a medical condition that makes the practice risky, according to Dr. Alan Hawxby, a transplant surgeon at the Oklahoma University Medical Center, who posted about the phenomenon on Twitter. </p><p>They say they're not required to disclose what that condition is because of privacy laws like HIPAA, which restricts the release of medical information.</p><p>Some falsely say that the Americans With Disabilities Act protects them from disclosing their "medical condition." </p><p>While it's true that wearing a mask can be uncomfortable, doctors say medical conditions don't excuse people from wearing masks — they emphasize the importance of wearing one correctly. </p><p>For people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, <a href="https://creakyjoints.org/comorbid-conditions/difficulty-breathing-face-mask-asthma-lung-disease/">the arthritis organization CreakyJoints recommends</a> staying home as much as possible and picking times when it's least hot, humid, and polluted to go out. It also says to choose a mask that's comfortable, like a cloth mask made with a moisture-wicking and breathable fabric, and practice wearing it. </p><p>The right mask fit is critical for healthcare workers too, for both safety and comfort, Christopher Friese, a professor of nursing at the University of Michigan who was on a <a href="https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/study-on-the-use-of-elastomeric-respirators-in-health-care">National Academy of Medicine panel on respiratory protection</a>, told Business Insider. </p><p>He said medical professionals and first responders should undergo a "fit test" to make sure they get an appropriate mask seal on their faces and be screened for conditions like asthma, allergies, and claustrophobia that could make wearing certain types problematic. </p><p>"In this pandemic, I fear that many settings are forgoing fit testing and that upfront screening for contraindications, which puts healthcare workers and first responders at risk," he said. </p>

A doctor tested her oxygen levels and heart rate while wearing face masks to show they don't make it hard to breathe

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Technology aboard NASA satellite Aqua captured images of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere associated with wildfires burning through the Amazon rainforest for the past few weeks.</li><li>NASA collected new data from their Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument, measuring levels of carbon monoxide at an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,500 meters) from August 8 to 22.</li><li>An animation of the data demonstrates the spread of carbon monoxide, indicated by colors green, yellow, and dark red to represent the concentration of the gas by parts per billion by volume (ppvb).</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>A NASA satellite captured harrowing images of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere due to the wildfires that continue to rage in the Amazon rainforest.</p><p>NASA collected new data from their Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument, measuring levels of carbon monoxide at an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,500 meters) from August 8 to 22, according to a <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA23356">press release</a>. The AIRS, which is aboard NASA's Aqua satellite, measures "atmospheric temperature and humidity, cloud amounts and heights, greenhouse gas concentrations and many other atmospheric phenomena," the press release stated.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-fires-satellite-images-map-of-rainforest-blazes-2019-8">The blazes in the Amazon are so big they can be seen from space. One map shows the alarming scale of the fires.</a></em></p><p>This animation of the new data shows carbon monoxide rising into the atmosphere, indicated by colors green, yellow, and dark red to demonstrate the concentration of the gas by parts per billion by volume (ppvb).</p><p>"Green indicates concentrations of carbon monoxide at approximately 100 parts per billion by volume (ppbv); yellow, at about 120 ppbv; and dark red, at about 160 ppbv," NASA wrote in the press release. "Local values can be significantly higher."</p><p>As an air pollutant that can travel long distances and stay in the atmosphere for about a month, carbon monoxide plays a significant role in climate change. While the AIRS evaluated carbon monoxide at a relatively high altitude and has little effect on the air we breathe as of right now, "strong winds can carry it downward to where it can significantly impact air quality," NASA wrote in the press release.</p><p>Concern for the world's largest rainforest arose as a record number of wildfires blazed through the Amazon this year - a total of 72,843 incidents, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The fires were reportedly caused by humans. Brazilian president <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bolsonaro-plan-to-develop-amazon-rainforest-2019-1">Jair Bolsonaro</a> has encouraged the development of the rainforest for mining, logging, and farming.</p><div></div>

Images from a NASA satellite show the quickly increasing levels of carbon monoxide in atmosphere from the Amazon fires

If you thought <keyword id="6359858" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alcohol" source="Orion">alcohol</keyword> was just a human vice, think again! Animals might be indulging in nature’s own happy hour more often than we ever imagined. Ecologists are starting to turn this idea on its head, revealing that boozy snacks are far more common in the wild than previously thought.<br /><h2>How animals stumble upon alcohol</h2>When fruits are left to ripen a little too long, especially when drenched in warm sunlight, they naturally ferment into a natural brew. Stories of “drunk” animals like elephants, monkeys, and birds toppling around after munching on <keyword id="23742494" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fermented-fruits" source="keywords">fermented fruits</keyword> have been around for ages, but scientists used to think these incidents were rare flukes. But now, they’re rethinking it.<br /><br />"We’re moving away from this anthropocentric view that ethanol is just something that humans use," says study author Kimberley Hockings. "It's much more abundant in the natural world than we previously thought, and most animals that eat sugary fruits are going to be exposed to some level of ethanol."<br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114540943" title="Karnataka to go Goa way and allow alcohol sales in coastal cities to lure tourists" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>In fact, ethanol — yep, the stuff in booze — has been around for over 100 million years. When flowering plants first started making nectar and fruits, natural yeast joined the party, creating alcohol in the process. Today, it’s pretty much everywhere, especially in humid, tropical regions, where fermentation-friendly conditions are available year-round.<br /><h2>Built for the booze</h2>For most wild critters, alcohol isn’t about the buzz; it’s about the calories. According to molecular ecologist Matthew Carrigan, animals prioritise the energy found in these boozy treats rather than the “fun” side effects. <br /><br />“From an ecological perspective, it is not advantageous to be inebriated as you're climbing around in the trees or surrounded by predators at night — that's a recipe for not having your genes passed on,” Carrigan points out. Unlike us humans, animals want the energy but prefer to skip the hangover.<br /><br />Interestingly, animals seem to be pretty well-equipped to handle alcohol. They’ve harboured genes that can degrade ethanol for millions of years, long before natural yeast even got into the game. Primates, birds, and tree shrews that enjoy fruit and nectar have evolved a strong tolerance for it, allowing them to take advantage of ethanol’s calories without too much of a head-spin.<br /><h2>Why do animals bother?</h2>It might seem counterintuitive, but ethanol could have a few perks for wild animals. It’s calorie-dense, helping to fuel their bodies when food is scarce, and some of the odorous byproducts of fermentation can act as a food signal. So, while animals likely aren’t sniffing around for alcohol itself, they could be drawn to the scent of rotting fruits.<br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114453591" title="The Liver Doc shares brain scan of 40-year-old on alcohol; highlights link between brain strokes and drinking" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Insects like fruit flies have even shown a medicinal benefit to ethanol. Fruit fly larvae consume more ethanol when they're fighting off parasites like wasps. The ethanol seems to make their internal environment less hospitable to invaders, which is an intriguing example of self-medicating in the wild.<br /><br />“On the cognitive side, ideas have been put forward that ethanol can trigger the endorphin and dopamine system, which leads to feelings of relaxation that could have benefits in terms of sociality.” as behavioral ecologist Anna Bowland points out. You can imagine animals bonding over a boozy snack – kind of how humans sharing a beer!<br /><br />There’s still a lot we don’t know about how alcohol impacts animals in the wild. Do certain species seek it out more than others? Does ethanol consumption affect their social lives, family dynamics, or evolutionary adaptations? Hockings and her team plan to dig deeper, studying how alcohol impacts behavior and metabolism in animals, particularly primates.<br /><br />The findings of this research have been published in <em>Trends in Ecology &amp; Evolution </em>and can be accessed <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2024.09.005">here</a>.<br />

A lot more animals are alcoholics than we thought! Here’s how they get their booze

<ul class="summary-list"><li>We <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/early-retirement-not-worth-it-dad-sacrificed-frugal-died-2024-9">retired early</a> 14 years ago and moved abroad because the US was too expensive.</li><li>We set our sights on Cuenca, Ecuador, which has moderate weather and is super walkable.</li></ul><p>In 2008, we were living the American dream in Las Vegas with high-income careers, beautiful homes, and investments in place so we could take our hard-earned retirement in only a few short years.</p><p>But then the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/woman-warned-great-recession-2008-brooksley-born-wall-street-sexism-2024-3">Great Recession</a> changed everything. Suddenly, we were both unemployed, our home had lost two-thirds of its value almost overnight, and our savings were in free fall.</p><p>As the months dragged on and our financial situation became more desperate, we decided our best option was to retire early and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-us-to-switzerland-better-quality-of-life-staying-abroad-2024-9">move abroad</a> somewhere with a lower cost of living.</p><p>We settled on a city we weren't sure how to pronounce in a country we knew next to nothing about: Cuenca, Ecuador.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boomer-couldnt-afford-retirement-moved-ecuador-cheaper-lonely-social-security-2024-9">Ecuador</a> is considered one of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/senior-travel/cheapest-countries-to-retire-abroad/">cheapest countries to retire to</a>, and Cuenca checked all of the boxes on our retirement-location wish list.</p><p>Having been here 14 years now, I get why publications like International Living consider it one of the <a target="_blank" href="https://internationalliving.com/countries/ecuador/cuenca/">best retirement locations in the world</a>.</p><p>Here are five reasons we love our life as retirees abroad in Ecuador.</p><h2 id="f13ad7dc-92ce-42bb-bc74-9a8b6777615d"><strong>We can walk everywhere</strong></h2><p>Walkability was huge on our retirement wish list, and Cuenca has been a dream.</p><p>Both of us sold our cars shortly before flying to Ecuador, and we haven't owned a vehicle since.</p><p>Almost all of our daily needs are within a 10-minute walk from our home. For everything else, we ride a modern light-rail system that costs $0.17 cents a trip or take a $2 taxi.</p><p>Plus, walking is a pleasurable activity that helps support our fitness goals. We love getting to stroll along the river that runs beside our apartment or walk to grab a coffee.</p><h2 id="6fdaf1d2-1baa-4278-901a-8822ced089f0"><strong>Our cost of living is much lower now</strong></h2><div type="image" title="View of trees and flowing water from terrace" height="1251" width="1600" msid="114815164" hostid="261" sizebytes="629934"></div><p>Since we would be living primarily on our Social Security incomes, finding a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-affordable-retirement-communities-weather-healthcare-florida-arizona-california-homebuyer-2024-5">cheaper place to retire</a> was essential.</p><p>Our monthly expenses are now about $2,000, which includes rent for a penthouse apartment in the city's most prestigious neighborhood. This also includes housekeeping services, yoga studio and gym memberships, regular massages, and dining out several times a week.</p><p>Ecuador also has a universal healthcare system and much <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://yapatree.com/healthcare-us-vs-ecuador/">lower healthcare costs</a> compared with the US, which has some of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2023/oct/high-us-health-care-spending-where-is-it-all-going">highest</a> in the world.</p><p>We couldn't imagine living so well in any <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/left-walkable-city-upsized-after-retirement-moved-to-suburbs">walkable city in the US</a> on this budget — we even have money left over each month that we put in savings or use to travel.</p><h2 id="71e19266-1990-45a8-b2c3-360b0f18c96d"><strong>Cuenca's weather is fantastic</strong></h2><p>Another feature high on our retirement wish list was a temperate climate. Ecuador's weather is quite consistent year-round, and we have a lot of sunlight, in part because it straddles the equator.</p><p>Since Cuenca is 8,400 feet above sea level in the Andes mountains, most days are mild and cool. This weather is perfect for us.</p><p>We've never cared for cold winters and were over high heat and humidity after living most of our lives in the US South.</p><h2 id="c391f76e-5296-407f-9db5-54c7e439a18e"><strong>There's amazing biodiversity here</strong></h2><div type="image" title="Stone walking path lined with grass and trees next to Tomebamba River in Cuenca " height="1063" width="1600" msid="114815156" hostid="261" sizebytes="636038"></div><p>Though smaller than some US states, Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.</p><p>It's home to the stunning <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-do-on-the-galpagos-islands-according-to-frequent-visitor">Galápagos Islands</a> and more than 23,000 species of plants and animals, and the western border occupies 1,400 miles of Pacific coastline.</p><p>The Andes mountains run from north to south like a stony spine, and the lush Amazon rainforest takes up a lot of land.</p><p>We've gone <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/luxury-camping-under-canvas-great-smoky-mountains-photos-2023-7">glamping</a> in the jungle, watched humpback whales, toured volcanoes, and hung out with blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises all without ever leaving Ecuador.</p><h2 id="32369e47-64e2-4cdd-9ddb-f9be0e108401"><strong>With our vibrant expat community, we never feel bored</strong></h2><p>Cuenca has a vibrant community of thousands of retired expats like us, and there's always something going on in the city.</p><p>It has live theater performances, bilingual church services, wine tastings, yoga retreats, and every kind of meetup group you can imagine.</p><p>We even have an online bulletin board that keeps local residents aware of coming events, items for sale, and real-estate listings.</p>

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A doctor tested her oxygen levels and heart rate while wearing face masks to show they don't make it hard to breathe

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We retired abroad to Cuenca, Ecuador, once the US got too expensive. We still love the expat hot spot 14 years later.

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