CNET tested the Bluvol I11 Apex, a $90 cordless hair straightening comb that offers three heat settings (320, 365 and 410 degrees Fahrenheit), an LCD display showing temperature and battery level, and up to 45 minutes of use per charge. The reviewer, who previously used a Tymo Ring straightening brush, tried the device on curly, thick hair and found it straightened effectively in a single pass thanks to ceramic-glazed plates designed to prevent hair damage.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-30
Researchers have calculated the economic damage caused by heat stress reducing worker productivity worldwide, finding that current estimates of the social cost of carbon largely omit this factor. Hot and humid conditions force workers to slow down, take more breaks, or work fewer hours, cutting output across the global workforce.
nature.com
· 2026-09-29
A how-to guide explains that clearing laptop fan dust often requires removing the bottom panel, and on some models like Dell's Alienware m16 R2 and R1, extensive disassembly of screws, batteries, SSDs and system boards to reach the fan and heat sink. It notes Dell restricts full cooling-assembly removal to authorized technicians and warns against cleaning its Element 31 thermal paste with alcohol wipes, which can cause electrical shorts.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-26
Italian prison watchdog Antigone reports that cells across the country's roughly 200 detention facilities have regularly exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit this summer, as most lack air conditioning, fans or adequate ventilation. The heat compounds severe overcrowding, with about 65,000 inmates held in facilities built for 47,000, according to the New York Times.
futurism.com
· 2026-09-26
Seven-month data on the US grid through July 2026 shows electricity use rising about 2 percent year over year, down from 3 percent growth over the same period last year, despite rising data-center and EV/heat-pump demand. Solar power generation, which had been growing more than 30 percent annually in many quarters, is showing a smaller increase so far this year.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-25
Engineers are developing thermoelectric generators designed to capture heat naturally radiating from human skin and convert it into electricity for small wearable devices. The technology targets low-power, screenless gadgets rather than power-hungry devices like the Apple Watch, which would still require conventional charging.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-25
Climate Impact Lab, a research organization co-founded by University of Chicago economist Michael Greenstone, estimates that roughly 451,000 excess deaths will occur from heat during the first six months of the current El Niño event, compared with a typical year. The group forecasts the hardest-hit regions will be in northern Africa, South East Asia and Latin America, naming Nigeria, Indonesia, Sudan, India and Brazil as the most affected countries. The report notes the El Niño pattern is expected to persist until at least spring 2027.
futurism.com
· 2026-09-24
A geothermal heat map compares subsurface heat flow across the United States, measured in milliwatts per square meter, against known locations of hot springs. The map shows the national average heat flow at roughly 65 milliwatts per square meter, with much of the western US running well above that level while the eastern US remains largely cooler.
soakingsprings.com
· 2026-09-23
A new report warns that the current strong El Niño event, which is pushing global temperatures unusually high, could contribute to nearly half a million deaths over the next six months. The report describes the extreme heat as a preview of conditions expected to become the norm within a few decades.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-23
Researchers identified more than 1,400 local policies across 157 cities addressing clean energy, building efficiency and extreme heat preparedness, according to a new study. The findings come as the Trump administration has restricted states from using Inflation Reduction Act rebates to help homeowners replace fossil fuel appliances with heat pumps.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-22
CoolIT says that above 250 kW per rack, hybrid air-liquid cooling no longer works because the air-side load becomes too large and costly to manage. Its response is a cooling architecture that captures nearly all rack heat in liquid, cutting air cooling to under 1% of the load and enabling fanless server designs built on six generations of modular coldplate technology.
spectrum.ieee.org
· 2026-09-22
WIRED's multi-year review of Factor, HelloFresh's ready-to-heat meal delivery brand, found the food has notably improved since the 2020 acquisition, moving beyond simple protein-and-veggie trays to include flatbread pizzas, smoothies and juices. Meals cost roughly $13-17 per serving plus shipping, with plans ranging from four to 24 meals weekly and over 100 menu options including keto, high-protein and plant-based filters.
wired.com
· 2026-09-21
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