Sade Agard

The last decade has brought relentless heat to places already known for scorching climates, and transformed others into unexpected hot spots. Between 2015 and 2024, temperature records were shattered, heatwaves lasted longer, and survivability thresholds were tested in cities across the globe. These places stand as stark indicators of what a warming world could beget.

Representational image of Martian terrain and atmosphere Pitris/iStock Mars, our neighboring red planet, possesses some of the most extreme topographical features within our solar system. Its colossal volcanoes, canyons and impact craters offer clues into its geological past spanning billions of years. Consider Olympus Mons for example, the largest volcano in the solar system that stands almost three times taller than Mount Everest.

Satellite View of Earth Space X/Pexels As Earth warms, tropical cyclones will be “very likely” to have higher rainfall rates and stronger top wind speeds, according to the IPCC. This suggests a larger share of storms could reach the most intense Categories 4 and 5—more than they already do. Consider Hurricane Milton, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico in October 2024.