Sweat is not commonly thought of in a positive way but it’s actually a good thing, says Konrad Rykaczewski, an associate professor in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, part of the Fulton Schools. It’s the evaporation of sweat that chills human skin, giving it some protection against heat. So, studying sweat can aid scientists and engineers in designing and developing more effective technologies to help keep people cool, he says. Rykaczewski is working with colleagues to investigate possibilities for high-tech solutions that would alleviate or mitigate some impacts of extreme heat.

See also: Like AC for the Outdoors, The Atlantic (July 22)
To survive a heating planet, humans need shade ­­– a lot of it.
Associate Professor Ariane Middel, director of ASU’s Sensable Heatscapes and Digital Environments, or SHaDE, Lab, who has affiliations with the Fulton Schools, talks about using shade to help overcome the global environmental challenge of rising heat. (Signing up for one-year subscription or a one-month free trial subscription is necessary to access the full article.)