Chicago: Not Just The Wind, But The Heat Beneath Your Feet
Let’s play a game, shall we? Imagine you're in a bustling metropolis - perhaps Chicago, New York, or London. As you walk around admiring the towering skyscrapers, for a moment, let’s dive beneath the surface. No, not a philosophical dive into the soul, but a literal dive into the ground beneath you. You’ve heard of climate change. We all have. We know the sea levels are rising, the ice caps are melting, and the world is getting warmer. But have you ever considered what’s happening beneath your feet? It’s a story few are telling. A tale of heat is so sneaky. It’s been dubbed the "silent hazard." But trust me, its implications are LOUD.
Alessandro Rotta Loria, our unsung hero from Northwestern University, has been lurking beneath Chicago's streets with his nifty credit-card sized sensors. He's been on a quest to unearth (pun absolutely intended) a significant dilemma: our buildings and subways are spewing heat directly into the earth. It might sound like the start of a stand-up gig, but folks, the punchline is grim. The ground beneath is getting so hot that the very concrete our cities stand on is deforming.For those of you who skipped Physics 101, here's a crash course: when things heat up, they change. Just like that one summer when you thought denim shorts and leather boots were a good combo. But unlike regrettable fashion decisions, our underground infrastructure isn't something we can just swap out next…
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