The Deadly Threshold: The Unbearable Heat for Human Survival

Scientists have determined that the maximum mix of heat and humidity a human body can survive is around 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) when coupled with 100 percent humidity. At this point, sweat no longer evaporates off the skin, leading to heatstroke, organ failure, and death. While this critical limit has only been breached a few times, experts warn that as global temperatures rise, dangerous wet bulb events will become more common. The frequency of such events has already doubled in the last 40 years. Vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly, are at higher risk, and those who work outside in extreme heat are particularly vulnerable.