Science to the rescue : adapting to climate change

Water supplies are being drastically reduced and are suddenly not reliable. Millions of human beings have no regular water supply, and thousands-most of them children-die every day. The western parts of North America as well as huge areas of Asia, Australia, Africa, and parts of southern Europe are all especially prone to drought. This problem has plagued human communities since the beginning of history. But scientists say human activities-mostly...

Like a row of dominoes, persistent and repetitive heat waves also threaten the environment, exacerbate current climate-related problems, stress a country's health system, damage its infrastructure, and strain its energy resources. Readers examine efforts, including drought and heat-resistant energy-efficient "smart" homes and buildings, green roof gardens, next-generation building materials, and alternative energy sources as well as technologically...