What did recreating the 1976 heatwave in today's climate reveal?

Recreating the 1976 heatwave in today’s climate showed us that heatwaves are now stronger and last longer, like when you leave your ice cream out in the sun for too long.

Imagine baking a cake in the oven. In 1976, it was like putting it in a 350°F (about 180°C) oven, warm enough to make it rise and get golden. But today’s climate is more like putting that same cake in a 400°F (about 200°C) oven, and leaving the door open so all the hot air keeps coming in. That’s what happened with the heatwave, it was hotter, and it stayed that way for longer.

Now think of an ice cream cone on a summer day. In 1976, the sun might have been bright, but it wasn’t as hot or as long. Today’s version is like having a super strong sun that keeps shining, your ice cream starts to melt faster and stays melted longer.

So when scientists recreated the old heatwave with today's climate, they saw how much more powerful our heatwaves have become, just like your ice cream melting quicker than ever before.