Science Quickly Hobbit Disappearance Explained, Second-Hottest Year Looms, New Mpox Variant Found
Dec 15, 2025
Andrea Thompson, Senior Desk Editor for Life Science at Scientific American, shares her insights on critical climate data. She discusses the alarming prediction that 2025 may be the second-hottest year on record. The conversation also covers a newly identified mpox strain with unknown vaccine implications. Moreover, Thompson reveals a concerning trend of parents refusing vitamin K injections for newborns, which could lead to serious health issues. Finally, she explores the mysterious extinction of Homo floresiensis, linking it to climate-induced food shortages.
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Planet Nears 1.5°C Threshold
- Global average temperature is already about 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels through November 2025.
- That places 2025 tied with 2023 as the second-hottest year, signaling accelerating warming trends.
Why 1.5°C Matters
- Crossing 1.5°C in a single year matters because the Paris Agreement treats that target as a critical threshold.
- Continued record-breaking years depend largely on whether societies reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Rein In Emissions To Limit Records
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by cutting fossil fuel burning to slow future record heat.
- Policy and behavioral choices will determine how much hotter future records become.