30 Apr 2026 The World, the Universe and Us
Global temperatures are rising faster than ever – and with a strong El Niño on the way, scientists are warning we could temporarily breach 2°C of warming above pre-industrial levels. While other models suggest it may only hit 1.75°C, either option is bad news for the climate.

The European state of the climate report has just been released, painting a picture of a rapidly warming world. Temperatures in Europe are rising faster than any other continent – and places like Iceland, Norway and the UK have all experienced record breaking years.

As we’re already watching the impacts of this heat on biodiversity, wildfires, harvests and more – can we handle a 2°C rise in temperatures? And does this signal the end of the Paris goal to limit warming to 1.5°C?

Despite the gloom, there is one glimmer of hope. One species of warm water corals seems to have adapted to these extreme surges in heat – and is surviving against the odds.

Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by New Scientist reporters Alec Luhn and James Woodford.
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What does the latest science actually mean for us? Each week, New Scientist editors Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet dig into the biggest stories in science alongside expert scientists, from the mysteries of consciousness to the search for dark matter, to feed your curiosity and make sense of an uncertain world.

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