It is vital we understand heat and humidity’s differing effects on us
· New Scientist
When the final of the 2026 men’s football World Cup kicks off in New Jersey this weekend, players can expect temperatures of over 30°C (86°F). Indeed, much of the tournament has been played in challenging conditions – like the high elevation and thin air of Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca – giving pundits plenty to chew over.
But one factor has been less discussed: humidity. High temperatures may be uncomfortable, but it is really the combination of heat and high humidity that can make a football match – indeed, any activity – physiologically unbearable. Humid conditions make it harder for our bodies to benefit from sweating, as the air is already laden with moisture, hampering our ability to cool down.
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This impact of humidity is still underappreciated. One way of taking both humidity and heat into account is the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), a measure of heat stress used by sports organisations. As New Scientist went to press, the most extreme match of this World Cup (Uruguay vs Cape Verde) had an estimated WBGT of over 33°C (91°F) – a level at which people are advised to suspend all outdoor activity. Most of us simply aren’t prepared for such conditions, as we explore here.
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if( window?.adverts?.addToArray ) { window.adverts.addToArray( { "pos": "mid-article-slot" } ); }It is really the combination of heat and humidity that can make activities unbearable
Yet, if we understand the dangers of humidity, we can start to grasp the advantages of dry heat. We detail the many ways in which saunas and heat therapy can keep you healthy, from cardiovascular benefits to protection against Alzheimer’s disease. The key is that saunas operate at extremely low humidity, allowing us to sweat comfortably while reaping the benefits of getting decidedly hot.
Saunas aside, we should still be wary of extreme heat. With European heatwaves on the rise, the 2030 men’s football World Cup – to be played across Portugal, Spain and Morocco – is likely to see low humidity but temperatures of up to 40°C (104°F). With no sign of us cutting carbon emissions, the World Cups of the early 21st century may one day be fondly remembered as nice and cool.