This week, much of the eastern United States, including where I live in Danbury, CT, experienced a historic heat wave, with temperatures soaring near or above 100°F and breaking records in major cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. To make matters worse, we had a power failure where we live. I could not find any evidence it was caused by the weather, but I would not be surprised if it was a factor. I took a short walk (1/8 of a mile) one day when it was 96. It made me feel for the landscapers, delivery people, and others who spent a lot of time outdoors.
So, what made the heat wave so intense? The immediate answer is heat domes and high-pressure systems. In this blog post, I will try to make sense of this. I made a separate webpage showing all the information sources involved. You can view it here.
The main driver of the current heat wave is a phenomenon called a “heat dome.” This occurs when a strong, persistent high-pressure system settles over a region, trapping hot air near the surface and preventing cooler air from moving in. Air sinks under high pressure, compresses, and heats up. The system also blocks clouds and wind, allowing the sun’s rays to heat the ground even more, and the heat lingers for days or even weeks. The result is prolonged periods of extreme heat, often with high humidity, which can be especially dangerous for health and infrastructure.
Looking at the bigger picture, many of us wonder why are heat waves getting worse? While heat domes explain the immediate weather, several broader factors are making heat waves more frequent and severe. I know some people still do not believe it, but the first factor is climate change. Human-caused global warming is the primary reason heat waves are becoming hotter, longer, and more common. The Earth has warmed by about 2.2°F since the preindustrial era, making extreme heat events much more likely and intense. To see my sources of information for this and other factors, please take a look at my sources webpage here.
The heat waves are not exclusively caused by climate change. There are some significant other contributing factors. First is El Niño. This natural climate pattern warms the Pacific Ocean, which can raise global temperatures and intensify heat waves. Another factor is the solar cycle. The sun’s energy output fluctuates in an 11-year cycle. We’re currently approaching a solar maximum, which adds a small extra warming effect. Even volcanic eruptions are a factor. The 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption which occurred at the Hunga Haʻapai volcano, an underwater volcano located in the Tongan archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean, injected water vapor (a greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere, slightly increasing global temperatures.
One last factor relates to why summer is always hotter. Summer heat is caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis, which allows the sun’s rays to hit our location more directly and for longer hours every day. The tilt factor is a good one for trivial pursuit, but it is a very small factor when it comes to explaining the record-breaking extremes we’re seeing now.
In summary, the current heat wave is due to a powerful heat dome trapping hot air over the region. Climate change is making these events more frequent and severe, with additional boosts from El Niño and other global factors. I am sure my readers stay informed via local weather alerts and take heat warnings seriously. We have traditionally thought of being hot as just being uncomfortable. With the recent amplifications, we need to think of heat being life-threatening. Staying safe means staying hydrated, keeping cool, avoiding unnecessary heat exposure, and looking out for vulnerable neighbors and pets.
In this section, I share what I am up to, pictures of the week, what is new in AI and crypto, and more.
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This week in AI, several major developments have emerged across healthcare, defense, robotics, and consumer technology.
The FDA launched Elsa, a large language model designed to help with safety assessments, label comparisons, and database development in healthcare. This marks the agency’s first major step into AI, aiming to support regulatory processes and public health[1][2]. The American Medical Association adopted a policy calling for AI tools in medicine to be explainable, so clinicians understand how decisions are made[1]. Cigna released a new AI-powered virtual assistant for its app, which will soon include provider matching for patients[1]. Hinge Health announced HingeSelect, an AI-driven network to connect patients to affordable in-person care[1].
OpenAI secured its first contract with the US Department of Defense, a $200 million deal to develop generative AI tools for military use, focusing on both combat and enterprise applications[3]. In China, researchers revealed a 6G electronic warfare weapon capable of jamming advanced fighter jet radars within seconds[3].
MIT researchers published a new framework to address bias in large language models, showing how design choices can affect which parts of an input get the most attention and proposing solutions for more balanced performance in high-stakes fields[3].
In robotics, Hexagon and NVIDIA introduced AEON, a humanoid robot for industrial digital twins and complex factory tasks, designed to help address global labor shortages[3]. QUT researchers in Australia developed a brain-inspired navigation system for robots, dramatically reducing power consumption compared to traditional methods[3].
On the business side, STRADVISION won a 2025 AI Breakthrough Award for SVNet, a perception software for real-time object detection in vehicles, highlighting advances in automotive AI[4]. Apple reportedly discussed acquiring Perplexity AI in a deal that could be worth $14 billion, signaling a move to strengthen its AI search capabilities[2]. Amazon announced that generative AI will lead to corporate job cuts as roles are automated or transformed[2].
Other highlights include Midjourney launching its first AI video generation model, Meta and Oakley releasing AI-powered smart glasses, and new studies suggesting AI can sometimes be perceived as more empathetic than humans in certain contexts[2].
Overall, this week’s AI news reflects rapid progress in healthcare, defense, robotics, and consumer technology, with ongoing debates about safety, transparency, and the impact on jobs.
This week in crypto, the market has experienced a mild downturn overall, with the total market capitalization falling by about 1 percent to $3.43 trillion. Despite this, several top coins, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, have shown resilience. Bitcoin climbed 1.5 percent to trade above $107,800, rebounding from last week’s lows, while Ethereum rose 1.9 percent to $2,480. Kaspa and Bitcoin Cash led gains among altcoins, each up over 5 percent. Trading volumes remain robust, with Bitcoin’s daily volume up nearly 14 percent, signaling strong market activity even amid price corrections.
On the regulatory front, the U.S. Senate advanced the GENIUS Act, a bill that would establish federal standards for stablecoin issuers, including licensing and reserve requirements. In California, lawmakers passed a bill to allow state agencies to accept cryptocurrency for payments, pending Senate approval. Internationally, Kazakhstan announced new digital asset regulations and a sandbox for crypto innovation, while Russia’s central bank opened access to crypto-linked derivatives for qualified investors, though retail access remains restricted.
In market developments, June saw a surge in crypto presales, with projects like Neo Pepe and BTC Bull Token attracting significant investor interest. Neo Pepe, a meme-inspired token with DAO governance and an auto-liquidity system, has raised about $2 million at a presale price of $0.08. LightChain and BTC Bull Token are also drawing attention for their efficiency and staking rewards, respectively.
Looking ahead, several major token unlocks are scheduled, including Optimism, Sui, and Ethena, which could impact supply and price dynamics. Coinbase is delisting several tokens, while new listings such as Sahara AI are launching on major exchanges. Analysts continue to watch for the next breakout, with some predicting a potential bull run in the third quarter, driven by ETF demand, regulatory clarity, and the convergence of crypto with AI and other emerging technologies.
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