Kate Cell and Amanda Fencl contributed to this post
This week in Danger Season, people across large areas of the Midwest and Northeast are breathing dangerous air as climate-exacerbated wildfires in Canada and the western US send smoke eastward. Meanwhile, the Trump administration doubles down on convincing us there’s no danger in a changing climate, whatever our stinging eyes and lungs may say.
Beware the air
This week, some of the worst air quality (AQ) conditions on Earth enveloped US cities, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast. The air in Chicago and Detroit registered among the top 3 most polluted, globally. Unhealthy conditions were widespread, including in Syracuse, New York, where UCS Science Fellow Marc Alessi reported air quality index (AQI) values above 100 and air quality alerts issued by the National Weather Service in effect since Sunday. In coastal Massachusetts, where air quality only reached “moderate” danger, my asthma, normally inactive, has been flaring.
The Air Quality Index (AQI), EPA’s tool for reporting air quality, combines monitoring of five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act, including the particle pollution found in wildfire smoke. The current acute air quality situation is mainly the result of the large wildfires burning in North America, particularly in Canada, but also in parts of the western United States.
When a fire consumes a tree, the smoke it sends aloft includes particulate matter fine enough to be transported thousands of miles on prevailing winds. (The smoke that has blotted out blue skies in New England this week traveled onward over the Atlantic to reach western Europe as well.)
Those particulates are so fine that, when inhaled, they can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. The people at greatest risk from breathing wildfire smoke are people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease, people who are elderly, young, pregnant, outdoor workers, and of low income. Whether or not you are among the folks at greatest risk from the health impacts of breathing smoke, it’s worth digging out your COVID K/N95 masks to protect yourself when air quality conditions get dangerous. This is particularly important any time wildfire encroaches and burns in residential areas where household items, when incinerated, mobilize toxic heavy metals and other carcinogens.
Where there’s smoke there’s climate-driven fire
The 2025 wildfire situation in Canada, the main source of our current air quality trouble, is on track to be the country’s second worst year on record. Already, an area roughly the size of West Virginia has burned, more than double the 10-year average area burned by this date. Roughly 60 large fires are currently burning uncontrolled.
Looking ahead, the North American wildfire season tends to extend well into the fall and the forecast for the next two months is indeed for ongoing, widespread, and increasing fire risk.
These wildfires are being made worse by climate change, which can increase the conditions conducive to fires. In western North America, climate change nearly doubled the area burned by wildfires between 1984 and 2015. As my colleague, UCS Scientist Carly Phillips, recently blogged:
The wildfires burning now aren’t the same fires that burned 30 years ago. They are burning at higher elevations, over longer fire seasons, growing with greater speed, and under more extreme fire weather conditions. They are also burning later into the night and ramping up earlier in the morning, due in part to increases in vapor pressure deficit, an increase in which has been attributed to climate change. Fires are also burning at higher severity, […].
“No danger to see here”?
The Trump administration would like us to believe their claim that there’s no need to regulate power plant and vehicle heat-trapping emissions because there’s no real danger in the climate change they cause.
The administration would also like us to believe that there are sufficient wildland firefighters to help keep communities safe. The truth is there remains a high vacancy rate.
The recent cuts and forced resignations within the Forest Service have left us ill-prepared for the upcoming fire season, with almost a third of firefighting positions still unfilled as of mid-July. This shortage of personnel is a concerning issue, especially in the face of the escalating wildfires, droughts, floods, extreme heat, and unhealthy air quality that have plagued Danger Season 2025.
Governor Newsom of California has taken action by sending model Executive Order language to the President to facilitate staffing improvements at the federal level. This proactive approach is crucial in addressing the current staffing crisis and ensuring that we have the necessary resources to combat wildfires effectively.
Research conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has revealed that a significant portion of wildfires in the western United States and southwestern Canada can be attributed to emissions from the world’s largest fossil fuel producers. This underscores the urgent need to hold accountable those responsible for exacerbating climate change through their actions.
The ongoing efforts of the Trump administration to roll back fossil fuel regulations and undermine climate science only serve to further endanger our environment and public health. It is imperative that we push back against these dangerous policies and prioritize the protection of our planet and its inhabitants.
The proposed rule by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to undo its 2009 finding on global warming pollution is a concerning development. We must urge the EPA to prioritize scientific evidence and protect public health and the environment, rather than bowing to climate disinformation.
As Congress enters recess, now is the perfect time to engage with your elected officials and advocate for continued funding and support for agencies like FEMA and NOAA. Writing letters to the editor and submitting comments to the federal register can make a difference in shaping policy decisions that impact our environment and communities.
In the face of worsening air quality due to wildfires, consider supporting local mutual aid groups that provide masks to vulnerable populations, such as unhoused individuals. Initiatives like Mask Oakland in California offer a tangible way to help those in need during times of environmental crisis.
As we navigate through Danger Season 2025, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of our planet and those affected by climate-related disasters. Let us stand together, advocate for science-based policies, and take action to protect our environment for future generations. The world of technology is constantly evolving and advancing, with new innovations and inventions being introduced almost daily. One of the most recent and highly anticipated developments in the tech world is the introduction of quantum computing.
Quantum computing is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to completely change the way we process information and solve complex problems. Unlike traditional computers, which use bits to store and process data, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This allows quantum computers to perform calculations at a speed and scale that is far beyond the capabilities of even the most powerful supercomputers.
The implications of quantum computing are vast and far-reaching. It has the potential to revolutionize industries such as finance, healthcare, and cybersecurity, by enabling the processing of vast amounts of data in record time. For example, quantum computers could be used to quickly analyze and predict market trends, develop new drugs and treatments, and enhance the security of online transactions.
However, quantum computing is still in its early stages of development, and there are many challenges that need to be overcome before it can be widely adopted. One of the biggest challenges is the issue of qubit stability, as qubits are extremely sensitive to their environment and can easily lose their quantum state. Researchers are working on developing new techniques and materials to improve the stability of qubits and make quantum computers more reliable.
Another challenge is the complexity of programming quantum computers, as the algorithms and software needed to run them are vastly different from traditional computers. Researchers are working on developing new programming languages and tools to make it easier for developers to write code for quantum computers.
Despite these challenges, the potential of quantum computing is too great to ignore. Companies such as IBM, Google, and Microsoft are investing heavily in research and development in this field, and many experts believe that quantum computing will become a reality within the next decade.
In conclusion, quantum computing is a game-changing technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way we process information and solve complex problems. While there are still many challenges to overcome, the future of quantum computing looks bright, and it is only a matter of time before we see its full potential unleashed.
