The Point of No Return?

Can we stop the climate crisis? [For the best experience, read in browser.]( August 30, 2023 And just like that, summer is winding down — a transition that always bums me out a little. But today, I'm sharing [my cure for the end-of-summer blues](. Want other ways to keep the joy going? [My zucchini muffin recipe]( lets you savor the taste of the season, and [these beach reads]( are always here for an escape. One thing we won’t miss: The wild weather we’ve been having. I asked a climate scientist what’s behind these extreme conditions and [if it’s too late to fix the problem](. Let’s dive in.   In the News [hand with red nails using fire extinguisher to put out burning earth]( KCM/Getty Images A hurricane in California. A never-ending heatwave. Raging forest fires (and the orange haze and poor air quality that followed). It’s safe to say that no matter where you live in the United States, summer 2023 has been the season of climate change. Are extreme weather and natural disasters the new normal? I sat down with Daniel Swain, Ph.D., a climate scientist with UCLA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, to talk all about what’s causing these frightening forecasts, how much is due to the Earth’s natural warming cycle, and [whether we’ve reached a point of no return](. [READ MORE]( PASS THIS STORY ALONG: mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20Wake-Up%20Call%21&body=https%3A%2F%2Fkatiecouric.com%2Fvideo%2Fkatie-talks-to%2Fsevere-weather-summer-2023-climate-change-daniel-swain   More Stories [Men boarding up a front door]( Getty Images Crunch time: Hurricane Idalia has strengthened into an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm packing 130 winds, and is set to intensify as it churns into Florida's west coast this morning. The state's Big Bend region is bracing for a 12-16-foot surge. "This is crunch time right now. We are going to be hit with a major hurricane," Gov. Ron DeSantis warned Floridians as he urged them to heed evacuation warnings. "You really got to go now." Student charged: Tailei Qi, a grad student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Associate Professor Zijie Yan on Monday. Yan, who worked in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences, was Qi's faculty adviser. The gun used in the killing is yet to be recovered. If Qi is convicted, he'll face a minimum of life in prison without parole. Media watch: Mark Thompson, former chief executive of The New York Times and director general of the BBC, has been tipped as the next top executive of CNN. The 66-year-old is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ancestry, the world's number one for-profit genealogy company. He's expected to revitalise the flagging news organization, which has been beset with crises over the last 18 months, culminating in the dismissal of Chris Licht as chief executive in June. U.S. women start strong: American frontrunner Jessica Pegula set the stage for a confident U.S. Open campaign on Tuesday, beating out her Italian opponent Camila Giorgi 6-2 6-2 in a swift hour and 22 minutes. Her compatriot Madison Keys also kept the standard high, easily defeating her Dutch opponent Arantxa Rus 6-2 6-4. “It’s nice that there are a lot of us that are doing well and that have chances to go deep here,” Pegula said post-match.   Katie's Corner [Katie Couric on the beach wearing a flowy dress and sunglasses, holding a straw hat]( Kit Kittle Is it just me, or does Labor Day bring the feeling of Sunday Scaries on steroids? I got my Carrie Bradshaw on and couldn’t help but wonder why June-August is the highlight of my year — and then my friend Nancy sent me a podcast that made it all snap into focus. I ruminated on the source of my end-of-season blues and [how I’ll keep the summer vibes going throughout the year](. [READ MORE](   Must-Reads [Couple dancing under a disco ball]( It's a Lifestyle The concept of a “DINK” is blowing up on TikTok — but this term was actually originated by Baby Boomers. Here’s what it means. [Read More »]( [Map of the United States with various illustrations: Statue of Liberty, cowboy hat, etc.]( State of Play If you’re looking for a quick getaway or a permanent change, you might find some inspiration in this list of the most fun states in the U.S. [Read More »]( [Cup of water on pink background]( Drink Up? There's good news for those of us who struggle to get our water in: You might not need as many glasses of H2O per day as you think. [Read More »](   Open Up [Child's hands brushing fake teeth]( Getty Images Do you know [the recommended age for your first dentist appointment](? It’s way earlier than you might think, but many people neglect their oral health until it becomes a pressing issue. (Nearly half of American kids have at least one cavity by age 6.) We spoke with a dental hygienist who shared the challenges she faced as a child due to a lack of early dental care — and how that experience has driven her to collaborate with Crest and Oral-B to instill healthy brushing and flossing habits in younger patients across the U.S. [READ MORE]( [Supported by P&G](   Extra Credit Your fashion fingerprint: Trends come and go, but personal style is forever — and with [this guide to finding clothes that truly fit your wardrobe](, you'll learn how to feel like yourself in the most fabulous way possible. Sweet greens: My garden is packed with tons of fresh zucchini, so I grated up some summer squash to use in muffins. Follow along on my baking journey, and learn how to make these yourself, [right here](. The final chapter: Labor Day weekend might be the unofficial end of summer, but it’s just that: unofficial! There’s still plenty of time to soak up the sun with one of [these engaging beach reads]( that keep the summertime vibes coming.   Give Yourself a Boost [White and Black person's hands holding up 2 Ritual vitamins between their thumb and index finger, on a yellow background]( Ritual Between extra travel and the urge to treat summer like one long vacation, it's not surprising that routines get disrupted during the warmer months. Luckily, our partners at Ritual have you covered with [a 40% discount on nutritional supplements]( (live through Sept. 5). It's the perfect chance to stock up on [the multivitamins Wake-Up Callers are obsessed with]( and get back on top of things just in time for fall. [SHOP HERE](   [The Shop Edit. Love shopping as much as we do? 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