Similarly, solar thermal energy--which harnesses the heat of the sun to generate steam-powered turbines--consumes more than 2, 600 liters of water per megawatt hour, 200 liters more than coal-powered generation needs to produce the same energy.

FORBES: The Water-Industrial Complex

The summer months see Times Square overrun by visitors all scrambling for their "I Heart NYC" t-shirt and matching sun visor, while the Empire State Building's elevator queue can, through the heat-haze, seem to extend as far, horizontally, as the iconic building stretches for the skies.

BBC: Summer in the city: New York

BrightSource generates electricity using an approach called concentrated solar power, in which computer-controlled mirrors, known as heliostats, focus the sun's heat to boil water and turn a steam turbine.

ECONOMIST: Energy storage

One of these changes, which would promote global warming, is a rise in the level of so-called greenhouse gases (particularly carbon dioxide) which trap heat from the sun and thus warm the air.

ECONOMIST: More evidence that global warming is man-made

Intel has warned that if the heat wave continues, the guts of a PC will one day generate the same heat--10, 800 degrees--as the surface of the sun.

FORBES: Chillin' Chips

Among the challenges is modifying sensors designed to detect the heat from an incoming warhead so they can spot the much-cooler satellite, which has no heat source and is warmed only by the sun's rays.

CNN: Attempt to shoot down spy satellite to cost up to $60 million

The big red-grape-growing regions of South Australia, such as Coonawarra and the Barossa Valley, get enough sun and heat to ripen the fruit every year.

FORBES: Chateau Southcorp

We're using more and more carbon-based fuels, generating greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) that trap heat from the sun in our atmosphere.

CNN: Why your allergies are bugging you