If you're in the UK, is it raining where you are today (if not it soon will be)? If you're in the US, is it hot, have you experienced bad storms? There's a scary article, in this week's New Scientist (No. 2872, 7th July 2012), by Stephen Battersby, entitled 'Running Wild' which may explain everything. The article's strapline reads: "Our weather is not only becoming more extreme, it's becoming even more extreme than anyone expected."

The suspicion is that recent worldwide droughts, storms etc. are the result of a 0.8 degrees C average planetary temperature rise over the last century - but the weather events experienced in recent years have often been more extreme than expected as a result of such a temperature change. It is anticipated that man-made global warming will lead to a 5 to 6 degree rise in average planetary temperature - what the hell will that do? Odds are that whatever the result our species probably won't survive it (along with countless other species).

Sits back and waits for loads of flak from SUV driving climate sceptics.