As global warming continues to be a hotly debated topic, a recent study from Dartmouth College sheds light on an unexpected consequence. According to the study, climate change contributes to increased home runs in Major League Baseball. The reason? Hotter, thinner air allows baseballs to travel farther with less resistance.

The Dartmouth team analyzed over 100,000 major league games and more than 200,000 balls put into play. Their findings show that for every degree of warming in the air, there is a 1% increase in home run likelihood (1.8% for each degree Celsius). This means that as global temperatures continue to rise, we may expect to see hundreds of extra home runs in the future.

Of course, it’s not just climate change that’s contributing to the increase in home runs. Other factors such as ball stitches, batters’ launch angle, stronger hitters, and faster pitches also play a role. However, the study’s authors note that climate change is an often-overlooked variable in statistical models used to analyze baseball data.

Aside from potentially changing the outcomes of baseball games, climate change may also require us to rethink the design of sports stadiums. As outdoor conditions become increasingly hot, more domed stadiums could become necessary to create safer and more comfortable conditions for players and fans alike.

While the study is certainly a fascinating one, it’s worth remembering that climate change has much more pressing concerns than its effect on America’s favorite pastime. Extreme weather and rising sea levels are just a few of the issues that demand our attention and action. Nonetheless, this study provides us with yet another reminder that climate change affects every aspect of our world, even the ones we might not expect.

What do you think? Are you surprised to learn that climate change is causing more home runs in the MLB? Do you think this will change the way we watch or design sports stadiums? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!