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This study investigates the differences in surface temperatures between artificial turf and natural grass to assess their broader impact on athletic safety and the environment. With artificial turf becoming increasingly popular due to its low maintenance costs, concerns about its heat retention properties have emerged. The hypothesis stated that artificial turf would have a significantly higher surface temperature than grass due to its polymer-based composition, which absorbs and retains more heat. Using infrared thermometers, surface temperatures of both artificial turf and natural grass were measured over multiple days under the same environmental conditions. The data revealed that artificial turf exhibited an average temperature increase of 3.34°C compared to grass. Additionally, while the temperature difference between air and grass showed a slight decrease of 0.48°C, the air-to-turf difference showed a 2.54°C increase, confirming that turf retains more heat. These findings align with external research, such as studies from Brigham Young University and Penn State, which have documented extreme heat levels on artificial turf, sometimes exceeding 76.7°C on hot days. The results indicate that artificial turf can pose significant heat-related risks, such as burns, heat exhaustion, and dehydration for athletes. While this study was conducted during colder months, future research could expand by examining temperature variations across seasons and testing heat-mitigating solutions for artificial turf. These findings have important implications for sports facility management, urban planning, and environmental policies, highlighting the need for alternative materials and cooling strategies to improve athlete safety on synthetic fields.