This review article from Attila Becskei published in the Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal examines the impact of temperature on RNA metabolism, covering a broad range of topics from the fundamental principles of RNA folding and degradation to the practical applications of temperature control in biotechnology and forensic science. The authors discuss how temperature affects RNA structure and function, exploring the mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to temperature fluctuations. They explore how RNA thermosensors regulate gene expression and highlight the role of RNA degradation in various processes, including the development of mRNA vaccines and the estimation of the age of bloodstains.