Sewing Saved Us from a “Cold Snap” 13 Thousand Years Ago
Sewing a full winter outfit from animal hides took 105 hours. And we needed lots of them to survive the Younger Dryas Cold Event.
Aeroplankton: The Life in the Air We Breathe
Just as the ocean is full of plankton, the air we breathe teems with microorganisms.
The Weather Forecast That Saved D-Day
Operation Overlord launched the invasion of German-occupied Europe during WWII. But the right weather, tides, and moonlight were essential for it to work.
When the Weather Service Spied on Americans
The United States National Weather Service began as part of the military, with a mandate to serve the interests of federal officials and business owners.
Hurricanes May be Getting More Severe: Do We Need a Whole New Cateogry to Describe Them?
There’s been a devastating trail of destruction and flooding along the east Atlantic coast in the last few ...
Natural and Man-Made Disasters, from Atom Weather to Fire Ants
Mother Nature’s wrath can be unpredictable and random, but history shows that humankind is ultimately responsible for many "natural disasters."
Does the Internet Help or Harm Our Ability to Weather Natural Disasters?
Does our technology help us deal with disaster? Or does it put us at risk by creating the illusion that we are immune from disaster?
The Secrets of Jupiter’s Incredible Great Red Spot
Astronomers have worked out that Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a massive storm system, but what keeps a storm going for hundreds of years?
How to Predict Hurricanes in the 17th Century
In 1698, Captain Langford shared how one indigenous Caribbean person predicted hurricanes 14 days in advance.