Weather

Why We Can Blame A Warm Arctic For This Winter’s Icy Chill

Arctic amplification is affecting the jet stream and letting weather systems persist longer, atmospheric scientist says

February 21, 2014

Cool Finds

It Wasn’t Always the City’s Job to Remove Snow

Even if everybody isn’t happy with the quality of snow removal, they should be pleased it’s not their responsibility

February 18, 2014

New Research

South Australia Has a Higher Rate of Hypothermia Deaths Than Sweden

Weather can be dangerous when preparedness and support are lacking

February 13, 2014

New Research

Myth Debunked: Wind Farms Don’t Alter the Climate

A model indicates that doubling Europe’s number of wind turbines would have a negligible effect on temperature and precipitation

February 11, 2014

Super Bowl

The Science of the First Cold Weather Super Bowl

Science shows that the cold weather will make it harder for players to grip the ball, avoid slipping and hear each other over the roar of the crowd

January 30, 2014

Australian Cyclone Activity Hits Record Low Levels

Climate change may explain the recent drop, scientists say

January 29, 2014

New Research

Vaporized Dirt Might Be the Mysterious Cause of Ball Lightning

An analysis of one ball’s contents found silicon, iron and calcium—the main components of dirt

January 21, 2014

Trending Today

It’s So Hot They Had to Suspend the Australian Open Because Players Were Passing Out

Australia is getting hotter, creating dangerous conditions for everyone

January 17, 2014

Trending Today

The Cold Snap Wasn’t Actually That Extreme, Global Warming Has Just Made Us Wimpy

The recent cold snap wouldn’t have been so unusual in the past

January 10, 2014

Is Today Really the Most Depressing Day of the Year?

Blue Monday: scientifically-grounded downer day or invention made up to sell more vacations and protein shakes?

January 6, 2014

This Cold Snap Is Making It Colder Than the Surface of Mars

There’s a pocket of cold air hanging over the eastern states, and it is very cold indeed

January 2, 2014

Watch How the Wind Moves Around the Earth—It’s Hypnotic

This mesmerizing tool helps visualize the winds all over the globe and is known simply as “Earth”

December 17, 2013

Inventing the Perfect Umbrella

Will a Japanese designer’s new take on umbrellas catch on where others have failed?

December 9, 2013

Summer Heat Waves May Be Linked To Sea Ice Loss

As ice melts, the jet stream gets stuck in the north, causing warm weather to linger in the south—but the reason why this occurs remains unknown

December 9, 2013

Which U.S. City Most Resembles Mordor? A British Climate Scientist Found Out

Mordor is basically Los Angeles

December 6, 2013

Art Meets Science

The Art and Science of Growing Snowflakes in a Lab

Physicist Kenneth Libbrecht can make snowflakes with elegant spindles or blocky tabs by manipulating temperature and humidity

December 5, 2013

This is What a Huge, Rotating Supercell Looks Like

Photographer Mike Olbinski captured a massive and rare type of thunderstorm along the Texas panhandle

June 12, 2013

Scientists Are Trying to Create a Temperature Below Absolute Zero

If you can’t break the laws of physics, work around them

April 2013

How Much Water Is in a Cloud and More Questions From Our Readers

Imaginary numbers, Roy Lichtenstein and much much more

April 2013

How Long Can Turtles Stay Underwater and Other Questions From Our Readers

You asked? We answered

February 2013