Why does it take longer to fly from east to west on an airplane?
When planes fly from east to west, they are flying against a river of air called a jet stream. These air currents can make your flight longer or shorter, depending on which way you are going.
Jan. 25, 2021 • ~5 min
How mapping the weather 12,000 years ago can help predict future climate change
Ice Age glaciers can help us track the jet stream 12,000 ago, and by comparing its path today we can see how it's moving northwards, changing weather patterns and indicating climate change.
Jan. 12, 2021 • ~7 min
Beast from the East 2? What 'sudden stratospheric warming' involves and why it can cause freezing surface weather
Sudden warming more than 10 km above the north pole can mean sudden freezing down here.
Jan. 11, 2021 • ~6 min
How city roads trap migrating fish
A recent US study found tyre chemicals were polluting rivers and poisoning migratory salmon.
Jan. 8, 2021 • ~5 min
Why snow days are becoming increasingly rare in the UK
Since 1979, the average number of snow days has fallen by about five per decade.
Dec. 17, 2020 • ~5 min
How can smoke from West Coast fires cause red sunsets in New York?
Last week, much of the Midwest and eastern US experienced hazy skies and red sunsets. The cause was smoke transported from the Western US by the jet stream and spread as far as Boston and even Europe.
Sept. 22, 2020 • ~4 min
Giant balloons measure tiny ripples in the atmosphere
Giant balloons that beam the internet from the stratosphere reveal a new insight into gravity waves. The research could improve weather forecasts.
Sept. 3, 2020 • ~8 min
A little-known technology change will make video streaming cheaper and pave the way for higher quality
A new standard for how videos are sent through the internet and read by your computer could make the digital world more inclusive, says media scholar Jason Schmitt.
Aug. 19, 2020 • ~6 min
Sierra Nevada pools and riffles are in trouble
"The high elevation zone you love to hike around in, and streams that you love to go fishing in, and places that you look to as your refuge for solace are changing."
April 8, 2019 • ~5 min
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