Weather and Atmosphere
59 episodes · Page 2 of 3
#3974: How Pilots Land in Crazy Crosswinds
The physics, engineering, and pilot skill behind those jaw-dropping crosswind landings you've seen online.
#3973: How Autoland Guides Planes Through Zero Visibility
The engineering behind aircraft autoland systems that guide planes to the runway when pilots can't see anything.
#3263: Mansfield's Wandering Boulders: Geology Meets Folklore
Why one Connecticut town has 4x the boulders of neighboring areas—and built a culture around them.
#3115: How Many Scientists Actually Live at the Poles?
The surprising answer: ~850 in Antarctic summer, ~400 in winter, and effectively zero at the North Pole.
#3104: Does Tinfoil on Windows Actually Cool Rooms?
Tinfoil on windows can drop temps 4-5°C. But there are hidden tradeoffs you need to know.
#3089: How Climate Consensus Actually Formed
The surprising journey from skepticism to scientific certainty — and what the data says about summer 2026.
#3069: Why UV Index and Temperature Don't Match
Why Israel hit a UV index of 11 while the thermometer barely reached 28°C.
#3065: Why Orange Markers Outlast Yellow and White
Orange markers last 5-7x longer outdoors than yellow. The secret is in the crystal structure of the pigment.
#2988: How Aircraft Defeat Ice: Three Layers of Defense
Ice on wings can kill. Here's how aviation built three independent defenses against it.
#2948: Toolbox Survival in Extreme Sunlight
UV radiation destroys plastic toolboxes from the inside out. Here's what actually survives Israeli sun.
#2942: Why Your Outdoor Storage Crumbles in 3 Years
Plastic outdoor storage fails fast in harsh sun. Here's what actually works in extreme UV climates.
#2882: How Deweathering Reveals Shabbat's True Air Quality Signal
How controlling for weather actually sharpens the signal of human activity on air quality in Jerusalem.
#2859: Life Before Refrigeration: Ice, Salt & Survival
How people preserved food, cooked, and survived for centuries before the icebox existed.
#2530: Canals as Highways: The Real Pollution Math of Water Transit
Venice moves garbage, ambulances, and Amazon deliveries by boat. How does water transit actually compare to buses on pollution?
#2509: How Shabbat Reveals a Blind Spot in Air Quality Indexes
Jerusalem's Shabbat cuts traffic pollution 4x more than Western weekends—but standard air quality indexes barely register the change.
#1977: Why Earth Can't Hit 60°C
Death Valley hit 53.9°C, but the planet seems stuck. Here’s the physics behind Earth’s natural heat ceiling and the biological danger zone.
#1975: The Global Choreography of Weather Balloons
Why we still launch 1,000 balloons daily into the stratosphere—and why satellites can't replace them.
#1696: The 12-Minute Boom: Why Shelter Isn't Safe Yet
You hear the boom, but the real danger is 70km up. Discover why it takes 12 minutes for shrapnel to finally hit the ground.
#1593: The Desert That Holds Time and Refugees
Explore the geology of the Negev’s massive "crater" and master the technical gear needed for world-class desert astrophotography.
#1250: Wintering Over: The Logistics of Isolation at the South Pole
When the winter door slams shut, only a few remain. Discover the brutal logistics and psychological toll of living at the bottom of the world.
#1092: The Landscape Reader: Geolocation Beyond Metadata
Master the art of geolocation by reading physical clues like vegetation, shadows, and road markings—no metadata required.
#888: Why Analog Sirens Still Matter
Discover the physics and high-tech engineering behind air-raid sirens, the "last line of defense" that protects millions in an instant.
#735: When Time Stretched: The Magic of Proportional Hours
Before atomic clocks, time was a living thing. Discover how ancient civilizations used "flexible" hours to coordinate their lives.
#685: The Pulse of the Deep: Life in the Middle of the Ocean
Is the open sea a glassy mirror or a chaotic storm? Herman and Corn dive into the science of swells, fetch, and the ocean’s constant pulse.