How Come? » weather

Why does putting on a coat in cold weather make us warmer?

Kathy Wollard — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:53:41 +0000

Why does putting on a coat in cold weather make us warmer? asks a reader.

Go out lightly dressed on a frigid day, and thermal energy will quickly drain away from you into the cold December air. But unlike a run-down mechanical bunny, you don’t need new batteries. A warm coat pulled from the back [...]

When you’re outdoors and it starts to rain, does running (rather than walking) to the nearest shelter really keep you any drier?

Kathy Wollard — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:51:38 +0000

When you’re outdoors and it starts to rain, does running (rather than walking) to the nearest shelter really keep you any drier? asks a reader.

It begins to pour. You have no umbrella, or printed newspaper. (The internet, alas, won’t keep your head dry.) Never mind singing in the rain. The question is, To run [...]

Why are hurricanes named after people, and in a certain order?

Kathy Wollard — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:02:41 +0000

Why are hurricanes named after people, and in a certain order? ask Melissa Vallance and Kelli Day, students in Holtsville, NY.

While a tornado would have skipped to the next county and disappeared before you could call it “Ralph,” hurricanes take their sweet time building up their winds, moving towards coastlines and back out to [...]

Why do leaves change color in the fall?

Kathy Wollard — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:58:27 +0000

Why do leaves change color in the fall? asks Patricia Brown, of New York City.

Autumn’s cool days are trimmed with deep blue skies and golden light, and brilliant leaves of yellow, orange and red. Leaves changing color in the fall are a tree’s way of preparing for long winter, rather like we put up [...]

Where do bugs like flies go when the weather gets cold?

Kathy Wollard — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:55:27 +0000

Where do bugs like flies go when the weather gets cold, so they can appear like magic when it gets warm again? asks Jonathan Conway, of Syosset, NY.

Unfortunately, many insects don’t survive the freezing cold of winter. Others, however, have come up with clever schemes to hang on until spring.

For example, cluster flies [...]

What is ball lightning?

Kathy Wollard — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 05:22:24 +0000

What is ball lightning? asks Kelly Corcoran, a student in Babylon, NY.

Stories of ball lightning date back to at least the Middle Ages, and scientists estimate that at least five percent of our planet’s population have had the privilege (or, sometimes, the misfortune) to have seen the glowing, floating spheres.

According to eyewitnesses, ball [...]