August feels like the middle of summer, but the atmosphere is quietly changing in remarkable ways. From peak hurricane season and the Perseid meteor shower to shorter days and the first whispers of autumn, here’s why August is one of the most fascinating weather months of the year.

Peak hurricane season has arrived in the Atlantic, but what does that actually mean? Discover why late August through September is the busiest time of year for tropical storms, how the seasonal peak developed, and what it means for your hurricane preparedness.

A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is about to crash into the Moon. Scientists think the impact could create a rare lunar dust plume that may become visible through telescopes from Earth.

The Buck Moon isn’t named because of the Moon at all. Discover the surprising story behind July’s full moon, why it got its name, and why it appears full for more than one night.

How do sharks know a hurricane is coming? Scientists have discovered that some sharks can detect an approaching storm up to two weeks before it arrives. Learn how they sense hurricanes, where they go, and why some sharks never leave.

The Sun doesn’t suddenly get stronger during a heat wave. So why do temperatures sometimes soar? The answer is all in the atmosphere.

Hurricanes don’t get named by the first meteorologist who spots them. Their names are chosen years in advance by an international committee, and some are never used again.

Every summer, billions of corn plants release enormous amounts of water vapor into the air. Meteorologists call it “corn sweat,” and it can actually make hot days feel even more miserable.

Why would meteorologists send an airplane straight into a storm that isn’t even officially a tropical cyclone yet? It sounds impossible, but Hurricane Hunters do it all the time. Here’s why those daring flights are one of the most important tools in hurricane forecasting.

It starts with an ordinary cluster of thunderstorms that most people would never notice. But under the right conditions, those storms can organize, strengthen, and eventually become a tropical storm. This week’s Gulf system offers a fascinating, real-world look at how tropical cyclones are born and why meteorologists often spot the signs days before the rest of us.

A Major League Baseball game wasn’t postponed because of rain or lightning. It was postponed because of wildfire smoke that traveled more than 1,000 miles. Here’s how that’s possible.

Can humans really control the weather? Learn how cloud seeding works, why some countries use it, and why scientists still can’t create hurricanes or stop storms.

The House has passed the Sunshine Protection Act in a surprising bipartisan vote, bringing the U.S. one step closer to ending the twice-a-year clock change. Here’s what happens next, whether the Senate is likely to approve it, and what permanent Daylight Saving Time would mean for you.

Lightning is one of the hottest natural forces on Earth. When it strikes silica-rich beach sand, it can melt the sand into natural glass called fulgurites hidden works of art created in less than a second.

Do cows really lie down before it rains? It’s one of the oldest weather sayings around, but science tells a more fascinating story. Here’s what cows are really responding to, and why people have believed this myth for generations.

Why aren’t raindrops shaped like teardrops? Almost every picture of a raindrop is wrong. Discover the surprising real shape of falling raindrops and why you’ll never look at rain the same way again.

It always looks like the end of the rainbow is just over the next hill. But no matter how far you drive, it always stays out of reach. The real reason is one of nature’s most beautiful secrets.

It feels like the Moon is riding beside your car mile after mile. The truth has nothing to do with the Moon moving and everything to do with the incredible way your eyes judge distance.

Water looks clear in a glass, yet entire lakes appear brilliant blue. So what’s going on? The answer has everything to do with sunlight, your eyes, and one fascinating trick of physics.

Hollywood taught us to look for a giant black funnel. Real tornadoes don’t always cooperate. Sometimes the most dangerous tornado is the one you barely see, or don’t see at all.