Climate Shaping

In 1974, a Japanese-American meteorologist stood in the rubble of Xenia, Ohio, and saw what no one else could see. Ted Fujita transformed tornado science from guesswork into a precise discipline, saving countless lives by learning to read the stories written in twisted metal and splintered wood. This is the story of Mr. Tornado—and how one man's obsession with destruction patterns changed weather forecasting forever.

They're both spinning columns of destruction, but tornadoes and hurricanes couldn't be more different. From the split-second fury of an EF5 twister to the slow-motion devastation of a Category 5 hurricane, we're breaking down which storm truly deserves the title of nature's most fearsome weather phenomenon—and why the answer might surprise you.

Red sky at night, sailor's delight? Lightning never strikes twice? Your joints predict rain? We're busting seven weather myths that have been passed down for generations—and revealing what the science actually says. Some of these might surprise you, and one of them could actually save your life.

On June 4th, 1944, a Scottish meteorologist stood before General Eisenhower and delivered the most consequential weather forecast in history. With no satellites, limited data, and storms brewing across the English Channel, Captain James Stagg had to predict a narrow window of calmer weather—or risk the lives of 150,000 troops. This is the story of how weather forecasting won the war.

Both fly toward danger while everyone else runs away, but hurricane hunters and storm chasers couldn't be more different in their approach. One operates from reinforced aircraft at 10,000 feet, the other races across backroads in pickup trucks—yet both provide critical data that saves lives. We're comparing these two weather-chasing professions to see what drives people to put themselves in harm's way for science.

From hurricane-proof windows to tornado-resistant roofs, the buildings we live and work in today were shaped by devastating storms of the past. Discover how catastrophic weather events forced engineers and architects to completely rethink construction—saving countless lives in the process. Each disaster on our list sparked innovations that now protect millions of people every single day.

In December 1952, a perfect storm of weather conditions and coal smoke created a toxic fog that blanketed London for five days, killing an estimated 12,000 people. We explore how a temperature inversion trapped pollutants at street level, what it was like to live through those terrifying days when visibility dropped to zero, and how this catastrophe transformed our understanding of the relationship between weather, pollution, and public health.

Humans are getting crafty

Weather and Climate for Your Everyday best of episode!

Weather and Climate for Your Everyday best of episode!