Hailstones may become larger as the climate warms, leading to higher insurance costs

The sudden, percussive crackle sounded as Barb Berlin stood in the garage of her farmhouse near Inman, Nebraska. “I thought it was a gun,” she said. Then came a white streak. She realized the sound wasn’t gunfire, but buckshot. A fist-sized hailstone had hit the tin roof of Berlin’s garage. Soon others were leaving softball-sized … Read more

How turbulence works – and why it can be deadly

It’s the moment even seasoned air travelers dread. One moment you are sailing quietly at 37,000 feet. In the next thing, without warning, all hell breaks loose. Severe turbulence can throw passengers and belongings throughout the cabin of an airplane, making for a terrifying ride. In the case of a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 on … Read more