"The fascinating science and history of the air we breathe: It's invisible. It's ever-present. Without it, you would die in minutes. And it has an epic story to tell. In Caesar's Last Breath, ... bestselling author Sam Kean takes us on a journey through the periodic table, around the globe, and across time to tell the story of the air we breathe, which, it turns out, is also the story of earth and our existence on it. With every breath, you literally...

Destabilization in the Middle East and concerns over global warming are heating up the national dialogue on how America intends to power itself into the future. In segment one of this NewsHour program, Michael Marvin, of the Council for Sustainable Energy; Dan Reicher, of the World Resources Institute; Myron Ebell, of the Competitive Enterprise Group; and Herbert Inhaber, author of Why Energy Conservation Fails, consider the big picture. Then, segment...

The air around us is not just empty space; it is an integral part of the chemistry of life. Plants are made from carbon dioxide, nitrogen nourishes the soil, and oxygen gives us energy to keep our hearts pumping and our brains alive. This film reveals the story of how we came to understand what air is made of. It began as a simple desire to further our knowledge of the natural world during the Age of Enlightenment, but it ended up uncovering raw materials...

Tornadoes and flash floods can happen at the same time. But the safety instructions for what you’re supposed to do during each one often contradict one another. Now meteorologists and social scientists are working together to identify when these two severe weather events occur together and how best to communicate that information to the public.

Atmospheric phenomena directly influence the formation of different landscapes of our planet. In this program we’ll discuss the weather forecast, the atmosphere, the troposphere, meteorological observation stations, and more. Topics include: Rain, Hail, Lightning, Cloud Formation, Thunder Storms, Hurricanes, and Tornadoes.

Tropical cyclones, also called hurricanes and typhoons, cause catastrophic damage when they strike land. When a cyclone’s fury unleashes on population centers, death, injury, and wholesale destruction follow. This program explores the life cycle of cyclones: how atmospheric conditions, ocean temperatures, and the Earth’s rotation combine to create them and how, driven by winds, they eventually weaken after moving over land.

A new app lets people report weather conditions to help meteorologists.

As athletes from around the world set their sights on winning a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, an international team of meteorologists behind the scenes will be keeping their eyes on the skies to ensure medalworthy weather forecasts.

When you are outside, are you aware of your risk of being struck by lightning? Find out how meteorologists are identifying your risk of being struck to help keep you and your family safe during National Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 24-30.

Dr. Helen Czerski examines two of the coldest natural phenomena on Earth: icebergs and avalanches. Avalanches claim hundreds of lives every year. Now scientists are learning how something as tiny, fragile and delicate as a snowflake can transform into something as deadly as an avalanche. Changes in snow can give it the quality of concrete when someone is buried underneath it, and CT scanners are helping scientists understand the changes in the structure...