A log in the wind
THE power of hurricanes is terrifying. If the energy released by one in a single day could be converted into electricity, it would meet America's needs for six months. Mindful of the devastation that such power can cause (in 1992, Hurricane Andrew wreaked over $30 billion-worth of damage), the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami, Florida spends the hurricane season (April to October) scanning satellite data and reports from ships and aircraft for signs of the atmospheric disturbances that presage them.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “A log in the wind”
From the July 19th 1997 edition
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Elon Musk is causing problems for the Royal Society
His continued membership has led to a high-profile resignation
Deforestation is costing Brazilian farmers millions
Without trees to circulate moisture, the land is getting hotter and drier
Robots can learn new actions faster thanks to AI techniques
They could soon show their moves in settings from car factories to care homes
Scientists are learning why ultra-processed foods are bad for you
A mystery is finally being solved
Scientific publishers are producing more papers than ever
Concerns about some of their business models are building
The two types of human laugh
One is caused by tickling; the other by everything else