Archimedes of Syracuse was an ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, and inventor whose principle of water displacement inspired the design of the World’s Coolest Rain Gauge®. He wrote about the discovery in his famous work On Floating Bodies — and more than 2,000 years later, here we are, still having fun watching things float in water.

Archimedes Backyard: Resources For The Modern Gardener

storm warning flag on beach

Weather Watches, Warnings and Advisories: What’...

What’s the difference between a weather watch, warning and advisory? Learn what common alerts for thunderstorms, flooding, winter weather and other hazards actually mean—and when you need to act.

Weather Watches, Warnings and Advisories: What’...

What’s the difference between a weather watch, warning and advisory? Learn what common alerts for thunderstorms, flooding, winter weather and other hazards actually mean—and when you need to act.

using a weather app

Why Do Weather Apps Disagree—and Why Does the F...

Why does one weather app predict rain while another says partly cloudy? Learn how different models, data sources and update schedules produce different forecasts—and why changing forecasts can actually be...

Why Do Weather Apps Disagree—and Why Does the F...

Why does one weather app predict rain while another says partly cloudy? Learn how different models, data sources and update schedules produce different forecasts—and why changing forecasts can actually be...

rain falling from roof

Why Does Rain Sound So Relaxing? The Science Be...

Why is the sound of rain so relaxing? Explore how raindrops create sound, why roofs, windows and leaves change it, and how rainfall relates to sleep, white noise and ASMR.

Why Does Rain Sound So Relaxing? The Science Be...

Why is the sound of rain so relaxing? Explore how raindrops create sound, why roofs, windows and leaves change it, and how rainfall relates to sleep, white noise and ASMR.

frog on lilypad

What Do Worms, Frogs, Bees and Bugs Do When It ...

Why do worms cover sidewalks after rain, frogs get louder and bees disappear? See how rain changes the behavior of worms, frogs, bees, butterflies, ants, mosquitoes and other small creatures.

What Do Worms, Frogs, Bees and Bugs Do When It ...

Why do worms cover sidewalks after rain, frogs get louder and bees disappear? See how rain changes the behavior of worms, frogs, bees, butterflies, ants, mosquitoes and other small creatures.

shorebird in rain

Where Do Wild Animals Go During Heavy Rain and ...

Where do birds, squirrels, deer and other wild animals go during heavy rain and thunderstorms? See how wildlife finds shelter, conserves energy and handles wind, flooding, thunder and lightning.

Where Do Wild Animals Go During Heavy Rain and ...

Where do birds, squirrels, deer and other wild animals go during heavy rain and thunderstorms? See how wildlife finds shelter, conserves energy and handles wind, flooding, thunder and lightning.

weather radar station

How Does Weather Radar Know How Much Rain Is Fa...

Weather radar doesn't actually measure the rain falling in your yard. Learn what radar detects, what the colors mean, how rainfall totals are estimated and why they don't always match...

How Does Weather Radar Know How Much Rain Is Fa...

Weather radar doesn't actually measure the rain falling in your yard. Learn what radar detects, what the colors mean, how rainfall totals are estimated and why they don't always match...