Fast Recognition and Optical Illusions in Nature
Our brains are pattern-recognising machines. This is true everywhere, but not least in nature, where it honed these skills over millions of years. Bird calls,…
Tag: weather signs
How to Gauge High Winds Using Trees
The tops of trees or other fixed objects in the middle distance make it easier to gauge the effect of the wind on clouds or…
Noctilucent Clouds
A guest blog post today, from John Pahl: If you were to ask me what my favourite cloud would be, I wouldn’t hesitate: it has…
Why is the Horizon White?
Have you noticed how the horizon is white, even on a day when the sky is a perfect blue and there isn’t a cloud in…
What are Supernumerary Rainbows?
Supernumerary rainbows are faint bow lines that appear just inside the main rainbow. Look at the rainbow above and you may just be able to…
Birds and Weather Signs
Perching birds usually face into any breeze. It stops their feathers getting ruffled, but more importantly allows them to take off quickly into wind. So…
How to Navigate with Rainbows
Many people believe that a thing must be either beautiful or practical. But nature brims with examples that manage both. Rainbows are pretty, but they…
Red Sky in the Morning, Shepherd’s Warning
As the shepherds warn us, a red sky in the morning is not a good sign. We often see a notably red sky in the…