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The first Weather in Focus photo contest by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has produced some stunning shots, from a massive funnel cloud to raindrops decorating the underside of a leaf. Out of more than 2,000 entries, the judges chose three winners and an honorable mention in each of four categories: Science in Action; Weather, Water & Climate; Professional Submissions; and In the iMoment — photos taken with phone cameras and mobile devices. [Read the full story on the weather photo contest]Rolling clouds in Lake TahoeRolling clouds over Lake Tahoe, taken by Christopher LeBoa, won third prize in the "In the iMoment" category, or the "smartphone images." (Credit: Christopher LeBoa.)Spring CapturedFreezing rain attempts to halt spring in this image captured by Mike Shelby, from Elkridge, Maryland, taking home second place in the "smartphone images" category. (Credit: Mike Shelby.)Smoky MountainsFirst place in the smartphone-image category, a gorgeous … [Read more...] about Images: Amazing Shots of Storms Light Up Weather Photo Contest

One stormy evening in July, photographer Brad Goddard looked in his rearview mirror and noticed an ominous storm building behind him. He pulled over and watched as a funnel cloud dipped below the clouds. And then he snapped a once-in-a-lifetime image of the tornado roaring across the road.That image was one of three that netted Goddard, an engineer and professional photographer in Orion, Illinois, a prize in the first-ever Weather in Focus photo contest by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Other winners included stunning shots of tempestuous storms, as well as everyday weather like rippled clouds over the Smoky Mountains and drops of rain dotting a fallen leaf.Judges narrowed down more than 2,000 entries to three winners and one honorable mention in each of four categories: Science in Action; Weather, Water & Climate; Professional Submissions; and In the iMoment, a category for photos taken with phone cameras and mobile devices. [See the Winning Weather … [Read more...] about Surreal Storm Rages Against Starry Backdrop in Winning Weather Photo

Forensic techniques that are used to solve modern homicide cases helped American anthropologists reveal family resemblances in 2,000-year-old skulls from the Roman Empire.The study used a statistical technique known as geometric morphometrics to identify similarities in skulls from three Italian graveyards dating from between the first and third centuries A.D., when the Roman Empire was at its height.Precise three-dimensional measurements of dozens of skulls from two of the graveyards showed distinct regional differences, which the researchers interpreted as a sign of a common ancestry among many people in those regions. [Photos: Gladiators of the Roman Empire]Ann Ross, a forensic anthropologist at North Carolina State University (NC State), told Live Science that the techniques were often used in biology and zoology to examine the sizes and shapes of biological form, such as mosquito wings or the shapes of fish, to search for characteristic patterns that could be used to classify the … [Read more...] about Ancient Roman Skulls Reveal Local Groups’ Distinctive Facial Features

A blast of sweltering heat will sweep across the United States over the next four days, and some places will see temperatures as much as 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (5.6 to 8.3 degrees Celsius) above average for this time of year, according to the National Weather Service.Hot weather in July is to be expected, of course — after all, it's the middle of summer — but a so-called heat dome is kicking these hot and humid temperatures up a notch.A heat dome happens when a "dome" of high pressure traps hot air underneath it, said Mike Musher, a meteorologist at the NWS' Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. In the coming days, an enormous dome will envelope much of the Midwest before moving toward the East Coast over the weekend, he said. [Roasting? 7 Scientific Ways to Beat the Heat]This dome formed largely because the jet stream passing over the U.S.-Canada boarder is preventing cooler air from pushing southward, Musher said. "During the summer months, with the … [Read more...] about Why the ‘Heat Dome’ Will Scorch Nearly the Entire US This Weekend