How Weather Affects Your Body

An illustrated science story from Wonder Science — free to read, with narration.

How Weather Affects Your Body — an illustrated science story, set in United States. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Science.

How Weather Affects Your Body — book cover — Wonder Science
How Weather Affects Your Body — an illustrated science story, set in United States. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Science.

Page 1

Jana, Marco, and Mei raced to hang the last paper lantern in Golden Gate Park for their Summer Science Festival. "Hurry!" Marco shouted, pointing at the…
Jana, Marco, and Mei raced to hang the last paper lantern in Golden Gate Park for their Summer Science Festival. "Hurry!" Marco shouted, pointing at the darkening sky over the de Young Museum. Suddenly, a fat raindrop splattered on Jana's notebook, followed by another, and then a whole sheet of water drenched their decorations. "Oh no!" Mei cried, grabbing a dripping banner, "Everything is ruined!"

Jana, Marco, and Mei raced to hang the last paper lantern in Golden Gate Park for their Summer Science Festival. "Hurry!" Marco shouted, pointing at the darkening sky over the de Young Museum. Suddenly, a fat raindrop splattered on Jana's notebook, followed by another, and then a whole sheet of water drenched their decorations. "Oh no!" Mei cried, grabbing a dripping banner, "Everything is ruined!"

Page 2

They huddled under the thick branches of a Monterey Cypress as rain hammered the leaves above. "My head started hurting right before the storm hit," Mei…
They huddled under the thick branches of a Monterey Cypress as rain hammered the leaves above. "My head started hurting right before the storm hit," Mei mumbled, rubbing her temples. "That's so weird," Marco said, kicking at a puddle. "Why does the weather affect us like that?" Jana tapped a pen against her chin thoughtfully. "There's a name for it: biometeorology, the science of how weather changes our bodies and moods."

They huddled under the thick branches of a Monterey Cypress as rain hammered the leaves above. "My head started hurting right before the storm hit," Mei mumbled, rubbing her temples. "That's so weird," Marco said, kicking at a puddle. "Why does the weather affect us like that?" Jana tapped a pen against her chin thoughtfully. "There's a name for it: biometeorology, the science of how weather changes our bodies and moods."

Page 3

"That idea is way older than you think," Jana explained, her eyes distant. "Imagine traveling back over two thousand years, to the sunny Greek island of Kos.
"That idea is way older than you think," Jana explained, her eyes distant. "Imagine traveling back over two thousand years, to the sunny Greek island of Kos. Even then, doctors weren't just looking at people—they were looking at the sky." The scene around them seemed to shimmer and dissolve, the San Francisco fog replaced by the brilliant light of the Aegean Sea.

"That idea is way older than you think," Jana explained, her eyes distant. "Imagine traveling back over two thousand years, to the sunny Greek island of Kos. Even then, doctors weren't just looking at people—they were looking at the sky." The scene around them seemed to shimmer and dissolve, the San Francisco fog replaced by the brilliant light of the Aegean Sea.

Page 4

"The greatest doctor of his time was a man named Hippocrates," Jana continued, as the vision solidified. "He is often called the 'Father of Medicine,' and he…
"The greatest doctor of his time was a man named Hippocrates," Jana continued, as the vision solidified. "He is often called the 'Father of Medicine,' and he was a master observer. He believed that to understand a person's health, you had to understand their world—the water they drank, the air they breathed, and the winds that blew through their town."

"The greatest doctor of his time was a man named Hippocrates," Jana continued, as the vision solidified. "He is often called the 'Father of Medicine,' and he was a master observer. He believed that to understand a person's health, you had to understand their world—the water they drank, the air they breathed, and the winds that blew through their town."

Page 5

Hippocrates walked through the village, stopping to talk with a fisherman mending his nets. He didn't just ask about the man's cough; he asked about the…
Hippocrates walked through the village, stopping to talk with a fisherman mending his nets. He didn't just ask about the man's cough; he asked about the direction of the morning wind. As Jana listened, she remembered his famous advice. "He told his students, 'Whoever wishes to investigate medicine properly... must consider the seasons of the year.' He persevered for years, just watching and recording patterns."

Hippocrates walked through the village, stopping to talk with a fisherman mending his nets. He didn't just ask about the man's cough; he asked about the direction of the morning wind. As Jana listened, she remembered his famous advice. "He told his students, 'Whoever wishes to investigate medicine properly... must consider the seasons of the year.' He persevered for years, just watching and recording patterns."

Page 6

"He was the first to create a kind of 'health map,'" Jana whispered, mesmerized. "He discovered that when the damp south winds blew from the sea, more people…
"He was the first to create a kind of 'health map,'" Jana whispered, mesmerized. "He discovered that when the damp south winds blew from the sea, more people got fevers and coughs. But when the cold, dry north winds came from the mountains, other kinds of sicknesses were more common." This was the breakthrough—the first scientific evidence that our bodies are part of the planet's weather system.

"He was the first to create a kind of 'health map,'" Jana whispered, mesmerized. "He discovered that when the damp south winds blew from the sea, more people got fevers and coughs. But when the cold, dry north winds came from the mountains, other kinds of sicknesses were more common." This was the breakthrough—the first scientific evidence that our bodies are part of the planet's weather system.

Page 7

"Today, we know he was right!" Jana said, the vision fading. "Before a storm, the air pressure drops, and that change can affect the fluid in our sinuses and…
"Today, we know he was right!" Jana said, the vision fading. "Before a storm, the air pressure drops, and that change can affect the fluid in our sinuses and joints, causing pain. It's amazing what storms can do; a single lightning bolt is five times hotter than the surface of the Sun!" Marco whistled in amazement. "That's incredibly hot!"

"Today, we know he was right!" Jana said, the vision fading. "Before a storm, the air pressure drops, and that change can affect the fluid in our sinuses and joints, causing pain. It's amazing what storms can do; a single lightning bolt is five times hotter than the surface of the Sun!" Marco whistled in amazement. "That's incredibly hot!"

Page 8

Back in the park, the rain had softened to a drizzle. "So, Mei," Jana said, turning to her friend. "When the barometric pressure dropped just before the rain…
Back in the park, the rain had softened to a drizzle. "So, Mei," Jana said, turning to her friend. "When the barometric pressure dropped just before the rain, it was like a tiny squeeze on your head." Mei's eyes widened in an 'aha!' moment. "So that's why it happened! It wasn't just my imagination." "See? I told you it was real," Marco chimed in, nudging her gently.

Back in the park, the rain had softened to a drizzle. "So, Mei," Jana said, turning to her friend. "When the barometric pressure dropped just before the rain, it was like a tiny squeeze on your head." Mei's eyes widened in an 'aha!' moment. "So that's why it happened! It wasn't just my imagination." "See? I told you it was real," Marco chimed in, nudging her gently.

Page 9

"It makes so much sense now!" Marco exclaimed. "It's like how I can run way faster on a cool, dry day than when it's hot and humid." "And sunlight helps our…
"It makes so much sense now!" Marco exclaimed. "It's like how I can run way faster on a cool, dry day than when it's hot and humid." "And sunlight helps our bodies make Vitamin D, which makes us feel more cheerful," added Mei. "It's true," Jana said, "And that sunlight has to travel for 8 minutes and 20 seconds just to reach us from the Sun!"

"It makes so much sense now!" Marco exclaimed. "It's like how I can run way faster on a cool, dry day than when it's hot and humid." "And sunlight helps our bodies make Vitamin D, which makes us feel more cheerful," added Mei. "It's true," Jana said, "And that sunlight has to travel for 8 minutes and 20 seconds just to reach us from the Sun!"

Page 10

The last of the storm clouds drifted away, leaving the park sparkling and fresh. "So, our bodies are like super-sensitive weather stations," Jana summarized…
The last of the storm clouds drifted away, leaving the park sparkling and fresh. "So, our bodies are like super-sensitive weather stations," Jana summarized, closing her notebook. Marco, watching the puddles, suddenly looked up. "Okay, but I have a new question: why do you always see the lightning flash before you hear the thunder?" Jana grinned, already flipping to a new page. "That," she said, "is a great question for next time."

The last of the storm clouds drifted away, leaving the park sparkling and fresh. "So, our bodies are like super-sensitive weather stations," Jana summarized, closing her notebook. Marco, watching the puddles, suddenly looked up. "Okay, but I have a new question: why do you always see the lightning flash before you hear the thunder?" Jana grinned, already flipping to a new page. "That," she said, "is a great question for next time."

About this story

  • Location: United States
  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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