Did Archimedes build a death ray?

Did Archimedes build a death ray? Can NASA predict natural disasters? This Day in History: Sergeant York Keep Up With SYSK Did Archimedes build a death ray?   During the siege of Syracuse in 214 BCE, the city-state's resident genius, Archimedes, built a number of clever war machines to thwart the invading Roman fleet. One invention, the death ray, has been considered the stuff of legend. But could it have been real? Trapped in a Meeting Read: What was Archimedes' death ray? Read: Top 5 Sci-fi Weapons that Might Actually Happen Can NASA predict natural disasters?   The US has developed some great equipment for peering into deep space that can also be used to great effect when trained on Earth. Now NASA is using satellites to track natural processes around the globe in an effort to better predict natural disasters like hurricanes and volcanoes. Don't Be Dumb Read: 10 Worst Hurricanes of All Time Quiz: The Price of Natural Disasters This Day in History: Sergeant York   On October 8, 1918, then-Corporal Alvin C. York was pinned down by German machine gun fire on a hillside in France. Acting alone, York climbed the hill and single-handedly killed 28 German soldiers. Learn more on This Day in History. This Day in History Trapped in a Meeting: Drowning in Space Don't Be Dumb: Can You Really Fry an Egg on the Sidewalk? Keep Up With SYSK   Why can't robots get married? How did bullfighting start? How do labor unions work? Join Josh and Chuck as they explore the Stuff You Should Know -- seriously, all of it -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com. SYSK Animated Josh & Chuck on Facebook Stuff You Should Know's RSS Feed At Discovery, we value your privacy. If you would like to adjust your email preferences, please click this link to our subscription center, where you can manage your account. Please click here to unsubscribe. Discovery Communications, LLC One Discovery Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910