This past Wednesday, the atmospheric augury Punxsutawney Phil peeked his head out of his hole to find a bare, shadowless land. The verdict: an early winter. But before we get our hopes up and pack up our parkas, maybe we should consider just where Phil gets his meteorological know-how. Could there be any logical explanation for this uncanny critter’s prognostication? To find the answer, WEEKEND turned to some of the best and brightest minds in the country: Yale professors. If the likes of Shelly Kagan and Michael Frame can’t explain Groundhog Day, then who can? By Susannah Shattuck. Caroline Tan and Marysa Leya contributed reporting.
GROUNDING THE HOG
