Twister's Dorothy device is a scientifically accurate tornado research tool inspired by real-life technology. The barrel-shaped device contains hundreds of sensors that gather data on wind speed, funnel structure, and more. The Noaa National Severe Storms Laboratory consulted on the film to ensure scientific accuracy and realism.

1996's classic disaster thriller Twister centered around two scientists testing out a new piece of technology that would help warn people of tornadoes sooner, and the device nicknamed "Dorothy" has some logical science behind it. Directed by Jan de Bont and based on a screenplay by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park) and Anne Marie-Martin, Twister was celebrated for its ground-breaking special effects. The Academy Award-nominated blockbuster went on to gross nearly $500 million on a budget of roughly $92 million, and became a benchmark for disaster films in American cinema.

Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt lead the star-studded cast of Twister as Bill and Jo Harding,...