May 18 2017

How the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis Work

43 min 1 movie discussed
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It wasn't too long ago that humans thought the polar lights were signs from the afterlife. Thanks to a 19th century Norwegian, we now understand that they are a fascinating interplay with Earth's magnetic field and wind from the sun.

AI Summary

# Auroras: Nature's Electric Light Show

Josh and Chuck dive deep into the mesmerizing phenomenon of auroras, exploring the science behind those dancing lights in the sky and debunking some common myths along the way. From the history of how we named and first understood these celestial displays to the complex interactions between the sun, Earth's magnetosphere, and our atmosphere that create them, the guys break down exactly what's happening when you see those green and red ribbons of light. They even cover some surprising details like the fact that auroras actually make sounds under very specific conditions and that the Southern Lights look nothing like their Northern counterparts, despite what scientists long assumed.


Movies Discussed

Star Wars
Star Wars
1977 2h 1m
★ 8.2
"it's like when in the original Star Wars, A New Hope, when Luke fires at the end toward the Death Star and it gets sucked in that little hole — Josh uses the Death Star's polar opening as an analogy for how the polar cusp funnels particles toward Earth's poles." — Josh

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