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.
Sep 3
Social Identity Theory: Your Group Rules, Others Drool
In the 80s, a pair of psychologists theorized why being part of a group can change people’s thoughts and feelings, both about themselves and other people. It sounds dry, but SIT explains everything from how people justify genocide to football rivalries.See omnystudio.com/listener ... Show More
47m 32s
Oct 2016
Will-o'-the-Wisp: A Light in the Swamp
<p>There was a time when strange lights appeared in the marshlands. Commoners might have known the eerie luminescence as “Will-o’-the-Wisp” or “Hinky Punk,” while the learned pondered the mysteries of “Ignis Fatuus.” Superstitions aside, what natural phenomenon was at work here, ... Show More
1h 20m
Mar 2022
From the Vault: Fata Morgana
The horizon is an interesting netherworld of optical phenomena, where -- to the human eye -- ghost ships may sal the sky, phantom islands offer relief to weary sailors, sea monsters tower and alien ships enter the atmosphere. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and ... Show More
1h 1m
Jan 2024
Astronomy for Young Folks, by Isabel Martin Lewis, Part 8
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style= "font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Tonight, we relax and sleep with knowledge about Earth's magnetism, why the sky is blue, how rainbows happen, and the origin of auroras that paint northern and southern skies. Lovely!< ... Show More
53m 45s
