Podcast Summary
The power of space to inspire and connect: Space experiences can ignite curiosity and lead to new discoveries, encouraging us to appreciate the natural world and explore its mysteries
The wonders of space can leave a profound impact on individuals, inspiring curiosity and a deep connection with the natural world. This was exemplified in the story of chemical engineer Chandresh Ketambadi, who was captivated by the aurora borealis during a long night drive in Canada. The experience stayed with him, leading him to research the sun's role in creating the aurora and even taking up astrophotography. NASA's Curious Universe podcast, in partnership with Third Rock Radio, encourages listeners to explore space-related phenomena, such as the upcoming total solar eclipse, and submit their favorite songs to create an eclipse soundtrack. By engaging with these experiences, we can broaden our horizons and develop a greater appreciation for the intricacies of our universe.
Exploring the Fascination of the Sun through Citizen Science: Citizen science initiatives like NASA's 'Heliophysics Big Year' allow individuals to contribute valuable data to scientific research while deepening their understanding and appreciation of the sun through various projects.
The sun, a natural phenomenon often taken for granted, can hold immense fascination and importance when truly observed. As seen in the stories of individuals who became sun enthusiasts, the sun can significantly change one's perspective on life. NASA's "Heliophysics Big Year" is a testament to this, as they encourage citizen scientists to contribute valuable data through their hobbies and observations. This collaborative approach not only benefits scientists by providing essential data but also allows individuals to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the sun. The Heliophysics Big Year includes various projects, such as the Eclipse Soundscapes project, which focuses on studying animal behavior during solar eclipses. Through citizen science, ordinary people can make discoveries and contribute to ambitious research projects, making science more accessible and engaging for everyone.
The Sensory Experience of an Eclipse: An eclipse is a multi-sensory experience beyond just visual phenomena. Historical studies show animals respond differently and exhibit unusual behavior during eclipses, providing evidence for this complex event.
An eclipse is more than just a visual phenomenon; it's a multi-sensory experience. Dr. Henry Winter, or Trey, a solar astrophysicist, was inspired by a friend's story of the sudden change in sounds during an eclipse and set out to make these events more accessible to those who couldn't see them. This led to the creation of the NASA-sponsored Eclipse Soundscapes project, which includes an app for blind and low-vision individuals and a citizen science project to study animal behavior during eclipses. Interestingly, a similar study was conducted nearly a century ago by entomologist William Morton Wheeler, who noticed that animals responded differently during eclipses. Wheeler, with the help of experts in birds and mammals, conducted an experiment surrounding the 1932 total solar eclipse in Boston. They received hundreds of responses detailing changes in light levels, but also sounds and feelings, such as temperature drops and silence. Animals, like cows and bees, also exhibited unusual behavior, such as heading back to their habitats. This historical study adds to the growing body of evidence that eclipses are more than just a visual experience, but a complex and fascinating multi-sensory event.
Capturing the Sounds of a Solar Eclipse: NASA's Eclipse Soundscapes project records sound changes during solar eclipses using AudioMoths, providing valuable data and a unique perspective.
The April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse is not just a visual event but a multisensory experience. NASA's Eclipse Soundscapes project is utilizing audio recorders called AudioMoths to capture the changes in soundscapes during the eclipse. These recorders can detect a wide range of frequencies and are being distributed to volunteers across the US to record 300 unique habitats. The project's goal is to understand how environments change during totality, and the team had a successful trial run during the Ring of Fire annular eclipse last fall. Mary Pearl Moit, assistant state coordinator for the Texas Master Naturalist program, shared her experience using an AudioMoth during the annular eclipse last year. The change in temperature and quieting of birds and insects created a magical feeling. The eclipse is often thought of as an event to be watched, but the soundscapes provide valuable data and a unique perspective. Additionally, there are other evergreen citizen science projects like Aurora Saurus, which studies the northern and southern lights, that individuals can participate in at any time.
Natural light display caused by Earth's magnetic field and solar wind: The aurora is a stunning natural light display caused by the Earth's magnetic field interacting with charged particles from the solar wind, primarily occurring near the poles and influenced by solar activity.
The aurora is a natural light display caused by the Earth's magnetic field interacting with charged particles from the solar wind. This process involves the magnetic field stretching and releasing energy, causing particles to collide with atoms in the Earth's atmosphere and emit light. The aurora primarily occurs near the poles and is influenced by solar activity. While scientists have a good understanding of the underlying physics, they benefit from the help of dedicated "aurora chasers" who capture images of the displays and provide valuable data for research. Hanabella Nell, an aurora guide and ambassador for the aurorasaurus project, started out as a hobbyist photographer but became captivated by the aurora during a trip to Alberta, Canada, and now leads tours to help others experience this natural wonder.
Aurora Chasers in Alberta: Dedicated Community of Passionate Individuals: Thousands of individuals form a supportive community, constantly monitoring space weather and planning trips to capture unique aurora displays, valuing both the folklore and scientific significance of these natural phenomena.
The Alberta Aurora Chasers, a dedicated group of thousands, form a supportive community of individuals passionate about experiencing and photographing the aurora. They constantly monitor space weather forecasts, planning their trips based on solar activity and weather conditions. Auroras come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, and chasers are always in pursuit of the next unique display. This community also values the rich folklore surrounding the aurora and has even made scientific discoveries that scientists might overlook. Annabella, a member of this group, shares her experiences of witnessing an unexpected purple ribbon of light during an aurora, emphasizing the unpredictability and magic of these natural phenomena.
Rediscovering forgotten phenomena through citizen science: Citizen scientists and professionals can collaborate to uncover new insights and discoveries in science, even for phenomena that have been previously observed but forgotten
The collaboration between citizen scientists and professionals in scientific research can lead to significant discoveries that have been overlooked for decades. The Aurora Borealis phenomenon, specifically a mysterious pink line in the sky named "Steve," was rediscovered by aurora chasers and later identified as a rare type of aurora through collaboration with NASA scientists. This discovery had been made over a century ago but was forgotten until the citizen scientists brought it back to the scientific community's attention. The partnership between citizen scientists and professionals allows for the combination of expertise and passion, leading to new insights in various scientific fields. This collaboration also highlights the importance of open communication and the sharing of resources and knowledge. The Eclipse Soundscapes project and the Sungrazer project are other examples of successful collaborations between citizen scientists and professionals in scientific research.
Unexpected comet discoveries by NASA's SOHO: NASA's SOHO spacecraft, designed for sun study, discovered over 5,000 comets due to its coronagraph, making it the most successful comet discoverer in history
The unexpected capabilities of NASA's SOHO spacecraft, designed primarily to study the sun, have led to the discovery of over 5,000 comets. This unexpected comet-discovering ability is due to SOHO's coronagraph, which blocks the sun's surface and allows faint objects close to the sun to be seen. Before SOHO, scientists had only discovered about a dozen sun-grazing comets. Now, SOHO discovers about one every two days. The public's involvement in reporting these discoveries led to the creation of the Sungrazer website to manage the influx of reports. SOHO's success in comet discovery has made it the most successful comet discoverer in history, with approximately two-thirds of all officially documented comets carrying its name. Despite being designed for a 2-year mission, SOHO continues to operate and contribute to both comet and sun science.
Sungrazing Comets from the Kreutz Group: The Kreutz group, a family of sungrazing comets, was formed from a single comet's disintegration a thousand years ago, resulting in a large population of tiny comets that vaporize when they approach the sun, offering valuable insights into the early solar system and comet disintegration.
Comets, which are leftover materials from the formation of planets, exist in various orbits around the sun. Some comets, known as sungrazers, have extremely close orbits that bring them very near the sun's surface. The Kreutz group, a family of sungrazing comets, was formed from a single comet that disintegrated about a thousand years ago. This disintegration resulted in a large population of tiny comets that vaporize when they approach the sun. Although these comets have been falling apart for over a thousand years, they continue to provide new discoveries with each orbit. Despite their short lifespan, scientists are interested in studying them because they offer valuable insights into the early solar system and the processes of comet disintegration.
Contribute to scientific discoveries through citizen science projects: Individuals can make significant discoveries in challenging scientific fields through citizen science projects, requiring dedication and persistence but offering immense rewards, including the thrill of discovery and potential for groundbreaking findings.
Citizen science projects like Sungrazer offer unique opportunities for individuals to contribute to scientific discoveries, even in challenging fields like studying comets near the sun. By closely observing and analyzing data from spacecraft like Soho, volunteers like Han Jie Tan have made significant discoveries, leading them to develop a deep interest in physics and astronomy. These projects require dedication and persistence, but the rewards can be immense, including the thrill of discovering new comets and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries. Through citizen science, we can all play a role in expanding human knowledge of the universe.
Exploring NASA's Sungrazer and AuroraSaurus projects with Curious Universe team: NASA's Curious Universe team collaborates with NASA Heliophysics and others to engage public in eclipse soundscapes. Listeners can contribute experiences or analyze data post-April 2024 total solar eclipse. Remember approved eclipse glasses.
The Curious Universe team, including Jacob Pinner, Maddie Olsen, Mikaela Sosby, Patty Boyd, and Christopher Kim, invites listeners to engage with NASA's Sungrazer and AuroraSaurus projects. The team, in collaboration with NASA Heliophysics, Matt Russo and Andrew Santagueta of System Sounds, and Julia Tilton and Scott Swofford, is creating opportunities for public involvement in eclipse soundscapes. Listeners can still contribute by writing down their eclipse experiences or analyzing data after the April 2024 total solar eclipse. Remember to wear approved eclipse glasses during the event. If you'd like to learn more about these projects or be notified of new episodes, follow NASA's Curious Universe podcast. A special mention goes out to Steve Pinner, the team member who shares the same name as the podcast host and his father.
