Tag Archives: lights

Dark Plants as Alternatives to Street Lights? Not a Chance!

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These succulent plants emit a shimmering glow after being infused with phosphor particles that absorb and gradually release light.

Liu et al., Matter

There are some product ideas that elicit just a sigh, while others I genuinely dislike. The fluorescent plants created by injecting leaves with glowing substances definitely fall into the latter category for me.

These plants are developed by researchers at the Agricultural University of South China. Recent research indicates that these plants exhibit “extraordinary brightness” and represent a move towards a “sustainable and environmentally friendly plant-based lighting solution.”

The quest to create glowing plants has spanned decades. A notable challenge is intensifying their glow for visibility. A Kickstarter project in 2013 amassed nearly $500,000 but ultimately failed to deliver on its promises.

Last year, US biotech firm Light Bio introduced the Firefly Petunia, the first genetically modified plant available for retail. They claim the plants shine “like moonlight”, but judging by social media images, it seems we’re far from a full moon effect.

The difficulty in producing glowing plants stems from plants deriving energy from light, but photosynthesis is notoriously inefficient. Estimates suggest most plants capture under 2% of the light that strikes them, and much of that energy is used for growth, leaving little to emit light.

This limitation means that energy captured from photosynthesis can never produce a plant bright enough to replace street lights. This inefficiency likely explains why most animals harness energy from plants rather than growing under the burden of photosynthesis (and also why placing solar panels on farmland promotes crop transformation into biofuels).

Consequently, several research groups have attempted to integrate sustained phosphors directly into mature plants. These compounds mimic the glow of stars in the night sky and can emit light after being charged.

Certain sustained phosphors can be significantly more efficient than photosynthesis, letting more light escape from an equal input. However, even distribution within the leaves poses challenges. Recently, Chinese researchers discovered that this kind of distribution could be more easily achieved in succulents like Echeveria “Mebina,” enabling vibrant fluorescent plants of various hues through manual injection of phosphors into each leaf.

This approach feels like a superficial gimmick. I won’t deny my interest in genuinely glowing plants. While you can find the Firefly Petunia available outside the US, I view giving plants a shine through direct injection of glowing substances as a shortcut. At the very least, this glow fades as the plants mature. There’s also a concern about possible contamination when these plants are disposed of.

While this practice may not be as unethical as dyeing aquarium fish, it’s certainly less appealing than dyeing roses. (And no, I’m not having an Alice in Wonderland moment—painted roses do exist.) Furthermore, the team’s paper does not address the environmental or safety implications of plants containing elevated levels of phosphor. I reached out to the researchers for clarification but had yet to receive a response at the time of writing.

If scientists could genetically engineer plants to produce their own biodegradable phosphors that last, this could turn into an entirely different scenario. This capability could even enhance photosynthesis efficiency. Allowing plants to temporarily “store” light would help mitigate fluctuations in light levels, converting unusable wavelengths into usable ones, thereby maintaining photosynthesis into the night. One day, entire fields might illuminate the darkness.

For now, I don’t wish to see a synthetic glowing plant derived from phosphor injections hit store shelves. I hope that never happens, yet I worry there’s a chance it might.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

When Redshift Occurs, What Happens to Light’s Energy? It’s Complex.

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“It can be hard to comprehend the vastness involved…”

Science Photo Library/Alamy

Many of us can relate to concerns about inflation. The rising cost of living weighs heavily on our minds, and we often scrutinize what political leaders are doing in response. Yet it’s essential to recognize the terminology issues present in physics, especially since inflation carries a vastly different meaning in this context.

In cosmology, space inflation refers to a model that elucidates why our universe appears so expansive. This theory posits that space-time underwent rapid expansion for a brief duration—around one second—leading to regions of the universe that are now uncommunicative but once were connected.

Understanding such immense scales can be a challenge. How do we truly grasp these vast distances that exceed our everyday experiences? Last month’s column tackled this concept by addressing distance measurement techniques. Yet, this inquiry itself unfolds layers of complexity.

In that discussion, I highlighted how Redshift serves as a crucial tool for gauging distances in space. Imagine a series of balloons being inflated; as they expand, their peaks and troughs elongate. This phenomenon mirrors how light behaves as it travels across the fabric of space-time. The light stretches, increasing its wavelength.

This shift in light wavelengths enables distance calculation. By measuring the wavelength of light from a distant object and comparing it to our observations, we can discern how much space-time has expanded between our position and the observable objects. Such Redshift measurements are consistently corroborated by both astronomical observations and lab experiments.

However, deeper questions linger. From a quantum standpoint, light’s wavelength is tied to its energy content. The stretching of light reduces its energy, resulting in a redshift effect. This phenomenon isn’t merely a nuisance; rather, it presents intriguing insights about quantum mechanics within cosmological discussions.

Energy conservation is a fundamental concept in everyday physics, but even cosmic principles can be bent or broken

What’s the dilemma? We prefer consistent principles across physics domains. A core tenet of everyday physics suggests that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Thus, if we apply energy conservation to redshifted light, we face the question: where does the lost energy of light go? A curious reader posed this very question.

The response may be surprising. While energy conservation remains a guiding principle, it seems the cosmic realm can, at times, operate differently. Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity plays a pivotal role here. Though widely recognized for its insights into the fabric of cosmic time and curvature, it also reveals how space-time itself may expand.

A unique aspect of general relativity is that energy conservation isn’t universally applicable. In essence, as light loses energy through redshift, this loss is not considered significant in the grand scheme. Energy doesn’t necessarily have to ‘go’ anywhere; it can merely dissipate.

That’s one way to frame it. Alternatively, we could also address the energy associated with gravitational fields. Historically, conflating these two perspectives has sparked considerable debate. Some argue they represent two facets of the same reality.

Personally, I contend that the essence of energy remains ambiguous. It’s challenging to delineate, yet it’s palpable in connection to physical entities like particles and stars. However, when discussing the energy entwined with space-time curvature, clarity dissolves. Where exactly is this energy located within the continuum of space and time? How concentrated is it at specific junctures? These inquiries reflect the complexities of inflation!

Thus, I find myself aligning with those who suggest that strict energy conservation may not be the most useful concept. What stands clear is the interdependence of space-time curvature and energy related to matter. Space-time’s dynamics guide matter’s trajectory, while matter’s mass (akin to energy) influences how space-time will behave.

Chanda’s Week

What I’m reading

Riley Black When the Earth was Green: The Epic of Plants, Animals, and Evolution beautiful.

What I’m watching

I’m re-watching Star Trek: A Strange New World from the start.

What I’m working on

We are pondering the Newathena X-Ray Observatory to deepen our understanding of neutron star interiors.

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Hampshire. She is the author of Cosmos with Disabilities and the forthcoming book, “Edges of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Universe’s Dreamscape.”

Topics:

  • Quantum Physics/
  • Space-Time

Source: www.newscientist.com

Physicists Investigate Light’s Interaction with Quantum Vacuums

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Researchers have successfully conducted the first real-time 3D simulation demonstrating how a powerful laser beam alters the quantum vacuum. Remarkably, these simulations reflect the unusual phenomena anticipated by quantum physics, known as vacuum four-wave mixing. This principle suggests that the combined electromagnetic fields of three laser pulses can polarize a virtual electron-positron pair within a vacuum, resulting in photons bouncing toward one another as if they were billiard balls.

Illustration of photon photon scattering in a laboratory: Two green petawatt laser beams collide in focus with a third red beam to polarize the quantum vacuum. This allows the generation of a fourth blue laser beam in a unique direction and color, conserving momentum and energy. Image credit: Zixin (Lily) Zhang.

“This is not merely a matter of academic interest. It represents a significant advance toward experimental validation of quantum effects, which have largely remained theoretical,” remarks Professor Peter Norries from Oxford University.

The simulation was executed using an enhanced version of Osiris, a simulation software that models interactions between laser beams and various materials or plasmas.

“We are doctoral students at Oxford University,” shared Zixin (Lily) Zhang.

“By applying the model to a three-beam scattering experiment, we were able to capture a comprehensive spectrum of quantum signatures, along with detailed insights into the interaction region and the principal time scale.”

“We’ve rigorously benchmarked the simulation, enabling our focus to shift to more intricate, exploratory scenarios, like exotic laser beam structures and dynamic focus pulses.”

Crucially, these models furnish the specifics that experimentalists depend on to design accurate real-world tests, encompassing realistic laser configurations and pulse timing.

The simulations also uncover new insights into how these interactions develop in real-time and how subtle asymmetries in beam geometry can influence the outcomes.

According to the team, this tool not only aids in planning future high-energy laser experiments but also assists in the search for evidence of virtual particles, such as axes and millicharged particles, or potential dark matter candidates.

“The broader planned experiments at state-of-the-art laser facilities will greatly benefit from the new computational methods implemented in Osiris,” noted Professor Lewis Silva, a physicist at the Technico Institute in Lisbon and Oxford.

“The integration of ultra-intense lasers, advanced detection techniques, cutting-edge analysis, and numerical modeling lays the groundwork for a new era of laser-material interactions, opening new avenues for fundamental physics.”

The team’s paper was published today in the journal Communication Physics.

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Z. Chan et al. 2025. Computational modeling of semi-real-world quantum vacuums in 3D. Commun Phys 8, 224; doi:10.1038/s42005-025-02128-8

Source: www.sci.news

Preparing for Cyberwar: UK’s Response to Russia’s Ability to Shut Off the Lights

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TThe Swedish government’s survival checklist for war would have seemed strange a few decades ago: a sleeping bag, spare battery, one week’s worth of cash, and preserved foods like rice and cereals.

While not explicitly named, Russia looms in the background, evoking memories of the Cold War. The pamphlet “In Case of Crisis or War” has been updated to address the current threat.

The guide now considers the possibility of an “armed attack against Sweden” along with “cyber attacks” and “disinformation campaigns.”

In addition to the traditional threats of nuclear conflict and armed invasion, Europe now faces the 21st-century enemy of cyberwar.

Richard Horne, from the National Cyber Security Center, warns of underestimated risks from countries like Russia and China.

Recent incidents have shown an increase in serious cyber attacks, prompting British ministers to highlight the potential impact of Russia’s cyber operations.

Various European countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Finland, are advising citizens to prepare for power outages caused by cyber attacks.

Experts stress the seriousness of Russia’s cyber threat and the need for organizations to plan for cyberattacks on key infrastructure.

Recent evidence points to Russian cyber interference in UK institutions, prompting calls for preparedness against cyber threats.

Amid rising cyber tensions, countries are emphasizing the importance of stockpiling essentials and strengthening cybersecurity measures.

As governments ramp up cybersecurity efforts, individuals are advised to use strong passwords and verify information sources.

The UK government recommends emergency preparedness and offers guidance on dealing with potential cyber threats.

Experts emphasize the resilience of Baltic and Scandinavian countries in the face of potential cyber and armed conflicts.

As the world faces various threats, the importance of preparedness, including stockpiling essential supplies, is underscored.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Parts of the US may be able to see the Northern lights this Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving might bring cool and rainy weather to many parts of the country, but a solar storm could offer some Americans a chance to witness the beauty of the Northern Lights.

Thanks to a filament eruption on Monday, a mild to moderate geomagnetic storm is expected on Thursday and Friday, as the sun releases a cloud of high-energy plasma towards Earth, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This eruption has the potential to illuminate the night sky in the U.S. with shades of green, red, and purple over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The brightness of the aurora and how long it will be visible depends on the strength of the solar storm and whether it reaches G1 or G2 conditions, according to NOAA meteorologist Mike Betwi.

Residents in states like Washington, Montana, Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine are in prime locations to witness the Northern Lights this weekend, with those in northern parts of Idaho, Wyoming, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire also having a chance, based on NOAA’s predictions.

NOAA experts anticipate that the Northern Lights will likely be visible from Thursday evening until early Friday morning, but it’s uncertain when and where the sky will light up during the geomagnetic storm. You can monitor the latest activity and forecasts using NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard and experimental tools.

Optimal viewing conditions will be in areas with clear skies, although cloudy weather in the Northeast, much of New England, and near the Great Lakes could obstruct the view.

Unlike a previous strong solar storm earlier this year, experts do not anticipate major disruptions to communication systems in the U.S. unless the storm intensifies unexpectedly, according to Betwi.

The aurora borealis is typically visible at high altitudes, but a significant solar storm can cause it to be visible in areas much farther south than usual.

These solar storms occur when coronal mass ejections from the Sun send large plasma clouds into space, which when directed towards Earth, interact with the planet’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere, resulting in the glowing auroras.

NOAA is gearing up for the expected peak in solar activity next July, which is why the aurora has been visible further south multiple times this year.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

I have rewritten the title as: “Using Lights on Surfboards and Wetsuits as a Defense Against Shark Attacks”

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A great white shark attacks a dummy seal during an experiment in which lights were used to deter shark attacks

Nathan Hart, Macquarie University

Lighting the underside of surfboards, kayaks, and wetsuits could prevent the majority of great white shark attacks on humans.

It has long been known that sharks often attack humans, mistaking their silhouettes on the water for prey such as seals. Now, researchers have conducted an experiment to see what happens when a decoy seal's silhouette is distorted by illuminating its underside to disguise its shape.

laura ryan Researchers from Macquarie University in Sydney spent nearly 500 hours towing seal-shaped decoys around Mossel Bay in South Africa's Western Cape region, where great white sharks (carcharodon carcharius) gather in large numbers to hunt.

The team tested multiple light treatments. I covered the underside of the decoy with dim, medium, and bright LED and strobe lighting, as well as horizontal and vertical strip lighting. Each time we towed with any of the light treatments, we immediately towed the control decoy seal without using any underside lighting. As an additional experiment, we conducted a paired test in which an unlit control dummy was towed 3 meters away from a lit dummy.

Unlit decoys were more likely to be attacked or chased by sharks than lit decoys. The brightest light appeared to be the most effective, with zero predator incidents when the decoy illumination was at its brightest.

Vertical strip lighting was less effective than horizontal strips, Ryan said, perhaps because it broke up the silhouette into long sections that could be identified as seals.

Strobe lighting was less effective than continuous lighting, likely because the sharks could still see the silhouette of their likely prey between flashes.

Ryan said the team expected it would be important to match the decoy's lighting with the background light and make sure it was no brighter than the surrounding underwater conditions, but that wasn't the case.

“The most important thing was that the brightness of the decoy had to be brighter than the background light,” she says. “As long as the lighting doesn't make the silhouette look black, it seems to work.”

The research team has now developed a prototype lighting array to be used as a deterrent for great white sharks. “We are now moving from research to providing protection for swimmers and surfers,” Ryan says. “We took an approach that involved understanding the sensory systems of these animals, how they see the world, and their behavior.”

Ryan cautioned that lighting deterrents have not been tested against other species known to attack humans, such as tiger sharks (Galeocerdo Cuvier) and bull sharks (Porgy whale), each with a different hunting strategy.

david booth The University of Technology Sydney conducts a number of field studies off the Sydney coastline, where sharks, including great whites, are common. Based on these findings, he says he will definitely order a counter-illuminated wetsuit when it becomes available.

“I was surprised to find that ‘destructive camouflage’ was more effective, as I thought low lighting to match the background was most effective,” he says.

“These results apply only to great white sharks, and only to this feeding mode, so it is unclear at this point how broadly applicable they are.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Street lights can cause tree leaves to become more durable, making them less palatable for insects to consume.

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Artificial lighting at night can affect tree leaves

Shutterstock/Patrick Kosmider

Urban trees lit by streetlights tend to have tougher leaves and be less eaten by insects than those that spend the dark nights, a pattern the researchers say could disrupt the flow of energy up the food chain and have negative effects on urban biodiversity.

Zhang Shuang Zhang and his colleagues at the Chinese Academy of Sciences studied the Japanese five-story pagoda (Styphnolobium japonicum) and Green Ash (AshBeijing’s street trees appear to be relatively free of insect damage compared to other trees in the city.

The researchers collected around 5,500 leaves from 180 trees at 30 locations in Beijing, including near the distinctive orange glow of sodium streetlights and in dark areas at night, and measured the leaves’ size, firmness, moisture content, and nutrient levels. They also recorded any evidence of insect damage.

Leaves taken from under streetlights were stronger and less affected by insects: for Chinese sophora trees, 2.1% of leaves were damaged in the lit areas and 5.3% in the dark, while for ash trees, 2% of leaves were damaged near streetlights and 4.1% in the dark.

The researchers couldn’t answer that question, but they did say in their paper that with fewer leaves for insects to eat, less energy flows up the food chain to insects and birds, which could have a knock-on effect of further reducing biodiversity.

The researchers acknowledge that the mechanisms by which leaf damage is reduced are still unclear and require further investigation — for example, increased light could make insects more visible to predators, reducing their numbers and their impact on trees.

Owen Lewis The Oxford University researcher says the study is intriguing but doesn’t prove causation, and he suggests future studies should take plants from areas with and without street lighting, place them in a controlled environment, and observe the insects’ behavior to see whether they prefer trees that grow in dark conditions.

Lewis also notes that measuring herbivores is complicated. Heavy damage can mean leaves are less nutritious, forcing insects to eat more of them. Holes caused by insect damage can also get bigger as leaves get bigger, he says.

“My intuition is that this may be a fairly subtle effect,” he says. “In central Beijing, the impact of light pollution on insect feeding will be more pronounced as urbanization progresses.” [the area is]”It’s probably trivial how much pollution there is, how much semi-natural habitat there is, etc. It’s important, but it’s probably not the main threat to insect diversity and ecosystem function.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Summer Northern Lights Viewing Guide: How to Witness the Spectacular Aurora Tonight

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Occasionally, you may have the opportunity to witness the Northern Lights from your home in the UK or US. Tonight (Wednesday, July 24) presents a moderate chance of seeing these mesmerizing lights.

Typically, the Northern Lights are only visible in countries like Canada, Russia, and Sweden, but they have been spotted from as far as Penzance in Cornwall earlier this year.

While it’s rare for the lights to reach Cornwall, seeing the Northern Lights from the UK is not uncommon, although it requires a severe geomagnetic storm, which is a rare occurrence.

When can I see the Aurora tonight?

The Space Weather Forecast suggests that a solar storm may hit the Earth this week, potentially making the Northern Lights visible in parts of the UK on Wednesday, July 24.

Unfortunately, the Northern Lights can only be seen in certain parts of the UK, such as the north of England and Northern Ireland.

In the United States, it may be visible across several northern and upper Midwestern states from New York to Idaho.

However, due to the season, the window for viewing the Northern Lights is limited.

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How to increase your chances of seeing the Aurora

To enhance your chances of witnessing the Northern Lights, it is advisable to move away from urban areas with clear skies and minimal light pollution.

Locate a north-facing shoreline for the best viewing experience with fewer obstructions and less light pollution.

What Causes the Northern Lights?

The Aurora Borealis occurs when high-energy particles from the Sun collide with lower-energy particles in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Geomagnetic storms can push the Aurora further south, making them visible in regions where they are not usually seen.

These storms are more likely to occur during the waning stages of a solar cycle, when coronal holes generate high-speed solar wind that disrupts Earth’s magnetic field.

Why do the auroras have different colors?

The color of the Northern Lights can vary based on the atoms in Earth’s atmosphere reacting with the Sun’s energy.

Green auroras are produced by high-altitude oxygen atoms, while blue, yellow, or red auroras indicate lower-altitude oxygen or nitrogen atoms colliding with solar particles.

What does “Aurora” mean?

The term “Aurora Borealis” roughly translates to “North Wind Dawn” and is a nickname for the Northern Lights. Boreas is the god of the north wind in ancient Greek mythology.

The Southern Lights are also known as “Aurora Australis”, translating to “southern wind dawn”. These lights can be influenced by geomagnetic storms and have been seen in locations like New Zealand and Australia.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Evolution of Traffic Lights

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Red, yellow, and green are now the colors of traffic lights, but that wasn’t always the case. The first (and disastrous) attempt to install a traffic light occurred on December 10, 1868, which also marks the official date of the installation of the world’s first traffic light. It was located in front of the British Parliament in London and consisted of two movable signs mounted on lever-operated arms, illuminated at the top for visibility at night. Unfortunately, the unlucky scoreboard didn’t last long, as it exploded less than two months later, killing the police officer who was putting up the sign.

Traffic lights started to be installed worldwide with the advent of electricity in cities. Cleveland (USA) was home to the first two-color traffic light operating on electricity. Detroit and New York added yellow between red and green in 1920. In Europe, Paris saw the first traffic lights in 1923, followed by other major cities. A year later, Berlin, Milan, Rome, London, Prague, and Barcelona also installed traffic lights.

The first treaty on the unification of road signals was signed in Geneva in 1931 with the goal of enhancing road traffic safety and facilitating international traffic on roads with standardized traffic lights. Most of the signs seen on streets today were established by this agreement, making the three colors of red, yellow, and green the standard for traffic lights. The choice of colors for traffic lights was inspired by railway traffic conditions, where red indicated stopping, white indicated moving, and green indicated caution. The introduction of yellow was to address the confusion caused by white, which could easily be mistaken for starlight at night.

When it comes to color perception, red has the longest wavelength, followed by yellow and green. Longer wavelengths travel farther, which is why colors with longer wavelengths are chosen for signal transmission. As a result, red light can travel the farthest, making it visible even in conditions like rain or fog.

sauce: dnevnik.hr

Source: hitechub.com

Tonight’s Aurora: A Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights in 2024

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Witnessing the Northern Lights at the North and South Poles is considered a rare and unforgettable experience for many individuals. However, you now have the opportunity to cross this off your bucket list as the Northern Lights might be visible in the skies over the US and UK tonight.

Yesterday, the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Space Weather Prediction Center issued a magnetic storm warning following a solar eruption that sent a stream of particles towards Earth, triggering the aurora borealis.

When Can You See the Aurora Borealis?

Scientists anticipate that the aurora will be visible from tonight (March 25) until early tomorrow (March 26), with optimal viewing between 11pm and 12am.

“Predicting the exact visibility of the aurora can be challenging due to rapidly changing conditions,” states Professor Don Polacco, a graduate from the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick. “However, one thing is certain: urban areas with bright lights are unlikely to provide a clear view. To observe the Northern Lights, you must venture into darker, rural settings and look towards the northern horizon (focus on the North Star).” Hence, being in the countryside away from city lights is recommended.

The prime viewing time typically falls during the darkest hours of the night, around 11pm to 12am. Nevertheless, as Polacco mentions, the appearance of the lights can be unpredictable, with avid observers possibly needing to wait until late at night for their glimpse.

The further north you venture in the Northern Hemisphere, the better your chances are of witnessing this celestial phenomenon. The same applies to individuals further south in the Southern Hemisphere.

According to astrophysicist Dr. Paul Strom, “The most effective way to see the Northern Lights is to subscribe to an alert service that keeps you informed about the activity.” For UK residents, he recommends utilizing aurora watch UK for updates.

If you intend to capture images of the aurora, Strom advises setting your camera to higher sensitivity (ISO) and securing it on a tripod to facilitate long exposure shots of a few seconds. Photography is encouraged.

Where Can You See the Northern Lights?

In the northern hemisphere, the aurora borealis can be observed across the United States, with sightings possible in states like Washington, Wisconsin, and New York. If the current geomagnetic storm maintains its strength, it might extend southwards to Northern California and Alabama.

In the UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland stand a good chance of viewing the Northern Lights if the skies remain clear.

Conversely, in the southern hemisphere, the Japan Meteorological Agency Space Weather Forecast Center has alerted Australia about the possibility of aurora borealis (southern lights). Tasmanian residents, Victoria’s coastal regions, and the southwest coast of Western Australia are expected to experience the phenomenon.

Auroras tend to be visible near the Earth’s magnetic poles, in synchronization with the geographic location of the poles. Individuals located near the Arctic or Antarctic Circles can anticipate a dazzling display of lights.

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What Causes the Aurora Borealis?

The interaction of particles emanating from the sun with Earth’s strong magnetic field set off by its molten iron core results in the aurora borealis phenomenon.

“Auroras materialize when the Sun expels huge bubbles of magnetic gas into space,” remarked Dr. Darren Baskill, an astronomy lecturer at the University of Sussex, to BBC Science Focus. “Occasionally, these bubbles collide with Earth and its magnetic channels, prompting gas to flow towards the north and south poles, illuminating the sky with the enchanting lights of the aurora borealis.”

Baskill elucidated that the sun undergoes an 11-year cycle during which its magnetic field alternates between increasing and decreasing in intensity. Presently, we are approaching the pinnacle of this cycle, implying an elevated frequency of aurora borealis sightings over the next year as solar activity heightens.

This evening’s light display follows a recent solar flare, as Baskill delineated, “A solar eruption on Sunday, March 24, 2024, resulted in the release of a gas bubble (coronal mass ejection). “The solar wind carrying the gas is currently traveling at approximately 800 km/s and is expected to impact Earth from Monday night into Tuesday morning.”

Why Are the Aurora Borealis Different Colors?

The hues of the aurora borealis and australis are determined by the fusion of specific atoms in Earth’s atmosphere with solar particles.

When oxygen atoms at higher altitudes react, a green aurora emerges. Meanwhile, sightings of blue, yellow, or red auroras indicate interactions between solar particles and oxygen or nitrogen atoms at lower altitudes.

The occasional presence of a purple hue is attributable to interactions with hydrogen and helium.

Are Geomagnetic Storms Hazardous?

Rest assured, unless you are seeking to witness the aurora borealis, geomagnetic storms pose no significant risk.

Nevertheless, these storms can potentially disrupt high-frequency radio communications. Experts vigilantly monitor aircraft and satellite communications to ensure uninterrupted operations.

In a statement released on Sunday, the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center assured the public that no adverse effects were to be expected, with infrastructure operators already taking precautions to mitigate potential impacts.

However, the statement cautioned that disruptions to GPS systems could become more frequent and prolonged.

About Our Experts

Don Polacco: He serves as a Professor in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group at the University of Warwick, focusing on exoplanets and overseeing the successful SuperWASP project on La Palma Island.

Dr. Paul Strom: A faculty member in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group at the University of Warwick, engaged in the PLATO space mission and various astrophysical research endeavors, particularly emphasizing far-ultraviolet observations for understanding young planet formation environments.

Dr. Darren Baskill: An outreach officer and lecturer at the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Sussex, formerly affiliated with the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the administrator of the annual Astronomical Photographer of the Year competition.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com