What makes 2024's total solar eclipse so special

Summary notes created by Deciphr AI

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-makes-2024s-total-solar-eclipse-so-special/id1444873564?i=1000651469445
Abstract
Summary Notes

Abstract

In a lively discussion, science writer Kasia Patel delves into the wonders of the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, blending scientific insight with humor. Patel, known for her science-themed comedy, emphasizes the rarity of such an event in the US, with the next not occurring until 2044. She explains the scientific significance of the eclipse, such as studying the sun's corona and its effects on Earth's weather patterns, while also touching on the communal experience of witnessing this celestial phenomenon. The conversation also covers practical safety tips for viewers, such as using ISO-compliant eclipse glasses to prevent retinal damage. The episode captures the dual essence of the eclipse: its capacity to unite people in awe and its role as a critical moment for scientific discovery.

Summary Notes

  • Blue Nile offers an online service to design custom rings.
  • Customers can choose their diamond and setting online.
  • A special promo code provides a discount on purchases.
  • The ring gets delivered to the customer's door.

"At blue nile.com, you can design a one of a kind ring with the ease and convenience of shopping online."

The quote highlights the convenience of designing a custom ring online through Blue Nile.

Eclipse Enthusiasm and Education

  • B and C discuss educating people about the eclipse at a nail salon.
  • C uses visual aids like pictures to explain the celestial event.
  • B expresses admiration for C's effort to explain the eclipse.

"No, I educated people at the nail salon, which I love the explanation process."

C enjoys the process of explaining the eclipse to others, indicating a passion for public education on astronomical events.

Kasia Patel's Background

  • Kasia Patel writes about science and the environment for the Washington Post.
  • She has been covering the total solar eclipse.
  • Kasia also performs stand-up comedy with a science theme.

"This is Kasia Patel. She writes about science and the environment for the Post."

The quote introduces Kasia Patel and her professional background as a science and environment writer.

Science-Themed Comedy and Eclipse Tour

  • Kasia finds the eclipse exciting and incorporates it into her stand-up comedy.
  • She has conducted a comedy tour focused on the eclipse.
  • Her comedy is described as "nerdy" due to its science theme.

"Personally, I find it very exciting, and I do stand-up comedy on the side, and my specialty, I guess, is science-themed comedy."

Kasia Patel merges her interest in science with comedy, creating a unique niche of science-themed stand-up.

Communicating the Coolness of Science

  • Kasia acknowledges that interest in science is not automatic and must be cultivated.
  • She uses humor to make science relatable and interesting.
  • Kasia compares the perception of coolness in science to other activities.

"It's not like you have to want to think it's cool, right? It's like going to an EDM concert or scooting to work or coming to a science comedy."

Kasia suggests that the appreciation of science, like any other interest, requires a willingness to find it cool.

Selling the Total Solar Eclipse Experience

  • Kasia uses the rarity of the eclipse in the US as a selling point to generate interest.
  • She emphasizes the next US eclipse won't occur until 2044.
  • The goal is to encourage people to seize the opportunity to witness the eclipse.

"What I think is the most effective sell is telling people that we won't have another one of them in the US until 2044."

The quote conveys the urgency of experiencing the upcoming eclipse due to its infrequency.

Understanding a Total Solar Eclipse

  • Kasia has to explain the concept of a total solar eclipse frequently, even to her own parents.
  • She recorded a conversation with her parents to illustrate common misconceptions.
  • Kasia clarifies that during a total solar eclipse, the moon covers the sun, casting a shadow on Earth.

"So a total solar eclipse occurs when the moon is passing between the Earth and the sun."

This quote defines a total solar eclipse and explains the celestial alignment that causes it.

Timing and Path of the Eclipse

  • The total solar eclipse is scheduled for Monday, April 8.
  • It will begin in Mexico and end in the US-Canada area.
  • Kasia provides a timeline and major cities along the path of totality.

"This is happening on Monday, April 8, for the entire path of totality. It will begin around Mexico, around, I think, like 02:00 p.m.. Eastern."

The quote gives specific details about the timing and geographic path of the upcoming total solar eclipse.

Path of Totality and Partial Solar Eclipse Experiences

  • The path of totality for a solar eclipse is significant as it affects millions of residents and travelers.
  • Even outside the path of totality, people can experience a partial solar eclipse, where the moon covers part of the sun, creating a crescent shape.
  • These celestial events, while common globally, can be rare for specific locations.

"I mean, this is really special because, you know, 30 some million people are living in the path of totality, and that's not even counting all of the people like me and you who are traveling for it."

  • This quote highlights the significance of the path of totality in terms of the population directly experiencing the total solar eclipse.

"So just because you're not in the path of totality does not mean that you will miss out on all the fun. In fact, all the rest of the states will experience a partial solar eclipse."

  • This quote explains that a partial solar eclipse is still an event worth witnessing, even if it's not a total eclipse.

Frequency and Perception of Solar Eclipses

  • Neil deGrasse Tyson argues that solar eclipses are not as rare as they are perceived, occurring every few years.
  • However, the likelihood of an eclipse occurring in the same location can be hundreds of years apart, making it a unique event for specific regions.
  • Comparisons are made with daily natural phenomena like sunsets and sunrises, which can also inspire awe.

"First of all, eclipses, these eclipses happen every couple of years. They're not rare, in spite of what newspapers tell you."

  • This quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson challenges the perception of the rarity of solar eclipses.

"And it repeats in a couple of years. Right. But those won't repeat for your location for another 500 years."

  • Tyson clarifies that while eclipses are frequent globally, their recurrence at any given location can be much rarer.

"I mean, sunsets and sunrises happen every single day, too. There's a study that showed that that is one of the most awe-inspiring feelings that we can have just by looking at a sunset and sunrise."

  • This quote relates the common occurrence of sunsets and sunrises to the experience of an eclipse, suggesting that both can elicit a profound sense of wonder.

Scientific Research and Solar Eclipses

  • Solar eclipses provide opportunities for scientific research, including studies on the sun's characteristics and atmospheric phenomena on Earth.
  • Surprising gaps in knowledge, such as the precise size of the sun, are explored during eclipses.
  • The corona, or outermost atmosphere of the sun, becomes visible, allowing for the study of solar wind and its effects on Earth.
  • Eclipses also enable the study of atmospheric conditions on Earth, such as temperature changes and atmospheric gravity waves.

"I'm always surprised when I talk to a solar physicist and they tell me we don't know something, like we don't know the size of the sun."

  • This quote underscores the ongoing mysteries in solar physics that can be investigated during an eclipse.

"We know that it's round, but we don't really know how round, if that makes sense."

  • This quote reveals the nuanced uncertainties regarding the sun's shape, which are examined during an eclipse.

"It's the outermost atmosphere, and it's called the corona, which means crown. So we're actually going to be able to study these wispies, which is called solar wind."

  • The quote explains that solar eclipses allow for the observation and study of the sun's corona and solar wind, which have significant implications for life on Earth.

"They're actually sending these large balloons that hold these weather instruments, and we're just going to learn, okay, what is the lag time between when the sun is covered to when we can actually feel that temperature drop above our heads?"

  • This quote describes a specific scientific experiment conducted during an eclipse to understand the immediate effects on Earth's atmosphere.

Creation of Atmospheric Waves

  • Atmospheric waves can be generated by natural phenomena such as mountains, thunderstorms, and eclipses.
  • Eclipses act as a disturbance by cooling the atmosphere, which creates ripples similar to a pebble being thrown into water.
  • These waves distribute energy and momentum throughout the atmosphere, potentially affecting weather patterns.
  • Understanding these effects can contribute to more accurate weather forecasts.

"The eclipse is the disturbance because it's cooling the atmosphere, so it kind of creates this ripple."

  • This quote explains how an eclipse can create atmospheric waves by cooling the atmosphere, which in turn may impact weather forecasting.

"And this is important because it distributes energy and momentum through our atmosphere, which can affect our weather."

  • The significance of atmospheric waves lies in their ability to transfer energy and momentum, influencing weather systems.

Impact of Eclipses on Earth's Surface

  • Eclipses have noticeable effects on living organisms, including people, animals, and plants.
  • Scientists and eclipse observers record changes in behavior and environmental conditions during eclipses.
  • During eclipses, crickets may chirp more, and owls might hoot due to the temporary darkness.
  • Observations from the 2017 total solar eclipse in the U.S. showed changes in animal sounds and a noticeable drop in temperature.
  • Eclipse observers use apps to measure temperature changes, which can average around ten degrees Fahrenheit.

"And there's a lot of projects happening where people, eclipse observers, and scientists, they'll be recording the sounds around them to see how the birds are changing."

  • This quote highlights the various projects aimed at documenting the behavioral changes in wildlife during an eclipse.

"You might hear, like, an owl hoot. So the last time there was a total solar eclipse in 2017 in the US, a bunch of national parks decided to record the difference in animal sounds before the eclipse and during the eclipse and after the eclipse."

  • The quote discusses specific examples of animal behavior changes observed and recorded during the 2017 total solar eclipse.

"There are eclipse observers who, using apps, will measure how much colder it's getting."

  • This quote emphasizes the use of technology by observers to quantify the decrease in temperature during an eclipse.

Eclipse Safety Tips

  • It is crucial to understand the safety protocols for viewing an eclipse, especially concerning eye protection.
  • Eclipse glasses are necessary for any moment of the eclipse except during totality when the sun is completely covered.
  • Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse, except for the moment of totality, can be harmful to the eyes.

"Cause it gets confusing, right? Because people are passing out all these eclipse glasses. So, like I said, a total solar eclipse is the only time when the sun is completely covered that you can look up at the sun with your bare eyes because you're not actually looking at the sun."

  • This quote clarifies the correct use of eclipse glasses and the exception during the moment of totality when it is safe to look at the sun without protection.

"You still need those glasses. It's just like you can't look up at the sun on any normal day."

  • The quote reinforces the need for eclipse glasses to protect one's eyes and draws a parallel to the everyday need to avoid looking directly at the sun.

Eclipse Viewing Safety

  • The importance of using proper eclipse glasses or similar eye protection when viewing a solar eclipse is emphasized.
  • Government agencies and local science museums are distributing eclipse glasses that meet necessary safety standards.
  • It is crucial to ensure that the glasses comply with the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard 12312-2.

"It should comply with ISO, International Organization for Standardization 12312-2."

  • This quote highlights the specific ISO standard that eclipse glasses must meet to be considered safe for viewing a solar eclipse.

  • A simple test to check the quality of the glasses is to hold them up to the light and rotate them, looking for scratches or light penetration.

"If you want to test it out, you can kind of hold it up to the light and rotate it. And if you see scratches or anything that's coming through, then you know that this might not be a good one for you."

  • The quote suggests a method for testing the integrity of eclipse glasses, indicating that visible scratches or light are signs of a defective product.

  • The consequences of not wearing proper eye protection include potential retinal damage, which can occur without immediate pain or awareness.

"Basically, if you look up at the sun, it can fry your retina, and your retina doesn't have pain receptors, so you're not going to know that something's wrong immediately until symptoms start to appear."

  • This quote explains the danger of looking at the sun without proper protection, noting that the retina can be damaged without initial pain because it lacks pain receptors.

  • Post-eclipse visits to optometrists are common, with patients reporting symptoms like blind spots, blurred vision, and distortion.

"Probably every optometrist gets a few patients coming in a week or so after the eclipse. They complain of blind spots, blurred vision, distortion, flashes."

  • This quote confirms that retinal damage from improper eclipse viewing is a real and common issue, as evidenced by patient reports to optometrists.

Eclipse as a Community Experience

  • The solar eclipse is described as a communal and awe-inspiring event, bringing people together in celebration and wonder.
  • Various community events are organized around the eclipse, such as music festivals, baseball games, and even mass wedding ceremonies.

"It's kind of like nature's best party. There's so many people flocking together."

  • The quote captures the essence of the eclipse as a natural phenomenon that has the power to unite people in a shared, festive experience.

  • Personal memories of the eclipse often center more on the social experience than the scientific observations.

"But I do remember bonding with people that you may never see again. It's such a special experience."

  • This quote reflects on the lasting impact of the social interactions during the eclipse, which can be as memorable as the event itself.
  • In New York, inmates are suing the state for the right to view the solar eclipse, citing it as a violation of their religious rights.

"In New York, inmates are suing the state to allow them to watch the total solar eclipse for the first time in a century."

  • The quote introduces a legal conflict in New York where inmates are fighting for the opportunity to experience the eclipse, framing it as a matter of religious freedom.

  • The Department of Corrections plans to lock down prisons during the eclipse due to safety concerns, but the inmates are challenging this decision in court.

"The New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has been planning to lock down prisons during the eclipse. They say it's because of safety concerns, but the plaintiffs...are arguing that this is a violation of their religious rights."

  • This quote presents the opposing viewpoints in the legal case: the Department of Corrections' safety rationale and the inmates' claim of religious rights infringement.

  • A court ruling is anticipated before the eclipse, with the outcome potentially allowing inmates to view the celestial event.

"The court could rule as soon as Friday and the inmates are hoping to have a verdict before the eclipse."

  • The quote indicates the urgency and timeliness of the legal proceedings, with a decision expected shortly before the eclipse occurs.

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