Summary notes created by Deciphr AI
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-makes-2024s-total-solar-eclipse-so-special/id1444873564?i=1000651469445In 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.
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The quote highlights the convenience of designing a custom ring online through Blue Nile.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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."
"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."
"First of all, eclipses, these eclipses happen every couple of years. They're not rare, in spite of what newspapers tell you."
"And it repeats in a couple of years. Right. But those won't repeat for your location for another 500 years."
"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."
"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."
"We know that it's round, but we don't really know how round, if that makes sense."
"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."
"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?"
"The eclipse is the disturbance because it's cooling the atmosphere, so it kind of creates this ripple."
"And this is important because it distributes energy and momentum through our atmosphere, which can affect our weather."
"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."
"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."
"There are eclipse observers who, using apps, will measure how much colder it's getting."
"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."
"You still need those glasses. It's just like you can't look up at the sun on any normal day."
"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."
"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."
"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."