[The Cosmic Light Show: Unveiling Auroras and the Mystery of 'Steve']-[WeWow Summer Week 2023 – Day 4: Sun Catchers (6/22/23)]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2023-06-22

📋 Summary

The Celestial Spectacle: Understanding Auroras

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy and Guy Raz embark on an educational adventure to Northern Alberta, Canada, to witness one of nature's most breathtaking phenomena: the Aurora Borealis. While many admire the vibrant ribbons of pink, blue, magenta, yellow, and violet dancing across the night sky, the science behind these "greatest light shows on Earth" is rooted in the complex relationship between our sun and the Earth's magnetic field.

The Solar Engine

Contrary to the whimsical theories of "high-altitude glow worms" or space-based disco balls, Guy Raz explains that auroras are actually triggered by the sun. It begins with what the hosts playfully describe as a "solar burp"—technically known as a coronal mass ejection. During intense solar storms, the sun releases massive bubbles of electrified gas containing highly charged particles called electrons. These particles travel through the solar system as solar wind at speeds reaching one million miles per hour.

When these electrons reach Earth, they are funneled toward the magnetic poles—the North and South Poles—by our planet's magnetic field. As these charged particles collide with the atmosphere (the blanket of gases surrounding our planet), they strike oxygen and nitrogen atoms. These collisions trigger the vivid colors we see: oxygen atoms typically emit green or red light, while nitrogen atoms produce blue or purple hues. This phenomenon is not unique to Earth; other planets with atmospheres and magnetic fields, such as Jupiter and Saturn, also experience their own versions of these cosmic displays.

The Mystery of 'Steve'

During their expedition, the hosts encounter a distinct, lower-altitude purple light formation that is not a standard aurora. They identify this as STEVE, an acronym for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement. Unlike the traditional Aurora Borealis, STEVE is a relatively recent discovery in the scientific community, made possible largely through the efforts of citizen scientists.

Citizen scientists, or "everyday people" who contribute data to large-scale research projects, were instrumental in identifying and documenting STEVE. By uploading photographs to an international database, these amateur observers provided researchers like Dr. Elizabeth McDonald from NASA’s Goddard Flight Center with the visual evidence needed to study the phenomenon. Scientists later linked STEVE to a process called subauroral ion drift (SAID). This occurs when the Earth's magnetic fields rearrange themselves, causing charged particles to scatter and collide with atmospheric atoms at much lower altitudes than those involved in standard auroras.

The Power of Citizen Science

The discovery of STEVE highlights the growing importance of public participation in scientific exploration. Through organizations like Mindy’s "Citizen Science Science Solvers," ordinary individuals are actively helping experts analyze natural phenomena, track endangered species, and map the stars. This collaborative approach between professional scientists and the public not only accelerates the pace of discovery but also makes complex fields like astrophysics and atmospheric science accessible and engaging for everyone. As the episode concludes, the hosts emphasize that there is still much to learn about the vivid colors of STEVE, encouraging listeners to keep their cameras ready and contribute to the ongoing quest for knowledge.

🎯Key Sentences

It's going to be a November to remember.

But for now, let's get on with the show.

I can barely see you.

I don't want to look out of place.

It's sparking up all over the place.

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📝Key Phrases

music to your ears

get on with the show

do the honors

look out of place

strap in

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📖 Transcript

Grownups, Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Wow in the World early and ad-free right now.

Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.

Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.

And before we start the show, I gotta let you know that this November, with a special new episode featuring our friends at Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for Kids,

And don't miss when Elmo from Sesame Street stops by Wow in the World to make us all belly laugh on November 24th.

Oh, but that's not all, Reg.

And parents, if you want to upload any photos or videos or messages to us, please visit wowintheworldcom and find a link where you can do just that, and if you haven't already done so, please subscribe on apple podcast or however you get your podcasts, leave us a few stars and a review and be sure to tell a friend about the show.

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