The Science and Beauty of Auroras

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Space might seem like an empty place, but the area surrounding Earth is constantly being bombarded by waves of charged particles released by the Sun: The solar wind. Luckily, thanks to Earth's swirling, molten core (and the magnetic field it provides), we are protected from this planet-sterilizing onslaught like an invisible force field
All that science has a beautiful side effect: It makes the auroras! The Northern and Southern lights are the result of the solar wind and its dance with Earth's magnetic field and polar atmosphere. It's Earth's own cosmic light show!
References for this episode: dft.ba/-4G6G
Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment below!
Written and hosted by Joe Hanson
Produced by Painted On Productions (www.paintedon.com/)
Special thanks to Laura Eakins from UT-Austin's Department of Astronomy
Music in this episode:
Gustav Holst: "Neptune, the Mystic," "Mercury, the Winged Messenger"
Johnny Ripper: "Speak"
Misha Nuis: "Ambient"
Clips used in this episode:
"Aurora 2012" by Christian Mülhauser vimeo.com/36141149
Gradient Sun by NASA: • NASA | Gradient Sun
Auroras underfoot by NASA: • ScienceCasts: Auroras ...
"Temporal Distortion" by Randy Halverson: vimeo.com/36684976
"In Plain Sight" by Brad Goldpaint: vimeo.com/52347966
Massive Solar Filament Eruption by NASA: • NASA | Magnificent Eru...
"ISS Stacks" by Christoph Malin: vimeo.com/51499009
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[@remove.and.discard]

At 0:38 'Aurora Borealis' refers only to the lights in the northern hemisphere (from Boreas, or north wind); in the southern hemisphere, it is called 'Aurora Australis' (from Auster, or south wind). That's also how Australia got its name, meaning 'land of the south'.

[@COz-yc8bm]

Aurora Borealis?! At this time of year, at this time of day, in this part of the country, *localized entirely within your kitchen?!*

[@NC_Isro_64]

Ooooooo

[@besmart]

During normal solar activity, auroras are limited to areas near the Arctic/Antarctic circle, and only in winter at each because of the constant summer daylight. But during CMEs of solar storms, auroras can reach much farther south, even as far as the Southern U.S. or into Australia.

[@CandySphynx]

I'm so glad you used Holst's Planets as a soundtrack.

[@L0Ldude11]

Candy Sphynx I SEARCHED FOR A COMMENT LIKE THIS

[@revengejunkie111]

i really wish these kinds of videos were on youtube before. But hell, I'm glad as it's here now. Thank you for making education enjoyable!

[@pol...]

I think it's amazing to realize how many aleatory facts make our life on Earth possible. Think about it: No oxygen, no life. No water, no life; which means no hydrogen no life. No atmosphere, no life. No sun, no life. If the sun would be closer or further away... no life. If our universe would have no highs field, no magnetic field, no electric field, no gravitational field, or no nuclear force... you get it, right?

[@engineer00vivek]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@douglar2009]

God is truly amazing

[@hiyo9144]

Well things used to be very different for life in the earlier stages of earth. For example the first mass extinction was caused due to oxygen and most of life’s inability to intake it.

[@douglar2009]

@@ericbeyer5121 God bless brother.

[@Ellen-hs7zb]

Yes, I get it. The Big Bang planned it all out LOL.

[@amylouise1]

I want to see the lights someday :) beautiful!

[@awecgqwerth5359]

I too

[@awecgqwerth5359]

Can I join with u?

[@shwetakushwaha9093]

Me too.

[@besmart]

During extreme solar storms, auroras have been reported as far south as Mexico and Italy, maybe even beyond!

[@besmart]

The sheets and "lines" you see in aurora shapes look that way because the magnetic particles are actually coming down into the atmosphere. You're sort of looking head on at them as they streak toward you.

[@stefansauvageonwhat-a-twis1369]

oh heck yeah

[@celticninja2880]

thank u for making this channel! i have learned so many new things! keep up the good work!

[@therealebolaboy]

You have the best description. Thank you.

[@besmart]

But this is even better than TV, because you can watch it any time! Right?

[@besmart]

There's a link to the Facebook page in the description! As well as my main blog on Tumblr, which is pretty cool if I do say so myself

[@suzyfein]

“The corona” People in 2020: 😰

[@Ladyuhm]

@『 YanaTriesToDOStuff 』 you extra it's just a emoji and you like: eWwWwW

[@kerrminater]

These video keep getting better. :)

[@spliceosome]

thank you for replying! you are doing a great job with the videos!

[@besmart]

Thanks! Stay curious!

[@MarcColten-us2pl]

I've never been anywhere you can see an aurora. thank you for bringing to me.

[@olusolaagbana6188]

I didn't really understand most of what you said, but it sounds really amazing and beautiful. I would love to see Aurora some day

[@gtnormansvegel2337]

Gorgeous and really informative.

[@WarPig42]

These videos are really nice :D

[@alexmathews070177]

Thanks for sharing this great video.

[@qewsadrtf]

Awesome show!!!

[@feliciamoreland2367]

It also brought us trees and several different plant life. I got to witness this first hand in the winter of 2021/2022. 🥂❣🐞💚

[@DiegodelaLuna]

love it, best explanation ever

[@TimCramblet]

The most intriguing part was about the telegram that was sent with the equipment unplugged. How could that possibly happen? Sounds so interesting.

[@sarladas4508]

Really amazing man! I love to see these kind of videos.

[@yogawithhappiness9695]

How many students came from Fea?😍

[@L0Ldude11]

OH MY GOD GUSTAV HOLST IN THE BEGINNING THAT'S FREAKING AWESOME

[@markpettis2896]

I love Auroras.

[@readreligiously]

I wasn't so sure at first. With this video, I'm sold. *subscribe*

[@kirakiraab]

This channel is so great

[@SpryMahiMahi]

Ohhh I like this channel. Glad I subscribed :D

[@GotEmAll1337]

When did you start saying "Stay Curious" at the end of your videos?

[@noxagh]

Did he say it today Mr. Austin?

[@silentgamer666]

Nox Aghariya savage

[@stefansauvageonwhat-a-twis1369]

He says stay curious in these replies here

[@Saralovebaig]

Woooow amazing vid

[@nxxtxcxl]

really awesome

[@BlackArchis]

Amazing.

[@mokongthe3856]

Imma put seeing an Aurora in my wish list.

[@samuelmarano6272]

Ya know, where was KZbin when I was in school? :-) I learn more now at 31 than I did my entire school years.

[@imlazy77]

Discussion about auroras... *subscribes* looking forward to more space related videos! or just anything about science :)

[@Deeksha........392]

You don't use together ''about and discussion''.

[@kean625]

awesome video :-)

[@sirjimbothefirst]

This was beautiful.

[@besmart]

Cool! Science + history = awesome. A similar story came out last year that just blows my mind. Google "Red crucifix AD 774", Richard Lovett had a great article about it in Nature News.

[@RedMachineCCCP]

Great video! Keep 'em coming!

[@mrsseasea]

best explanation.....thank you

[@DOA_Valko]

2013 Its Ok To Be Smart:CORONA Me in 2021:Bruh

[@JadeNagaraja]

"Watching Aurora in REAL" is one of my "Before I die to-do-list". :-) Thanks for the information.

[@zock_zock9147]

thats one old comment

[@crazyphysicsguy]

You make awesome videos, I have subscribed and liked! =)

[@lowzhao]

I wonder what will happen or what we will see if we go into the auroras. Do anyone have any videos of people going into the auroras, I want to see...

[@umairksa2011]

And thats no doubt really awesome

[@stefansauvageonwhat-a-twis1369]

Came here to remember the old channel name, "It's Okay To Be Smart" ! Ah hes younger! And hey the music, thats Neptune by Holst

[@MontanaBohemian]

Auroras happen in Montana (USA), not very frequently. But often enough.

[@googaavin]

Amazing video

[@electric_kool-aid]

This show is great, maybe sometime in the near future it will be on television? I would watch it everyday. Electric Space Kool-Aid

[@gyrrakavian]

Exactly!

[@besmart]

You're welcome! It's hard to do a perfect translation from real light to RGB, but it's close.

[@MuBores]

I just had an eyegasam!!!

[@alexandriagriego1225]

I ♥️ Aura borealis it's so beautiful and i Remember watching a episode of little Einstein's and it was beautiful lol

[@fantomfeet3084]

Auroras are so beautiful its just like magic that there are real

[@UltraHylia]

GOOD LORD WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THERE?!

[@jasonbaldari8051]

I'm a graphic designer - thanks for putting the official 'sky blue' hashtag code in!

[@TxaiFolly]

beautiful

[@Neueregel]

nice vid

[@sarvesharma]

yay.... new video

[@watanglipuhadjar2654]

done. my mind has already blown 🙈

[@NC_Isro_64]

Your mind blown just for this!!????? Bruh u wont make it what is coming next in facts

[@cactus275]

Aurora,beautiful

[@xiaoshen194]

I thought you would mention cosmic Rays and Van Allen spots.

[@sirjimbothefirst]

Wow.

[@sompoy1]

Perfect neat SUPER Cool "invisible force field" neat

[@aurorafranco3085]

great explanation. thank you

[@jriceblue]

Aurora Franco cghjj

[@recklessroges]

Because as the planet turns the atmosphere is in a chaotic motion with variations in pressure.

[@celticninja2880]

same here

[@spliceosome]

cool, but why does it have those forms and those movements?

[@LordHannigan]

Boston to Portland unplugged.

[@ErikFoxJackson]

C'mon, you should've played Jupiter, though I'm glad Holst's planets is getting some attention. From a musical direction standpoint Neptune and Mars work better for your show.

[@Charlie2531games]

I meant that it's no big deal that it could power a telegraph station wirelessly when a tesla coil does the same. I didn't mean that the solar storm as a whole is no big deal-it is.

[@drummer265]

between minutephysics, teducation, vsauce, numberfile, scishow and now itsokaytobesmart I feel like I should be presented with a degree of some sort. I'll be waiting.

[@nikisharp2212]

Got to see one in elkhart Indiana Feb 16 2013 B-)B-)

[@crazyminilili]

what countries, that aren't the the Arctic or Antartica, can you see auroras in?

[@nordichana]

Didn’t he use to say „stay curious“ back then?😱

[@gunamuthu9284]

1:07 "The Corona"

[@zock_zock9147]

???

[@nordichana]

0:21 yup, we‘ve been here for one billion years😂

[@UnrelatedArchives]

I think what's called for here is a food video. Specifically, what we associate as our favorite tastes. Vague, I know, but think of the freedom you have with your interpretation! I sound stupid right now.

[@minirlz]

most of Canada, Alaska, Finland, Norway parts of Russia a bunch more look them up

[@berni1602]

Of course is better that TV, sadly there are no more edu channels on TV.

[@momiropan9123]

So it's like... Uncapping a neon tube, and shooting a current into the sky!

[@japanesecigarette]

Found it! Wow, that is fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing. :)

[@gyrrakavian]

Bonus points to anyone who can name that first song played in this.

[@oanaalexia]

Gustav Holst-Neptune. I thought I heard celesta.

[@uzorugoala4357]

It’s a masterpiece from God.

[@GunUDwnAt2nd]

No, it isn't.

[@Janitorus]

Solar winds: but this one goes all the way up to ELEVEN.

[@adamlooze99]

Why does this video have less than 100k views?

[@ahmad3652]

Do a mathematics to science video if that is ok with you

[@melody91179]

Neptune by Holst?

[@L0Ldude11]

melody91179 YEAH!!?

[@runi95]

You can see auroras in Norway ;D

[@arunasb7048]

1:09 the edge of the Sun is hence, infected

[@SotraEngine4]

The aurora is the real rainbow

[@DickieTeeBird]

Just fine! But what did you expect ;).

[@emilysilva2108]

Gustav Holst.

[@L0Ldude11]

Emily Silva I SEARCHED FOR A COMMENT LIKE THIS

[@Jeffmorgan1991]

I felt a little talked down to, other than that I enjoyed the video.

[@MattVarner]

I had no idea that Hilary Swank's deadpan was so perfect.