Soothing Science: The Light You See at Sunset
Relax to the sound of the ocean and discover the science behind sunsets.
While a sunset may seem like any other ordinary thing, a number of physical elements had to come together, in just the right way, for you to bear witness to this colorful display.
#asmr #sunset #novapbs #soothingscience
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@MossyMozart
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Mr Hadingham should read books for people who are trying to fall asleep. Good job!
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I was lucky enough to see a green flash one evening as the sun dropped below the horizon at Duck Harbor Beach, Wellfleet, MA (on Cape Cod). Breath-taking! So far, only the one green flash in my life.
@genericallyawesome8894
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
We need more Soothing Science!!
@pokey354
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
😊 txs
@idget600
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
If smoke, aka pollution, has minimal effect on sunset appearance, why, during the smoked skies from the Canadian fires in Quebec, cause brilliant red sunsets in the Northeast? Since the skies have cleared, so have those incredible red skies, that, when it was a "clear" night, were so prominent?
@o0o-jd-o0o95
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
I could never understand why anyone would like living in a city. where you do not see any stars at night and all you see are other rusty metal buildings in the horizon
@ksqd453
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
I too nodded off with my headphones on!
@glorydey5008glowlight
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Nice explanation but the narrative could have been more lively and energetic! The monotonous voice tone is very slow and puts you to a dull sleep 😴 On the whole good information! 😊❤👍
@codigi
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Thank you
@xjacob3092
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
playback speed 1.5 thanks youtube
@1lmp1
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
I love NOVA programs but must say the too slow talking disturbs me, I find it difficult even to watch till the end.
@theCommunicationChannel
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Mostly junk and crap in the atmosphere causes the coloration changes. It's actually gross to think about, though the light is beautiful.
@garlandstyle5797
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Very cool. But? A man with a protruding belly walks by at the end? 🙁 Oh, but I did give you a thumbs UP. 😃
@patriciaraycraft8230
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
I enjoyed this, Calming and and educational. Great Earth Science.
@aqquilts
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
I was waiting for the ‘green flash”. Sadley it didn’t appear. However, it was beautiful!
@Andrew-tu5fm
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Thank you for such a clear description of a sunset. It enlightens the curious mind about the nature of reality. And for some, that is a spiritual experience. You marvel at what is because you know why it is, all thanks to science.
@jeffdavis7529
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
#Educational, thanks #NOVAPBS
@lauramihlstin964
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Great explanation!
@MrFossil367ab45gfyth
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Sunsets are beautiful, look at sunsets and tell me what art is!
@dexter8705
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
I would have thought light can be slowed down in different mediums, but sounds like it bounces off all the blue light and only orange and red light gets through so that's why it appears orange.
@robertdiehl1281
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Ufo lol.
@ChrisG1392
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Watch at 1.25x and it sounds normal 😅
@stevenlester2606
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
The excellent narrator was Evan Hadingham.
@rascallyrabbit717
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
This put me to sleep 4 times
@Vile_Entity_3545
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Look at the sun and it is not white per se.
It is shimmering and looks like glass or like a mirror.
@carolr6810
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Here in Florida, we have beautiful sunsets. Very informative. Thank you.
@Vector_Ze
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
A crystal clear sky, as you get after the passage of a cold front, gives the most boring sunsets.
I think the most beautiful sunsets require clouds, not overcast of course, but broken stratus, cumulus, or a mixture.
@1969kodiakbear
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Gas molecules in our atmosphere. By the way, I have difficulty communicating because I had a stroke in Broca’s area, the part of the brain that controls speech. 2/8/2021 but I lived again. (My wife helped me compose this.)
@mascadadelpantion8018
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
I like beautiful
@richardmiller5472
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
I love this.Extremely educational
@lena-mariaglouis-charles7036
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Beautiful, educational – and calming…
THANK You!
@seanacameron8940
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
Thank you. So lovely. So concise.
@inukshuksixtyfour1164
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
That was relaxing…I need a nap now. Lol. 😉💛🧡❤️
@MarshallDTeach533
June 22, 2026 at 10:03 pm
I love you PBS I really do but see many know you are payed to keep people unaware of the signs of our binary systems that’s tugging the earth. Strange colorations at sunset, moon flipping like a cartwheel since 2012, moon doesn’t rise eat like it used, crescent moon usually appear during the hunter moon (Halloween) now it’s seen as “normal” not people fault they don’t pay attention to their skies I blame those in charge for lying. Rainbows at night?! That’s normal right? The ancestors have been correct once again thanks to the hopis, Sumerians, Egyptians, Mayans, Aztecs, incans, Ethiopians, Brittanica etc