Skip to main content
Back to Show
Reactions

What Causes Auroras?

Season 5 Episode 67

Every winter thousands of tourists head north hoping to catch a glimpse the luminous auroras dancing in the sky. In this episode of Reactions, we’re sharing tips on how to increase your chances of seeing one and breaking down the chemistry behind the colors of this awe-inspiring wonder.

Support Provided By
Season
We Burned Food to Figure Out How Many Calories It Has
7:56
Calories are complicated.
Can Science Make Less Addictive Opioids?
5:34
Will we ever have painkillers as good as opioids, but without the risk of addiction?
Catalytic Converter Stolen? Here's Why.
5:11
Catalytic converter theft is on the rise, and that’s partly because of their chemistry.
Forever Chemicals
4:24
Forever chemicals are used in everything from rain jackets to jet fuel.
Dog's Nose vs. Electronic Explosives Detector, Who Would Win
8:22
Is a dog or chemical detector better at finding a bomb? We find out!
The Science of How Life Started
8:08
We explore how are we using what we know to look for it throughout the galaxy.
COVID, One Year Later: What Do We Know Now?
8:08
We’re catching up with experts we talked to at the start of the pandemic.
Why Doesn’t Banana Candy Taste Like Banana?
10:04
We tracked it down to investigate if it’s as “banana-y” as the myth claims.
Why is Breast Milk Special (Making Better Formula)
7:26
We explore the sugar molecules in breast milk that make it so difficult to recreate.
The Science of Kombucha
8:12
We find out what it is and push its limits.
Why Does Fall Smell So Good?
7:25
What’s the chemistry behind those smells, and why do they make us so happy?
Do Your Dog’s Paws Smell Like Fritos?
4:45
The answer is yes! In this episode, we explore why.
Active loading indicator