Two weeks ago I was cruising northward in the old Explorer with my brainiac grandaugther in the passenger’s seat. It was one of those magnificent puffy-cloud days with the white clouds pasted on the blue of a sky which seemed as blue as blue can be. Sofia had her head cocked to the side so that she could see more of the clouds and spot animals and such in their shapes when she suddenly blurted out, “Grandad, what makes the sky blue?” It was a delight to hear her ask and a frustration that I did not have a clue for an answer. I said we’d have to Google that and then forgot about it when we got home, but today I found out as a complete, easy to understand explanation before me on the printed page of the current issue of American Scientist magazine (Jan-Feb) in the article titled LIKE HOLDING A PIECE OF THE SKY. The article is by a British Scientist and exceptionaly talented “explainer,” Mark Miodwnik and the article is an exerpt from his book, STUFF MATTERS. It’s written so well and so simply that just about any kid will be able to “get it.” I’m not going to tell you why the sky is blue, I’m going to let you read his article or even better, get his book and share it with your kids or grandkids but I’ll give you a hint. Hint- The sky being blue is related to why your Blue Ray DVDs look so much better than the older DVDs that use red lasers. Pictured here: Brainac Sofia at my workbench and a Puffy Cloud day I captured thru the windshield of a Freightliner, in Indiana, I think, in the mid 2000s.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 23:03:14 +0000
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