Things You Thought You Knew – Venus Pizza, Wavelengths, and Horsepower

Light Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses all forms of light, from visible to invisible wavelengths. Neil deGrasse Tyson explains that while we can see visible light, we also detect infrared as heat and ultraviolet through delayed skin reactions 1. Microwaves and radio waves, though invisible, are integral to our technology, with microwaves being blocked by screens with holes smaller than their wavelength 2.

Microwaves cannot see. It's the antenna in reverse.

--- Neil deGrasse Tyson

This principle is used in microwave ovens and radio telescopes, allowing us to harness these waves for various applications.

   

Wave-Particle

Wave-particle duality challenges our understanding of light and electrons, existing as both waves and particles. Neil deGrasse Tyson highlights how this duality allows for the development of electron microscopes, which use electron wavelengths to capture detailed images beyond the capability of visible light 3. The concept of a "wavicle" was introduced to describe this phenomenon, though it never gained popularity 4.

The problem is we have a brain that wants to compartmentalize and doesn't really blend to what feels like disparate bits of information.

--- Neil deGrasse Tyson

This duality is crucial for advancements in scientific instruments, enabling us to explore the microscopic world with unprecedented clarity.