Whales are some of the most vocal creatures in the ocean. They use a complex system of sounds to communicate with one another, including clicks, whistles, and deep songs. These sounds can travel for hundreds of miles through water, which carries sound better than air. Different species of whales use different types of vocalizations. For example, hu
BlueWhy Is the Sky Blue
Have you ever looked up and wondered why the sky isn’t green or purple, but blue The answer lies in a scientific phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering. When sunlight enters Earth’s atmosphere, it’s made up of different colors of light each with different wavelengths. The shorter wavelengths, like blue and violet, scatter more easily when t
How Solar Panels Generate Electricity
The Basics of Solar Energy Solar panels work by converting sunlight into electricity using a technology called photovoltaics. Each solar panel is made up of many solar cells, usually made from silicon. When sunlight hits these cells, it excites the electrons in the material, causing them to move. This movement of electrons creates an electric cu
The Science Behind Rainbows
What Causes a Rainbow Rainbows are a natural optical phenomenon that occurs when sunlight passes through raindrops in the atmosphere. As light enters a raindrop, it slows down and bends a process called refraction. Then the light reflects off the inside surface of the drop and refracts again as it exits. This bending and reflecting separates the w