Top 10 things about LIGHT

NOT only is this the day of the winter solstice, when we experience the least amount of daylight, but it is the last full week of the United Nations’ International Year of Light.

 



The Sun's light takes 497 seconds to reach us



 

1. Until the 17th century, light was thought to travel instantaneously. 

2. Galileo, in 1638, was the first to show otherwise and try to measure its speed. 

3. We now know that its speed in a vacuum is 186,000 miles a second. 

Until the 17th century, light was thought to travel instantaneously.

4. When travelling through glass its speed slows down to about 124,000 miles a second. 

5. Around 1670 Newton identified five colours in the light spectrum: red, yellow, green, blue and violet. He added orange and indigo later. 

6. According to an Inuit legend, the mystical green light of the aurora borealis is caused by spirits of the dead playing football with the head of a walrus. 

 

In 1638, Galileo was first to try to measure the speed of light

 

7. The Sun’s light takes 497 seconds to reach us. 

8. Around 25 per cent of people react to bright light by sneezing. This trait is inherited.

 

9. Sunlight can reach a depth of 80 metres in the ocean. 

10. Rainbow Of Light, the anthem for the UN’s International Year Of Light, written by Linda Lamon and sung by Katerina Mina, is released today. Hear it at https://youtu.be/IOYYvy1yGxw