Light
Light is a fundamental part of the Universe. The speed of light in a vacuum is the cosmic speed limit: no matter how advanced our technology, we'll never travel faster than that. Since the speed of light is a natural measurement, we often measure distances in space in lightyears. The Sun's light is the ultimate source of all energy for life on Earth: without the warmth and energy from sunlight, not even plant life could exist.
Infrared contact lenses let people see in the dark – or with their eyes closed
They could even let colour blind people see more clearly in the future
All humans emit subtle light until they die, study suggests
You are glowing – no, really
Earthshine tonight: How to see May's otherworldly Moon event
All you need to know about the mesmerising lunar phenomenon.
In pictures: The electric-blue lava pouring from Earth’s strangest volcano
The luminous blue lava found on Java is caused by the sulphuric gasses burning in the oxygen-rich air once they reach the surface.
What is the doppler effect?
This fundamental concept in physics is why the Moon sometimes looks red, and can help doctors analyse blood flow in tissues.
Why August's Super Full Moon is called a Blue Moon
Unlike other months of the year which are named after seasonal events, the name 'Blue Moon' has a rather surprising origin.
Are there any benefits to using a daylight SAD lamp? A GP explains
They're a non-invasive and drug-free treatment for seasonal depression - here's what a GP thinks of them.
What would happen to our view of far-off galaxies, if we travelled at (or near) light-speed towards them?
If a star 1000 light-years away went supernova and died, it would take us 1000 years to know - but what if we were moving towards it, at (or near) light-speed?
Your phone screen could be making you age quicker
A new study shows that blue light exposure could have detrimental effects on your body, including accelerated ageing.
How to see the total lunar eclipse this May
Cameras at the ready, May's full Moon brings with it a lunar eclipse that will turn the Moon red.
The best smart bulbs to make your home glow in 2024
Shining a light on the best smart bulbs with voice activation and a full range of colour to help brighten any modern home.
How the brightest minds in science – from Einstein to Da Vinci – revealed the nature of light
The nature of light puzzled some of humanity’s greatest thinkers for 2,000 years, behaving like a wave in certain conditions and as a particle in others.
What is polarised light?
What is polarisation and why is it in my sunglasses?
Researchers verify ‘extremely odd’ black hole physics
A team at the University of Glasgow set out to validate British physicist Roger Penrose’s 1969 work.
Far-UVC light could be used against coronavirus without harming people
Scientists found that a specific type of ultraviolet light could be used for air disinfection.
Flashing blue lights switch on cancer-fighting cells
Researchers were able to reduce tumour size in mice by between eight and nine times without harming healthy tissue using the new technique.
Olbers’ Paradox | Why the sky is dark at night
The dark sky paradox, also known as Olbers’ Paradox, explains why, despite the infinite number of stars in the Universe, the sky at night appears black.
Blue light from smartphones may lead to brain damage... in flies
However, results cannot be applied to humans as the human brain “would receive much less light than fly brains”.
Light shed on secrets of glow-in-the-dark sharks
While we know how corals and jellyfish can fluoresce, researchers haven’t figured out exactly how sharks can do it – until now.
Can taking digital photos damage art?
Galleries would have you believe that a camera flash damages paintings.
Why does light leave the position from which it is created?
An accelerated electric charge causes ever moving waves of energy travelling at the speed of light, according to the laws of physics.
Do two mirrors facing each other produce infinite reflections?
While they seem to extend into the infinite, the truth is a little darker.
Can weather forecasters predict rainbows?
"Somewhere, there might be a rainbow..."
Is the dark really making me sad?
How do Scandinavians deal with long, dark winters? And what might this teach us about the relationship between our moods and sunlight? By Linda Geddes.