Science & Society

Science & Society

Today is the day! A last-minute guide for watching the Great American Eclipse

You’ve probably heard this already, but there’s a total solar eclipse traversing the United States today, August 21. Here’s what you need to know.

Astronomy

Eclipse watchers will go after the biggest solar mystery: Why is the corona so hot?

Usually when you move away from a heat source, it gets cooler. Not so in the sun’s atmosphere.

Astronomy

Does the corona look different when solar activity is high versus when it’s low?

Carbondale, Ill., will get two eclipses in a row, seven years apart — making it the perfect spot to watch the solar cycle in action.

Astronomy

Where does the solar wind come from? The eclipse may offer answers

A quick-fire polarization camera should help scientists detect the origins of the solar wind during the Aug. 21 eclipse.

Astronomy

Eclipses show wrong physics can give right results

Math for making astronomical predictions doesn’t necessarily reflect physical reality.

Astronomy

Why are the loops in the sun’s atmosphere so neat and tidy?

Observations during the total solar eclipse may explain why the sun’s atmosphere is so organized despite arising from a tangled magnetic field.

Astronomy

What can the eclipse tell us about the corona’s magnetic field?

The corona’s plasma jumps and dances thanks to the magnetic field, but scientists have never measured the field directly.

Astronomy

Can the eclipse tell us if Einstein was right about general relativity?

During the eclipse, astronomers will reproduce the 1919 experiment that confirmed Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

Astronomy

What can we learn about Mercury’s surface during the eclipse?

Instruments aboard twin research jets will take advantage of the total solar eclipse to make the first thermal map of Mercury.

Astronomy

What happens in Earth’s atmosphere during an eclipse?

The charged layer of Earth’s atmosphere gets uncharged during an eclipse, and that could have implications for everything from GPS accuracy to earthquake prediction.

Astronomy

What do plants and animals do during an eclipse?

A citizen science experiment will gather the biggest dataset to date of animal responses to a total eclipse.

Astronomy

What will scientists learn from the Great American Eclipse?

Between now and August 21, astronomy writer Lisa Grossman will explore the top questions scientists will tackle during the 2017 total solar eclipse.