The Infinite Monkey Cage Illuminating Light - Jess Wade, Russell Foster and Bridget Christie
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Aug 20, 2025 
Join physicist Jess Wade, renowned for her work on light technologies, and neuroscientist Russell Foster, who studies the intricacies of circadian rhythms, as they shine a light on a captivating array of topics. They delve into how light influences culture and biology, the dual nature of light as particles and waves, and even the evolutionary significance of early life's sensitivity to light. Comedian Bridget Christie adds her comedic flair, musing on the mysteries of light and its connection to our understanding of ghosts!
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Mirrors, Cats And Self-Awareness
- Bridget Christie recounts amateur observations like cats and mirrors to probe perception.
- Brian and Russell connect such stories to tests of self-awareness and mirror reactions.
How The Sun Makes Light
- The Sun produces photons via fusion-created gamma rays that downshift in energy through collisions.
- Outer layers also emit light when atoms' electrons get excited and fall back, producing visible photons.
Use Light To Read Material Structure
- Use spectroscopy to reveal atomic and molecular structure when microscopy is impossible.
- Shine light and analyze absorbed, reflected, or emitted wavelengths to identify composition remotely.
