The Science Behind How We See Rainbows | April 8, 2025

Summary

This CNN 10 episode takes viewers on a Riverwalk tour in San Antonio, Texas, with a nod to UConn's NCAA women's basketball win and Florida's men's victory. The show then highlights severe weather in the southern US and Midwest, focusing on tornadoes, rainfall, and flooding. It explores weather balloons, their role in forecasting, and the decline in launches. The episode also delves into the physics of rainbows, explaining how they appear differently to each person. Lastly, it introduces the Offline Club movement, encouraging people to disconnect from screens and engage in real-life activities for improved mental health.

Takeaways

• 😀 Captain Joelle has been guiding the Go Rio Cruises on the San Antonio Riverwalk for 33 years, offering a unique way to explore the city.
• 😀 The University of Connecticut's Huskies secured their 12th NCAA women's basketball championship with a strong victory over South Carolina.
• 😀 The Florida Gators triumphed over Houston in the men's NCAA championship, which took place in San Antonio.
• 😀 Dangerous spring weather caused destructive storms, tornadoes, and over a foot of rain across the southern US and Midwest, with 58 tornadoes recorded by the National Weather Service.
• 😀 Arkansas and Tennessee set daily rainfall records, with Memphis experiencing its wettest April day ever, triggering widespread flooding and evacuations.
• 😀 The National Weather Service uses weather balloons filled with hydrogen and attached to radiosondes to gather atmospheric data such as temperature, pressure, and humidity for accurate forecasts.
• 😀 Weather balloons play a crucial role in monitoring weather, especially during severe weather events, and are launched twice daily from over 100 sites across the US.
• 😀 The National Weather Service has been reducing the number of weather balloon launches, even during critical weather periods, which could impact forecasting accuracy.
• 😀 No two people see the same rainbow because each individual's perspective results in a unique set of reflected light from raindrops.
• 😀 A rainbow is created when sunlight refracts through raindrops, with blue light being bent more than red light, causing the colors to separate and form a rainbow.
• 😀 The Offline Club, a movement originating in Amsterdam, encourages people to disconnect from screens and engage in offline activities like journaling and reading, aiming to improve mental health and real-world connections.

Q & A

How long has Captain Joelle been a part of Go Rio Cruises?

Captain Joelle has been with Go Rio Cruises for 33 years.

Which team won the NCAA women's basketball championship and who did they defeat?

The University of Connecticut Huskies won the NCAA women's basketball championship, defeating South Carolina.

Who won the NCAA men's basketball championship, and where was the game held?

The Florida Gators won the NCAA men's basketball championship in a game held in San Antonio, defeating Houston.

What dangerous weather event affected the southern U.S. and Midwest over the weekend?

Destructive storms, including tornadoes and heavy rainfall, affected the southern U.S. and Midwest over the weekend.

How many tornadoes did the National Weather Service log during these storms?

The National Weather Service logged at least 58 tornadoes during the storms.

What record rainfall was recorded in Memphis, Tennessee?

Memphis recorded its wettest day ever in April, with more than 5 inches of rain.

Why is the Kentucky River's rising water level concerning?

The Kentucky River is predicted to crest at a new record of 49.5 feet, the highest level since 1978, causing significant flooding and evacuations.

What is a radiosonde and what role does it play in weather forecasting?

A radiosonde is a small, battery-powered instrument attached to a weather balloon. It measures atmospheric data such as temperature, pressure, and humidity, and transmits the data to a ground receiver for weather forecasting.

Why are weather balloon launches being reduced at some National Weather Service offices?

Some National Weather Service offices have reduced weather balloon launches due to resource constraints, despite the increasing need for more launches during severe weather events.

What is the scientific reason why no two people see the same rainbow?

No two people see the same rainbow because each person views light reflected from different raindrops at slightly different angles, leading to unique perspectives of the rainbow.

What are 'moonbows' and when can they be seen?

Moonbows are rainbows seen at night, caused by moonlight rather than sunlight, and they can occur when there's a full moon and rain at the right angle.

What is the concept behind the Offline Club movement?

The Offline Club is a movement that encourages people to take a break from their screens and enjoy in-person activities, such as live music, reading, and journaling, for a set period without phones.

Who is the core audience of the Offline Club, and why are they the primary participants?

The core audience of the Offline Club is 90% female, ages 25 to 50. This demographic is targeted because they are particularly interested in reducing screen time and reconnecting with real-world activities.