The rainbow connection

精东传媒 Associate Professor of Physics Kerstin Nordstrom talks to NPR about rainbows.

By Christian Feuerstein

As days are short and nights are long and dark this winter, many are thinking of brighter days ahead. So National Public Radio decided to air a short feature on rainbows. 

As part of its 鈥溾 podcast, which examines 鈥渘ew discoveries, everyday mysteries and the science behind the headlines,鈥 NPR decided to tackle topics listeners never really learned in school. 

Its most recent episode, 鈥淪hort Wave鈥 called upon Kerstin Nordstrom, associate professor of physics, to discuss rainbows.

Immediately, producer Thomas Lu said, 鈥淜erstin blew my mind.鈥 

鈥淥ne of the fun facts about rainbows is that they are a consequence of observation,鈥 Nordstrom said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e not physical objects that exist in the sky.鈥