Topic 2: The Nature of Light

When astronomers search for extraterrestrial life, they often have to listen for radio waves coming from deep space. If you’re interested, you can help!

7 images of some objects that can reflect light such as mirrors, Mylar balloons and water

What does light have to do with colour? Observe some colourful fruit under different conditions to learn why we see the colours we see!

This backgrounder explains what light is, how it is measured, and how it affects people on Earth and astronauts on board the International Space Station.

Explore how we see things through water.

Scientists are training artificial intelligence to diagnose injuries using x-rays and other medical imagery of you (and millions of others). What improvements and other changes might this bring to the health care system?

How is light connected to the colours we see? In this STEAM activity make a colourful light catcher and discover why we see different colours?

Explore the concept of persistence of vision in this hands on activity.

How does the human eye see visible light as colour? And why do some people see more colours than others?

Gamma rays might make you think of cancer, harmful radiation or superheroes. But gamma rays have lots of uses: food safety, manufacturing and even medicine!

The human eye lets us see the world by sending impulses to our nervous system. In many ways, it is very similar to other optical devices, including cameras.