Mississippi State Physics and Astronomy

The Weekly Did You Know: Optical Phenomena

Have you ever wondered why you see “puddles” when you are driving on a hot day? This is caused by an optical phenomenon called an inferior mirage- where cold air sits above warm air and bends light downward. The “puddle” you see on the road is just a reflected image of the sky above. However, the opposite mirage, a superior image- where warm air sits above cold, is the reason behind people claiming to see boats floating in the air. This is called fata morgana.

Info: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a32389233/optical-illuson-fata-morgana-ufo-flying-ship/
📸PC: David Morris/ Falmouth, UK

UFO? Flying Ship? No—It's Nature's Coolest Optical Phenomenon Behold the fata morgana.

The Weekly Did You Know: Thanksgiving Turkey

You can increase your turkey cooking skills this Thanksgiving by trying out this easy tip from 1999. Harold McGee, a writer on food science, suggests chilling the breasts of your turkey as you allow the legs to come to room temperature. The breast meat will lower in temperature as the leg meat temperature will rise to about 60°F. This will give yourself the best odds to yield a perfectly cooked turkey as you give your dark meat to get a head start on coming to temp.

Remember to always check the internal temperature of the meat. Check out this link from the USDA covering the minimum safe temperatures: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-temperature-chart

For “Turkey Basics: Safe Cooking”: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/turkey-basics-safe-cooking

Info: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/11/991124071530.htm

Physics Talks Turkey This Thanksgiving -- Tips From Science On How To Cook A Better Bird Whether you like dark or white meat, cooks can look to physics for some tips for making sure that Thanksgiving turkey is quickly gobbled up. Harold McGee, a writer on food science, has come up with some scientifically-based, and very effective, tips for making sure your turkey rules the roost this T...

The Weekly Did You Know: Penitents

Snow spikes, also known as penitents, form through the sublimation of snow at high altitudes. They occur naturally on glaciers and mountain ranges with low temperatures and humidities such as the Andes.

The spikes are created when throughs form on the surface of a glacier which absorb the sunlight thus causing the snow to sublimate. It is believed that these penitents may have the ability to preserve glaciers by blocking some of the light that would be absorbed by surrounding icy surfaces.

Info: https://physics.aps.org/story/v17/st7
📸PC: J. Corripio/ETH, Zurich

It's never too early to save the date! Plan to join us for Science Night at the Museums on Saturday, February 10th.

Save the date! Science Night at the Museums will be Saturday, February 10th from 4pm-7pm! Spread the word!

The Weekly Did You Know: Sun Dogs and Solar Halos

Solar Halo as seen on Hwy. 25 in Starkville, MS, 5 p.m. Central Time on October 21, 2023.

Solar halos and their associated colors are caused by redirection of rays of sunlight through ice crystals in the atmosphere (refraction), especially when high-altitude cirrus clouds are present. The bright spots to either side of the sun are called “sun dogs”.

Though commonly associated with the sun, halos can also occur around the moon.

Photo taken by Physics and Astronomy Associate Professor Donna M. Pierce.

WEATHER PERMITTING
Saturday, October 28th from 7-9pm @ Howell Observatory
E. Line Rd, Starkville MS (South farm)

Open to the Public and FREE
Telescope viewing of the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and more!

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