See the world differently by Physics

Seeing Inside

Once upon a time, not so long ago, our eyes were our only way of seeing the world. But increasingly sophisticated instruments developed by physicists have opened a window onto sights that our ancestors would never have dreamt of.

Microscopes have exposed the inner workings of our cells, making modern medicine possible. The latest electron microscopes can even zoom in to the level of individual molecules and atoms, whilst revolutionary imaging techniques such as MRI scanners or X-ray machines allow doctors to spy on brain activity or broken bones.

Meanwhile, progressively more powerful telescopes mean that we can explore our universe from the comfort of home. Space telescopes like Hubble have sent back thousands of stunning glimpses of far flung stars, planets, galaxies and nebulae.

You may not need to look further than the end of your nose to see a physics instrument at work. If, like over half the population, you wear glasses or contact lenses, you can thank physicists’ understanding of optics for bringing your world into focus.

More than this, physics gives us a deeper understanding of invisible processes, such as the way gravity works or how bats use ultrasound, enabling us to see our world like never before.

 

Revealing The Invisible

Space shields may sound like they belong on Star Trek, but there's one protecting you right now: the Earth’s magnetic field.

Our planet is under continual assault from the Sun, which sends streams of electrically charged particles hurtling through space at speeds of up to 750 km/sec. Known as the solar wind, these particles can ionize atoms and harm cells, potentially inflicting some serious damage. But don’t panic! Most of these particles are deflected by the Earth's magnetic field before they even reach our atmosphere, which itself mops up most of the stragglers.

The Earth produces a vast magnetic field stretching out into space, just like the field that would result from a gigantic bar magnet placed in the planet's centre. Buffeted by solar wind, this magnetic field is distorted into a tear-drop shape and is called the magnetosphere.

Magnetic fields are of course invisible, but physicists are able to build up a picture of the magnetosphere and monitor its natural variations over time using specialized instruments on board satellites.

They are also on the lookout for clues suggesting that the Earth's poles might soon flip – a phenomenon which has occurred regularly throughout the planet's history.

We'd be lost without the magnetosphere in more than one sense: not only would adventurers' compass needles no longer point North, but we, along with the rest of life on Earth, would be unlikely to survive. Even with the magnetosphere's protection, periods of exceptionally high solar activity have been known to disrupt power grids, satellites and GPS navigation.

 

A New Point Of View

Ever wondered if you might one day visit the Moon? Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to venture into space in April 1961. Just eight years later, Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon's surface. It took about four days for his Apollo 11 spaceship to make the 360,000 km trip.

Both these men – along with all other space travelers - were bowled over by the breathtaking view they got of the Earth. One of the most striking images ever captured on film was this photograph, taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968 as the crew watched the Earth rise over the Moon's surface – in the same way that we might watch a sunrise. Back on Earth, people caught an unprecedented glimpse of the planet we call home from an outsider’s perspective: a small blue marble lost in space. They were truly seeing the world differently.

Today’s space scientists have set their sights on Mars, with space agencies ESA and NASA both hoping to send a manned mission to the red planet in the next 30 years. The latest technology has also allowed us to scour the far reaches of our galaxy for planets that could harbor life. Finding out one day that we are not alone in the universe may once again revolutionize the way we think.