Hi there! I’m here to share some fascinating insights about how nuclear bombs have unexpectedly helped us learn more about whales and other natural phenomena. Let’s dive into this intriguing topic!
Back in the 1990s, most countries around the world agreed to stop testing nuclear weapons. To make sure everyone sticks to this agreement, a global network of sensors was set up. These sensors are designed to detect the low-frequency waves that nuclear explosions create, which can travel long distances. While nuclear tests are now rare, these sensors still pick up lots of other interesting signals.
Besides nuclear explosions, the sensors detect signals from things like volcanic eruptions, rocket launches, ship engines, and even the movement of icebergs. This might sound like a lot of noise, but it’s actually a treasure trove of information for scientists!
One of the coolest uses of this data is tracking whales. Instead of following whales directly, scientists can listen to the sounds they make and figure out where they are. This helps us learn more about whale populations and their movements across the oceans.
The sensors also pick up sounds from meteoroids entering Earth’s atmosphere. This has shown us that there are many more meteoroids than we can see, suggesting that the risk of a large meteorite hitting a city might be higher than we thought.
By studying the data from these sensors, scientists have discovered that winds high above the Earth’s surface are faster and more unpredictable than we realized. This helps explain why weather forecasts can sometimes be off. Additionally, the sensors help locate earthquake epicenters, which is crucial for issuing tsunami warnings.
While the sensor network was originally designed to catch nuclear tests, it has opened up a whole new world of knowledge about our planet. It has even raised questions about mysterious sound waves that we haven’t identified yet.
This project is supported by the Preparatory Commission for the Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), with help from the European Union. The CTBTO works with 183 countries to monitor for illegal nuclear tests and keep the world safe. If you’re a researcher interested in using this data to learn more about our world, you can contact CTBTO at ctbto.org.
Thanks to CTBTO for their efforts in promoting global safety and to Jesse Agar for illustrating the video that inspired this article. I hope you enjoyed learning about the unexpected ways nuclear bomb monitoring has helped us understand our planet better!
Imagine you’re a scientist tracking whales. Use online resources to listen to different whale sounds. Then, create a map showing where you think these whales might be located based on their sounds. Share your map with the class and discuss how sound can help us learn about whale movements.
Design a simple sensor using household materials that can detect vibrations. Test it by creating small vibrations (like tapping on a table) and see how well your sensor picks them up. Discuss how scientists use more advanced sensors to detect signals from natural events.
Using a sandbox, simulate a meteorite impact by dropping different-sized balls from various heights. Observe the craters formed and discuss how scientists use sensor data to understand real meteorite impacts on Earth.
Research how high-altitude winds affect weather patterns. Create a weather forecast for your area based on current wind data. Compare your forecast with actual weather reports and discuss any differences.
Explore the global network of sensors using online maps and resources. Identify the locations of these sensors and discuss how they contribute to global safety and scientific research. Present your findings to the class.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, this is Kate from MinuteEarth. A nuclear apocalypse would be quite serious. In the 1990s, most of the world’s governments formally agreed to a deal to prohibit nuclear weapon tests. To ensure accountability, they established a global network of sensors that detect the low-frequency waves produced by nuclear explosions over long distances. With a few notable exceptions, most countries follow these rules, making nuclear tests relatively rare. As a result, the network primarily picks up signals from other sources, such as volcanic activity, rocket launches, ship engines, and even the vibrations of icebergs.
This background noise can be challenging for those monitoring for nuclear explosions, but it provides valuable data for various other researchers who can access the information with permission. For example, instead of tracking whales directly, scientists can use their vocalizations to estimate their locations. By listening to meteoroids entering Earth’s atmosphere, we’ve discovered that there are significantly more than we can observe, indicating that the risk of a city-destroying meteorite is potentially much higher than previously thought.
By monitoring active volcanoes or conducting controlled explosions and measuring the energy that returns to the sensors, scientists have found that the winds above Earth’s surface are faster and more variable than we had assumed, which contributes to the limitations of our current weather forecasts. Additionally, data from the network’s sensors assist in locating earthquake epicenters, improving warnings about potential tsunamis.
Although the system was designed to detect nuclear tests, it has led to a wealth of knowledge about our planet and raised many more questions, such as the sources of unidentified sound waves. This video was sponsored by the Preparatory Commission for the Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), with financial support from the European Union. CTBTO has been tasked by 183 nations to monitor for illegal nuclear tests. If you’re a researcher interested in utilizing data from CTBTO’s monitoring system to enhance our understanding of the world, please reach out to the organization at ctbto.org.
Thanks to CTBTO for their sponsorship and for contributing to global safety from nuclear weapons. Special thanks to our friend Jesse Agar of This Place for illustrating this video.
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Nuclear – Relating to the energy released during the splitting or combining of atomic nuclei – Nuclear power plants use the energy from splitting atoms to generate electricity.
Sensors – Devices that detect and respond to physical stimuli like heat, light, or motion – Scientists use sensors to monitor changes in the environment, such as temperature and humidity.
Whales – Large marine mammals that are important indicators of ocean health – The study of whales helps scientists understand the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.
Meteoroids – Small rocky or metallic bodies traveling through space – When meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere, they can create bright streaks of light known as meteors.
Meteorites – Fragments of meteoroids that survive their passage through the atmosphere and land on Earth – Scientists study meteorites to learn about the early solar system.
Earthquakes – Sudden shaking of the ground caused by movements within the Earth’s crust – Earthquakes can release a large amount of energy, affecting both natural landscapes and human structures.
Weather – The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation – Meteorologists study weather patterns to predict storms and other atmospheric events.
Oceans – Large bodies of saltwater that cover most of Earth’s surface and influence climate and weather patterns – The oceans play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate by absorbing heat and carbon dioxide.
Populations – Groups of individuals of the same species living in a particular area – Scientists study animal populations to understand the effects of environmental changes on biodiversity.
Safety – The condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury – Ensuring safety in laboratories is essential to prevent accidents during scientific experiments.
