Earth's mysterious red glow, explained - Zoe Pierrat

Explore the phenomenon and uses of chlorophyll fluorescence, a small amount of light emitted by plants during photosynthesis.

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In 2009, a satellite circled Earth, scanning and sorting the wavelengths reflecting off the planet’s surface. Researchers noticed something baffling: an unexpected wavelength of unknown origin. They tried looking at Earth with only this wavelength, and saw the planet covered in a red hue of varying intensity. So, what was going on? Zoe Pierrat explores the science of chlorophyll fluorescence.

Lesson by Zoe Pierrat, directed by Denis Chapon, The Animation Workshop.

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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Fernando A. Endo, Helen Lee, pam morgan, sarim haq, Juan Pablo Rodriguez Morales, ANNE FINE, Gerardo Castro, Siddharth Toshniwal, Michel-Ange Hortegat, Enes Kirimi, Amaury BISIAUX, Aravind C V, ND, Samyogita Hardikar, Vandana Gunwani, LvL042, Abdulmohsin Almadi, Andrew Brodski, AJ Lyon, John van den Berg, Anandha Krishnan, Geoffrey Bultitude, Mi Mi, Thomas Rothert, Christopher McVay, Javier Aldavaz, Ivan Yeung, Jaime Camacho, Brian Elieson, Grayson Garbarino, Oge O, Weronika Falkowska, Stefano Esposito, Nevin Spoljaric, Yvonne Feijoo, Sid Chanpuriya, Arjay Arcinue Dineros, Anoom Yasmin, Anoop Varghese, David Yastremski, Noah Webb, B, Jason Harrison, Erica Guerrero, Roberto Chena, Oliver Koo, Luke Pisano, Andrea Gordon, Aleksandar Donev and Nicole Klau Ibarra.

[GuiiBrazil]

This video brings me joy. Science is cool, never ending discoveries...

[lwolfer]

This is wild my friend. Great news and a releif to hear something that isn't humans = bad. I went into this videos thinking "what did we do this time"

[huonghayley]

This is truly new horizon for me, far from what textbooks have to say about photosynthesis.

[Masteroogwayd]

"Our silent friends who already do so much for us"
-Ted ed 2021

[sardatep]

Sounds like a good measure to look for habitable planets.

[thomascronin]

Actually, scientists have known about chlorophyll fluorescence for at least a century - photos taken with IR-sensitive film (available since early in the 20th century) show plants as bright white beings! It's a phenomenon often used to make dramatic photographs.

[adityasriram]

The dioramas in this video seem like works of art in themselves, magnificent!

[nygge]

As a physics teacher I love this! A good example of emission/absorption processes, might use it in my classes :)

[labsciescorned]

This made me happy. Plants are literally glowing so we can continue to be in the light. ☺️

[drphilemon_]

Beautifully animated informative video. I love how much Ted Ed cares for our environment and making us care too . May Earth always be kind to you all .

[insaneran]

This is one of the coolest facts I've learned all year! Thank you TED-Ed.

[oscar]

Just a question: Is this replicable to phytoplankton's in the sea? I assume they have the highest photosynthetic activity on earth and hence we should see massive red radiation from the seas and oceans

[shaksiyat]

Feeling proud of knowing things not many people know.

[atakoranodonbrachiosaurus]

This actually once again broadened my world. Thank you

[lgcseer]

No matter where humans go in the universe, we will carry a plant or their seeds to make sure with breathe with reason.

Great stuff !

[pushkarn.s.]

Respect to Ted Ed for consistent great vids

[gusstavv]

The art in the animation is beautiful! Thank you TED-Ed team!

[chinmayk]

Excellent script, narration and animation - superb video teded !!

[sumipun]

I feel so good when I am able to understand the videos in this channel. I feel ecstatic. Thank you

[CoolBlue]

The beginning music of a Ted-Ed video never fails to to excite my imagination. I don’t know a single theme on the planet that can inspire me to learn as much as that simple musical piece!