The Scientific Secrets Behind Rainbows (SciFri Live Zoom Call-in)

What’s the physics and science behind rainbows? We asked atmospheric scientist Steven Businger about everything from double rainbows to white rainbows.
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Because of the pandemic, our show is currently pre-recorded, so the #SciFri​ team have not able to take our audience's calls. We miss having listeners' voices on our radio program. We still want to hear from folks on our VoxPop app, but we're also experimenting with something new—we’re inviting our listeners to join us live for select recordings for #ScienceFriday​ on the radio!

The event was recorded on Tuesday, March 1, 2021. The segment airs on the radio and our podcast on Friday, March 19, 2021.

[SkyHikerMike]

Rainbows are amazing! Thanks you for this!

[bjornolson]

This particularly visual topic truly demands more video and images, instead of a link to a webpage. Radio/podcast/youtube.

[SuperSpecialty]

Wonder if anyone else experienced a similar situation re: saltwater rainbow discs? I was paddling out through the breaking surf (wind blowing off-shore) & as I popped through a cresting wave, I sat up on the back of the wave in a mist of saltwater with several 5” diameter round rainbow discs in front of me. It was one of many “auwe” moments on Oahu, Hawaii (specifically Kupikipikui, the most southern tip of Oahu i.e. Black Point (Kaiko’o Drv).

P.S. wish I could share the many “auwe” moments of Hawai’i, that I was blessed to witness?