MIRAGES

Mirage

We generally hear interesting stories about weary travelers trudging across a seemingly never-ending expanse of desert to what they think is a lush oasis or people traveling on a hot afternoon notice a puddle of water which melts into thin air when approached. This optical phenomenon is known as mirage. The term mirage originates via the French word ‘mirage’ which originates from the Latin mirari, which means ‘to look at, to wonder at’.

Fata Morgana

A mirage is generated by two layers of air at different temperatures. Since cold air is denser than hot air, the boundary between the layers can refract (bend) light, especially if the light hits the boundary at an extreme angle. This effect can be commonly seen on asphalt roads during the summer. The black color of the road gets the air above it hot very quickly, creating a sharp temperature gradient in the air – the first ingredient of a good mirage. This is often referred to as a highway mirage.

Inferior Mirage

Mirages can be categorized as “inferior” (meaning lower), “superior” (meaning higher) and “Fata Morgana”, one kind of superior mirage which appears above the water. The phrase comes from the Italian version of the name of the sorceress Morgan Le Fay.   An inferior mirage is called ‘inferior’ because the mirage is located under the real object. Inferior images are not stable. Hot air rises, and cooler air being denser descends, so when the layers mix, it gives rise to turbulence. A superior mirage occurs when the air above the line of sight is colder than the air above it. Superior mirages are in general less common than inferior mirages, but when they do occur, they tend to be more stable. These mirages are quite common in Polar Regions, especially over large sheets of ice with a uniform low temperature.

Superior Mirage

Researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas have created a working cloaking device which has the ability to make objects disappear. The novel design makes use of sheets of carbon nanotubes (CNT) which has unique properties to conduct heat and transfer it to surrounding areas that makes it an ideal material to exploit the so-called “mirage-effect”. Just like a mirage, this steep temperature gradient causes the light rays to bend away from the object concealed behind the device, making it appear invisible. The research results also provide useful insights into the optimization of nanotube sheets as thermo-acoustic projectors for loud speaker and sonar applications, where sound is produced by heating using an alternating electrical current.

The optical phenomenon of a mirage of an astronomical object is most commonly observed for objects like the Sun, Moon, the planets, the bright stars and very bright comets in which light rays are bent to produce distorted or multiple images. The most commonly observed are sunrise and sunset mirages.

Desert Mirage

For those who have never spotted a mirage, there is no need to trek to the desert to see a mirage: they are very common on roads. The most spectacular mirages occur in wide expanses of flat land as too many hills, dips or bumps will prevent the refracted light from reaching your eyes.

Bright and Beautiful

“Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”
― Albert Einstein

Fireflies in the jar

Ever enjoyed the beauty of the marvel of many fireflies glowing in the dark? Thought how the small flies manage to do it? The credit for that goes to Bioluminescence.

The term bioluminescence originates from the Greek term bios which means living and the Latin term lumen meaning light. The phenomenon of production of light by any living organism by means of the energy produced from a naturally occurring chemical reaction is known as bioluminescence. Creatures like fireflies and anglerfish, couple of those who can produce light, produce the chemical luciferin (which is a pigment) and luciferase (an enzyme). The light generated is a result of the reaction between luciferin and oxygen. Luciferase acts as the catalyst in the reaction & hastens the process.

The spectacle of bioluminescence is most prevalent in the marine world wherein almost 90 per cent of deep-sea marine creatures are estimated to be capable of bioluminescence in one form or another. Different marine beings emit varied colours of light like blue, green, red, infrared and yellow.

Glowing fireflies squid

Many long-time sailors have often noticed dazzling display of green light beneath the surface of oceans in tropical seas. Researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego had attributed the beautiful green glow to bioluminescent worms with biological mechanisms which produce the light.

Scientists however, have found a way to make full use of the natural light produced by fireflies. Scientists from Syracuse University have come up with a way to do so using bioluminescence by employing Nano science. After researching, the group of scientists stated that the light emitted by fireflies is one of the best examples of bioluminescence and the light is very bright and powerful. Their work entitled “Designing Quantum Rods for Optimized Energy Transfer with Fireflies Luciferase Enzymes” was published online in May 2012. In the research laboratory, the enzyme luciferase was attached to a Nano rod’s surface and luciferin was added later. Luciferin acted as the fuel and the energy released was transferred to the nanorods, making them glow. The process employed was called Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET). So, one day in the near future, we may gain access to a range of lights which would not require electricity or batteries.

Biolluminiscence

The purpose of bioluminescence however is not simply generating beautiful glow and light. Other than its beauty, bioluminescence helps creatures to camouflage, lure and attract preys, defend themselves against predators, attract mates, repel potential predators and even communicate.

We human beings have had to search endlessly for different sources of light to dispel darkness. But other creatures have been lucky. Thanks to the marvel of bioluminescence, they can carry light in their own bodies.

USEFUL WASTE

We live in our own worlds of excess. We waste food and many other essentials without thinking that it can be utilised in many different ways, let alone feeding or helping the millions who are not as privileged as we are. In our quest of becoming more and more civilised, we tend to waste more, and, in the process, waste management becomes a major pain-point.

To deal with this issue in an efficient way, a mechanical engineer and an environmental professional from Pune developed a technology to treat bio-waste with the help of castor oil cakes. Their waste disposal method can treat 5 tonnes of hotel waste on a daily basis to generate electricity through an eco-friendly biogas plant. The cakes have to be crushed and put in a digester to give volatile solids, which in turn can be used as biogas. 400 cubic meters of gas can be generated through one plant, which is equivalent to 230 litres of diesel or 200 kg of LPG. Five tonnes of food waste can yield 350 cubic metres of biogas daily.

Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC)

In the poorest, darkest and most remote parts of Panama, ‘Light From Below’ came up with a design for an easy-to-build lamp powered by electricity generated from mud. Azoarcus, Azospirillum, and Geobacteraceae, some of the most electrochemically active bacteria populations are present in soil, mud and decomposed organic material. The technology used was earth energy, a way of producing electrical energy from the change in the rate of chemical reactions produced by micro-organisms, with the help of a microbial fuel cell (MFC). A recent experiment by a group of Harvard students showed that the most recent MFC produces enough electricity to power a small LED bulb for up to a year.

Solar Bottle Bulb

Necessity, most certainly, is the mother of invention, for the invention of the simple solar bottle bulb in Brazil was purely out of sheer need. In 2002, Alfredo Moser, a mechanic from Sao Paulo, came up with a solar bottle bulb to combat rampant power outages. He had a workshop and the frequent outages would lead to unwanted and prolonged disruption of work as the crammed spaces would not allow any light to enter the rooms even during daytime. The idea was very simple – to fill a one litre plastic bottle with water and bleach, cap it and seal it, and the bub is ready. If the bottle if let down from an aperture on the roof during daytime, the water inside would disperse and refract sunlight and the light produced will be same as that of a 50W bulb. With time, the bulb has found major acceptance in places like Manila (slum areas) and Philippines (low-income groups).

Lights made out of egg carton

More often than not, we feel that there are too many things at home which are only taking up space. But we can use some of that stuff too and transform them into a source of light. For example, a simple egg carton can be made into a beautiful lighting system! Here’s how. Divide the cones of the egg carton and cut it into four strips. They would be the petals. Use acrylic colours of your choice and paint them. Repeat it for three cones and insert them into each other and stick them with some glue. The inner most carton doesn’t need strips. Finally, make an opening passing through all three cones and insert light wires and bulbs. It is ready!

Innovative lights out of waste

The next time when we want to throw
stuff away, let us all take some time and think if it can be put to some good use or not. Obviously, everything cannot be used; but simple things can help create extraordinary products. All we need to do is waste a little more carefully for waste too can be useful.

Igniting Innovations

 Light, on earth, is synonymous with Life. Light is the source of all activities and the epicentre of the force of life. Hence we humans have tried to innovate ways of getting light even after the sun goes down. 

 Thomas Alva Edison 

Since the invention of the light bulb by Thomas Alva Edison 1880, we have tried to re-invent and modernize it to fit necessity and demand. Today electric lights have become an essential part of life.

  

  The three-dimensional and spiral CFL, called helical, was invented by Edward Hammer in 1976, in response to the 1973 oil crisis. The lamps were sold only in 1995 when China started producing them commercially.

Nick Holonyak, Jr

However, the LEDs are being deemed as the next big thing. Nick Holonyak, Jr., also known as the ‘father of the light-emitting diode’, invented the first practically useful visible LED in 1962 while working as a consulting scientist New York. 

    In May 2008, the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize competition. On September 24, 2009, Philips Lighting North America submitted their product, and, on August 3, 2011, Philips was awarded in the category to replace the 60W A-19 Edison screw-fixture light bulb. The 10W, 900-lumen Philips bulb has been made available to consumers since April 2012.

SOCCKET

   Attempting to make something eco-friendly and cost-effective, in 2008, two Harvard graduates, Jessica O. Matthews and Julia Silverman, created something which they named the ‘SOCCKET’, a soccer ball that doubles as a generator. After finishing a game, a single-bulb LED lamp can be plugged into the ball to provide hours of light.

Solar Water Bulb

  To combat major power outages which were taking place in Brazil in 2002, Alfredo Moser, a mechanic from Sao Paulo, created the ‘Solar Water Bulb’. Simply fill a one litre plastic bottle with water and bleach, cap it and seal it; a water bulb is ready. The water inside the bottle disperses and refracts sunlight and is equivalent to a 50W bulb.

  

  In 2006, a bunch of first-semester students at Cooper Union in New York, created a lamp from local products (like hair relaxer tub, an orange drink container and three bicycle spokes) at less than $10. The lamp could go on for two days without recharging. The project gradually took the form of a campaigning organisation called ‘SociaLite’. Today, SociaLite has evolved into a solar-powered lighting project designed to meet the specific needs of the extreme poor.

    Nonetheless, even today, more than a billion people around the world have no access to electricity. Faced by challenges like high cost and sustainability, providing for lighting for all is a major task. The answer may however lie in local solutions and initiatives like ‘Lighting A Billion Lives’ by The Energy And Resources Institute.

The Lights of Life

“No one lights a lamp in order to hide it behind the door; the purpose of light is to create more light, to open people's eyes, to reveal the marvels around.” ― Paulo Coelho

A metaphor to the victory of ‘good’ over evil, the power of lights is undeniable. From the light of the sun to mark the beginning of a new day, to our inner radiance which guides us; lights are an integral part of our existence. Celebrating the spirit of liberation, here’s a peek into some of the popular festivals across the world where lights carry significance.

St. Lucia’s Day –

Sweden, Italy, Croatia, Scandinavia, and France celebrate St. Lucia’s Day on December 13 every year. Marking the beginning of Christmas, this festival begins before dawn wherein the eldest daughter in each household leads her siblings into songs. They hold candles and sing about the light and joys of Christmas. Their songs are meant to awaken their parents and the entire family who then has breakfast together. It is a way of welcoming the season of Christmas with lights and warmth.

Lunar New Year –

Different cultures have different interpretations of how to celebrate a festival of Lights. The Lunar New Year or the Chinese New Year is another festival of lights. Every year, at the first new moon in Aquarius, people living in Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and China celebrate their new year with fireworks, lanterns and gifts.

Hanukkah –

Popularized over the decades and most recently in the reruns of the popular sitcom ‘Friends’, the Jewish festival of Hanukkah goes on for eight days. Candles are lit every day and children receive new gifts on each of these eight days. The lighting of candles also symbolises knowledge and wisdom.

Christmas –

Christmas is one of the most famous festivals celebrated all over the world. Lights, star shaped lanterns, gifts, Santa Claus, candles – it is a festival of joy. Different countries celebrate Christmas differently though.

In Egypt, it is celebrated on January 6 and 7. Churches there are decorated with special lamps and people indulge in prayers, feasts and happiness.

In Philippines, 'parols' or star lanterns are displayed from nine days before Christmas. People decorate their homes with varying sizes of parols.

In China, people put up paper lanterns in their homes. They also decorate Christmas trees with paper chains, flowers and lanterns.

In Mexico, families go around from house to house with candles looking for a room in an inn. They start this tradition nine days prior to the day of Christmas in an attempt to replicate or enact Joseph and Mary’s search in Jerusalem. The procession is called Posada.

In Australia, houses are decorated in advance. Greeting cards are sent out, carols are sung and candles are lit.

Undoubtedly, the American Christmas has become the most popular. Lights, candles, carols, fireworks and feasts – Christmas in America is incomplete without all these things.

New Year – Brazil

Brazilians celebrate December 31 in their own special way. On the eve of the New Year, people in Rio de Janeiro go to the beach at midnight to offer their prayers to Lemanja, the African goddess of water. Hundreds of candles are lit on the sand and white flowers are offered to the sea as a gift to the goddess.

Kwanzaa, in the United States, is a week-long celebration to honour African harvest traditions. It is observed from December 26 to January 1 every year. Seven candles are lit each night for all seven days of the festival. The candles represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa which are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

Diwali –

Last but not the least; we have our very own festival of lights, Diwali or Deepavali is one of the most popular and the most awaited festivals in India. Diwali marks the home coming of ‘Lord Ram’ after his 14 year exile and is a symbol of hope and all that is good. This festival brings people together as it dispels darkness around. Deepavali actually means row of lamps in Sanskrit and the sight of tiny clay lamps or diyas lined up in all homes and shops is a picturesque sight. These diyas are illuminated throughout the night as part of Hindu tradition. Although now fast being replaced by colourful electric bulbs, the sheer brightness only adds fervour to the festive season.

Festival times may differ. Continents may be far. It is this visual language of light that binds us as one.