The World in UV
The world looks very different when viewed through an ultraviolet (UV) camera compared to how we see it with our eyes. Many things that are transparent in visible light, like certain glasses, appear dark in UV. Conversely, some dark objects in visible light, like a UV pass filter, can appear transparent in UV. Tonic water glows under UV light because it contains quinine, a molecule that absorbs UV light and re-emits it as visible light. Laundry detergents also contain similar molecules to make clothes appear brighter. Flowers often have patterns visible only in UV light, which helps bees and other insects find them. Human skin looks darker in UV because melanin, which protects against UV damage, absorbs UV light very well. Animals like harp seal pups and polar bears, which are camouflaged in snow in visible light, appear dark in UV, helping researchers count them. The hazy appearance of the sky in UV is due to Rayleigh scattering, the same effect that makes the sky blue, but it is much stronger for UV light.
Key Vocabulary
Having an unpleasant odor.
Examples:
- After a long hike, his socks were quite smelly.
- The old refrigerator contained some smelly food that needed to be thrown out.
- She noticed a distinctly smelly odor coming from the drain.
A dark brown or black pigment occurring in the hair, skin, and iris of the eye in people and animals. It is responsible for tanning of skin exposed to sunlight.
Examples:
- Individuals with more melanin in their skin are generally better protected from sun damage.
- The amount of melanin determines the color of a person's hair and eyes.
- Sun exposure stimulates the production of melanin, leading to a darker skin tone.
Having the property of absorbing light of short wavelength and emitting light of a longer wavelength, so that the emitted light is visible.
Examples:
- The artist used fluorescent paints that glowed under a black light.
- Many safety vests are made with fluorescent materials to increase visibility at night.
- The shop window displayed a range of fluorescent colors that caught the eye.
A shortened, informal term for 'business'.
Examples:
- She's trying to get into the tech biz.
- He always keeps his personal life separate from his biz.
- The new startup is focused on the food delivery biz.
A bitter crystalline alkaloid present in cinchona bark, used as a tonic and formerly as an antimalarial drug.
Examples:
- Tonic water gets its distinctive bitter taste from quinine.
- Historically, quinine was a crucial medicine in tropical regions.
- Some people find the taste of quinine too strong for their liking.
A verb form of 'fluoresce,' meaning to emit light by fluorescence.
Examples:
- Certain minerals will flores when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
- The special ink used on the document will flores under a UV lamp.
- The chemical compound was designed to flores brightly in the presence of certain ions.
A slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine suspended particles.
Examples:
- A thick haze hung over the city, reducing visibility.
- The morning sun struggled to penetrate the atmospheric haze.
- From the mountaintop, they could see a faint haze on the horizon.
A particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation. A photon has no mass or electric charge and travels at the speed of light.
Examples:
- When light hits a solar panel, photons are converted into electrical energy.
- A single photon can carry a small amount of energy.
- The interaction of a photon with an atom can cause an electron to jump to a higher energy level.
The disguising of military personnel, equipment, and installations by painting or covering them to make them blend in with their surroundings; also, the natural coloring or form of an animal that enables it to blend in with its surroundings.
Examples:
- The chameleon's camouflage allowed it to disappear against the tree bark.
- Soldiers wore camouflage uniforms to remain undetected in the forest.
- The effective camouflage of the snow leopard makes it difficult to spot in its natural habitat.
Without defense; vulnerable to attack.
Examples:
- The lost puppy looked small and defenseless on the busy street.
- Without proper training, the new recruits felt defenseless against the challenges ahead.
- The castle walls protected the inhabitants, leaving them less defenseless during a siege.
The young of certain animals, especially seals, dogs, and wolves.
Examples:
- The mother seal carefully watched over her pups on the ice.
- A litter of playful pups tumbled out of the doghouse.
- The wolf pups were learning to hunt from their parents.
A cream or lotion rubbed on the skin to protect it from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
Examples:
- Always apply sunscreen before going out in direct sunlight.
- She chose a high SPF sunscreen for her vacation at the beach.
- Many daily moisturizers now include a small amount of sunscreen.
A water-soluble cleansing agent that combines with impurities and helps wash them away.
Examples:
- She added a capful of laundry detergent to the washing machine.
- Dishwashing detergent effectively cuts through grease and food residue.
- The new detergent promised to make whites even brighter.
In physics, to raise (an atom, molecule, or electron) to a higher energy level.
Examples:
- When an electron absorbs a photon, it excites to a higher orbital.
- The laser light excites the atoms, causing them to emit light.
- Heating the gas sample excites its molecules, increasing their kinetic energy.
In a way that is opposite in effect, nature, or relation.
Examples:
- The amount of time spent studying is often inversely proportional to the number of distractions.
- The strength of a signal varies inversely with the square of the distance from the source.
- His productivity seemed to be inversely related to the number of meetings he attended.
Abbreviation for ultraviolet, referring to electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light but longer than X-rays.
Examples:
- Exposure to excessive UV radiation can be harmful to the skin.
- Many sunglasses offer protection against UV rays.
- Special lamps emit UV light for sterilizing surfaces.
In this context, referring to a harp seal, a species of seal found in the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans.
Examples:
- Research teams track harp seal populations to monitor their health.
- The harp seal is known for its distinctive markings as an adult.
- Harp seals migrate long distances to their breeding grounds.
Obscured or made less clear by haze; vague or indistinct.
Examples:
- The distant mountains appeared hazy through the morning mist.
- Her memories of the event were somewhat hazy after so many years.
- The photograph came out a bit hazy due to the low light conditions.
Cleverly and originally devised and suited for its purpose.
Examples:
- The engineer came up with an ingenious solution to the complex problem.
- It was an ingenious plan that saved them a lot of time and effort.
- The artist's ingenious use of everyday objects transformed the sculpture.
Relating to the interrelation of electric and magnetic fields.
Examples:
- Radio waves are a form of electromagnetic radiation.
- The electromagnetic spectrum includes visible light, X-rays, and microwaves.
- An electromagnetic pulse can disrupt electronic devices.