Ever since the outbreak of the recent coronavirus pandemic, and the consequent global lockdown in 2020 and 2021, we have observed an extraordinary surge in our backyard wildlife; be that birds, bees, butterflies or other insects. ​

​Although at first glance it may appear that these matters are not linked, this significant increase in wildlife can be attributed to mankind’s inactivity during those months of isolation.​

​Studies have already shown that improved air quality, the outcome of reduced NO2 and carbon emission due to restricted industrial and vehicular activity, as well as less noise pollution from traffic, has altered the typical migratory patterns of some birds, so that they are willing to remain in certain areas for longer. Man’s reduced maintenance of industrial areas in the form of grass and hedge clipping and herbicide spraying has provided many habitats for wildlife, including shelter for insect larvae, such as caterpillars. The abundance of wildflowers has especially benefitted pollinating insects like butterflies, providing them with ample food sources and refuge. This coupled with the improved atmospheric conditions has positively influenced the butterflies’ environment, to such an extent that they are noticeably thriving.

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Then these light waves are reflected away from the car by mirrors. Different semiconductor materials can be used to create different colours of light. For example red light can be created by using Aluminium Gallium Arsenide as the semiconductor material and white light is created by mixing all wavelengths together. ​

​The movement of light can be tracked by using a slow shutter speed which creates the light trail effect. I used the effect to show the movement of car lights and the colours of the trails show which direction they are moving, red lights are moving away while the white lights are moving closer. Red is used for the taillights as we associate red with stop and white is used for the headlights as it is the brightest colour.

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While paddleboarding with my sister (there was no way we were swimming in this jelly invasion), I trailed my GoPro through the water, hoping to snap some shots of these strange beauties.  ​

​These sea creatures have long been roaming the vast oceans of the world, with most able to survive in hot and low oxygenated conditions, especially with temperatures rising. They seem to drift along with a slightly alien aesthetic, and no awareness. Or so I thought…. Although they are often viewed as the villains of the sea, ill-reputed for their savage sting, it transpires that these sea jellies have many merits. They are a great source of food for sea turtles and play a major role in the protection and habitat for thriving young fish, according to scientists at Queen’s University, Belfast. Furthermore, jellyfish (which aren’t actually fish) and others alike, absorb and transfer a significant amount of carbon to the depths of the sea; a positive contributor to ocean carbon cycling within our ecosystem. This helps tiny marine plants like phytoplankton to grow, enhances biodiversity and contributes to medical advances.​

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 The light is produced from a single source underneath the wine glass, as it makes its way up and into the water it refracts and reflects off the marbles in the water producing the reflections you can see on the top and sides of the water. The wine glass itself with the water acts as a lens magnifying the marbles and making them look distorted. The wine glass also disperses and refracts the light as it enters from the base. ​

Understandably, the local energy lost to rainfall is closely tied to the amount of precipitation that the area receives. The atmosphere is considered a huge heat engine that drives a wind and water cycle. The Sun heats up the Earth’s surface, creating temperatures averaging around 288 Kelvin. Then the atmosphere raises the water vapour towards the cooler side (15km upwards). 

The rising water vapour then cools, condenses, and falls on earth as water or ice. If the atmosphere didn’t slow the rain, it would come down at speeds reaching a few hundred kilometres per hour. You wouldn’t want to take out your umbrella on a day like that! Fortunately, this energy is dissipated in micro-turbulence around the droplets, keeping their speed at only a few kilometres per hour. The size of the water droplets informs us of their maximum free-fall speed, which consequently gives the drag force required to maintain that speed. 

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This pole energy is then transformed into gravitational potential energy as the pole straightens itself out and the vaulter reaches the top of the vault. Some energy can be lost when the pole hits the box, but this energy loss is minimised by using correct technique at take-off in keeping both arms straight in order to maximise the bend in the pole.​

In mathematical terms, we must equate the kinetic energy of the vaulter to the gravitational potential energy corresponding to the point of maximum height. ​

At the top of the vault, the vaulter bends their body over the bar. Which enables them in fact to clear a bar that is placed higher than their maximum height reached by their center of mass.

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This photograph, of the River Bandon in Kinsale, demonstrates reflection in all its glorious technicolour.​

Rays of light that strike a surface are reflected in a very predictable manner that follow the Law of Reflection. This Law states that the angle of an incident ray to an imaginary normal to the surface, is equal to the angle of the reflected ray to the same normal.​

Light rays reflected diffusely from the irregular surfaces of the riverbank, buoy and boat enter the observer’s eyes enabling them to be perceived visually.​

At the same time, the still surface of the Bandon River acts as a horizontal planar mirror that is able to reflect the rays that have previously been reflected from structures on the riverbank.​

The calm water of The Bandon on this glorious August day, has resulted in the regular or specular reflection of incident rays on its surface. This has in turn produced a concentrated beam of parallel reflected rays that enter the eye of the observer on the opposite bank and form a crisp inverted image of the idyllic scene.​

Double reflection may cause deception, but you have to agree reflection is spec(tac)ular!

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Dogs eyes function much like our own eye. The eye is an example of an advanced receptor, containing a number of cell types sensitive to light. The iris controls how much light enters the eye. If a bright light is entering the eye the iris closes the pupil to let in less light, if there is a dim light the iris opens the pupil to let in more light. Light is focused onto the retina by changing the shape of the lens allowing both near and far objects to be seen clearly. ​

I also find it interesting that the eye has some natural barriers to prevent the entry of pathogens into the body. The eyelashes prevent the entry of dust or airborne microorganisms but if they make it past into the eye they will be washed away by the tears which contain a anti-bacterial enzyme called lysozyme which can digest bacteria cell walls. ​

The light emitted from the Sun takes 499 seconds to reach us, as it travels through the vacuum of space at 3x10⁸msˉ¹. What I witnessed was actually delayed by just over 8 minutes, in the same way the Moon's silvery glow is late by 1.3 seconds.​

​Visible light to the human eye, exists in a range of wavelengths, from red at 700nm to violet at 400nm, explaining the pinkish-red circumference and yellow arc. Some of these other colours, however, are also due to light's refraction as it passes through the varying air particles. Certain elements and compounds making up Earth's atmosphere will absorb shades of light from our visible spectrum, and refract others; the shades we can see as white and pink. Such particles would include Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Neon, Helium, Methane and Water Vapour.​

​The Sun does also emit Ultraviolet light, with a wavelength around 10ˉ⁸m, impossible for humans to observe. Nevertheless, we require small amounts of UV rays to stay alive, as Vitamin D is produced to allow the assimilation of Calcium from food. However, too high levels of UV light can damage the eyes and cause skin cancer. Such beauty and such danger, in the one ball of fiery gas, that provides light and warmth to Earth. I can appreciate some of the Sun's importance with my knowledge of science, but so much more is to be discovered.

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The role of the film was in aerial reconnaissance as the infrared light reflected by foliage would render as a vibrant red or magenta whereas the buildings and other man-made structures would not and would render with normal colours. ​

​Unfortunately, this film was discontinued in 2009, this image is only a digital approximation to what the film would render. 

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This keeps the tyres in contact with the ground to enhance grip without transmitting the bumps through to the chassis or rider. Also, if you apply the brakes to go into a corner, the movement isn’t sharp or blunt, it’s more flowing. This is because suspension provides damping to control the rate of load transfer and it prevents the tyre from being overloaded. The importance of suspension cannot be overlooked, especially when dealing with motorcycles. 

The basis of a shock absorber can be broken down to the spring and the compression/rebound damping. There is no set spring rate for all bikes, it is variable and can be changed to suit the riders body weight. In my photo, the shock contains a R10190 spring with a spring rate of 87.5 N/mm. Similarly, the compression and rebound are variable and are altered to suit the rider but also to suit the track the rider is racing on. 

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