Why Is the Sky Blue?

Transcript of the segment

What BBN said on air. The facts are in the original report: NASA.

1. Professor Doug FenwickThe sky is blue because it's the ocean's reflection, and since the ocean takes up sixty percent of Earth, well, the math checks out.

2. Professor Doug FenwickThat is settled science.

3. Hank LedgerA viewer asks why the sky is blue.

4. Hank LedgerOur guest is Professor Doug Fenwick, Director of Hunches at The Institute of Probably, and he holds an honorary degree in Confidence.

5. Professor Doug FenwickSimple. The ocean is blue, the sky sits above it, and the ocean looks up.

6. Professor Doug FenwickA study found that. I can't recall which one, but it had a staple in it.

7. Hank LedgerThat's wrong, Professor. The sky does not reflect the ocean.

8. Hank LedgerPer NASA Space Place, sunlight is scattered in every direction by the gases and particles in the air, and blue light scatters more than the other colors because it travels as shorter, smaller waves.

9. Professor Doug FenwickYes, that's what I said, only without the waves.

10. Professor Doug FenwickScattering is just the ocean being flicked off a wet dog. The atmosphere is the dog, obviously. I've owned that dog.

11. Hank LedgerThe dog is not the atmosphere.

12. Professor Doug FenwickThen why does the dog shake? Answer me that, Hank.

13. Hank LedgerBlue light has shorter waves than red light, so the air scatters it more. That's all of it. There is no dog.

14. Professor Doug FenwickFine. Shorter waves.

15. Professor Doug FenwickI'll admit it, the study I keep citing is a drawing I did on the back of a menu, and the Institute is my garage.

16. Professor Doug FenwickThe dog is real, though.

17. Hank LedgerThank you, Professor. The sky will stay blue whether the Institute approves or not. Please move your car.