Why is the sky blue?

What BBN said about it

1. BQ

   Barry QuillThe sky is blue because the ocean leans up and rubs off on it. That's settled, buddy, about a thousand years settled.

2. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA viewer wants to know why the sky is blue.

3. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorOur guest is Barry Quill of The Quill Center for Things Your Dad Says, who has explained things at four hundred barbecues.

4. BQ

   Barry QuillGreat question. I knew a guy, Dennis, who painted his fence the color of a swimming pool, and the neighbors' lawn turned blue by Thursday.

5. BQ

   Barry QuillSame thing up there. The ocean is about a thousand miles of blue, and it reflects.

6. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat's wrong.

7. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe sky does not reflect the ocean. Per NASA Space Place, sunlight is scattered in every direction by the gases and particles in the air, and blue light scatters more because it travels as shorter, smaller waves.

8. BQ

   Barry QuillSee, that's what I said, only with extra steps. Scattering. Like when Gary flipped the burgers and the whole patio got it.

9. BQ

   Barry QuillIt's just science, buddy. The ocean scatters too, and it starts the whole thing.

10. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe ocean does not start it.

11. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBlue light scatters more than the other colors, so that is the color that reaches your eyes from every direction overhead.

12. BQ

    Barry QuillHuh. Okay. I'll be honest, I've never actually seen the sky from outside my garage.

13. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorOutside your garage.

14. BQ

    Barry QuillThe ceiling's a blue tarp, Hank. Twenty-two years. I figured that was the sky and the rest was rumor.

15. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe real one is the same color and it's free. Barry Quill, thank you. Please put the tongs down and go look up.