[Home]  [Headlines]  [Latest Articles]  [Latest Comments]  [Post]  [Mail]  [Sign-in]  [Setup]  [Help]  [Register] 

"Mamdani and the Democratic Schism"

"The 2nd Impeachment: Trump’s Popularity Still Scares Them to Death"

"President Badass"

"Jasmine Crockett's Train Wreck Interview Was a Disaster"

"How Israel Used Spies, Smuggled Drones and AI to Stun and Hobble Iran"

There hasn’T been ... a single updaTe To This siTe --- since I joined.

"This Is Not What Authoritarianism Looks Like"

America Erupts… ICE Raids Takeover The Streets

AC/DC- Riff Raff + Go Down [VH1 Uncut, July 5, 1996]

Why is Peter Schiff calling Bitcoin a ‘giant cult’ and how does this impact market sentiment?

Esso Your Butt Buddy Horseshit jacks off to that shit

"The Addled Activist Mind"

"Don’t Stop with Harvard"

"Does the Biden Cover-Up Have Two Layers?"

"Pete Rose, 'Shoeless' Joe Reinstated by MLB, Eligible for HOF"

"'Major Breakthrough': Here Are the Details on the China Trade Deal"

Freepers Still Love war

Parody ... Jump / Trump --- van Halen jump

"The Democrat Meltdown Continues"

"Yes, We Need Deportations Without Due Process"

"Trump's Tariff Play Smart, Strategic, Working"

"Leftists Make Desperate Attempt to Discredit Photo of Abrego Garcia's MS-13 Tattoos. Here Are Receipts"

"Trump Administration Freezes $2 Billion After Harvard Refuses to Meet Demands"on After Harvard Refuses to Meet Demands

"Doctors Committing Insurance Fraud to Conceal Trans Procedures, Texas Children’s Whistleblower Testifies"

"Left Using '8647' Symbol for Violence Against Trump, Musk"

KawasakiÂ’s new rideable robohorse is straight out of a sci-fi novel

"Trade should work for America, not rule it"

"The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court Race – What’s at Risk for the GOP"

"How Trump caught big-government fans in their own trap"

‘Are You Prepared for Violence?’

Greek Orthodox Archbishop gives President Trump a Cross, tells him "Make America Invincible"

"Trump signs executive order eliminating the Department of Education!!!"

"If AOC Is the Democratic Future, the Party Is Even Worse Off Than We Think"

"Ending EPA Overreach"

Closest Look Ever at How Pyramids Were Built

Moment the SpaceX crew Meets Stranded ISS Crew

The Exodus Pharaoh EXPLAINED!

Did the Israelites Really Cross the Red Sea? Stunning Evidence of the Location of Red Sea Crossing!

Are we experiencing a Triumph of Orthodoxy?

Judge Napolitano with Konstantin Malofeev (Moscow, Russia)

"Trump Administration Cancels Most USAID Programs, Folds Others into State Department"

Introducing Manus: The General AI Agent

"Chinese Spies in Our Military? Straight to Jail"

Any suggestion that the USA and NATO are "Helping" or have ever helped Ukraine needs to be shot down instantly

"Real problem with the Palestinians: Nobody wants them"

ACDC & The Rolling Stones - Rock Me Baby

Magnus Carlsen gives a London System lesson!

"The Democrats Are Suffering Through a Drought of Generational Talent"

7 Tactics Of The Enemy To Weaken Your Faith

Strange And Biblical Events Are Happening


Status: Not Logged In; Sign In

United States News
See other United States News Articles

Title: Can you really go blind by staring at the Sun?
Source: [None]
URL Source: http://www.sciencefocus.com/qa/can-you-really-go-blind-staring-sun
Published: Aug 21, 2017
Author: Steven A Collins
Post Date: 2017-08-21 10:54:04 by no gnu taxes
Keywords: None
Views: 7150
Comments: 21

It’s possible, but the hazard is often exaggerated. Even at midday, a normal eye will only let in enough light to heat the retina by about 4°C. You need at least 10°C to cause thermal damage. Looking at the Sun during an eclipse for more than a minute can cause damage, because your pupils are more dilated during this, but it doesn’t result in total blindness and isn’t usually permanent. If the Sun is within 10 minutes of setting below a sea-level horizon, the more dangerous short-wavelength light is absorbed by the atmosphere and it should be quite safe to look at the Sun.

Post Comment   Private Reply   Ignore Thread  


TopPage UpFull ThreadPage DownBottom/Latest

#1. To: no gnu taxes (#0)

18 seconds. If you look directly at the sun for more than 15 seconds, you will burn a permanent spot on your retina that will never heal. A GLANCE probably won't destroy your vision, but what is going on up there is fascinating, and draws you in, and you really LOOK - and then you're blind for life.

It isn't just during an eclipse. Stare at the sun on any day, and you'll burn your retinas blind. But who stares into the Sun? It's when there's an eclipse that the problem comes, because everybody wants to LOOK, and when looking, people are drawn to stare. And that will leave you blind.

Vicomte13  posted on  2017-08-21   11:02:08 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#2. To: no gnu taxes (#0)

Can you really go blind by staring at the Sun?

Try it and find out...

rlk  posted on  2017-08-21   11:03:41 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#3. To: Vicomte13 (#1)

That's an old wives' tale. How can something 93 million miles away hurt you?

misterwhite  posted on  2017-08-21   11:21:51 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#4. To: Vicomte13 (#1)

You overlook that significant damage can be caused by sunburn to the inner eye. And no pain receptors to warn you of the danger.

18 seconds. If you look directly at the sun for more than 15 seconds, you will burn a permanent spot on your retina that will never heal.

I do think this is a little overhyped.

Tooconservative  posted on  2017-08-21   11:51:24 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#5. To: no gnu taxes (#0)

Dunno 'bout that - but worse things can happen if the gods don't signal their appeasement by making the Sun go dark...

VxH  posted on  2017-08-21   12:39:32 ET  (1 image) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#6. To: Tooconservative (#4)

I do think this is a little overhyped.

Yes. A one second, two second glance isn't going to do anything. But 15-18 seconds will leave you with a blind spot for life. That's not a huge margin. I'll go out at the eclipse and glance at it when it happens, but that's just it - a glance - no staring at it.

Stare at the midday sun for more than a few seconds on any day and you will be blind for life.

Vicomte13  posted on  2017-08-21   12:50:25 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#7. To: Vicomte13 (#6)

You are cautious. I can't say overcautious because we shouldn't encourage anyone to ever stare directly at the sun. Nothing good can come from it.

Tooconservative  posted on  2017-08-21   14:27:33 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#8. To: Vicomte13 (#6)

No, I won't be staring at the sun. I see no useful purpose in it and it does nothing good for you. However....

................................

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=102708

I have done some research on this topic. From what I have found, no one has ever gone totally and permanently blind from looking at the Sun. Solar retinopathy (retinal damage from looking at the Sun) is, however, a complicated issue.

The damage comes mostly from ultraviolet light which can damage chemicals in your eye. Many people claim erroneously that infra-red can cook your eye, but this is almost certainly not true; IR light is not absorbed well by your eye. In general, your pupil constricts so rapidly that there isn't time to hurt your eye easily. Staring at the Sun can indeed damage your retina, but there are many cases of full recovery from people who have looked at the Sun for long periods of time. Interestingly, the pupil blocks just barely enough light (on average) to prevent damage; so in some of the population the pupil does not constrict enough. The lens also yellows with age, protecting older people more from the UV light. Therefore, children are more susceptible to damage than adults.

All in all, better safe than sorry; avoid staring at the Sun.

The reason solar eclipses are dangerous is because during totality the pupil dilates, letting in more light since the Sun is blocked. When the Moon slips off the Sun, even the thin sliver of solar surface can be enough to flood your retina with damaging photons, since the pupil is wide open.

A very interesting website with a lot of information has been put together by astronomer Andrew Young. He also puts to rest the legend that Galileo went blind by looking at the Sun; he has excellent counter-evidence for that.

no gnu taxes  posted on  2017-08-21   14:46:17 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#9. To: Tooconservative (#7)

we shouldn't encourage anyone to ever stare directly at the sun. Nothing good can come from it.

Willie Green  posted on  2017-08-21   15:08:28 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#10. To: Tooconservative (#7)

I went and looked at it directly. Only for a few seconds, enough to see. Pretty cool. My eyes weren't too dazzled.

Vicomte13  posted on  2017-08-21   15:48:27 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#11. To: Tooconservative (#7)

I can't say overcautious because we shouldn't encourage anyone to ever stare directly at the sun.

"If I look hard enough into the setting sun, My love will laugh with me until the morning comes." - Rolling Stones

Vicomte13  posted on  2017-08-21   15:52:27 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#12. To: Vicomte13, Blind Trumpkins (#11)

http://ijr.com/the-declaration/2017/08/953203-jeff-sessions-watching-solar-eclipse-pure-thing-internet/

And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head

Hondo68  posted on  2017-08-21   18:36:20 ET  (1 image) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#13. To: no gnu taxes (#0)

Can you really go blind by staring at the Sun?

You're confusing that with masturbation.

misterwhite  posted on  2017-08-21   18:59:35 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#14. To: VxH (#5)

A very good movie. As was the Passion of the Christ.

misterwhite  posted on  2017-08-21   19:02:01 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#15. To: misterwhite (#14)

Yeah. The "happy ending" was the arrival of the Spanish! Jeez Louise!

Vicomte13  posted on  2017-08-21   19:12:56 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#16. To: Vicomte13 (#15)

Yeah. The "happy ending" was the arrival of the Spanish! Jeez Louise!

Not sure if you're being sarcastic, but I'm sure the Spanish arriving at the end was not intended to be a happy ending. As per the movie title, it was more a revelation that the warring factions, while fighting amongst themselves, were oblivious to a greater threat that made their differences insignificant. It was an illustration of foolishness, and a message perhaps intended for the contemporary world.

Pinguinite  posted on  2017-08-22   2:24:32 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#17. To: Pinguinite (#16)

Not sure if you're being sarcastic,

Ironic.

Vicomte13  posted on  2017-08-22   8:21:37 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#18. To: hondo68, Vicomte13, misterwhite (#12)

HotAir:

Eclipse glasses are for cucks

To cleanse the palate. What was the one rule every eclipse-watcher knew by heart this morning? Right — don’t look directly at it without special filtered glasses. (Except during the 90 seconds or so of totality, when it’s fine.) Newspapers are littered with stories today about imbeciles who did that in previous eclipses, believing they were invincible, and ended up paying the price. Many more imbeciles did it today as well, of course, and are also paying the price. Word circulated this afternoon that the president himself would observe the eclipse today from the Truman balcony of the White House, which naturally kicked off a round of speculation. Was he, er, going to wear the glasses? Or would he go full Trump? Remember, he hates following conventional wisdom.

Trump critics imagined the fallout if he decided to “go commando,” as it were:
id say theres about a 50% chance this happens later pic.twitter.com/dQ1zqZWxqv

— leon (@leyawn) August 21, 2017

Preview of tonight’s Tucker Carlson pic.twitter.com/DawbInUrWl

— Jason O. Gilbert (@gilbertjasono) August 21, 2017

He did, in fact, wear the glasses as the sun passed over D.C. — for the most part. But some of the still photos taken while he was on the balcony caught him sneaking glimpses without the protective eyewear, producing unintentionally hilarious photos that make it look like Trump was staring right into the heart of doom despite the omnipresent warnings not to do that. CNN (who else?) has no fewer than three pictures of Trump looking right at it. There was no totality in Washington rendering it safe to look, either. The sun was 81 percent obscured, still plenty visible enough to cause damage.

This is the moment Trump became president:
Trump looked at the solar eclipse without glasses on https://t.co/hyfMou0Cve pic.twitter.com/zUQmpOaHG4

— Business Insider (@businessinsider) August 21, 2017

Is the president blind now? Nah. I think it’s just a case of the still photos being deceptive. He did sneak a few glimpses without the glasses, as you’ll see in this clip, but they were split-second peeks. The “Trump blinded himself by staring at the eclipse” story is, I dare say, fake news:
WATCH: President Trump took a few glances at the #SolarEclipse2017 after taking off his protective glasses pic.twitter.com/espSHwMGwq

— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 21, 2017

He’ll be okay. I … think.

But wait — who’s that guy standing off to the side on the balcony with him? Could it be…?
Most adorable eclipse photo goes to… Jeff Sessions pic.twitter.com/9w4GtWRfnV

— Joe Perticone (@JoePerticone) August 21, 2017

Jeff Sessions hanging out with Trump at the White House? When did that rift get healed? Is it an eclipse miracle or did John Kelly pull the president aside and explain that it’s really weird and unseemly for him to be feuding publicly with his own handpicked AG? Either way, the stars have aligned and nationalist America has witnessed a harmonic convergence between the president and his populist attorney general.

Update: This reads like a pitch-perfect parody of Jared and Ivanka constantly spinning themselves as the voice of reason inside the White House after Trump does something questionable, but it appears to be legit:
Per sources: Ivanka/Jared among those pushing Trump to keep protective glasses on during eclipse Monday, "disappointed" that he did not…

— Benjamin Landy (@Ben_Landy) August 21, 2017

Tooconservative  posted on  2017-08-23   7:31:34 ET  (1 image) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#19. To: Tooconservative (#18) (Edited)

He thinks that he's pointing out Kim Jong Un's kamikaze nuke coming in out of the sun.

See, I told you that fat kid was dangerous!

And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head

Hondo68  posted on  2017-08-23   8:53:46 ET  (2 images) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#20. To: hondo68 (#19)

You are good with the pictorial riposte, I have to admit.

Tooconservative  posted on  2017-08-23   11:52:16 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#21. To: Tooconservative (#7)

I can't say overcautious because we shouldn't encourage anyone to ever stare directly at the sun.

Vulcans can.

We hear about Trump's father but not his mother. I say she's Vulcan, which is why Trump can look directly at the sun.

misterwhite  posted on  2017-08-24   12:33:19 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


TopPage UpFull ThreadPage DownBottom/Latest

[Home]  [Headlines]  [Latest Articles]  [Latest Comments]  [Post]  [Mail]  [Sign-in]  [Setup]  [Help]  [Register] 

Please report web page problems, questions and comments to webmaster@libertysflame.com