03/09/2025
Earth has a heartbeat
This video visualizes the pulse of photosynthesis on a planetary scale, using real satellite data. The red waves represent fluctuations in sun-induced fluorescence (SIF) — a faint glow that living plants emit as they convert sunlight into energy. This subtle light reveals how active vegetation is in absorbing carbon dioxide (COz). By combining SIF data with other indicators — like the greenness index, which tracks chlorophyll by measuring how leaves reflect near-infrared light — scientists can monitor the planet’s biological rhythms in real time. It’s as if Earth is “breathing”: taking in carbon during the day through photosynthesis, and releasing it back at night or in less active seasons. This incredible footage is from the YOU:MATTER exhibit at the Bradford 2025 United Kingdom City of Culture event, sponsored by the National Science and Media Museum and produced by . It invites us to experience how life on Earth is interconnected — and how that vital network becomes visible from space. On view until February 2026. Via space.for.earth (Educational use - message for credit/removal.) Text and video edit astronauticspage
