Regina Barber

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I'm Regina Barber.

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You're listening to Shortwave from NPR. It's 1849. You're on a ship coasting through the middle of the ocean at night. It's calm, glassy waters and a clear sky full of stars. Then you see off the side of the boat a glow. Not from another ship or the night sky, but from the surface of the sea. It's coming from the water.

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR. It's 1849. You're on a ship coasting through the middle of the ocean at night. It's calm, glassy waters and a clear sky full of stars. Then you see off the side of the boat a glow. Not from another ship or the night sky, but from the surface of the sea. It's coming from the water.

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR. It's 1849. You're on a ship coasting through the middle of the ocean at night. It's calm, glassy waters and a clear sky full of stars. Then you see off the side of the boat a glow. Not from another ship or the night sky, but from the surface of the sea. It's coming from the water.

There's a miles-long swath of glimmering milky water.

There's a miles-long swath of glimmering milky water.

There's a miles-long swath of glimmering milky water.

This is just one of many written accounts of Milky Seas that goes back 400 years, according to Justin Hudson, an atmospheric science researcher at Colorado State University. He compiled a database of recent satellite images and all the reports of Milky Seas he could find from over the years as part of his PhD thesis.

This is just one of many written accounts of Milky Seas that goes back 400 years, according to Justin Hudson, an atmospheric science researcher at Colorado State University. He compiled a database of recent satellite images and all the reports of Milky Seas he could find from over the years as part of his PhD thesis.

This is just one of many written accounts of Milky Seas that goes back 400 years, according to Justin Hudson, an atmospheric science researcher at Colorado State University. He compiled a database of recent satellite images and all the reports of Milky Seas he could find from over the years as part of his PhD thesis.

Justin's research advisor, Stephen Miller, says it wasn't until about 100 years ago that tales of glowing seas began to be taken more seriously.

Justin's research advisor, Stephen Miller, says it wasn't until about 100 years ago that tales of glowing seas began to be taken more seriously.

Justin's research advisor, Stephen Miller, says it wasn't until about 100 years ago that tales of glowing seas began to be taken more seriously.

One group definitely not spinning a tall tale, the lone research vessel that accidentally wandered into a milky sea and took the only scientific sample in 1985.

One group definitely not spinning a tall tale, the lone research vessel that accidentally wandered into a milky sea and took the only scientific sample in 1985.

One group definitely not spinning a tall tale, the lone research vessel that accidentally wandered into a milky sea and took the only scientific sample in 1985.

So today on the show, maritime lore deconstructed. How a database of sailor stories and satellite images could help scientists better understand an enduring mystery of the sea. I'm Regina Barber. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.