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From the Sun to the human brain: What do scientists discover during eclipses?

2026-08-11 09:33:16Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
The sky will darken on August 12, scientists are ready for a rare experiment

Pauline Roquette - France 24 / Eclipses show how humanity's relationship with knowledge has changed.

In ancient times, the sudden darkening of the Sun was seen as a bad omen and caused fear. Today, eclipses have become an important opportunity for scientists to study the Sun, the Earth, animals, and even human reactions.

One of the earliest evidences of the observation of an eclipse is a clay tablet discovered in the city of Ugarit, in present-day Syria, dating to around 1223 BC.

In ancient civilizations, the disappearance of the Sun in the middle of the day caused astonishment and fear. In ancient China, it was believed that a dragon was eating the Sun because of people's bad behavior. Residents beat drums to scare the dragon away and restore the light.

The Incas in South America also saw eclipses as a sign of the Sun god's anger. Leaders tried to understand the cause and appease him through rituals and sacrifices.

A solar eclipse of 648 BC, seen over the Greek island of Paros, also inspired the poet Archilochus, who described the midday darkening as an event that showed that anything was possible.

But beyond myths and beliefs, eclipses helped people better understand the movement of celestial bodies.

Over the centuries, the scientific role of eclipses became increasingly important. In 1868, during an eclipse, scientists discovered helium in the Sun's spectrum, before the element had been identified on Earth.

Another important moment was the eclipse of May 29, 1919. Observations made from Brazil to East Africa helped confirm Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity by measuring the deflection of starlight by the Sun's gravity.

Today, even though satellites constantly observe the Sun, eclipses continue to be valuable to scientists. They create rare conditions that cannot be easily replicated with artificial equipment.

From the Sun to the human brain: What do scientists discover during eclipses?

What do scientists study during an eclipse?

One of the main objectives is to study the solar corona, the outer layer of the Sun's atmosphere.

Scientists use devices called coronagraphs, which create a kind of artificial eclipse by covering the central part of the Sun. However, according to astrophysicists, the Moon remains much more effective at covering the solar disk.

This is important because the Sun's activity affects the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere, as well as conditions that affect satellites, astronauts, and air travel.

One of the mysteries that scientists are trying to solve is the very high temperature of the solar corona. It reaches about 1.5 million Kelvin, while the surface of the Sun has a temperature of about 5,800 Kelvin.

Studying these phenomena can also help to better understand other stars and planetary systems outside the Solar System.

Scientists will also study animals

Eclipses aren't just of interest to astronomers. Biologists also use these rare events to study how animals react to sudden changes in light.

A group of Spanish researchers has asked 300 volunteers to participate in an experiment that will analyze the reaction of animals before, during and after the eclipse.

The project will use voice recorders to compare the sounds and behavior of animals in these three phases. Special attention will be paid to birds and bats.

Researchers suspect that bats may confuse the darkness of the eclipse with the arrival of night and begin activity earlier than usual.

Previous observations have shown that during eclipses, bees quickly return to their hives, primates gather and react to the sky, while diurnal birds fall silent and some nocturnal animals become active.

Elephants, lions and bears will also be observed during the eclipse in several zoos in Spain.

How does an eclipse affect people?

Scientists have also begun to study the impact of eclipses on the human body and mind.

During the 2017 eclipse in the United States, researchers analyzed nearly 3 million social media posts. They found that people who experienced the total eclipse displayed stronger feelings of awe and used more language associated with support, humility, and a sense of community.

In 2023, another study in New Mexico analyzed brain and heart responses during an annular eclipse. Initial results showed changes in brain activity associated with feelings of awe, although the research is still in its early stages.

Another experiment will take place during the total eclipse of August 12. Catalan scientists have launched the “Solaris” project, where around 5,000 volunteers will use smartwatches to record biological data before, during and after the eclipse.

Researchers in Barcelona will analyze this data to see how heart rate and breathing change when thousands of people simultaneously experience the sudden darkening of the sky.

Despite centuries of observations, a few minutes of eclipse continue to offer scientists new opportunities to study the Sun, the Earth, animals and man himself.


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