The Solar Centre Blog -

Incredible Natural Phenomena and Where to Find Them

Our planet is bursting with amazing natural beauty, from stunning white sand beaches to the spectacular mountains. So, it’s no doubt that the earth is a wonderful place. But some things are like no other and can truly take our breath away, we call these phenomena. And it might be hard to believe that these marvels actually exist!

At the mouth of the Catatumbo River in Venezuela, a lightning storm lasts up to 10 hours per night offering an electrifying light show for any onlookers. If you’ve ever dreamt of wandering through the clouds, you should book your next trip to the Bolivia where the salt flats of Salar de Uyuni create a mesmerising reflection of the sky.

At The Solar Centre, we’ve listed the most incredible natural phenomena and where in the world you can find them. So, if you fancy a mind-blowing experience, add these destinations to your bucket list!

17 Bizarre Superstitions You Probably Didn’t Know About

Every country has their own culture and beliefs and they also have their own superstitions too. In the UK, there are plenty of common superstitions from avoiding walking under ladders, to broken mirrors being a sign of bad luck. Some of these may sound farfetched but some superstitions can be scientifically rationalised, such as the well-known saying; red sky at night Shepard’s delight, red sky in the morning Shepard’s warning. This is based on the reddish glow of the sky in the morning and evening caused by haze or clouds related to storms in the region.

Nevertheless, other superstitions are just plain weird, like the belief that sleeping with your pyjamas inside out and a spoon under your pillow will mean there’ll be snow the next day. At The Solar Centre, we’ve discovered the most bizarre superstitions from around the world that you probably didn’t know about!

Record Breaking Weather Extremes

The weather is something that us Brits can’t help but talk about, the unpredictability and changeableness has triggered many conversations about the sun, wind and rain and how it’s either too hot or cold to go outside! We do love to grumble about British weather but what about extreme weather conditions? Many countries from across the globe have encountered intense weather conditions caused by the climate and natural disasters.

Here at The Solar Centre we’ve created an infographic that looks at the hottest corners of the earth, the biggest storms to hit countries and even the highest waves in our oceans. Not only are these weather conditions extreme to say the least, but they’ve all broken world records!

How to Lighten Up Your Holidays with Solar Energy

Summer has arrived and that means the camping season is in full swing.

When planning your summer holiday, have you ever considered incorporating the benefits of solar energy?

Our article, 5 solar power tips for camping has already provided many with insights into the different wearable solar options, but now we have another ultimate alternative to take your travel experience to the next level.

Just imagine, driving along on a sunny day and not having to worry about your energy supply in the evening because the solar panels on your vehicle’s rooftop will take care of everything.

This can be a very convenient and innovative way to lighten up your travels, while also being environmentally friendly.

To find out more about the other benefits of traveling with solar panels and what items you’ll need in order to make the journey your own, have a look at the infographic below.

You can find out more about solar panels here.

The World’s Most Beautiful Gardens

Gardens are a beautiful thing to behold. There’s nothing quite like being at one with the great outdoors, and a botanical garden can offer a taste of the natural world combined with history, culture, and beautiful architecture.

There are hundreds of incredible botanical gardens around the world. From the beautifully cultivated gardens of the Chateau of Versailles, to the 1350 varieties of cactus in the Desert Botanical Garden in Arizona, to the “Alice In Wonderland”-style bright colours of Dubai Miracle Garden, each garden has its own unique character and vibe.

At The Solar Centre, we have put together a collection of our favourite botanical gardens across the globe. So make sure to check these out if you’re ever in the area!

the world's most beautiful gardens

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Ingenious Ways To Save On Your Household Bills

Most of us are constantly trying to save money where we can, whether it’s skipping that takeaway coffee in the morning or limiting how many items of clothing you’ll buy in a month. While we may have to make a conscious effort in order to save those extra few pennies, there are ways that you can save on your household bills and you’ll be surprised to see how your savings can build up over time.

Our latest infographic tells you everything you need to know about how to save on your household bills, whether that’s fixing your dripping taps to save water or investing in solar panels. As well saving money where you can, most of these tips will also help the environment, so it’s a win-win situation! Take a look at the infographic below to find out more about how you could end up saving money with minimal effort.

14 Green Living Myths

In recent times, it’s become common knowledge that we all need to do our bit to be more environmentally friendly. While many people now go to extremes in order to reduce their carbon footprint, such as spending thousands on solar panels, there are other ways in which you can become more ‘green’ with far less expense. However, as much as it’s great to do whatever you can to help the environment, it seems that there are a few myths around what can actually be beneficial to helping our planet Earth.

Our latest infographic explores these green living myths so that you know exactly what to do to become more environmentally friendly, instead of wasting your time and efforts. For example, while turning off appliances when they’re not in use is always a good idea, for financial reasons as well as environmental reasons, you also need to make sure they’re turned off at the socket, as they’ll still continue to use power even when they’re switched off. Take a look at the infographic below to find out more about these green living myths and how you could maximise your efforts to become more ‘green’.

Worlds from Fiction

Books, films and comics have all brought different imaginary worlds to our attention. Whether you’re a die-hard Harry Potter fan or your interests lie within the world of Narnia, it’s a wonderful feeling to be able to immerse yourself in a different world. While some imaginative places may be alongside Earth, such as Neverland which can be reached in the sky, some worlds are entirely dystopian, for example, Middle Earth from The Lord of the Rings.

Our latest infographic gives you an insight into these different worlds, along with where they’re from and who thought them up. We’ve also included some interesting facts about them such as the Hundred Acre Wood being inspired by the Five Hundred Acre Wood in Sussex, and that Asgard is based on the realm of the same name from Norse religion. Take a look at the infographic below to find out more about the fictional worlds you know, and to discover any that you didn’t know before. fictional-worlds

What Would Happen if the Sun Disappeared?

Even if you don’t know much about science, and outer space in particular, most of us know that that great big yellow thing in the sky is quite important for our existence. The majority of us will realise that without the Sun, things down here on Earth would be pretty cold and dark. However, we were curious to see what else might happen if our giant source of heat and light were to suddenly vanish from the sky.

Our latest infographic explores everything that would happen should the sun disappear, along with a timescale of how long it would take for these things to happen. For example, within eight minutes all the planets would start to travel in a straight line through space because there would no longer be a gravitational pull from the Sun and the surfaces of the oceans would freeze over within a couple of months. Take a look at the infographic below to find out more about what would happen to us and our planet if the Sun were to disappear. if-the-sun-disappeared