Total Solar Eclipse Explained: Live!
Aug 18, 2026 · 48m
Summary
Hosted live from Zaragoza, Spain, the MKBHD team records a special Waveform episode during a total solar eclipse. They discuss the science behind the event, including the Purkinje effect and helium’s discovery, while sharing trivia and photography tips. The hosts also reflect on their travel logistics and previous eclipse experiences as they await totality.
Topics discussed
Introduction and the $100 fact challenge
Arriving in Zaragoza for the eclipse
Explaining how total solar eclipses work
Recalling the 2024 Ohio eclipse experience
Current obscuration levels and location scouting
Choosing Spain over Iceland and finding the spot
Scenery appreciation and preparation for filming
Safety tips: Solar filters and camera settings
Filming techniques and exposure locking
Predictability and the approaching darkness
The coincidence of the Moon and Sun sizes
Sponsor segment: Airbnb and travel culture
Fun fact: Discovery of Helium on the Sun
Fun fact: Spain's solar grid impact
Future eclipses and travel logistics
Road trip stories and working in the heat
Defining an 'umbrophile' and observing the sun
Pinhole cameras and shadow bands
Temperature drops and Easter date trivia
Lighting measurements and ambient light shifts
Human eye sensitivity to color and brightness
Annular eclipses and the last total eclipse
Calculating the timeline for the last eclipse
Final countdown and shadow bands acceleration
Totality: Bailey's beads and the corona
Post-totality: The sun returns and drone footage
Reflections on the experience and goodbye
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