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What happens if you don’t put your phone in airplane mode? - Lindsay DeMarchi

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TEDEd Animation

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Right now, invisible signals are flying through the air all around you. Massive radio waves carry information between computers, GPS systems, cell phones, and more. And the sky is flooded with interference from routers, satellites, and, of course, people flying who haven’t put their phones on airplane mode. So, what exactly does airplane mode do? Lindsay DeMarchi explains the setting's importance.

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Additional Resources for you to Explore

The universe is yours to explore with senses beyond your eyes! Hear all about how to see space through the radio spectrum with this Children’s Hour podcast episode about faraway galaxies and their black holes! You can take a look at NASA’s tour of radio waves and see what real radio data looks like to astronomers. For more hands-on projects and learning, visit this website post to learn how to make your own antenna, measure emissions from manmade technology, or detect meteors! If you’re more interested in how complex it can be to juggle so many cell phone frequencies and avoid jamming, watch this YouTube video for a detailed explanation. 

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Lindsay DeMarchi
  • Director Sofia Pashaei
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Composer João Pamplona Mendes, AIM Creative Studios
  • Sound Designer João Pamplona Mendes, AIM Creative Studios
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Produced by Abdallah Ewis, Anna Bechtol
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Fact-Checker Charles Wallace

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