Earth Science
NASA's Black Marble nighttime lights product suite
In plain English
The foundational Black Marble methods paper describes a nighttime-light product suite derived from satellite observations. Corrections for effects such as moonlight and atmospheric conditions help turn raw radiance into useful measurements of human activity.
On the show2
- EP 59
Golden Goose Awards 2026: The Science Behind the Winners (Part 1)
Explore the science behind the 2026 Golden Goose Awards, from ultrasound that destroys tumors to NASA’s night lights and the deep physics of everyday life.

- EP 67
Mapping Humanity From Space: NASA’s Black Marble with Dr. Miguel Román
NASA scientist Miguel Román on Black Marble: how a weather satellite came to map Ramadan, blackouts and energy access from space.
