Why the Northern Lights have different colours and what they all mean about the weather

The Northern Lights are set to be visible in the UK once more tonight (Saturday, May 11) with dazzling displays in our skies. This follows an awe inspiring natural show last night that swept the country last night due to an intense geomagnetic storm raging above earth.

But as these beautiful displays appeared in the sky overnight, it left many people wondering why aurora borealis flickered in multiple colours. To answer the question briefly, it's about altitude and oxygen.

Red colours are only visible during periods of the most intense solar activity. This is because the colour is projected by excited atomic oxygen at high altitudes - above 150 miles.

READ MORE: Professor Brian Cox gives hope of 'good chance' we'll see Northern Lights display tonight

Beautiful light displays appeared across Britain overnight (Image: Ahmet Fevzi Arican/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Due to the low concentration of oxygen at this high altitude, you can only see red colours in the Northern Lights during these intense storms. Excited atomic oxygen at lower altitudes - up to 150 miles - emits a green colour.

It has a green colour because there is more oxygen at lower altitudes. Lastly, blue and purple colours are created by ionised molecular nitrogen at much lower altitudes of up to 60 miles.

Likewise with red colours, both blue and purple are only seen in the most intense geomagnetic storms. This is oxygen is lower at this altitude, so it's a different reaction altogether which produces these colours.

This weekend a sunspot cluster appears to have merged with each other to become one giant super sunspot 17 times the size of Earth which is firing out massive solar flares and plasma towards our planet. This has meant a G5 "extreme" solar storm was sent earthwards - the highest classification.

When these come into contact with Earth the geomagnetic field interacts with them producing this beautiful ethereal display of colour in our skies. The last time a G5-rated storm hit Earth in October 2003, it caused power outages in Sweden.

Due to this strong storm, multiple colours of the Northern Lights were visible last night. There is a "good chance" that we will experience similar examples of this tonight, according to Professor Brian Cox.

Get the biggest stories from around London straight to your inbox. Sign up to MyLondon's The 12 HERE for the 12 biggest stories each day.

Adblock test (Why?)

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

Gang who killed Barnet man, 30, over drugs and money caught out by Monty the police dog

A gang who killed a man during a botched home invasion for drugs and cash was caught thanks to the expert nose of police dog Monty who found £8,000 hidden in the headboard of a bed the killers hadn’t searched. Olsi Kuka, 30, was knifed numerous times at around 3am on May 11 2022 after his murderers travelled to his Barnet home in two Mercedes cars.

After the men left the flat, police and paramedics were called but Olsi died shortly after. A post mortem examination found that Olsi had been stabbed by ‘at least’ two different knives.

There were also four metal ball-bearings found in his scalp consistent with being shot by an air weapon. During the investigation, detectives found that one of the cars had travelled to the address four days before on a reconnaissance trip.

READ MORE: Grieving mum struggles to move after son, 22, stabbed to death in case of mistaken identity

Monty the dog sniffed £8,000 hidden in a bed (Image: Met Police)

Following a five-week trial at the Old Bailey that ended yesterday (May 9) five men were found guilty of their role in the botched robbery. Daige Ramsey, 25 (30.11.98) of Winchester Road, E4 and Santana Thompson, 21, of Aldriche Way, Waltham Forest, were convicted of manslaughter.

Ozan Seran 28, of no fixed address pleaded guilty to manslaughter on April 2 - the first day of the trial. Bulent Bakir, 27, of Old Road, Enfield, was convicted of conspiracy to rob.

Reuben Bernard, 19, (22.03.05) of Wootton, Northampton, was convicted of murder after a trial in June 2023. They will be sentenced at the Old Bailey at a later date to be confirmed.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Rawlinson said: "The violence used in this attack was calculated, vicious and unrelenting.

"The five men had planned to rob Olsi and were prepared to use any force necessary in order to get what they wanted.

“We are thankful for the work of our police dog Monty, who was able to find vital evidence that helped secure a successful conviction."

Got a story? Please get in touch at rafi.benady@reachplc.com

Our London Court & Crime newsletter brings you the latest major court updates and breaking news straight to your inbox. You can sign up HERE.

Adblock test (Why?)

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

Live: Croydon fire updates as 'explosions heard' on high street

Never miss a London story again

You can sign up to get the latest news, top stories and exclusives sent straight to your WhatsApp from the MyLondon team.

To get stories sent to you, you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select 'join community'.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the MyLondon team.

We also treat our subscribers to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.

Click here to sign up for WhatsApp alerts.

Adblock test (Why?)

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

Netflix's Buying London: All about the new reality property show, trailer and stream date

Buying London is a new Netflix series that goes inside the lives of lucrative estate agents working in the capital. Millionaire property mogul Daniel Daggers and his estate agent team try to sell the city's most expensive homes, and will take viewers along for the ride.

The new reality show will be available to stream on Netflix from Wednesday, May 22 and is a spin-off of the American series Buying Beverly Hills. It is set to transport viewers from the affluent streets of Mayfair to the prestigious pockets of Holland Park in West London, and will also go inside some properties that were once owned by celebrities.

Throughout the series, viewers will also gain an intimate look at the real estate agents' lives. The participants aim to establish themselves in the fiercely competitive property industry, all while managing the complexities of their personal lives.

READ MORE: 'I visited the 'shabby' Only Fools and Horses tower block before it's destroyed but residents are happy'

Buying London star Daniel Daggers (Image: Netflix/X)

Can England's equivalent to Selling Sunset deliver the same glamour in London? Buying London star and founder of DDRE Global Daniel Daggers certainly seems to think so.

"London is the luxury property capital of the world," he confidently says in a new trailer for the show. The new teaser for Buying London gives viewers a glimpse of all the drama as a group of estate agents competes to sell multi-million-pound properties.

They all have high heels and expensive cars filling the trailer with glamour. "If I get the sale done, Chanel bag is on me," explains Rasa, an agent whose black book is reportedly bursting with billionaire contacts.

Agents Rosi and Lauren are also squaring up to have a rivalry over who is closer to Daggers, their boss, thereby securing access to the best homes on the agency’s books.

Buying London is coming to Netflix this month (Image: Netflix/X)

Where can I watch the Buying London trailer?

Netflix dropped the trailer to X on Tuesday (May 7) alongside the caption: "Big price tags, big personalities. At luxury estate agency DDRE Global, the only thing hotter than the super prime properties is the fiery office drama. Buying London premieres May 22."

You can watch the trailer here:

Buying London drops on Netflix on May 22.

Want more from MyLondon? Sign up to our daily newsletters for all the latest and greatest from across London here.

Get the biggest stories from around London straight to your inbox. Sign up to MyLondon's The 12 HERE for the 12 biggest stories each day.

Adblock test (Why?)

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

London Assembly Member quits after just 3 days in 'sneaky' move

A Green Party London Assembly Member has quit despite only being confirmed in the role three days ago. Sian Berry, who was first elected to the body in 2016 and is a former mayoral candidate, has made way for Zoë Garbett, the Green pick for the city's highest office this year.

But Ms Berry has been criticised for the move, with some pointing out that she is a parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion at the next election.

Councillor Garbett said: “I am excited to join the Assembly and get to work for Londoners. There is so much to do improve the quality of our lives in London, stand up for people on the margins and hold the Mayor to account.”

READ MORE: How Sadiq Khan came out on top during London mayor election

Zoë Garbett (second left) ran for mayor this year (Image: Jeff Moore/PA Wire)

Ms Berry, said: "Zoë has shown how much of a difference she will make in City Hall, listening to Londoners and bringing their voices into the political debate. That’s why she needs to be in this job as soon as possible. She is already brilliant councillor and will be a brilliant Assembly Member for Londoners."

She added on X: "I will miss City Hall and the wonderful staff team there, and especially miss the chance to work alongside @ZoeGarbett in the run up to the general election. She will be a superb Assembly Member and I can’t wait to see the impact she will have!

"My work holding a Labour mayor to account means I am ready to do the same with a new prime minister, and I am looking forward to spending even more time in Brighton, listening to what matters to people here. Greens are geared up and a general election is needed right now!

"Tomorrow I’ll be speaking in Parliament about my work to date getting more council homes bought into the supply in London - and what’s needed to make that a Government priority too. But today I’ll mainly be enjoying the Holly Blue butterflies that have hatched all over my garden!"

Backlash to decision

The post was met with some backlash. Seb Barry said: "Weren't you elected last Thursday?" David Morton commented: "I'm a big fan Sian but standing for reelection, winning then resigning after three days looks really poor."

@Shales_Moor posted: "I'm a Green Party supporter but this stinks. Either you're serious about standing as a councillor or you're not. Your colleague is either standing for mayor or as a councillor - which one?

"The people of London rejected her for mayor. Extremely disappointed - I thought GP better." Pete Crockett said: "Your behaviour in this instance does you no credit."

@PeechSlixx posted: "This seems incredibly calculated, under hand and sneaky. I was a MASSIVE green supporter but now just seems you're sneaky like the rest of them. Ngl so disillusioned right now."

Don't miss out on the biggest stories from across the city. Sign up to MyLondon's The 12 HERE for the 12 biggest stories each day.

Adblock test (Why?)

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

Every abandoned London Underground station you can actually visit and how

The London Underground, now 160 years old and boasting 272 stations, unsurprisingly has a number of abandoned stations due to changes in the network. As London continues to evolve, some stations have become redundant, often replaced by nearby stations or larger complexes.

However, some, like Aldwych, remain unused without a direct replacement.

Unless Transport for London (TfL) sells the land or property, it retains ownership and maintenance of these deserted stations. While most lie dormant for much of the year, they are well-preserved thanks to the efforts of the London Transport Museum.

READ MORE: How London Underground drivers make sure trains can turn around in just seconds

In recent times, many have been opened to the public through special 'Hidden London' guided tours. These tours, led by museum experts, offer a journey back in time beneath the city streets to explore the forgotten Tube stations.

Aldwych station on a Hidden London tour (Image: LTM)

The Hidden London tours provide the best opportunity to discover these abandoned stations, with a variety of them open for exploration, including a disused tram tunnel near Holborn.

The Assistant Director of the London Transport Museum, Chris Nix, spilled some secrets to MyLondon: "There's so much to uncover in the disused stations because they are time-capsules in themselves: you can see vintage posters and signs on the walls, walk down corridors that haven't been used by the public in decades, hear the stories of the people who lived and worked there... And they're constantly evolving, because we keep discovering more and more little-known historical facts as we continue to explore our archives."

Being thorough as ever, MyLondon went digging (quite literally!) underground, joining the Hidden London team to get an insight into these underbelly relics. Even if history or Tube mechanics aren't your thing, their experts' animated descriptions bring these out-of-sight places to life.

Highlights from these tours featured in the 'Secrets of the Underground' TV series.

Hidden London offers guided tours through the following neglected stations:

- Down Street (in-person tour).

- Aldwych (both physical and virtual tours).

- King William Street (virtual tour).

- York Road (virtual tour).

- Brompton Road (virtual tour).

You can also visit the disused sections of these operational stations:

- Charing Cross (in-person tour).

- Clapham South (in-person tour).

- Euston (both in-person and virtual tours).

- Moorgate (in-person tour).

- Piccadilly Circus (in-person tour).

- Shepherd's Bush (in person tour).

You can book all these tours via the London Transport Museum's website here. Prices vary depending on the tour type and station size, but are generally around £40-50 per person, with discounts available.

Some tours are not open to under 14s. 14 to 16 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.

Have you experienced one of the Hidden London tours?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Our London Underground newsletter brings you the latest travel updates to help you survive your commute - as well as a weekly dose of Tube trivia! You can sign up HERE.

Adblock test (Why?)

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)

What Sadiq Khan promised to do in his third term as London mayor

So, now what? Votes for London's mayor were counted yesterday, and Sadiq Khan came out on top against Susan Hall by attaining more than one million votes. Mr Khan received almost 43.7 per cent of the vote, compared to Hall’s 32.6 per cent. This represents a swing of 2.5 per cent from the Tories to Labour compared with 2021.

But, to ensure he won, Mr Khan made many promises to Londoners. Before voters went to the polls in London, the mayor issued what he called a 'contract with Londoners'. It listed his main promises.

READ MORE: How Sadiq Khan came out on top

These were:

• Make free school meals permanent in London
• Keep TfL fares frozen until at least 2025
• Never introduce a pay-per-mile road charging scheme in London
• End rough sleeping by 2030 with support from a Labour Government
• Build 40,000 new council homes by 2030 and build new 'rent control' homes
• Put 1,300 more police on the streets, and fund more youth clubs with £30 million investment
• Provide record investment to tackle violence against women and girls, and deliver free legal support for victims
• Continue world-leading climate action with a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2030
• Clean up the Thames, with a plan to make it swimmable within 10 years
• Provide free skills training for any unemployed or low-income Londoner, and create 150,000+ new good jobs by 2028

Sadiq Khan won the London mayor election on Thursday (Image: Adam Toms/MyLondon)

Mr Khan said the day before the vote: "These are the promises by which Londoners should judge me over the next four years. My pledge to Londoners is to get on with the job of building a fairer, safer and greener city for every Londoner – making free school meals permanent, delivering a TfL fares freeze, investing record amounts in the causes of crime, and building more councils homes all across our city."

Other promises include London bus and Tube changes

Some commitments were not included on the list. A pledge to introduce the 'Superloop 2' network of express London bus services, for example. The mayor also said he would bring London buses into public ownership and away from private operators.

The proposed Superloop 2 map (left) and the original version of the express bus network (right)

In addition, MyLondon was told, after Susan Hall promised to extend the Night Tube to the Hammersmith and City, Circle, District and Metropolitan London Underground lines, that Mr Khan 'wants to do this'.

A spokesperson for the mayor added: "And if re-elected will work to secure the funding for expanding the Night Tube to these four lines. You can trust Sadiq to deliver - he got the Night Tube open when Boris Johnson couldn’t, as well as delivering the Elizabeth line and Northern line extension."

Further, Mr Khan also said he would bring suburban London railway services under TfL's control, creating a 'revolutionary metro-style' system. The mayor added he would work with an incoming Labour government, were the British public to elect one to 'end the misery of failing outer London suburban rail services' if he is re-elected.

Mr Khan wants to bring National Rail services under TfL's umbrella, including in South London (Image: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

The first lines brought under TfL control could include:

• Suburban Southeastern services linking Victoria, Charing Cross and Cannon Street with Dartford, Hayes and Sevenoaks
• Great Northern services connecting Moorgate with Welwyn Garden City, Hertford and Stevenage

It is important to note a couple of things. Firstly, Mr Khan only has a mandate to serve until 2028. So, he may not be mayor in 2030, the deadline for crucial pledges, such as those regarding house building and ending rough sleeping.

However, he did not rule out a fourth term during an exclusive interview with MyLondon in March, saying that he would be around for as long as Londoners want him.

In addition, Mr Khan said that to achieve his aims, he would be working with a Labour government. This, of course, would require Sir Keir Starmer to lead the party to a majority in Parliament at the next general election, expected later this year.

The latest YouGov and The Times voting intention poll put the Conservatives on 18 per cent and Labour are on 44 per cent between April 30 and May 1.

Don't miss out on the biggest stories from across the city, including the latest about the capital's transport network. Sign up to MyLondon's The 12 HERE for the 12 biggest stories each day.

Adblock test (Why?)

(Feed generated with FetchRSS)