The air around us feels like empty nothingness, but it's a thin, structured, life-giving envelope wrapped around the planet — one that shields us, warms us, and paints the sky blue. This episode looks up through the layers of the atmosphere and asks how this ocean of air actually works.

You'll come away understanding what air is made of, the distinct layers stacked above your head, why the sky is blue and sunsets are red, and just how startlingly thin the whole life-supporting layer really is.

Talking Science is sponsored by Kinsoft. Visit www.kinsoft.com.au

Further reading: NASA – "Earth's atmosphere"; National Geographic – "Atmosphere"; Bureau of Meteorology – educational resources.