
The mirrors that lit up a dark Norwegian town
In 2013, people in Rjukan, Norway experienced winter sunshine for the first time – thanks to three giant mirrors that were placed on top of a nearby mountain.
In October 2013, people in the small Norwegian town of Rjukan experienced winter sunshine for the first time in history.
This was thanks to the arrival of an unusual invention - giant mirrors high up on one of the mountains that make up the deep and narrow valley where Rjukan sits.
They reflected the sun directly down to the town square – to the joy of local people who had previously lived through long, dark winters.
Lars Bevanger speaks to inventor and artist Martin Andersen.
Witness History is a short BBC World Service podcast about history that takes you inside big moments from the past through first-hand testimony and archive. Each weekday, in around nine minutes, we revisit one moment that helped shape the world and hear it through the voice of someone who was there. Scientists, artists, campaigners, soldiers, leaders and everyday people tell their true stories.
When you subscribe to Witness History, you’ll be taken inside turning points in world affairs from West Africa’s fight back against Boko Haram in 2015 to the behind-closed-doors talks that led to the US-Cuba “thaw” and the surprise announcement of restored relations.
You’ll discover what it was like to experience disasters and how people recovered from them, including the Tabasco floods in Mexico, Portugal's worst train disaster, and the huge clean-up after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
You’ll explore culture and ideas too: Sweden’s Expedition Robinson, often credited as the first modern reality TV game show; the friendship between The Beatles’ George Harrison and Indian sitarist Ravi Shankar; and the night a tiger attack brought Las Vegas superstars Siegfried and Roy’s show to a sudden end.
And if you’re curious about inventions, we’ll tell you how air fryers, BlackBerry, YouTube, Alexa, GPS, superglue, the shopping cart (shopping trolley) and bubble tea were created.
If you’re new to Witness History, the appeal is simple: real voices, one strong true story, and a fresh way to understand today through events from history – all in the time it takes to enjoy a cup of tea or a walk around the block. Join millions of BBC World Service podcast listeners around the globe and enjoy the insight, context and detail Witness History will bring you.
(Photo: People cheer during an inauguration of the huge sun mirrors above Rjukan. Credit: Getty Images)
On radio
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Wed 7 Oct 202607:50GMTBBC World Service
- Wed 7 Oct 202611:50GMTBBC World Service
- Wed 7 Oct 202617:50GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Wed 7 Oct 202621:50GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Thu 8 Oct 202602:50GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa
Podcast
![]()
Witness History
The story of our times, told by the people who were there
