A total eclipse of the Sun is an awe-inspiring sight, but throughout history, it has also inspired scientific research. Studying eclipses has led to discoveries about the composition of the Sun, the workings of our Solar System and the physics of the Universe itself. Find out more about the modern techniques of eclipse science: http://www.nature.com/news/mysteries-of-sun-s-corona-on-view-during-upcoming-eclipse-1.22434 16th August 2017 Permission for reuse of this video outside the LabXchange platform must be obtained from Springer Nature.