Americans from Maine to Texas are set for a rare treat on April 8, 2024, when a total solar eclipse will be visible across much of the U.S.

To make sure that you enjoy the total solar eclipse safely, the American Astronomical Society has specifically warned against buying eclipse glasses at the lowest price from online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, say supply chain experts Henry Jin, associate professor of Management at Miami University, and Simone Peinkofer, assistant professor of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University. 

"Why not save a buck on something you’ll use possibly just once for a few minutes?," Jin asks. "It turns out there’s a very good reason: Deceptive counterfeit products have infiltrated retail supply chains. And some of them can pose a threat to your health."

And as experts in supply-chain management, they know that counterfeit products have become a growing problem in recent years.

• Read their article "How safe are your solar eclipse glasses? Cheap fakes from online marketplaces pose a threat, supply-chain experts say" in The Conversation (March 21). 

Jin was also interviewed on this topic on CBS-WKRC Local 12 (Feb. 19).