What causes lightning? The answer keeps getting more interesting

(quantamagazine.org)

48 points | by Tomte 3 days ago ago

4 comments

  • nomilk 2 hours ago ago

    That 7 second video of a small rocket shot into a cloud to induce a lightning strike (about half way down the article) is incredible.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BJIiX9_c_M

    Any ideas why the lightning strike appears mostly green (and momentarily purple and orange)?

    • deepandmeaning 2 hours ago ago

      I'm imagining it's something related to the copper wire.

    • teh_infallible an hour ago ago

      I always wanted to replicate this with a helium balloon and a long, wet string coated with copper filings.

  • metalman an hour ago ago

    just in case you missed it, all matter carrys a charge, and all space(and matter) has energy radiating through it, making the universe an energy gradient.

    sometimes you can see it happening.