Find out the most strange cause of nature

A group of Australian scientists believe they have found the cause of one of the most bizarre phenomena of natural lightning (ball lightning).

>>>The mystery of lightning

Rock lightning, usually about the size of a grapefruit, is a rare physical phenomenon that occurs about 20 seconds. John Lowke, a scientist at the Australian Federal Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRO), the lead author of the new study published in Geophysical Research Atmospheres, said: 'For a long time this phenomenon not recognized. However, until now, there have been hundreds of cases claiming they have witnessed the emergence of clayeys and for hundreds of years it is still a mystery without a satisfactory explanation '.

Many previous theories suggest that shortwave radiation, oxidation state, nuclear energy, dark matter, antimatter even even black holes can be the cause.

The clay rock often enters the house through chimneys, through glass doors and also in a metal-like structure like an airplane cabin. To clarify the mystery, Lowke and colleagues at CSIRO and Australian National University are particularly interested in its appearance near the window without breaking the glass.

Like a plasma ball, lightning is a gas
Glow is formed by an electric field.

After touching the ground, clay stones leave behind traces of charged particles or ions. In most cases, positive and negative ions combine in a moment, the remaining ions fall to the ground. The theory Lowke suggests is that some of these ions can accumulate outside the surface of non-conductive materials like windows. They gather and create an electric field through the glass.

Lowke said that this field produces free electrons inside the window that carry enough energy to knock off electrons from the surrounding gas molecule, while also releasing photons, creating a glowing sphere.'About a third of all lightning strikes appear with a loud bang. It may be that the electric field tends to heat the gas, causing an explosion by gas expansion. '

However, why in some other cases, such as the statement of the former Air Force pilot in the United States, the formation of lightning does not follow that formula.

While controlling the C-133A cargo plane from California to Hawaii in the mid-1960s, Lietutenant Don Smith saw the Saint Elmo flames on the plane's radar screen, shortly afterwards lightning struck in the cockpit, emitting blue light.

In fact, fire St. Elmo is the discharge from a pointy conductor that causes a high charge density, creating a strong electric field leading to electric discharge. Fire St. Elmo also has a bridge form but unlike clay rock, it still comes in contact with conductors and exists for much longer than lightning.

'The simultaneous formation of both Saint Elmo fire and lightning in the above example may be because the ions from the aircraft radar operate at maximum capacity in a dense fog,' Lowke speculated.

'This is the first study that specifically explains the birth or beginning of clayeys' . Lowke also said the next step for the team will apply this theory to recreate rock lightning in the laboratory, although it is not easy because it requires a device capable of producing a voltage of 100 million volts.

But he also noted that it is only personal speculation and will continue to conduct other studies to find the final answer.