Buzz
For centuries, lightning has captivated humans. Striking unpredictably, sparking fires, and materializing seemingly from nowhere, many believed it must have divine roots. Could it have been Zeus with his thunderbolts or Thor wielding his mighty hammer?
While opinions on its origins varied, one thing remains true: lightning continues to be an awe-inspiring sight. Here are 10 electrifying facts about lightning that might send shivers down your spine.
10. Shockingly Amazing Images
It’s a myth that lightning strikes always happen without any warning. In 1975, while climbing Moro Rock in California, the McQuilken siblings experienced something unusual—their hair stood up on end.
Despite this eerie sensation, they were smiling and seemingly carefree, even finding it amusing. They descended the hill, but a hailstorm soon followed. However, they didn’t leave fast enough. Moments later, lightning struck.
Michael and his brother Sean were knocked to the ground. Tragically, others nearby weren't so fortunate, and one man lost his life. The siblings walked away relatively unharmed, but their experience made them cautious in thunderstorms. The person who was also struck by the lightning bolt that hit the McQuilkens even filed a lawsuit against the US government for not providing sufficient warning, though the case was dismissed.
9. Sprites
Lightning isn’t the only colorful spectacle that a thunderstorm can create. Far above the clouds where lightning strikes downward, large red flares called sprites sometimes shoot upwards into the atmosphere. These can reach up to nearly 97 kilometers (60 miles).
Often referred to as 'upper atmospheric lightning,' sprites differ greatly from regular lightning. While lightning generates extremely high temperatures that produce light, sprites are a cold phenomenon. Their glow resembles that of a fluorescent tube. The full science behind sprites remains elusive.
8. Lightning Beyond Earth
For years, it’s been known that lightning strikes occur on other planets with atmospheres. Radio signals from lightning were detected by spacecraft orbiting Jupiter and Saturn. There's also evidence suggesting lightning might occur on Venus. However, it wasn’t until 2009 that NASA captured the first images of lightning on Saturn.
The Cassini space probe detected a storm on Saturn that lasted several months. During this time, it captured the familiar flashes of lightning along with the radio signals that confirmed their origin. With this data, NASA created a video of the storm and even simulated how it might have sounded, based on Saturn's atmosphere.
7. The Beatles’ Lightning Strike
Lightning has often been referred to as an 'act of God.' When John Lennon from The Beatles jokingly declared that the band was 'more popular than Jesus,' it seemed almost inevitable that divine retribution would follow. This remark offended many Christians, sparking protests against the iconic British band.
KLUE radio station in Longview, Texas, hosted a Beatles record-burning event, where over 1,000 people attended, with thousands more driving by to watch the spectacle. This event generated immense publicity, but the notoriety grew even greater the next day when the station was struck by lightning.
The lightning strike knocked the station off the air, destroyed its equipment, and even struck the station’s news director, Phil Ransom. This was probably not the type of news he had expected to report.
Ransom had previously condemned Lennon’s remark as 'anti-Christian comments that would make the godless Russian leaders blush.' The station remained off the air for a while, but none of the Beatles were struck by lightning.
6. The Never-Ending Storm
As the sun sets over the Catatumbo Delta in Venezuela, the night sky doesn’t fall into darkness as one might expect. Instead, a lightning storm develops, generating up to 280 lightning strikes per hour. This phenomenon happens about 260 nights each year and is known as the 'everlasting storm.'
Due to the intense light it produces, the storm is also called the 'Beacon of Maracaibo,' named after the lake over which it takes place. In 1841, one observer described it as 'like a continuous lightning, and its position such that, located almost on the meridian of the mouth of the lake, it directs the navigators as a lighthouse.'
The exact reason behind the storm's unusual predictability remains unclear. Some have speculated that the uranium in surrounding rocks or methane from nearby bogs could be to blame. However, recent studies have highlighted the local winds as a significant factor in the storm's formation.
In 2010, the storm temporarily ceased for two months, likely due to a regional drought. Since then, it has resumed its regular pattern.
5. Thundersnow
Thunder and lightning are typically associated with rainstorms, but they aren’t exclusive to them. The phenomenon of thundersnow brings both thunder and lightning to a snowstorm, which can be quite an unexpected experience.
In a typical thunderstorm, thunder can travel great distances, still being heard over vast areas. However, in thundersnow, the falling snow dampens the sound of thunder, meaning only those within 1.6–3.2 kilometers (1–2 miles) of the storm can hear it.
Thundersnow, a relatively uncommon phenomenon, is more frequently observed near the Great Lakes in North America. It occurs when warm air at the surface begins to rise. As this warm air collides with freezing air high in the sky, a charge is generated within the descending cold air. It is this cold air that forms the snow. As the charge moves downward, it sets the stage for a lightning strike.
4. Juliane Koepcke
Planes are struck by lightning more often than one might expect. The Federal Aviation Administration reports that each plane experiences a lightning strike on average once a year. In many cases, the strike goes unnoticed by those onboard, as the plane's metal exterior conducts the lightning. However, on Christmas Eve in 1971, one aircraft was less fortunate.
Juliane Koepcke was aboard a flight over the Amazon when the plane entered a thunderstorm. With turbulence shaking the plane and lightning flashing all around, the passengers were filled with fear. At the time, Juliane was just 17 years old, holding her mother's hand. Her mother calmly whispered, 'That is the end, it’s all over.'
After being struck by a lightning bolt, the plane began its terrifying descent. In a flash, Juliane found herself falling through the sky. Still securely fastened in her seat, she plummeted 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) to the earth. Remarkably, she only sustained a broken collarbone and a few minor injuries. Stranded and alone, she had to navigate through the jungle with nothing but the sweets she scavenged from the wreckage.
Juliane was the only survivor of the crash, discovered by local villagers 11 days after her plane had been struck by lightning.
3. Lightning Safety
When Ben Franklin was sent to Europe as the American ambassador, he became a celebrated figure. Known for his contributions as both a statesman and a scientist, he captivated the fashion scene as well. His groundbreaking work on electricity, and his renowned studies on lightning, intrigued both intellectuals and everyday people alike. His influence extended far beyond what even Franklin himself could have imagined.
In the 1780s, Paris saw a peculiar trend where people took measures to protect themselves from lightning. Many were said to attach lightning rods to their hats or umbrellas, hoping to avoid a bolt from the sky in case they crossed paths with Franklin's famous lightning.
The urge for lightning protection didn't end in the 18th century. In 1978, a patent was filed for a Portable Lightning Rod. This device featured a long metal pole surrounded by an insulator, intended to divert lightning from a person and safely guide it into the earth.
The device even included an umbrella attachment, allowing the user to stay dry while the lightning rod was in use. However, it never quite caught on—after all, how often are we caught outside in a lightning storm? The patent has now expired, so if you fancy one, you could build your own.
2. Ball Lightning
Ball lightning is a phenomenon that differs significantly from the lightning most people know. Throughout history, there have been numerous accounts of glowing spheres of gas zipping through the sky, sometimes even entering homes. These occurrences often follow a traditional lightning strike.
Unlike the brief flash of regular lightning, ball lightning can linger for several seconds, or even minutes. It can travel vast distances, and being indoors offers no guarantee of safety—ball lightning has been known to pass right through closed windows.
Science has not yet been able to fully unravel the mystery of this strange phenomenon. However, a high-speed camera captured a video of ball lightning, allowing scientists to study it in more detail. Still, no consensus has been reached on the exact cause or nature of its formation.
1. King Of Kings
Jesus statues are common in churches, but the one at Solid Rock Church in Ohio was anything but typical. Standing a towering 19 meters (62 feet) tall, the statue was nicknamed 'Touchdown Jesus' by locals due to its raised arms, resembling a football referee's signal. One might think such a grand figure would be immune to any divine intervention.
In 2010, the statue, officially named King of Kings, was struck by lightning. Despite its massive appearance, the structure was less sturdy than it seemed. Made from fiberglass and plastic over a metal frame, the statue caught fire when struck. The King of Kings was destroyed in the process.
A pastor from the church spoke about the deep emotional connection the statue had with the worshippers. He promised it would be rebuilt, stating: “It will return. But this time, we’re aiming for something that’s fire-resistant.”
A new statue called Lux Mundi (“Light of the World”) now stands in its place. This new statue has earned a nickname from the locals due to the position of its arms. They affectionately call it “Hug Me Jesus.”
