Photo: Ball Lightning Mystery Solved? Electrical Phenomenon Created in Lab



A series of stills taken from a video shot in a Brazilian lab show scientists applying an electrode to silicon wafers (top left) to create electrified silicon vapor. The vapor then sparks golf-ball-size orbs of ball lightning that bounce across the laboratory floor.

Video stills courtesy Antonio Pavão


EMAIL NEWSLETTER Photos and News of the Week

Get the top photos and news of the week from National Geographic News, plus occasional breaking-news alerts.

See Sample >>
Please enter a valid email address
Privacy Policy
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Vote for Your Favorite Green Idea!

Who do you want to see receive $20,000 to put their Earth-saving idea into action? Check out the ten Green Effect finalists, and until July 20 you can vote—up to once a day—for your favorite idea!