Ball Lightning
A glowing sphere appears during thunderstorms—floating through walls, hovering indoors, sometimes exploding. Scientists couldn't reproduce it for centuries. Now we know it's real, but we still don't fully understand it.
Ball lightning is a rare atmospheric phenomenon—a luminous sphere that appears during thunderstorms. Long dismissed as folklore, it’s now scientifically documented but not fully explained.
The Phenomenon
According to documented research:
Ball lightning typically:
- Appears as a glowing sphere (usually 1-12 inches diameter)
- Occurs during thunderstorms
- Floats or moves slowly through the air
- Can pass through solid objects (windows, walls)
- Lasts from seconds to several minutes
- Often disappears with a pop or explosion
Characteristics
Witnesses describe:
- Colors: white, yellow, orange, red, or blue
- Sometimes accompanied by an odor (sulfur or ozone)
- Moving horizontally, not falling
- Entering buildings through windows or chimneys
- Causing damage when exploding
- Sometimes completely harmless
Historical Accounts
Ball lightning has been reported for centuries:
- Ancient Greek references
- Medieval accounts attributed it to spirits
- Numerous ship sightings
- The great electrician Nikola Tesla reported seeing it
Scientific Skepticism
For years, scientists doubted ball lightning because:
- It couldn’t be reproduced in laboratories
- Witnesses might be confused by ordinary lightning
- No photographs existed (until recently)
- It seemed to violate physics
Proof
Modern evidence includes:
- Video recordings (China, 2012—first scientific recording)
- Multiple independent witnesses
- Physical damage documented
- Spectroscopic analysis possible
Theories
Vaporized Silicon: Lightning striking soil creates silicon vapor that forms burning balls.
Microwave Cavity: Electromagnetic standing waves create plasma.
Plasma Vortex: A self-contained ball of plasma.
Hallucination: Electrical effects on the brain near lightning (doesn’t explain all cases).
The Chinese Recording
In 2012, Chinese scientists accidentally captured ball lightning:
- They were studying ordinary lightning
- Ball lightning appeared in their spectroscope
- First scientific data on its composition
- Found soil elements (supporting vaporized silicon theory)
Famous Cases
1726: A ball of fire reportedly killed or injured people in a church in England.
1936: A ball allegedly passed through a closed window on a submarine.
1984: Ball lightning reportedly entered an aircraft, terrifying passengers.
Current Understanding
Ball lightning:
- Is definitely real
- Probably has multiple causes
- Is still not fully explained
- Remains rare and unpredictable
- Is now a legitimate area of atmospheric science