Lightning is the most frequent natural cause of fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association, during 2007-2011, the local fire departments in the United States responded to about 22,600 lightning-caused fires annually. Lightning strikes have also caused many of the bushfires in Australia both last year and this year. With this being the case, scientists wonder: can we tame lightning? Turns out, we might.
A new laser tractor beam technology, described in a paper in the journal Nature Communications, may be the answer.
In a laboratory experiment, the team used a laser beam to trap and heat microparticles of graphene in the air between two metallic plates. This created a heated channel that induced lightning and allowed the electrical discharge to flow towards a pre-defined target.
“The experiment simulated similar atmospheric conditions to those found in real lightning,” says Vladlen Shvedov, co-author of the study from the Australian National University.
“We can imagine a future where this technology may induce electrical discharge from passing lightning, helping to guide it to safe targets and reduce the risk of catastrophic fires.”
More details about this over at Cosmos Magazine.
What are your thoughts about this one?
(Image Credit: WKIDESIGN/ Pixabay)
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prolly not?
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