Learning About Lightning from Superbolts

If you ask someone to picture a thunderstorm, chances are they will have no problem slipping into a memory of dark clouds and bright flashes screaming out from them. But, incredibly, they’re probably picturing the tame version of electricity from the sky, and you’ll likely want to stay away from the more formidable superbolts!

Hosted by: Michael Aranda

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[Sarafan]

It's amazing how far we have progressed yet there are still glaring voids in our knowledge of seemingly fundamental things like how lightning works.

[seanhanlon]

Pretty sure one happened near my home last winter, North East England. There was thunder earlier in the day but it died down. Then this flash of lightning happened out of nowhere, I had my blinds drawn and it still lit up my front room brighter than the ceiling lights. The thunder that followed a second later was like an explosion, shook the house. Honestly it was astonishing

[zouki]

Smart move to release this video while a storm is starting in Europe after that heat wave. I actually wanted to learn about lightning today. Good job !

[AceSpadeThePikachu]

Studying how lightning works on other worlds, like the Gas Giants and even Venus and Mars could paint a larger picture of how lighting fundamentally works, especially since the mechanisms that cause lightning on those other worlds seem to be completely different than here on Earth.

[cmelton]

When I was a kid, there was this one particularly nasty storm where lightning was so frequent it was just like being lit by purple LEDs for several minutes. I've never seen this again. Constant lightning, constant thunder, the windows were shaking. It was ridiculous.

[fishingnorthflorida]

One of these must have hit my campus in the last few weeks. Literally everyone who lives on campus was woken up at 4:50 am by the LOUDEST and brightest lightning strike any of us had ever heard

[TeaRex]

Lightning is so cool. Thanks for another great episode as usual Sci Show team!

[gorisenke]

I remember learning in physics class that a charge builds up in the cloud and ground, the air between starts ionizing, and in snap moments when there is a path of least resistance via ionized air, lightning happens.

I also remember hearing that lightning doesn't always street in the cloud, and that positive charge books start at the ground, last longer, and typically do more damage.

Maybe Europe in the winter meets some requirement to have greater charge buildup and we already have seen how electricity does well in the cold. I would expect that it takes a lot more energy and greater charge to get the air to ionize, which is why the bolts happen in the north, and there is something about the water aspect since it doesn't happen much on land.

[samwill]

The idea that we still have so much to learn about something so basic and universal on our planet as lightning really does screw with me a little.

[JohnFleshman]

One of my 2 favorite forms of weather. Coolest thing Ive ever seen was branching lightning spreading along the entire bottom of the horizon to horizon clouds.

[Jencediggity]

Lightning terrifies me. Getting struck is the most recurring nightmare of my life. And it feels SO real in the dream.

But god damn if it isn’t the coolest thing to watch.

[ngojo]

I can build up static charge easier during winter before getting shocked. But it rarely happens during any other season. So to me it doesn't seem all that surprising that super bolts occur in cold climate? Maybe moisture or humidity has something to do with it?

[massimookissed]

When I rub my socks on the carpet, they just end up covered in cat hair.
That stuff gets everywhere.

[TacComControl]

"I wanted to be called Supervolt! But nah, Aquaman was like, we should call you Black Lightning! Mother-We gon' call you Whitefish!?"

[ronkirk]

Over my long lifetime I've experienced lightening storms on sailboats in the open ocean and camped on bald mountain tops. Never struck thank goodness, but this storms always invoke awe when I experience them.

[chimericalical]

Looking at the thumbnail saying “not your average lightning” made me think “you’re not dealing with your average lightning anymore, I’m the lightning of legend…”

[seanm]

Living on the edge of Europe: “Wait, other people get non-superbolt forms of lightening??”

[richardp]

This isn’t you’re average lightning.

This is _advanced_ lightning.

[DespoticUser]

I really like the way you speak. Your voice is relaxing in a way. The topic is great! Thanks!

[listenhere]

1 night while playing halo with a friend who lives about a mile away a huge thunderbolt shook both are houses. It was the loudest sound I've heard in life even louder than lightning hitting my house and my screams as the computer exploded