FlipFact of the Day: Contrary to popular belief, lightning strikes twice in the same place. In fact, this happens more often than we think.
According to a recent study, the negative charges inside a thundercloud aren’t actually discharged all at once. Using a Dutch radio telescope called Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), researchers found long, thin structures called needles that store the charges, making repeated discharges possible. These needles may be as long as a hundred meters, but have a diameter of less than five meters. Thus, they are too small and short-lived for other lightning detection systems to spot.
Read more about it here: https://cosmosmagazine.com/physics/revealed-why-lightning-strikes-twice
Today’s Science History Milestone: On July 11, 1983, Japanese entrepreneur Mikimoto Kokichi created the world’s first cultured pearl.
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References
- https://cosmosmagazine.com/physics/revealed-why-lightning-strikes-twice
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
