Gillian McF said:Greetings from NZ...I'm a new member and a physics luddite. In 2008 I had a close encounter with what I eventually found out was Ball Lightning. I find it hard to believe that here we are 2015 and still no solution to this phenomenon.
Chances are that your google searching and the wikipedia article have found most of what is there to find.Are there any researchers out there currently working on this subject?
Gillian McF said:Greetings from NZ...I'm a new member and a physics luddite. In 2008 I had a close encounter with what I eventually found out was Ball Lightning. I find it hard to believe that here we are 2015 and still no solution to this phenominon.
Are there any researchers out there currently working on this subject?
This gentlemans theory is new...are they linked to mini black holes?Nugatory said:Yes, it is 2015, but there are still unsolved problems. The laws of physics that govern Earth and atmospheric processes are well understood, but correctly and completely applying these laws to a system as complex as the Earth can still be a very difficult problem.Chances are that your google searching and the wikipedia article have found most of what is there to find.
Drakkith said:If you run into it again, I suggest keeping a notepad handy and asking it a few questions before it disappears. ;)
Gillian McF said:This gentleman's theory is new...are they linked to mini black holes?
http://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/0212251.pdf
Ball lightning is a rare and unexplained phenomenon that appears as a glowing ball of light often seen during thunderstorms. It can range in size from a few centimeters to several meters and typically lasts for only a few seconds before disappearing.
The exact formation process of ball lightning is still not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to electrical activity in thunderstorms. Some theories suggest that it is created by a discharge of electricity that becomes trapped in a ball-shaped plasma, while others propose that it is a result of chemical reactions or even nuclear fusion.
There have been very few documented cases of ball lightning causing harm to humans, but it is still considered a potentially dangerous phenomenon. It has been reported to cause damage to objects and even start fires, so it is important to observe it from a safe distance.
Although scientists have been able to create plasma balls in laboratory settings, these do not behave in the same way as natural ball lightning and are not considered exact replicas. The exact conditions and mechanisms that cause ball lightning to form are still unknown, making it difficult to recreate in a controlled environment.
There are many theories about the formation and behavior of ball lightning, but none have been proven definitively. Some popular theories include plasma physics, electromagnetic fields, and chemical reactions. However, more research and experimentation is needed to fully understand this mysterious phenomenon.