Lightning on Demand?

By Samantha Stein

Scientists have, for the first time, used laser beams to trigger electrical activity in clouds. Which means we're but one step away from producing lightning at will. Cue evil geniuses everywhere rubbing their hands together and cackling with Frankenstein-esque hysteria.

Researchers at the Langmuir Laboratory achieved this feat during two thunderstorms at South Baldy Peak in New Mexico, USA. Although they did not generate a lightning strike, they did observe small, short-lived electrical discharges in the storm clouds - the precursors to lightning.

The team used laser to created charged beams of particles called plasma filaments, which are able to conduct electricity. The beams act like conducting wires extending into the cloud. The

South Baldy Peak, New Mexico
Frankenstein's new lair?

researchers hope to reprogram their lasers to produce longer-lived filaments that could lead to an actual strike.

Although the idea of using lasers to generate lightning was first suggested over 30 years ago, this is the first time that scientists have developed lasers with enough power to do the job. But the power of the laser pulses needs to be increased by a factor of 10 in order to generate a lightning strike.

The ability to create lightning on demand is becoming increasingly important as it will enable more sophisticated testing of the lightning sensitivity of aircraft and electricity pylons. It can also provide an insight into the basic mechanisms behind lightning strikes. And of course, the success of dozens of mad scientists' elaborate revenge plans depend on this scientific breakthrough.

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