Mysterious Ball Lightning

Ball lightning may be an atmospheric electrical phenomenon, the physical nature of which is still controversial. The term refers to reports of luminous, usually spherical objects which vary from pea-sized to several meters in diameter. It is sometimes associated with thunderstorms, but unlike lightning flashes, which last only a fraction of a second, ball lightning reportedly lasts many seconds.

Laboratory experiments have produced effects that are visually similar to reports of ball lightning, but it is presently unknown whether these are actually related to any naturally occurring phenomenon. Scientific data on natural ball lightning is scarce owing to its infrequency and unpredictability. The presumption of its existence is based on reported public sightings, and has therefore produced somewhat inconsistent findings. Given inconsistencies and the lack of reliable data, the true nature of ball lightning is still unknown. Until recently, ball lightning was often regarded as a fantasy or a hoax. Reports of the phenomenon were dismissed for lack of physical evidence, and were often regarded the same way as UFO sightings.

Natural ball lightning appears infrequently and unpredictably, and is therefore rarely (if ever truly) photographed. However, several purported photos and videos exist. Perhaps the most famous story of ball lightning unfolded when 18th-century physicist Georg Wilhelm Richmann installed a lightning rod in his home and was struck in the head - and killed - by a "pale blue ball of fire."

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• mysterious
• ball
• lightning
• weather
• phenomenon

[tropemaster]

@tomreves28 What is idiocy but failure to appeal to reason.

[ramesh23231]

@TheJustinPictures Fuck it, you win...i didn't realize you were a kid. God i hate the internet sometimes...my apologizes...buttface.

[AqwAssassins2010]

@Karlovacka74 before calling ppl dumasses u have to call ur self that cuz there is no shit called ufo or bullshit who is called alien these are stories for kids dude

[RezViper]

some of those were military aircraft dropping flares and one was obviously a light out of focus in the distance, but that one that looked like a face was kinda creepy :/

[Mrepifany]

I just saw this in atlanta ga where I live about ten minutes ago... The whole sky lit up like a blueish green color... Its a cloudy and overcast evening and it happened at about 912 pm est. it couldn't have been lightning because each flash lasted for about 3 to four seconds and the color was nothing like that of lightning. There were a total of 5 separate flashes. It happene while I was walking my dog.. She acted completely weird and scared after the flashes as well... I'm nervous and confuse

[tonyfanta]

tesla

[Rezmic]

Because UFO's are much more logical than slow balls of lightning. >.>

[Karlovacka74]

These are ufos dumasses. I saw ball li... in Canada once and it was nothing like this, it was probably 40feet from our car and travelled at a similar angle but 100 TIMES FASTER AND IMAGINE U WERE THE KID DRIVING IN THAT MOVIE BACK TO THE FUTURE.

[HaloMaster441]

there are WAY!!! to many electrons in the air then if thats heppening

[w1ndmeta1]

or what they call flying saucers...

[AdvancedPro1341]

I would like to try 04:09

[deadelitezealot]

@TheJustinPictures saying aliens dont exist is like saying ghost dont exist or gods dont exist you cant proof it