Weather: Could Humans Control The Path Of Lightning?

Could humans one day control the path of lightning?

New findings published in Science Advances discuss a way to guide electric discharges and even possibly steer them around obstacles through the use of lasers.

For the study, researchers looked to determine whether the self-healing properties of certain shapes of laser beams could be put to use in their experiments.

While electric arcs have previously been used for pollution control applications, machining, micromaching and lighting, potential discoveries could help multiple with the ability to precisely control lightnings' path. However, researchers first needed to pinpoint its direction and the parameters for guidance of the electric arcs.

To do this, they placed an object between two electrodes and observed just how the discharge jumped over the obstacle, returning to the laser guide on the other side without damaging it.

"Our fascination with lightning and electric arcs aside, this scientific discovery holds out significant potential and opens up new fields of research," said Yves Bégin, vice dean of research and academic affairs at INRS, in a news release. "This spectacular proof of concept, which was conducted over a distance of a few centimetres, required the high-power lasers, state-of-the-art facilities, and extraordinary research environment that our professors helped to create at INRS. Being able to work in such cutting-edge labs enables our students and postdoctoral fellows to embark on the path of scientific discovery even while still in school."

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