SCIENCE LAB. SCORCH. : PURPLE HAZE

! St. Elmo's miracle !. Setting a forest alight without burning a twig.

WHEN lightning strikes in a thunderstorm people occasionally report seeing eerie ewing violet light coming from the tip of ship masts, church spires and even animal horns.

This ghostly phenomenon is rarely seen and was once believed to be a good omen.

It is nicknamed St. Elmo's Fire.

However, a new study says the violet glow may be pretty common if you know how to look for it. In fact, during thunderstorms, St Elmo's Fire may light up entire forest canopies in a faint, flickering hue.

THROUGH lab experiments and a summer spent chasing storms Mr. McFarland and his colleagues were able to capture photos and videos of weak electrical discharges known as coronae, appearing on the very tips of trees during the thunderstorms.

St Elmo's Fire occur when a strong electric field concentrated along a sharp point, ionizing the surrounding air molecules and creating plasma with a blue or violet glow.

The Publishing continues to Part [ 2 ]. The World Students Society thanks Annie Roth.