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First spectrum of natural ball lightning published

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Graph of a ball lightning emission spectrum with silicon, iron and calcium peaks
The emission spectrum of the natural ball lightning recorded in China, published in 2014 Olli Niemitalo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chinese researchers published the first spectrum of natural ball lightning, recorded by chance on the Qinghai Plateau in July 2012. It showed silicon, iron and calcium, supporting the idea that vaporized soil feeds the glow. Ball lightning is often offered as a UAP explanation.

Sources

  1. PressFirst Spectrum of Ball LightningPhysics (American Physical Society) / 2014-01-17
  2. OtherObservation of the Optical and Spectral Characteristics of Ball Lightning (Cen, Yuan and Xue), Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 035001American Physical Society / 2014-01-17

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