This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
A bolt of lightning can light up the sky – but can its energy be captured to power the lights in our homes?
This was the first question explored in the new podcast “CrowdScience” from the BBC World Service.
In this podcast episode, Marnie Chesterton explores humanity’s history with lightning, how airplanes are protected from lightning strikes, and where most of the thunderstorms occur in the world. She also explores how – while we can capture the energy in lightning bolts – it is probably not worth it.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
To listen to the entire podcast (for free), check out this link:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04dhs91
The CrowdScience team has published a number of other podcasts on energy topics, including:
Home Power Storage: Can batteries power our entire homes – or even help take us off-grid?
Wave Power: Could we generate all our electricity using energy from the sea?
Happy listening!
Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism
Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.
When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.
Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber
