Fireball

2000/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Kimika

Fireballs, the luminous ones seen when there is a storm, are rare but real phenomena. The dimensions usually vary between the tennis ball and the beach ball, they last for a few seconds and, according to witnesses, they have a white, orange or blue color, which explode or disappear abruptly.

Scientists have spent years trying to explain these strange phenomena that only happen when there are storms and two New Zealand researchers have just launched an interesting theory: fireballs are silicon chains that believe they are burning.

Silicon oxide and carbon are abundant in the soil and when lightning strikes the ground, the heat generated causes some of these molecules to evaporate forming nanoparticle networks. The particles are unstable so they burn and we see fireballs. This theory explains many characteristics of fireballs, such as why they seem to float in the air — nanoparticles are very light — or why they occur after lightning. Although the explanation of New Zealand researchers may be adequate, further studies are still needed.