From: jonesrob@emporia.edu
Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
Subject: Re: Ball Lightning and Fusion
Date: 1 Apr 2004 15:11:09 GMT
Organization: NewsOne.Net - Free Usenet News via the Web - http://newsone.net/
References: <c2laan$5fpv$1@saturn.cs.uml.edu>

>
>Saw a program on the Discovery channel the other night about
>Ball Lightning. There was some talk of some scientists
>thinking that a fusion process was at play here. The show
>didn't appear to be that recent. Have any new attempts been
>made to verify whether Ball Lightning has anything to do with
>a fusion reaction ?.
>If it is a fusion process at work here, how would this influence
>future fusion work if at all ?
>
>Thanks, Adrian.
>

If ball lightning exists (if probably does) and if it is plasma (many
theories say it is but not all) and if it is not continuously being
driven by unseen power sources (some theories have external currents
drive it others microwaves) and if it lasts for more than a fraction
of a second then it might be interesting in that it is confined for so
long. However, most theories say it is a rather cool plasma which makes it
easy to confine. So its of less interest in learning how to confine
a hot plasma. But any knowledge MIGHT be useful.

As for dangerous "radiation" from ball lightning? I'd worry first about
UV.

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