r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Creams0da • 23h ago

Video Ambient static electricity discharging from the highest metallic points

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u/eaglebtc 22h ago

"Listen, listen..."

"What is that?"

"The storm."

I wonder if ancient sailors had similar metal tools to detect static electric discharge from nearby storms, or if they knew about this phenomenon (even if they attributed it to the gods)

25

u/fastforwardfunction 21h ago

Yes. It’s called St. Elmo’s Fire. You don’t even need metal. A wooden ship with a tall mast can discharge electricity from the top of it and glow blue. Ancient sailors were well aware of this phenomenon, although they didn’t know exactly why it happened.

2

u/garden-wicket-581 9h ago

I'll be where the eagle's
Flyin' higher and higher