Imagine shooting lightning out of the sky with the help of lasers. That's exactly what researchers are aiming for. They've created new techniques that bring lasers as lightning rods closer to reality.
When a powerful laser beam shoots through the air, it ionizes the molecules, leaving a thin trail of hot, ionized particles in its wake. Because this stream of plasma conducts electricity, it could be used to channel away a potentially damaging lightning bolt.
In this latest study, the researchers found ways to make the length of such a plasma channel reach more than 10 times longer. This is a necessary advance for using the channel to redirect a lightning strike.
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