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Raindrops are tiny lightning bolts, and they’re corroding cars, study finds
Confirmed
In Short: A new study suggests that raindrops contain tiny electrical charges, potentially causing corrosion in vehicles.
Raindrops, it turns out, are not just water but also tiny lightning bolts, according to a recent study. The phenomenon, known as "slide electrification," has only been properly quantified in recent years. Researchers at Lund University and the University of Adelaide used intracellular recording to measure the electrical responses of photoreceptors in bees, indicating the presence of electrical charges in raindrops. This finding could explain why cars are corroding at an accelerated rate, as these electrical charges interact with metal surfaces.
The study, which has only begun to explore the implications of slide electrification, suggests that the electrical properties of raindrops could be a significant factor in the corrosion of vehicles. Further research is needed to fully understand the extent of this phenomenon and its impact on infrastructure and materials. Background: Slide electrification, a phenomenon where raindrops become charged as they fall, has only recently been quantified, highlighting the complex electrical interactions in nature.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- The starting point of the study is a phenomenon called “slide electrification,” which has only been properly quantified in the past few years.
- In the study, Dr. Rigosi and co-authors from Lund University and the University of Adelaide used a technique called intracellular recording to measure the electrical responses of individual photoreceptors — the…