Raindrops Are Tiny Lightning Bolts, Study Finds

1:03 AM ETDeveloping

Science Desk

In Short: A new study reveals that raindrops carry electrical charges large enough to damage surfaces, challenging traditional explanations for corrosion.

Raindrops are not just water; they are tiny lightning bolts, capable of causing significant damage to surfaces, according to a new study. The research, led by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, has shown that water drops routinely arrive at a surface carrying an electrical charge large enough to punch through an insulating coating.

The study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, challenges the traditional explanation for why rain causes corrosion, which is that water carries dissolved salts and acids to a surface, constant drumming of raindrops abrades whatever protective coating is on it, and oxygen does the rest. Instead, the researchers found that the electrical charge carried by raindrops can directly damage surfaces.

The phenomenon, known as 'slide electrification,' has only been properly quantified in the past few years, according to Ars Technica. The study used a technique called intracellular recording to measure the electrical responses of individual photoreceptors in four bee species and both sexes of each. The reason for this electrical charge seems to have to do with how energy-producing structures called mitochondria move through nerve cells.

The findings could have significant implications for industries dealing with corrosion, such as automotive and construction. The study's lead author, Zhongyuan Ni, and his team demonstrated that the electrical charge in raindrops is large enough to cause damage, even to surfaces protected by insulating coatings. This means that the traditional methods of preventing corrosion may need to be reevaluated.

The study's results suggest that the electrical charge in raindrops is a previously unrecognized factor in the corrosion process. The researchers found that the charge is present in all raindrops, regardless of their size or composition. This means that even small raindrops can carry enough charge to cause damage, making the phenomenon a widespread issue.

The implications of this study extend beyond just corrosion. The findings could also have implications for other areas of science, such as atmospheric physics and materials science. The study's authors hope that their findings will lead to new methods for protecting surfaces from the damaging effects of rain.

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Sources

Ars Technicalink