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2. The St. Elmo's Fire Phenomenon
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For millennia, sailors have documented seeing an eerie blue glow dancing atop their ship's masts during sea storms. Mariners have long dreaded as well as appreciated this phenomena, sometimes known as St. Elmo's Fire. Originally named for St. Erasmus, the patron saint of sailors, this electric blue light is really a type of plasma discharge brought on by intense electric fields ionising air molecules. St. Elmo's Fire is a natural occurrence that atmospheric physics can help to explain despite its unearthliness. The nitrogen and oxygen in the air becoming electrically stimulated produces the blue colour. Once thought to as a divine omen, contemporary science has demystified this phenomena and exposed its actual character as an interesting interaction of electrical charges in the environment. St. Elmo's Fire is still seen today not only at sea but also on aircraft wings and towering buildings during thunderstorms, reminding us of the beautiful and occasionally enigmatic ways in which electricity shows up in our environment.
