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Photograph provided courtesy of Steve Albers

Create Your Own Lightning

Here's a safe and easy way to make lightning. You will need a cotton or wool blanket. This experiment works best on a dry, cool night.

Turn out all the lights and let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Put the blanket behind you. Hold your fist out about six inches in front of your face. With your other hand pull the blanket slowly over your head. Make sure the blanket brushes over your hair. Don't let the blanket touch your fist, arm, or face. Keep pulling the blanket until your fist is "undercover".

If the conditions are right, purple sparks will jump from your fist


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