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Weekend


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November 2, 2001

Strange But True!

  • A weekly column of incidental information, off-the-wall observations and other random facts about the world.
    • By BILL SONES and RICH SONES, Ph.D.
    Special to the Journal

    Q. Funny thing about lightning is a) it never strikes the same place twice b) if it strikes a place once, it may strike there dozens of times.

    A. Both can be true, depending on the "place" and type of lightning, says University of Florida electrical and computer engineer Vladimir Rakov. The majority of lightning discharges begin in the clouds, with the leader channel extending down in search of a ground termination point.


     
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