Large Storms On Earth Are Particle Accelerators

MondoMor writes "Apparently, the atmosphere above Earth's strongest storms acts like a particle accelerator, according to a UC Santa Cruz paper. TGFs (Terrestrial Gamma ray Flashes) may occur as seldom as 50 times a day, 'but the rate could be up to 100 times higher if, as some models indicate, TGFs are emitted as narrowly focused beams that would only be detected when the satellite is directly in their path.' I'm glad the gamma-ray bursts are directed into space."

We already knew TGIFs were dangerous

[zurtle]

Gamma rays? Pfffft!

Last time I was in a TGIF restaurant, I was exposed to all sorts of dangerous things...
Waiters
Loud Americans with cigars
and of course copious amounts of spilled beer.

Not a new idea.

[lecithin]

This dates back to 'The Wizard of Oz' when Dorothy and Toto were accelerated over the rainbow by a large storm.

Re:Free particle accelerator for use!

[PsiPsiStar]

but without having to build a massive building and dealing with constructions costs, red tape, and NIMBY issues.

I don't want these gamma ray flashes in my backyard.

Re:Important!

[LinuxGeek]

Yeah, it sure is a good thing that the atmosphere dosen't go all the way to the ground, we would all perish... Oh, wait.

Re:Not a new idea.

[PsiPsiStar]

This dates back to 'The Wizard of Oz' when Dorothy and Toto were accelerated over the rainbow by a large storm.

Hmm... Mesons, Bosons... I'm missing Totons and Dorons...

Good old Egon'

[AntiPasto]

that frood always talked about partical accelerators... just don't f'in cross the streams!

me too

[ezthrust]

"I'm glad the gamma-ray bursts are directed into space."

No way, if they shot down to earth, then we could ALL be the Hulk.

Re:Space elevators?

[all your mwbassguy a]

thats why we need a space escalator.

Re:Magnetic Field?

[SUB7IME]

Describe the physics that describe the creation of those magnetic fields?

Yes: Bloody difficult.

Re:I am Glad!

[bladesjester]

At this point I get the evil thought of "if only they could be aimed at a terrestrial target..."

hmmmmm....

Ground a tesla coil to my old boss' office chair
OR
Fry him with radioactive lightning....

Option 2 just sounds like more fun.

Shame it can't be done... =]

So it just may be then

[toddhunter]

The the Earth is not only a giant computer, but a particle accelarator as well? Pretty versatile planet really.

What about aliens, though?

[ari_j]

I'm glad the gamma-ray bursts are directed into space.

As am I, but I fear that these bursts of gamma rays are the real reason nobody's made first contact with us yet. It's kind of like when you go around town looking for a restaurant, you generally avoid the restaurants that bullets fly out of when you're pulling into the parking lot, opting instead for a restaurant where you can get at least to the hostess or maybe even your table before anyone shoots at you.

It's the same thing at work, here. Aliens do not want to share their warp drive technology with a planet that blasts them with gamma rays every time they fly by.

Re:A fingerprint?

[ari_j]

It's too bad empirical evidence points to his insightful, interesting, underrated, informative, and potentially funny comment being modded down despite fitting every positive moderator point the site offers. ;)

Re:Space elevators?

[FuturePastNow]

Pfft. Lazy ass, I use the stairs.

Re:Obligatory

[techno-vampire]

In Soviet Russia, the subatomic particles are made out of you!

Five points from Slytherin, for making a pointless joke about Muggles.

Fools!

[LaminatorX]

These are not "naturally ocurring phenomena," as these simpletons posing as scientists seem to believe. Yes there is something in the tops of these thunderheads interacting with the ionosphere, and when I have it perfected everyone who laughed at my theroies will see what terrestrial gamma emissions are REALLY about!

.

.

Especially the accursed Reed Richards.

Re:We already knew TGIFs were dangerous

[Alien Being]

1. expand TLA as needed.
2. craft dumb joke about the US
3. profit

Re:Not a new idea.

[Dabido]

Whouldn't it be closer to:

Nuc-lions, Tigons and Bearyons! Oh,my!

(Okay, a bit of massaging of Nucleons and Baryons to make a better fit!) :-)

Re:Images of these gamma bursts

[pb]

... and purple horseshoes.

David Smith was my Prof...

[Calsat]

I had David Smith last quarter for Mechanics! Good prof... The man has a thing for chickens, though... It's unhealthy... He came to class the day before finals in a chicken suit. He also drew himself in a loincloth in one of the problems on the final. To be fair, he was Tarzan. Hmm, maybe I'll go to his office hours and talk with him about this research...

Re:Mystery Spot

[ultramk]

Uh, yeah...

I leave near there. It's situated on a hill where you don't really have any reference points for what's uphill/downhill. The shack itself was carefully designed in the '20s to fool your sense of perspective. It's just like a hundred other roadside attractions in out-of-the-way places. Just some optical illusions.

BTW, I remember a few years ago when some girls I knew were visiting from out of town, and asked me if I knew where the Mystery Spot was... (of course, I told them that I most certainly did--at least, according to my ex-girlfriend anyways...)