Re: Teslas Ball Lightning

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Brett Miller <brmtesla2@xxxxxxxxx>

Chris,

> In conclusion, efforts to classify ball lightning as
> an illusion
> represents an undesirable philosophy in science.

Reason and critical thinking are why science has
illuminated the path for humanity so well over the
centuries.  Skepticism is essential for the scientific
method to whittle out the bunk.

> This philosophy is
> the rejection of difficult problems in nature by
> denying the
> existence of phenomenon and its evidence, providing
> a physiological
> or psychological explanation.

A profound misunderstanding here.  Actually the burden

of proof is on the claimant, not the skeptic,
moreover, skeptics don't deny the existence of
phenomenon and proposed evidence.  At worst they
highly doubt it.  "I could be wrong...but I rather
think not."

> I've never seen ball lightning, other than my
> spherical discharges,
> but as a true scientist, I can not deny its
> existence just because I
> cant see it.

Quite.  But millions of people say they see the virgin
Mary, but I still sincerly doubt she has been making
regular visits.  Anecdotal accounts are not admissable
evidence.  In court perhaps, but not in science.

> Some more graphite particles:-
>
> http://www.hackinghardware.com/tesla/graphite.jpg
> http://www.hackinghardware.com/tesla/graphite1.jpg
>
>
> Before the discovery of electron tunnelling stars
> could not exist
> because they were not hot enough to allow particles
> to overcome the
> electrostatic repulsion.

Yes.  And when you or someone creates a model for ball
lightning which makes testable predictions and we
finally harness it, everyone will know ball lightning
exists too.

That reminds me, I have actually seen one form of it,
and it lasted quite a while.  I was messing with
pulling vertical arcs off of a big MOT with a tungsten
rod attached to a 4' PVC handle.  Maybe I can video
that and submit my photos to the list soon.  I admit
I'm skeptical about ball lightning being anything as
magical as the reports say, but it'd be funny if I
blew the lid open and had to eat my words.

Cheers,

-Brett


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