Lightning in a Box Could Shrink Thunderstorms to Tabletop Size
Penn State researchers propose a tiny, deck-of-cards-sized solid block that could replicate the electrical conditions of a thunderstorm, triggering lightning‑like radiation via a relativistic runaway electron avalanche. The “lightning‑in‑a‑box” is theoretical for now and would require experimental confirmation with common insulating materials; if proven feasible, it could let scientists study lightning at desktop scale, reducing the cost and scale of traditional field experiments.
