# The introduction of a lightning physicist **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 21, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459 "2021-04-21T15:28:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GeneralTang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/97f17d/32.png) [@GeneralTang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GeneralTang)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/1 "2021-04-21T15:28:10Z")
Hi all, I’ve been lurking on this board for some time, and have just decided to make an account and actually participate. A little about myself. I’m a physicist. I got my PhD in Florida about four years ago studying lightning. I now have a research position in the Netherlands studying lightning, and am enjoying a reasonable amount of success. I love talking about lightning, so please ask if you have any questions about it! Otherwise, I enjoy philosophy, trying to figure out how stuff works even outside of physics, and getting angry at politicians. So I hope I am able to fit in here! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/2 "2021-04-21T15:31:01Z")
Welcome. Can we get another flavor other than orange? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/3 "2021-04-21T15:34:31Z")
Welcome! I, for one, look forward to seeing where your participation takes us (and you, of course). What were some of the most interesting observations about lightning that you made while pursuing your PhD? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/4 "2021-04-21T16:19:37Z")
Welcome to the board and is orange Tang still a thing? Is your most common question about lightning striking twice? And do you have a canned smartassed reply? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/5 "2021-04-21T16:31:47Z")
Welcome to the Dope! As a lightning scientists, what do you believe would be the best and safest path to obtaining lightning-based super powers? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/6 "2021-04-21T16:34:16Z")
I assume in a few seconds we’ll be hearing from a thunder physicist. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/7 "2021-04-21T16:35:36Z")
Welcome to the boards! Years ago I was talking with a very educated and intelligent adult during a thunderstorm, and I mentioned something about knowing how far away a lightning strike was by the time between the light and the thunder, and after several moments of total confusion realized they didn’t know that lightning and thunder had any connection to one another. Ever since I’ve made a point of teaching this science fact to my classes. Anyway, I’m glad you’re here, and trust your contributions to board knowledge will be enlightening. ---
**Author:** ![half-elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@half-elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/half-elf)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/8 "2021-04-21T16:49:35Z")
ISWYDT! 🤣 🤣 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/9 "2021-04-21T17:17:40Z")
Someone has to ask about ball lightning, right? What’s up (pun intended) with that? Brian ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/10 "2021-04-21T17:17:50Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Welcome to the board and is orange Tang still a thing? I thought he might have his own chicken dish. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/11 "2021-04-21T18:22:00Z")
Flash-cooked no doubt! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![blabbermeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9a140/32.png) [@blabbermeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blabbermeister)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/12 "2021-04-21T18:46:45Z")
What’s the difference between lightning and electricity? You don’t have to pay for lightning. Welcome! I’m sure we’ll get a real “charge” out of talking to you. Glad you joined this forum! ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/13 "2021-04-21T18:50:09Z")
Welcome! Can the colour of lightening be affected by the composition of the atmosphere? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/14 "2021-04-21T19:12:27Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Welcome. Can we get another flavor other than orange? And can we get a sprite with that? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/15 "2021-04-21T19:59:59Z")
How long do you have to “study” lighting to realize you flip the switch one way to turn it on, and the other to turn it off? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/16 "2021-04-21T20:08:21Z")
I hope he hasn’t _bolted_ out of here already. That would be a _strike_ against the Doper community. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/17 "2021-04-21T20:18:35Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I hope he hasn’t _bolted_ out of here already. That would be a _strike_ against the Doper community. - \< claps \> ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/18 "2021-04-21T20:35:41Z")
I’d be shocked! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/19 "2021-04-21T20:36:53Z")
Hopefully, he’s not too thor about all the puns. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2021, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459/20 "2021-04-21T21:10:53Z")
Since s/he said they’ve been lurking a while presumably they accept the risk of puns. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-introduction-of-a-lightning-physicist/940459.md?page=2)