Strange material only ever found in space was discovered after a lightning bolt struck a tree

Geologists have just reported the discovery of an unknown compound created after a lightning strike in New Port Richey, Florida. The finding, published in Communications, Earth, & Environment, has the potential to reveal more about the power and potential danger of lightning. The compound, generally only found in meteorites and space, was discovered by homeowners near the strike and was studied by Professor Matthew Pasek of the University of South Florida.

Professor Pasek stressed the importance of understanding the amount of energy lightning holds, as it would allow us to gauge how much destruction a strike can cause. He cited Florida as the lightning capital of the world and emphasized that lightning can be dangerous, as it is powerful enough to melt rock.

He then explained that the New Port Richey tree had an unusual reaction to being struck by lightning, as the iron near its roots was ignited along with the carbon in the tree, which caused a chemical reaction that produced a glob of fused soil, rock, and organic material.

Prof. Pasek noted that when a tree is struck by lightning, the ground explodes, and the nearby grass dies, creating a scar. He also mentioned that electrical discharge travels through nearby rocks, soil, and sand, forming fulgurites, or “fossilized lightning.”

However, the professor and his colleagues found an unknown, crystal-like material in the New Port Richey fulgurite. The geologist says, “We have never seen this material occur naturally on Earth. Other minerals similar to it have been discovered in meteorites and space, but this specific material is new to science.”

To further study the new mineral, Dr. Tian Feng, a geologist and co-author of the paper, attempted to recreate it in the lab but was ultimately unsuccessful. This inability to reproduce the mineral suggests that it can form only under specific conditions and, if overheated, would change into a similar mineral found in meteorites.

Dr. Feng has suggested that lightning reduction of phosphate could have been a significant occurrence on early Earth. Although this new compound is difficult to produce in the present day, future research may reveal that similarly reduced minerals could have been present and have had an essential role in the development of life on Earth.

Although phosphate-based minerals can be obtained and used for fertilizer, the new material discovered in New Port Richey is unlikely to be utilized this way, according to Prof. Pasek. This is due to the limited material, which would make it an unprofitable endeavor. Nevertheless, the researchers are trying to see if they can get the new material officially recognized as a new mineral by the International Mineralogical Association.

There have been numerous cases of people surviving being struck by lightning. Some have been lucky and have not suffered permanent damage, while others have suffered long-term effects, such as memory loss and hearing loss. Unfortunately, in some cases, the lightning strike has been fatal.

Despite this, there are still instances where people have been able to overcome their injuries and return to their everyday lives. This is often due to the quick action of medical professionals who can provide the necessary treatment and care to those affected. As a result, it is believed that most of those who survive a lightning strike can recover fully, although there can be complications such as scarring and skin discoloration.

Roy C. Sullivan (USA) was an unfortunate victim of an infrequent phenomenon; he was struck by lightning seven times throughout his life. This is an astounding statistic, considering the odds of being struck by lightning just once in a lifetime are roughly 1 in 12,000.

The first strike occurred in 1942 when Sullivan was a Park Ranger in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. The second strike came in 1969, followed by two more in 1970 and another in 1973. The seventh and final strike occurred in 1977.

Despite being struck by lightning seven times, Sullivan only suffered minor injuries, such as burned eyebrows and a few singed hairs on his head. He was, however, known to suffer from depression and paranoia in the years following his last lightning strike. Nevertheless, the thought of being struck by lightning is undoubtedly frightening, and Sullivan’s story serves as a reminder of how rare and unpredictable this natural phenomenon can be.