Why are transient luminous events so rare? In this video, I respond to a question from @giangnguy1 and dig into the physics behind sprites, jets, elves, and other strange flashes in the upper atmosphere.

Along the way, I talk about why lightning appears white, how different gases produce different plasma colors, and what determines how plasmas are generated here on Earth and in space. I also zoom out a bit and compare familiar atmospheric plasmas to the much broader world of space plasmas, where the rules can look very different from what we see in the lab or in thunderstorms.

I also share a story about Serpent Mound in Ohio and why it makes me think of the Aurora Borealis. It’s a mix of plasma physics, natural phenomena, and a little human interpretation of the sky.

If you enjoy conversational science and plasma physics explained without hype, subscribe and join the discussion.

#Plasma #Lightning #TransientLuminousEvents #Sprites #AuroraBorealis #SpacePlasma #AtmosphericPhysics #ScienceExplained