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article by Amanda Stiver

Scientists find that unusual "earthquake lights" have a simple explanation.


Source: sxc.hu/wolflair

Researchers from Rutgers University in the U.S. have discovered why a natural phenomenon called “earthquake lights” or “clear-sky lightning” occurs. Typically seen just before a large earthquake, such as the recent one near Fukushima, Japan, these lightning strikes, have consistently stumped scientists despite knowing of them for over 300 years.

However, the team at Rutgers employed a very basic experiment to explain the phenomenon. A container of cooking flour, tipped back and forth until it developed cracks, produced 200 volts of electric charge. The same experiment with different granulated materials created the same outcome, a new aspect of physics.

They surmise that a similar situation occurs in the soil along fault lines, producing millions of volts of electricity, which then apparently causes lightning in the air overhead. It appears to be a natural early warning of a soon-to-arrive earthquake (James Morgan, “Clue To Earthquake Lightning Mystery,” The BBC at BBC.com, March 5, 2014).

God’s mind

God’s complex creation is sometimes seemingly simple when a certain mechanism is finally understood. Humans have been ignorant for centuries of many explanations of the creation, which, for God, are simple to understand. Our human achievements are paltry compared to the greatness of God’s mind.

“ 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts,” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NKJV).

 

*Note: accompanying image does not represent the phenomenon known as "earthquake lightning."

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