Phys Rev Lett January 2014 PMID 24484145

Observation of the optical and spectral characteristics of ball lightning.

Jianyong Cen, Ping Yuan, Simin Xue

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Peak: 9 in Dec 2023

across 7 sources since Jan 2014

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Jan 2014 – Oct 2025

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What people are saying

The discussions express strong support and curiosity about the research, with examples like references to the 2014 high-speed videos and spectral analysis, along with mentions of the phenomenon's potential reality despite past skepticism. The tone combines technical details, such as DOI references and spectrographic data, with casual comments about the awe-inspiring nature of ball lightning, illustrating a mix of scientific appreciation and genuine fascination.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the scientific validity and significance of the study, showing support for its findings and importance.

InterestHigh interest

Participants demonstrate high curiosity, referencing the phenomenon, related videos, and scientific papers, indicating strong engagement with the topic.

EngagementHigh engagement

Users actively discuss methods, share papers, and question phenomena, reflecting deep engagement and analytical thinking.

ImpactModerate impact

While not revolutionary for society at large, the discussion highlights scientific progress that could influence future research and understanding of atmospheric phenomena.

Abstract in brief

Ball lightning (BL) was observed using two slitless spectrographs from a distance of 0.9 km, generated by a cloud-to-ground lightning strike, and it moved horizontally during its luminous phase.
The study detailed how the size, color, and light intensity of the ball lightning changed over time.
Spectral analysis showed that radiation from soil elements was present throughout the entire lifetime of the ball lightning.]

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Investigation into the Optical and Spectral Properties of Ball Lightning

Ball lightning, observed via spectrographs from 0.9 km during a lightning strike, displayed changing size, color, and intensity. Spectrum analysis revealed soil element radiation persisted throughout its luminous phase.

See the Pattern · Dec 23, 2023 74,471 views

Understanding Ball Lightning: Optical and Spectral Insights from Observations

Ball lightning was observed using slitless spectrographs from 0.9 km during a lightning strike. The study details the size, color, light intensity changes, and spectral characteristics, including soil element radiation…

I Heart This · May 8, 2025 1,872 views

Птенцы харьковской радиоэлектроники

@Ageris1984 · X

@inogorec @sweetbulba https://t.co/j5EdmzqUMa

Jul 27, 2025 · 1 like · 4,285 followers View post →

Kirill Setrukov

@setrukov · X

Если кому надо стать про ШАРОВУЮ МОЛНИЮ с реальной съемкой со спектральным анализом, говорящим о кремниевом объяснении, то пожалуста https://t.co/rLZzn5pOzE

Jul 20, 2025 · 2 likes · 251 followers View post →

DUMPLV

@DayorNightverse · X

@Biggi935 @Alexfromsp13746 https://t.co/FQsChb1if0 Вот ссылка

Jul 7, 2025 · 4 followers View post →

Timofei Yarkin

@1553timmy · X

@Biggi935 @Alexfromsp13746 Они существуют, да даже в научные приборы попадали https://t.co/nQpNE4CQ3h

Jul 7, 2025 · 3 likes · 70 followers View post →

rebas

@_rebas_ · X

@MickWest https://t.co/3u9f47pqZ2 https://t.co/Mp7WrakPrF

Jul 5, 2025 · 414 followers View post →

Aaron Noble

@DotaMasterPro · X

@MLC_StormChaser @walkng_tall @volcaholic1 https://t.co/vJ8aKKWC0G

Jul 5, 2025 · 229 followers View post →

Herman

@herman_suslin · X

@kleschby @konakovskiymoh @Onekdod @XaslerTv Вот научная статья по этому поводу (не супер свежая, но это одно из первых наблюдений спектра шаровых молний): Cen, J., Yuan, P., & Xue, S. (2014). Observation of the optical and spectral characteristics of ball lightning. Physical review letters, 112(3), 035001.

May 16, 2025 · 3 followers View post →

Carl Kolchak’s Ghost

@ckolchacksghost · X

RT @EduardoStella: The Mysterious Phenomenon Of Ball Lightning https://t.co/Z4QB95uMNn a través de @YouTube

Jan 24, 2025 · 2 shares · 11,083 followers View post →

e2s

@EduardoStella · X

RT @EduardoStella: The Mysterious Phenomenon Of Ball Lightning https://t.co/Z4QB95uMNn a través de @YouTube

Jan 23, 2025 · 2 shares · 2,097 followers View post →

e2s

@EduardoStella · X

The Mysterious Phenomenon Of Ball Lightning https://t.co/Z4QB95uMNn a través de @YouTube

Jan 15, 2025 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 2,097 followers View post →

Harriet Carroll: Long Covid Scientific Consultancy

@angryhacademic · X

RT @angryhacademic: Fun fact: whilst hotly ('scuse the pun) disputed, theres growing evidence that ball lightening* is a real thing https:/…

Jan 15, 2025 · 2 shares · 8,787 followers View post →

votoporvox

@votoporvox · X

@carmenporter_ @LuisVanGogh_ https://t.co/wPN2CduoUy

Nov 14, 2024 · 3,037 followers View post →

Repel SpaceThreats

@noworldblackout · X

Ball Lightnings, Identified Plasma Phenomena https://t.co/EVFNfDdSxn #ufo #UAP

Nov 14, 2024 · 59 followers View post →

Al Dragon

@aldragon_net · X

@andrey_sitnik @ondreyka https://t.co/4lZfobkU7g 1) «видео» слишком сильное слово, скорее речь о времяразрешенном спектре одного пиксела; 2) «нечто» существовало ~1.5 секунды рядом с точкой удара обычной молнии, т.е. на рассказы про шаровую молнию как долгоживущий автономный объект вообще не похоже https://t.co/K48OEWS2yX

Nov 6, 2024 · 1 like · 4,243 followers View post →

rebas

@_rebas_ · X

@Itsthedamnguns @Unexplained2020 Articles in top journals with glowing balls of light reported to even show up inside houses and fly around just like in the book. Captured in the wild only recently after reports for thousands of years. https://t.co/Mp7WrakPrF https://t.co/IemNNBA5xh https://t.co/iojgLv0Ep1

Jul 25, 2024 · 414 followers View post →

Harriet Carroll: Long Covid Scientific Consultancy

@angryhacademic · X

RT @angryhacademic: Fun fact: whilst hotly ('scuse the pun) disputed, theres growing evidence that ball lightening* is a real thing https:/…

Jan 15, 2024 · 2 shares · 8,787 followers View post →

Schoolgirl Satellite Bandit

@BanditSatellite · X

Jan 2, 2024 · 206 followers View post →

Fåret - The Sheep

@TheSheep1958 · X

The Mysterious Phenomenon Of Ball Lightning https://t.co/f8wctrIzli via @YouTube

Dec 28, 2023 · 2,241 followers View post →

Joe Mama (parroty)

@JoeMama30741858 · X

RT @Elec_Universe: The Mysterious Phenomenon Of Ball Lightning https://t.co/QuhYJjPmbg | @PatternSeethe https://t.co/Ika1TzlWxq

Dec 25, 2023 · 3 shares · 317 followers View post →

sapherdana

@sapherdana1 · X

RT @Elec_Universe: The Mysterious Phenomenon Of Ball Lightning https://t.co/QuhYJjPmbg | @PatternSeethe https://t.co/Ika1TzlWxq

Dec 24, 2023 · 3 shares · 94 followers View post →

Chester "Snake" Turley

@Nogreatreset1 · X

https://t.co/TLV4A9Q5x2

Dec 24, 2023 · 288 followers View post →

johny

@onceuponattimei · X

RT @Elec_Universe: The Mysterious Phenomenon Of Ball Lightning https://t.co/QuhYJjPmbg | @PatternSeethe https://t.co/Ika1TzlWxq

Dec 24, 2023 · 3 shares · 1,596 followers View post →

Electric Universe

@Elec_Universe · X

The Mysterious Phenomenon Of Ball Lightning https://t.co/QuhYJjPmbg | @PatternSeethe https://t.co/Ika1TzlWxq

Dec 24, 2023 · 5 likes · 3 shares · 5,624 followers View post →

The Constitutionalist

@epiphany68 · X

The Mysterious Phenomenon Of Ball Lightning https://t.co/GpjDVvQkkt via @YouTube

Dec 24, 2023 · 462 followers View post →

:•:permagrin:•:

@ryebur · X

https://t.co/gF2LiIfnNL

Dec 23, 2023 · 534 followers View post →

Standish O'Grady

@Stndsh0 · X

@BobMcGwier_N4HY Paper on an accidental observation: https://t.co/0QZmOqgine Article: https://t.co/1DJa4ZlJgE

Nov 20, 2023 · 192 followers View post →

Рефлексия и снобизм

@Humsterr · X

@verakochius @travmatikov А почему шляпа? Типа вот ссылка на саму работу https://t.co/zTspb7h8n2 В чем шляпность?

Oct 3, 2023 · 1,016 followers View post →

Pawel Zawadzki

@_ShaKann · X

@Faccion @iYaT_TA @RareButHappen @Pplwith1IQ There was even direct observation during storm research: https://t.co/A7kggyjcD5

Jul 3, 2023 · 1 like · 28 followers View post →

Ezequiel Ferrero

@ezeferrero · X

There's a report from 2014 where they've caught one of those things for real and characterized it https://t.co/N9oJ2Dgd9Z

Jul 2, 2023 · 1 like · 1,618 followers View post →

Matthew Manley

@mhmanley · X

@thaxter @skeptoid Yeah, that skeptoid article is from 2010 and is obsolete. Scientists recorded ball lightning on high-speed video in 2014 and got spectrographic data. Their peer-reviewed results were published in journal Physical Review Letters. https://t.co/3LIt82o8OB

Apr 21, 2023 · 214 followers View post →

Jennifer Harrison

@GeneticJen · X

@armoredrobot They got lucky here. You should be able to see some of the images even without full access https://t.co/kqstfYzvSq

Jan 20, 2023 · 12,664 followers View post →

Meteorologist Katie Nickolaou

@weather_katie · X

@BenKurt13 @BornAKang Here is the research paper by the team that captured photos of it

Jan 17, 2023 · 2 likes · 22,780 followers View post →

Harriet Carroll: Long Covid Scientific Consultancy

@angryhacademic · X

Jan 15, 2023 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 8,787 followers View post →

BW(@antixeelee@threads.net)

@AntiXeelee · X

Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 035001 (2014) - Observation of the Optical and Spectral Characteristics of Ball Lightning https://t.co/u6u08AbEI4 球電の観測でPRLも出てるんやね

Jan 10, 2023 · 803 followers View post →

Physical Review Letters

@PhysRevLett · X

#PRLtrending for the week of 2022-02-14 #physics #trending https://t.co/OdhJsIQkTV #open https://t.co/vxy0W47Rbn https://t.co/r2um6jdiTb https://t.co/KpVAerYoAn (2014) https://t.co/BZrx2UxTyG

Feb 14, 2022 · 3 likes · 71,140 followers View post →

Thaddeus Gutierrez

@Fulguritics · X

@cosmos4u @timtfj So you doubt ball lightning? https://t.co/OVGnkVJnsH

Aug 8, 2021 · 326 followers View post →

Thaddeus Gutierrez

@Fulguritics · X

@cosmos4u How does something that doesn't exist also happen to be measured? Ask LIGO or DAMA, I guess. I notice when people who work in pop novelty-seeking subdisciplines, their failure to observe their desired data engenders attacks elsewhere: https://t.co/OVGnkVJnsH

Aug 8, 2021 · 326 followers View post →

Ступінь вільності

@enrica_fermi · X

May 20, 2021 · 7 likes · 1,063 followers View post →

марта

@aradonte · X

May 14, 2021 · 6 likes · 1 share · 4,060 followers View post →

Alejandro Rivero

@arivero · X

Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 035001 (2014) - Observation of the Optical and Spectral Characteristics of Ball Lightning https://t.co/UbZgkuVPog

Oct 31, 2020 · 1,272 followers View post →

Pontus Larsson

@Pontus_1993 · X

@isakskogstad @hanifbali Kolla "Observation of the Optical and Spectral Characteristics of Ball Lightning". Inte den roligaste videon dock.

Jun 29, 2020 · 286 followers View post →

loïc

@amnesic · X

@Astrozgaming @Gourmont_1 @TristanKamin J'ouvre ma fenêtre aussi, mais (j'évite les courants d'air :-) ). La foudre en boule à même été "filmé" par accident par une équipe chinoise ! : https://t.co/BcG6XWEAiQ

Jun 17, 2020 · 182 followers View post →

@partizan@twiukraine.com

@partizan · X

RT @dary_fedoreev: @gumballbitch b-but... https://t.co/JYiKmSaHXK

Jun 13, 2020 · 2 shares · 680 followers View post →

Manifestus

@Manifestus_G · X

RT @dary_fedoreev: @gumballbitch b-but... https://t.co/JYiKmSaHXK

Jun 9, 2020 · 2 shares · 126 followers View post →

стэн аккаунт юсуке китагавы #нетвойне

@dary_fedoreev · X

@gumballbitch b-but... https://t.co/JYiKmSaHXK

Jun 9, 2020 · 40 likes · 2 shares · 34 followers View post →

Vjačeslavs Kaščejevs

@SlavaVK · X

Jun 9, 2020 · 13 likes · 10,632 followers View post →

Kar Karych

@DKarych · X

@nvm_lj Где, где, там же где и всегда. А их фотографии и спектры в топовых журналах https://t.co/BC9ES8Xe1B

Jun 2, 2020 · 1 like · 4 followers View post →

Loïc A. Royer

@loicaroyer · X

@HenriquesLab The natural phenomena itself is likely real though, but still very poorly understood -- way too rare, very few observations and papers: https://t.co/OZK4hR8DB6 Most likely lightning vaporises material that get ionized creating a plasma ball that lasts for seconds.

Jan 7, 2020 · 1 like · 6,454 followers View post →

Brisngr

@Brisngr368 · X

@CDisillusion Here's a real super high Res photo of ball lightning DOI:https://t.co/TDkv28mxrk https://t.co/FbBxBHZx2k

Jan 7, 2020 · 9 followers View post →

Medal of Pizza

@medal_of_pizza · X

@CDisillusion The fact we're not able to replicate it in a controlled environment doesn't dismiss the existence of unconventional plasma, which was also directly measured in 2014 by chance from a Chinese researcher. https://t.co/BDaPqFn4JZ

Jan 7, 2020 · 2 likes · 674 followers View post →

rifletwister8

@I_love_dirtbike · X

@ZonePhysics Is it a ball lightning? https://t.co/rcxtEVe1XC doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001. doi:10.1016/S0262-4079(14)60173-1.

Jan 6, 2020 · 206 followers View post →

seachange_au

@seachange_au · X

Ball Lightning by @duncangeere https://t.co/0UzXZ0pGXF so its silicon that semiconducting stuff which runs computers, the stuff that we have in our peizo electric bones #electricuniverse #lightning cited article with no paywall here: https://t.co/31AeDxFvAj @Sci_hub

May 13, 2019 · 1 like · 1,132 followers View post →

seachange_au

@seachange_au · X

@Sci_Hub haha - I trust you when I see your face and your eyes, and hear your voice. these do not conceal lies well :) but thank you for letting me read some papers for myself and not just rely on the reporting. #electricuniverse #science about ball lightning https://t.co/SEHZl6SpjG

May 13, 2019 · 1 like · 1,132 followers View post →

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org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001) podpírají hypotézu křemíkového plazmoidu (https://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ball_lightning ...

Dec 12, 2025 View →

High voltage magic - Tesla technology research

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... ://journals.aps. org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001) podpírají hypotézu křemíkového plazmoidu (https://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Ball_lightning ...

Dec 12, 2025 View →

List of Unsolved Problems in Physics | PDF | Quantum Mechanics ...

News

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001. Retrieved 19. January 2014. [57] Ball, Philip (17 January 2014). Focus: First Spectrum of Ball Lightning. Focus (American ...

Dec 12, 2025 View →

Vladimir Hedrih WEB | PDF

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https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001. Chaitin, G. (2005). Epistemology as Information Theory: From Leibniz to Ω *. Chaitin, G. (1974). Information ...

Dec 12, 2025 View →

LENR: The New Name for Cold Fusion | Daniel Ormsbee posted on ...

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001 · Like · Reply · 1 Reaction 2 Reactions. Daniel Ormsbee, graphic · Daniel Ormsbee. Building ...

Oct 14, 2025 View →

Видели ли вы шаровую молнию? : r/Suomi

... 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001. И есть и другие странные явления, которые я бы отнес к той же категории, например, спрайты (Sprites) + ...

Oct 6, 2025 View →

क्या तुमने बॉल लाइटनिंग देखी है? : r/Suomi

... 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001. और भी अजीबोगरीब घटनाएं हैं, जिन्हें मैं एक ही श्रेणी में ...

Oct 6, 2025 View →

เคยเห็นลูกไฟผ่าไหม? : r/Suomi

... 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001. แล้วก็ยังมีปรากฏการณ์แปลกๆ อีกหลายอย่างเลย ที่ผมจัดอยู่ในหมวดเดียวกันได้เลย เช่น สายฟ้าภูต (Sprites) + แสงวาบ ...

Oct 6, 2025 View →

The anomalies from the franchise... : r/metro

... 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001. If that's too difficult there is an article explaining their findings. https://physics.aps.org/articles/v7/5.

Oct 21, 2024 View →

Ball lightning is often considered a scientifically plausible ...

... 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001. We do actually. The best explanation I've heard is it's similar to St. Elmo's fire - ionized air (plasma) ...

Jan 9, 2024 View →

When everyone denies the obvious. Rough/freak waves were ...

... 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001. Upvote 31. Downvote Reply reply

Jun 26, 2023 View →

У ученых до сих пор нет единой теории происхождения ...

Blogs

https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001 "Единственным верным решением будет удаление этого сайта из настроек ...

Feb 11, 2022 View →

Video s guľovým bleskom na Slovensku zdieľali tisíce. V skutočnosti ...

Blogs

Dostupné z: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001. Máte pripomienku alebo ste našli chybu? Prosíme, napíšte na pripomienky@dennikn.sk. Čítať ...

Jun 18, 2020 View →

Head of Pentagon's secret 'UFO' office sought to make evidence ...

... 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001 via https://journals.aps.org/prl/issues/112/3. PDF: http://depa.fquim.unam.mx/amyd/archivero/Articulo ...

Dec 17, 2017 View →

The Pentagon's Secret Search for UFOs: "Funded at the request of ...

... 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001 via journals.aps.org/prl/issues/112/3. PDF: http://depa.fquim.unam.mx/amyd/archivero/Articulo-fenomenos ...

Dec 16, 2017 View →

Artificial ball lightning in a vodka bottle : r/videos

... 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001. (subscription required to view). So these Chinese scientists happened to be measuring something else at the ...

May 29, 2015 View →

Phänomen Kugelblitz: Scharfer Blick in den Feuerball | FAZ

News

Wie Yuan und seine Kollegen nun in der Zeitschrift „Physical Review Letters“ (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001) berichten, war auf den ...

Feb 1, 2014 View →

Kugelblitz geerdet • pro-physik.de - Das Physikportal

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... Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 035001 (2014); DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001 · College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Northwest Normal ...

Jan 22, 2014 View →

The dirty secret behind ball lightning is dirt - Ars Technica

Blogs

Xue, Phys. Rev. Lett. (2014). Text settings. Story ... DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035001 (About DOIs). Listing image: J ...

Jan 22, 2014 View →

Observation of the optical and spectral characteristics of ball lightning.

Mentions per month

Where it's discussed

What people are saying

Abstract in brief

Top posts

All mentions

Investigation into the Optical and Spectral Properties of Ball Lightning

Understanding Ball Lightning: Optical and Spectral Insights from Observations