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The Air is Heavy with Electricity!

2009-09-04 23:03:14.844457+02 by petronius 1 comments

This is the 150th anniversary of an unusal event: In 1859 a magnetic storm induced by solar flares flooded North America with energy. The Aurora was seen as far south as Havana, while telegraphers in New England disconnected their batteries but continued transmitting messages using the ambient current being induced in the wires! Wired has the story.

P.S.: Bonus points to anybody who can identify who gave the quote in my title!

[ related topics: Invention and Design Astronomy ]

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#Comment Re: made: 2009-09-05 01:50:01.242509+02 by: Chris in Florida

believe this is the source of the phrase:

"An enquiry into the nature and results of electricity and magnetism By Amyclanus"

http://books.google.com/books?...vy%20with%20Electricity!&f=false

Chris in Florida

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