Science Lesson from a Christian

Something magical happens when it storms. Something ionic, something neutralizing. Now those words do have meaning. But it's just a science lesson. And not a very good one. I've never studied science outside of a classroom. I've lived it though.

Lightning creates a serene yet debilitating atmosphere. It smells a little bit like space. Burnt steak, spent gunpowder, and maybe even raspberries. Depends where you are in the cosmos and what molecules exist there. But you wouldn't know it until you step into an airlock.

So, what smell does lightning produce and how is that important? Glad you asked! Most people say "Ozone". Which is quite funny because how the heck do we know what ozone smells like? We don't. Well, some of us do. And those are the people we should be listening to. But you've got me instead.

See, a lightning strike creates intense heat which causes nitrogen and oxygen molecules to break apart into individual atoms. When the air cools it allows some of these atoms to recombine forming O₃. Now, Christian Friedrich Schönbein wasn't the first to notice this smell. But he was the first to give it a proper name.

Martinus Van Marum in 1785, noted a peculiar odor during his electrostatic experiments. Schönbein independently noted the same odor and recognized that it wasn't just an electrical effect, but a distinct gas produced during electrical processes. He named this gas "ozone" (from the Greek "ozein," meaning "to smell").

Just in time for the symphony. You see, I'm sitting in the middle of a thunderstorm wondering what's next? Why me? But it's not too bad really. It's peaceful, powerful, scary, and relaxing all at the same time. It's funny how things always come together. The real reason for this today, from me to you, is that there's about to be a great reset. One of the things lightning does is "reset" the atmosphere creating molecules that clean pollutants. Including some greenhouse gases.

It's a natural process that keeps the ball rolling. Uphill, downhill, side to side, doesn't matter. It doesn't care. It's happening whether you like it or not so jump in and get comfy. At the end of the day, when you're ready to throw it all away, let the rain do the talking.

(That means you should keep your head up because lightning is the least of your worries, it's the rain.)