Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Lightning in astronomy

Nature volume 252, pages 539–542 (1974)Cite this article

The author suggests that evidence for lightning on a grand scale in astronomy is most convincing. It might explain stellar flares, cosmic jets, quasars, galactic evolution, and much more. In this model, electrical charges accumulate in apparently highly conducting atmospheres.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Kahn, F. D., Nature, 242, 156 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bruce, C. E. R., E.R.A. Report 5275 (The Electrical Research Association, Leatherhead, Surrey 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bruce, C. E. R., in Penguin Science Survey 1968 Physical Sciences, (edit by Valéry, N.), 170–186 (Penguin, Harmondsworth, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bruce, C. E. R., in Problems of Atmospheric and Space Electricity (edit by Coroniti, S.), 577–586, (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Uman, M. A., Lightning, (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1969).

  6. Lovell, A. C. B., and Mavridis, L. N., Nature, 250, 124–125 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hemenway, C. L., Hallgren, D. S., and Schmalberger, D. C., Nature, 238, 256–260 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bray, R. J., and Loughhead, R. E., Sunspots, 65 and 123 (Chapman and Hall, London, 1964).

  9. Crew, E. W., Electronics and Power, 18, 426 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Arzimovich, L. A., Elementary Plasma Physics, 3 (Blaisdell, Waltham, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Severny, A. B., Nuovo Cimento, 22 Supp. 428 (1961).

  12. Danielson, R. E., Astr. J., 134, 294–288 (1961).

  13. Danielson, R. E., Astr. J., 134, 289–131 (1961).

  14. Bruce, C. E. R., Nature, 187, 865–866 (1960).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Wood, K. D., Nature, 240, 91–93 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Burbidge, G. R., and Burbidge, E. M., Nature, 224, 21–24 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bruce, C. E. R., Nature, 184, 2004–2005 (1959).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Calder, N., The Violent Universe, 96 (British Broadcasting Corporation, London, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Fowler, W. A., Q. Jl R. astr. Soc., 15, 82–106 (1974).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hey, J. S., The Radio Universe, 202–203 (Pergamon, Oxford, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 26 St David's Drive, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, EN10 7LS, UK

    E. W. Crew

Authors
  1. E. W. Crew
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Crew, E. Lightning in astronomy. Nature 252, 539–542 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/252539a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/252539a0

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing