For the first time, scientists managed to direct lightning bolts with a laser in nature

It was placed near a 124-meter-tall telecommunications tower, which is struck by lightning about 100 times a year.

The scientists fired fast laser pulses into storm clouds for more than six hours between July and September. Instruments set up to record lightning strikes showed that the laser deflected four upward lightning discharges during the experiment.

Only one lightning strike on July 21 occurred in clear enough conditions for researchers to film the lightning’s path from two directions using high-speed cameras several kilometers away. The video shows that the lightning current followed the path of the laser for about 50 meters. This suggests that the impulses helped drive the shock. The laser deflects the lightning bolts, creating an easier path for the electrical discharge to flow.

The laser is powerful enough to endanger the eyes of the pilots flying the plane at the time. Air traffic over the experimental site was closed during the experiments.

But scientists believe the technology can still be useful, as launch pads and airports often have designated no-fly zones. “It’s important to consider this safety aspect,” Howard points out.

More powerful lasers operating at different wavelengths could direct lightning to even greater distances and deflect it before it becomes a hazard.