While lightning storms are certainly powerful, they are actually tame compared to the energy that can be involved in electric discharges in space. One place to look for extreme electrical flows is the spinning dense core of dead stars known as neutron stars. These objects whirl around at incredibly high speeds and also have very strong magnetic fields. This creates enormous electrical voltages – as in more than a trillion volts. When these cosmic super-generators release these giant amounts of energy, they can light up clouds that extend for trillions of miles. That’s what’s happening in the object known as PSR B1509-58, a rapidly spinning neutron star that’s only 12 miles wide. The electric discharge from that little neutron star is responsible for creating a beautiful nebula that glows in X-rays spanning for over 150 light years.
So while most of us use electricity every day without thinking about it, maybe take a moment to look around. The effects of electric discharge are all around us. This simple act of electricity flowing from one point to another is responsible for so many phenomena in our lives here on Earth and beyond that it deserves a little extra attention.
