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Is Ball Lightning caused by Antimatter Meteorites?

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Abstract

ALTSCHULER et al.1 suggest that ball lightning2–5 arises from a concentration of short lived radioactive isotopes produced by lightning and imply a need for radiation measurements near thunderstorms and tornadoes. We wish to report measurements of this type which have been made for about 12 months to test the hypothesis that ball lightning is caused by the annihilation of minute fragments of meteoritic antimatter from the upper atmosphere.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UKAEA Culham Laboratory, Abingdon, Berkshire

    D. E. T. F. ASHBY

  2. UKAEA Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berkshire

    C. WHITEHEAD

Authors
  1. D. E. T. F. ASHBY
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  2. C. WHITEHEAD
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ASHBY, D., WHITEHEAD, C. Is Ball Lightning caused by Antimatter Meteorites?. Nature 230, 180–182 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/230180a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/230180a0

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