The Air is Heavy with Electricity!
2009-09-04 21:03:14.844457+00 by petronius 1 comments
This is the 150th anniversary of an unusal event: In 1859 a magnetic storm induced by solar flares flooded North America with energy. The Aurora was seen as far south as Havana, while telegraphers in New England disconnected their batteries but continued transmitting messages using the ambient current being induced in the wires! Wired has the story.
P.S.: Bonus points to anybody who can identify who gave the quote in my title!