Why Does Lightning Never Strike in the Same Place Twice? Science Fiction

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Hi, and welcome to Science Fiction.

The show where we take the stuff you thought you knew about science.

And reveal some shocking truths.

Ahhhh!

Today's question, when you're ready, BUD-E.

BURP! Oh, sorry about that, I'm full of chips, so I am.

Today's question comes from Serena in Reenascreena...

Lightning occurs when a powerful electric discharge

moves from one cloud to another, or from a cloud to Earth.

Or from a cloud to my head!

Lightning happens in places where the air is

highly electrically charged.

During thunderstorms, dust storms, near erupting volcanoes -

or when vampires are just about to strike! Argh!

Ugh!

Now, lightning comes in many forms.

Sheet lightning, fork lightning, bead lightning...

And my very own personal favourite, grease lightning!

# Grease lightning... #

Professor, please!

Sorry, love, I was just having an old boogie.

Now, Serena, when lightning goes to ground

it will generally take the shortest route possible.

So, if you're up a tree, on top of a tall building,

on the side of a mountain, in the middle of a thunderstorm,

swinging a golf club, you're probably asking for trouble. Whoa!

So, now you know lightning can sometimes strike

in the same place twice.

And if you hear otherwise,

well, that's just a load of old science fiction.

Wah!

Is there someone making a fry out there, lads?

I swear I can smell something cooking.

SNIFFS It's toast, is it?