Molly Ayala
Electricity is all around us, from lightning storms to the human body. It is one of the few forces that humans have harnessed for their benefit, powering everything from iPhones to electric stoves. However, electricity is also found in nature, with some animals using it for survival. For example, electric eels produce enough electricity to stun their prey and even kill a human. Bees use electricity to locate flowers, and rays use it to detect prey. The Earth's magnetic field, which protects the planet from solar winds, is also a result of the electric currents generated by the spin of the Earth's iron core. This natural electricity can be harnessed through renewable energy sources such as wind power, hydropower, and solar energy, providing an inexhaustible and environmentally friendly alternative to non-renewable energy sources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lightning | A form of electricity created by the movement of electrons from one cloud to another or from a cloud to the ground |
| Static Electricity | A form of electricity that builds up due to friction or magnetic forces |
| Solar Wind | Charged particles released by the Sun that interact with the Earth's magnetic field to create auroras |
| Magnetic Fields | Generated by electric currents in the Earth's iron core, protecting the planet from solar wind |
| Animal Electricity | Some animals, such as electric eels, use electricity for hunting and defence |
| Human Body Electricity | Electrical signals are sent from the brain to control muscles and other bodily functions |
| Power Generation | Electricity can be obtained from natural sources such as chemical, nuclear, heat, and solar energy |
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What You'll Learn
Lightning
There are different types of lightning, primarily distinguished by whether the discharge occurs between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning is the least common type, but it is the most well-understood due to its accessibility for scientific study. It is characterized by a stepped leader moving downward from the cloud, connecting with a streamer moving upward from the ground. The direction of the conventional electric current determines whether CG lightning is positive or negative, with negative lightning being the most prevalent type.
Positive lightning, which accounts for less than 5% of strikes, involves a positive charge being transferred downward to the ground, while electrons travel upward. This type of lightning does not always originate from the upper positive charge region of a thunderstorm; instead, it may begin as an IC flash within the cloud and exit from the positive charge region before striking the ground. Cloud-to-cloud (CC) or inter-cloud lightning refers to discharges that occur between separate clouds without making contact with the ground.
While lightning has been observed in various contexts, such as along ship tracks and in the contrails of airplanes, capturing and harnessing its energy for practical use remains a challenge. The unpredictable nature of lightning, including the uncertainty of its positive or negative charge, poses significant technical hurdles. Additionally, the economic feasibility of harnessing lightning is questionable, as the amount of energy extracted may not justify the cost of complex capture, storage, and distribution systems.
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Solar wind
The magnetic field generated by the spin of the Earth's iron core protects our planet from the solar wind. Without this protective magnetic shield, life on Earth would likely not exist. The magnetic field also impacts power transmission systems, with transformers providing a path of least resistance for the current produced by magnetic storms. However, transformers are not designed to handle these currents, leading to distortions in the electric waveform and potential power outages.
The concept of a globally interconnected solar-wind power system has emerged as a promising solution to meet future electricity demands while addressing the challenges of rising temperatures and transitioning to net-zero emissions. This interconnected system offers improved energy efficiency, enhanced resilience to climate extremes, and economic benefits. It also helps mitigate the variability of renewable energy sources and promotes energy availability.
The collaboration between The Nature Conservancy, Planet, and Microsoft's AI for Good Lab aims to track the expansion of wind and solar energy sources over time. This data aids planners in making informed decisions about the location and development of new clean-energy projects. However, challenges arise when electric grids cannot accommodate new energy sources or deliver electricity from remote areas to population centres. Trade-offs between open land, farmland, and natural habitats must be considered, and some regions may face limitations in their renewable energy expansion efforts.
Despite these challenges, some regions have made significant progress in adopting solar and wind energy. For example, in the United States, solar and wind energy combined surpassed coal for the first time last year, with solar alone contributing over 80% of new capacity in Texas. California has also witnessed sustained growth in these sectors, with solar and wind expected to generate 35-40% of the state's total electricity by 2030. Internationally, Brazil and Australia have made notable investments in solar and wind energy, while emerging economies like Mexico, Turkey, and Vietnam are rapidly expanding their solar energy capacity.
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Animals
One of the most well-known examples of animals that can generate electricity is the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus). Despite its name, the electric eel is not a true eel but rather a knifefish that belongs to the same family as catfish and carp. These eels possess specialized cells called electrocytes, which act like tiny batteries. When the eel wants to generate a shock, these cells discharge simultaneously, producing a high voltage of up to 860 volts. This powerful electric shock is used to stun prey and defend against predators.
In addition to electric eels, there are other fish species that can generate electricity. Torpedo rays, which are flat and cartilaginous, related to sharks, possess a similar ability to generate high-voltage shocks. Stargazer fish have modified eye muscles that generate an electric current, stunning their prey and protecting themselves from predators. Electric catfish and electric rays are also capable of producing electric shocks.
Some animals, such as the platypus and its relative, the echidna, use electroreceptors in their snouts to detect electric impulses from potential prey. This ability is particularly useful for hunting in deep or murky waters where visibility is limited. Sharks and rays also possess specialized sensory organs called ampullae of Lorenzini, which enable them to detect the electrical fields generated by muscle contractions in their prey, allowing them to locate hidden prey.
Even insects have been known to harness electricity. Bumblebees, for example, create an electric field with their rapidly moving wings, altering the electric charge of flowers. This communicates to other bees whether the flowers have already been visited. Oriental hornets are unique in their ability to convert sunlight into electricity, using specialized yellow tissues to absorb sunlight and brown tissues to generate electricity.
The ability to generate and sense electricity in animals provides valuable insights into the workings of the nervous system, sensory biology, and the evolution of specialized adaptations. It showcases the diverse ways in which electricity can be harnessed in the natural world.
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The human body
The electricity in our bodies is created by chemical reactions between different atoms and molecules within the body. The energy created by chemicals has to do with the composition of the atoms and molecules present. All the elements we take into our bodies, like oxygen, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, have a specific electrical charge—meaning they have a specific number of electrons and protons. Different chemicals are made up of different molecules. How those molecules are bound together and how they react to other molecules near them is how chemicals create energy.
When we eat, the large molecules within our food are broken down into smaller molecules and elements by our digestive system. Those smaller molecules and elements can be used by our cells to do work. That process is called cellular respiration. All of those molecules and elements have the potential to create electrical impulses, depending on the situation within the specific body system at the time.
The concept of using human-generated energy is not new. An American startup has installed streetlamps that draw electricity from sunlight and the footfalls of passersby. Nightclubs have also made use of this kinetic energy, with operators installing kinetic plates on the floor. The more energetically the guests dance, the more electricity is generated.
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Renewable energy sources
Electricity is all around us in nature, from lightning storms to the electric signals our bodies use to communicate with our muscles. However, humans have increasingly turned to "dirty" energy sources such as coal and fracked gas to meet their energy needs. These non-renewable energy sources are not only finite but also harmful to the environment, releasing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide when burned.
Wind power, the largest producer of renewable electricity in the UK and the US, harnesses the kinetic energy of moving air through the use of large wind turbines. These turbines can be located on land (onshore) or in sea- or freshwater (offshore) and convert the kinetic energy of the spinning blades into electric energy.
Solar power, another abundant renewable energy source, generates electricity by capturing sunlight on solar panels in a joint chemical and physical reaction known as the photovoltaic effect.
Bioenergy, or biomass, refers to the burning of organic matter such as plants, timber, and food waste as a fuel source. While this process does release carbon dioxide, these fuel sources are considered renewable because they can be regrown and absorb as much carbon as they emit over their lifespans.
Hydropower, the largest source of renewable energy in the electricity sector, relies on generally stable rainfall patterns to convert the force of water into electricity by spinning a generator's turbine blades.
By transitioning from non-renewable to renewable energy sources, we can reduce our carbon emissions and address the climate crisis.
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Frequently asked questions
Lightning, the Aurora Borealis and Australis, and the electric eel are all examples of electricity in nature.
Some animals use electricity to detect objects around them, which helps them navigate and find prey. Examples include rays, sharks, lampreys, and catfishes. Other animals use electricity to defend themselves against predators or to attack, such as the electric eel.
Lightning occurs when there is a build-up of positive and negative charges in the atmosphere. This build-up of charges creates an electrical charge, and once it is strong enough to breach the insulating air, lightning forms as the electrical charge is released.
Electricity can be obtained from nature through renewable energy sources such as wind power, hydropower, and solar energy. Wind turbines use air currents to transform the kinetic energy of the wind into electricity. Hydropower is a traditional and sustainable practice that uses water power to generate electricity. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity by producing electrons that create a flow of electricity when they move.
