In a field located in Scotland, a detector placed inside a box is picking up one of the most enigmatic natural phenomena on the planet: the Schumann resonance. This “electromagnetic heartbeat”, generated by lightning and reflected between the Earth’s surface and the ionosphere, is being monitored by a team from the University of Aberdeen.
Why do you study Schumann resonance?
The Schumann resonance vibrates mainly at 7.83 Hz, a value that curiously coincides with the range of alpha waves in the human brain. Although inaudible, this low-frequency hum is produced when natural electrical discharges, such as lightning strikes, induce small voltage variations in long buried wires. These variations are picked up by the detector, one of the only ones in the UK along with another located in Eskdalemuir.
The scientific purpose goes beyond curiosity: these waves can provide key information about the state of the weather, the effects of solar storms and even their possible relationship to major seismic events. The hypothesis that these frequencies could influence sleep or human mood is also being explored.
A simple box with complex science
Although the detector looks like a simple plastic box, it houses miles of specialized wiring. Its rural location avoids interference from urban infrastructure such as mobile signals or electrical wiring. Each atmospheric discharge leaves a tiny trace that the system records on an onboard computer. Dr. Thasshwin Mathanlal and his team periodically collect this data for analysis and comparison with other sources.
Thunder and lightning create electromagnetic waves described as “the heartbeat of the Earth.” Source: University of Aberdeen
In addition to studying the Schumann resonance, Aberdeen scientists are interested in Alfvén waves, generated by solar storms. Thanks to its geographical location in the north of the United Kingdom, the Aberdeenshire field is a strategic point for monitoring space phenomena that could have implications for the planet and the life that inhabits it.
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Source: University of Aberdeen
Photo: shutterstock
