ScienceJune 16, 2026
sferics
ˈsfɪrɪks
Definition
Short-duration electromagnetic pulses generated by lightning discharges in the atmosphere, often captured as crackling or whistling radio interference.
Etymology
The word is a clipped, phonetic contraction of 'atmospherics,' reflecting how these pulses originate from electrical disturbances in the Earth's atmosphere.
In the news
In the article, sferics are described as radio waves that sound like a crackling campfire or toy laser gun, providing raw data that researchers convert into music.
Otherworldly music albums feature space weather data
Read the full article ↗Science News