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A common phenomenon needs common protection, and lightning is definitely a common phenomenon. Lightning rods are the most common type of protection for buildings against lightning strikes. Back in medieval times, churches were by far the tallest buildings around with their metal and wood steeples that reached forty feet in to the sky. Their height made them a target for lightning strikes. When lightning struck, it caused the steeple to explode and become severed. As you can imagine, this was a bit of a problem. This historical problem fascinated Benjamin Franklin. He invented the lightning rod while pursuing a solution to this odd occurrence. But just how did he do it? He didn’t simply go look in a textbook. He didn’t think of it off the top of his head either. Rather, the brilliant inventor executed an action we know as “The Electrical Kite Experiment”. It took him over five years of research and experimentation, but he finally was able to test his theory. Test it he did! His original plan was to put a lightning rod on top of a church, but his patience wore out after delays. So, he decided to fly a kite with a metal key on the end in a thunderstorm to attract electricity. Contrary to popular belief, he did not almost fry himself. Instead, he led us to one of the greatest scientific achievements of all time!
Now, with technological advances popping up all over the place, these devices, powered by the very lightning they attract, use ionization to attract the lightning and neutralize it. This deflects the lightning and saves the building from damage! The Opelika and Auburn Newspaper building has one such lightning rod. Their French rod is a new technology that proves that these rods have come a long way since that first kite experiment. If only old Ben could have seen how advanced it is. He would have been blown away!
By: Caleb Sowers
Going to school in the dark – what could be more fun? Turning off all of the lights is exactly what we do at Dean Road Elementary School’s yearly “Art in the Dark”. It is a funktabulous time to come out and see some of the art you and your friends have done that year.
When you enter the building, everything is pitch black. There is even thick black paper covering the walls! The only lighting is the flourescent lights that make the art glow and gleam. Everywhere you look; there is fun, bright, attractive paintings and art pieces!
Each year, every grade does some different types of art. For example, my grade, which is fifth, did a “Starry Night over Auburn” project. It was based on VanGough’s “Starry Night” painting. We got to decorate the ‘prowling tigers’ with different things we like to do. Other kinds of art were displayed, such as third grade’s “Cave Art”. Everything was just awesome!
There are other things to do at Art in the Dark other than looking at art. You can pay a few dollars to eat some food. You can choose from all kinds of stuff – chicken sandwiches, pizza, chips, ice cream, and coke – while the kids go out and play on the playground. The birds were also there to see and feel from the Auburn University Raptor Center.
As you can see, Art in the Dark is a fun time for people young and old. There is always something new for you to do. Maybe you can come next year and join in on the fun, food, and art. Remember to bring your flashlight!