Gallery of the Uncommon
scaring lightning, trifle sparks...
In a recent days, one of our beloved power systems researchers went to Brazil on a business trip. You know, one of those boring and monotonous trips, the same as every single one we’re already used to. The airplane takes off from Congonhas (São Paulo), crosses the ceiling of clouds, all seems normal, yet suddenly… something breaks the monotony of the flight.
A loud bang. The airplane shakes violently and strangely. A strange flash, like a bomb exploding. Smoke, seen from the right windows. Needless to say, the passengers acquire a strange shade of white: no one dares to speak; some take a sneak peak at the lifejackets; others try to avidly understand the instructions on the oxygen masks that no one ever reads; in the back, whispers resemble prayers, last minute repenters and believers trusting the power of faith after the harm is done. A clear stench of adrenaline is in the air: it’s panic in the form of tension. The herd hadn’t gotten crazy yet, but any teeny tiny drop would fill the glass and set the chaos of emotions free.
Adding to that, no communication, no intervention from the pilot or captain: were they dead? As is common knowledge, when there’s no explanation, the people will find one – even if the lights hadn’t flickered or the engines continued on full throttle. At last, five minutes after, which felt like twenty, the “dude” in the front cabin finally speaks: “Hey, folks, just to let you know… that noise you heard… nothing much, the airplane was struck by lightning”. And not a single word more: no big deal, after all. But... hey: that’s it? The people panicked: screams, oh dear lords, commotion, confirmed previsions of catastrophe.
Mind: the Power Systems hero was a clear exception. During the entire situation he kept an irritating calmness. His neighbours became annoyed with his explanation: “I mean, Faraday’s Cage? What on earth is that?”
We shrug our shoulders: after all, what’s a lightning bolt but a trifle spark in the life of an expert in Power Systems ?
