Show Strange Facts I S Curtain of Fire I C Stops Radio A A CURTAIN of fire is one of natures nature's great electrical mys mys- teries In northern latitudes at certain times beams and flashes of dazzling brilliance play across the sky Sometimes it is like giant searchlights from beyond the rim of the world The dis dis- discharge discharge discharge charge of light is 50 to miles above the earth With it comes a noise a low crackling sound like the rustle of silk believed to be made by the aurora borealis On January 25 1938 1038 the people of London came running from their houses believing that the whole city was afire All over Europe fire engines rushed to put putout putout putout out nonexistent non fires Even Wind Wind- Windsor Windsor Windsor sor castle was thought to be burn burn- burning burning burning ing to the ground as the fire de de- department department de- de department raced to the scene On that night from to p p. m. m the most brilliant display cl of aurora borealis in 50 years was seen over a wide area of northern Europe extending even to Italy and Portugal Between New York and Europe wave short-wave radio went dead The cause of natures nature's most beautiful ul mysterious and at times most terrifying phenomenon is unknown Scientists believe the rays are due to discharges of ot elec elec- electricity electricity in the upper atmosphere and are in some unknown way related to sun spots Sun spots are dark spots on the face of the sun seen only through a tele tele- scope They look like cavities and from the rim of these cavities rise whirling flames Some scientists believe the sun spots are giant fiery whirlpools that move across the face of the sun They seem to cause magnetic storms which in turn disrupt radio communication tion and also some scientists be be- believe believe believe lieve affect the weather on the earth O 4 Britannica Junior |