Show Strang trance eFa joac c t is sv I 1 curtain of fire 11 0 stops radio A A CURTAIN of fire is one of tl natures great electrical mysteries 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 discharge 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 the people of london came running from their houses believing that the whole city was afire all over europe fire engines rushed to put out nonexistent non existent fires even windsor castle was thought to be burning to the ground as the fire department part ment raced to the scene on that night from to p in the most brilliant display 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 short wave radio went dead the cause of natures most beautiful mysterious and at times most terrifying phenomenon is unknown scientists believe the rays are due to discharges of 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 telescope 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 and also some scientists believe affect the weather on the earth 0 britannica junior |