Behold: The world's largest Tesla coil

Electrical engineer Greg Leyh built the giant Tesla coil in this video, and wants to construct an even larger version: Two 10-story-high towers that would send lightning zinging across an area the length of a football field. New Scientist interviewed Leyh, to find out what the point of this is (besides the obvious inherent awesomeness):

Lightning can break down air up to five times more easily than normal electric arcs [between two oppositely charged rods in the lab], using tricks we don't yet understand. However, recent theories and a few tantalising experimental results suggest that normal arcs start to gain lightning-like abilities once they grow past about 60 metres in length. If we can build a machine this large, we'll very quickly arrive at a better understanding of what's going on.

A couple of weeks ago, Pesco pointed out that you can actually donate money towards making this project happen. Double awesome!

Maggie Koerth-Baker is the science editor at BoingBoing.net. She writes a monthly column for The New York Times Magazine and is the author of Before the Lights Go Out, a book about electricity, infrastructure, and the future of energy. You can find Maggie on Twitter and Facebook.

Maggie goes places and talks to people. Find out where she'll be speaking next.

MORE: awesome • giant • lightning • Science • tesla

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I’ll take two for my evil moon laboratory of evil.
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“I like big bolts & I cannot die” — guy inside the electrode
David Carroll

That’s Telsa son… T.e.l.s.a.

Homer Simpson

;)
http://twitter.com/digitalArtform Joseph Francis

So what would you little maniacs like to do first?
bcsizemo

I’m curious to know why he thinks his setup will work better than what the Russians have? They have created arcs over 400+ feet, so it looks like they would be in that “lighting” range.
snagglepuss

Well, I guess I know what I’M getting for christmas this year.
- Donald Petersen
  
  No doubt you’re well-loved. But are you really that well-loved?
  
  If so, I want your family.
10xor01

1.21 Gigawatts!
ocker3

What could go wrong??
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/L2ZN6W5WHYVOAWIAIRYFOJPJZE Jayarava

Years ago I bought a 15kV neon sign transformer. I used to run a ‘Jacobs Ladder’ of it. In a closed room the ozone built up to choking point within 1-2 minutes. What must the ozone output of a monster Tesla Coil be?
http://echofox3.blogspot.com efergus3

But can you use it to pop microwave popcorn bags?
Rod Kratochwill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLblNZNuF-c
Petzl

I’m willing to bet this dude has Level 27 in both Conjurations and Air Magic.