Raindrops are tiny lightning bolts, and they’re corroding cars, study finds
Finding reveals an overlooked way that water can damage surfaces.
Scientists have discovered that raindrops can act like tiny lightning bolts, corroding cars and other surfaces. Traditional explanations for rain-induced corrosion involve dissolved salts, acids, and oxygen, but a new study reveals an often-overlooked factor. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Germany found that raindrops carry a significant electrical charge when they strike a surface.
This charge is strong enough to penetrate insulating coatings, rather than just rubbing them away or dissolving them gradually. The study's findings challenge conventional understanding and highlight a previously unconsidered aspect of rain's destructive potential.
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