How to use lightning to charge your smartphone

An average lightning bolt produces between 1,000 and 5,000MJ of energy, which is enough to power a car for about 180 to 910m and therefore definitely enough to charge a smartphone.

At the University of Southampton, scientists simulated such a scenario using a Nokia phone. They reproduced lightning by they running 200,000V through a transformer, resulting in the Nokia phone being charged within seconds. This investigation led the company to research the possibilities of creating wireless charging in the near future.

“The discovery proves that the device can be charged with a current that passes through the air, and is a huge step towards understanding a natural power like lightning and harnessing its energy.” – Neil Palmer