Bert Hickman and physicist friend Todd Johnson creates 'Captured Lightnings' made by blasting a block of acrylic with a 5 million volts particle accelerator, creating permanent patterns that reflect light.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x_m8KN-xLS2m0YrrRR5yTN6btunN7ZTb9WZQ35AEMGN7KfZcExqGbxW8k42Y8n8TxSdFnAxCfaDbPVi75jHACQzmayNoeIs_z3Tioz0SE6t2GGjASIIXG8RK0CT0JfPH2fO9ZyDTe9ra/s1600/01.jpg)
“We were intrigued by the incredible beauty and the physics of Lichtenberg Figures but we were continually frustrated by their scarcity. A group of fellow “Spark Whisperers” (physicists and electrical engineers) decided to conduct independent research into the theory and technique of producing them.”
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzC70vdihb1HWdfTNnLJO7zXhKKS1SsiHx0zDp5xIvR3sTdYgHIFz3AlZ3MeZRTE0GkQ5bNPheRkMBi5y6b0PZ3BOmYGnaLbTDYKn8mUkmYS8goc80cNIL7IN-S3ivscxs4nOr-rymGtpl/s1600/05.jpg)
“To create our sculptures, we rent “beam time” on a 5 million volt particle accelerator. As the accelerator injects huge numbers of electrons inside a clear acrylic plastic specimen, a huge electrical charge (typically 1 – 2.5 million volts) builds inside.”
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwWoBoI-cQSMlVo-8TdVGP4h32GZ-65p_o_1fFsZSA3FoDLE-tHQ8E1SI8HwcdL66i2gkxzFaC8_diwlzhIlsPIpQQwGG5YBYeWiQG-f-zhfh6qv2xL-A_lJHaIM9Y3MUstCHuqnHQAqn/s1600/03.jpg)
He manually creates an escape route for the electrical charge, a weakened path through the acrylic, causing a miniature 'lightning storm'. The intense heat from this miniature lightning creates branching patterns that are permanently captured within the acrylic. These patterns are a ‘fossilized’ chain of microscopic fractures and tubes that reflect light like microscopic mirrors.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJcIG_7SIPcwX0ymBuqKOZgijc0OrOzLnBpaYCxgZo1h-CguWGitQKnNj5pWk4TnGPsWGfoUVmOUxzFkIVWQCEuK_OAzTlOD2gGTXdCvQfrAS6LZ3tOFc4oGc7eojrwrqkXijIy1gpnDD/s1600/04.jpg)
Bert Hickman’s works are scientifically known as Lichtenberg figures, named after German physicist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, who recorded the patterns in 1777.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPqs1KcWZXQL-Sr_KsYbi2faT48xWGePdba2c3ywEUx2Rxvfag17N_L5PIdZYhfKqD5dpTup_23K6-wp8U5H2O23rIOn4mHsDXeztUFn6DOpls1B-Mug9cg42cPtS33o7Gxq6_PIPI-tp/s1600/02.jpg)
The 'Captured Lightning' sculptures are available online for between £17-£299.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUP6aRy-HSShvIgTDf2FKjC6hAwIlVOrcm0J79lUJRu9pX1iEHumQcO4oNdD3dvj0j2iRuwmc5KMX3uJuzSkTUiy72GtyKnNX03muDozxI12EA8Kv1XnS_0z1S8fdw_vtZkF3H6wH8CR8/s1600/02.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5r1jjZC1gC-PZHfXq4XO64uOWacA7myH8zH4BiFSt58uaxNuVJlbZ1vcA-7IUwudSTgwlOxYXoTrYSdsfYPf821fuasf1epQw3xYV9vtgO3WAfD5E5hrKfG0J5-Veb4UyaA-YdJXS_83L/s1600/01.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXtYE1_YZAO79kw0oKZbPAlfPTSonKS4Qt2XNP0LI0GMs-IGYTaMncWaEznarBEmRQ1FTQtwYeXB39Aj9BQrWYkvEdJDQ8vU53jqTEkZk2BSS4PW3zahLCkZWhATzgzpNUcyEkp3OW3qW/s1600/05.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFspKy04DBw0x0RURWNKlSyeOrNf1Pgf07egJxwnJiqXvWGZiWDDlhF92M-AOfjdnOmJw-MxYFWdPsQRiLRScxDED0Za_uTNI88yxLcqFXZ-YDMFCX0fv4MGf-mYDZePT1GEaVK0wlNA3W/s1600/03.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-dlJRodjtpregH0OvZKR5n3wn21IRevR-GbvrLRIU2_8EZOEX6h6pn4LtRMaruL2NOyVFGXZiVzX5ahIEywwSUm8d0MR23BeJFH7XZB3Q5VxfhDFeyN1-cuzhnJCrmAvKcP9CFuBvPgm/s1600/04.jpg)
Check his website: www.capturedlightning.com
Source: dailymail
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8x_m8KN-xLS2m0YrrRR5yTN6btunN7ZTb9WZQ35AEMGN7KfZcExqGbxW8k42Y8n8TxSdFnAxCfaDbPVi75jHACQzmayNoeIs_z3Tioz0SE6t2GGjASIIXG8RK0CT0JfPH2fO9ZyDTe9ra/s1600/01.jpg)
“We were intrigued by the incredible beauty and the physics of Lichtenberg Figures but we were continually frustrated by their scarcity. A group of fellow “Spark Whisperers” (physicists and electrical engineers) decided to conduct independent research into the theory and technique of producing them.”
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzC70vdihb1HWdfTNnLJO7zXhKKS1SsiHx0zDp5xIvR3sTdYgHIFz3AlZ3MeZRTE0GkQ5bNPheRkMBi5y6b0PZ3BOmYGnaLbTDYKn8mUkmYS8goc80cNIL7IN-S3ivscxs4nOr-rymGtpl/s1600/05.jpg)
“To create our sculptures, we rent “beam time” on a 5 million volt particle accelerator. As the accelerator injects huge numbers of electrons inside a clear acrylic plastic specimen, a huge electrical charge (typically 1 – 2.5 million volts) builds inside.”
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwWoBoI-cQSMlVo-8TdVGP4h32GZ-65p_o_1fFsZSA3FoDLE-tHQ8E1SI8HwcdL66i2gkxzFaC8_diwlzhIlsPIpQQwGG5YBYeWiQG-f-zhfh6qv2xL-A_lJHaIM9Y3MUstCHuqnHQAqn/s1600/03.jpg)
He manually creates an escape route for the electrical charge, a weakened path through the acrylic, causing a miniature 'lightning storm'. The intense heat from this miniature lightning creates branching patterns that are permanently captured within the acrylic. These patterns are a ‘fossilized’ chain of microscopic fractures and tubes that reflect light like microscopic mirrors.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJcIG_7SIPcwX0ymBuqKOZgijc0OrOzLnBpaYCxgZo1h-CguWGitQKnNj5pWk4TnGPsWGfoUVmOUxzFkIVWQCEuK_OAzTlOD2gGTXdCvQfrAS6LZ3tOFc4oGc7eojrwrqkXijIy1gpnDD/s1600/04.jpg)
Bert Hickman’s works are scientifically known as Lichtenberg figures, named after German physicist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, who recorded the patterns in 1777.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPqs1KcWZXQL-Sr_KsYbi2faT48xWGePdba2c3ywEUx2Rxvfag17N_L5PIdZYhfKqD5dpTup_23K6-wp8U5H2O23rIOn4mHsDXeztUFn6DOpls1B-Mug9cg42cPtS33o7Gxq6_PIPI-tp/s1600/02.jpg)
The 'Captured Lightning' sculptures are available online for between £17-£299.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUP6aRy-HSShvIgTDf2FKjC6hAwIlVOrcm0J79lUJRu9pX1iEHumQcO4oNdD3dvj0j2iRuwmc5KMX3uJuzSkTUiy72GtyKnNX03muDozxI12EA8Kv1XnS_0z1S8fdw_vtZkF3H6wH8CR8/s1600/02.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5r1jjZC1gC-PZHfXq4XO64uOWacA7myH8zH4BiFSt58uaxNuVJlbZ1vcA-7IUwudSTgwlOxYXoTrYSdsfYPf821fuasf1epQw3xYV9vtgO3WAfD5E5hrKfG0J5-Veb4UyaA-YdJXS_83L/s1600/01.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXtYE1_YZAO79kw0oKZbPAlfPTSonKS4Qt2XNP0LI0GMs-IGYTaMncWaEznarBEmRQ1FTQtwYeXB39Aj9BQrWYkvEdJDQ8vU53jqTEkZk2BSS4PW3zahLCkZWhATzgzpNUcyEkp3OW3qW/s1600/05.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFspKy04DBw0x0RURWNKlSyeOrNf1Pgf07egJxwnJiqXvWGZiWDDlhF92M-AOfjdnOmJw-MxYFWdPsQRiLRScxDED0Za_uTNI88yxLcqFXZ-YDMFCX0fv4MGf-mYDZePT1GEaVK0wlNA3W/s1600/03.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-dlJRodjtpregH0OvZKR5n3wn21IRevR-GbvrLRIU2_8EZOEX6h6pn4LtRMaruL2NOyVFGXZiVzX5ahIEywwSUm8d0MR23BeJFH7XZB3Q5VxfhDFeyN1-cuzhnJCrmAvKcP9CFuBvPgm/s1600/04.jpg)
Check his website: www.capturedlightning.com
Source: dailymail
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