{"id":7228,"date":"2012-06-24T23:13:58","date_gmt":"2012-06-25T06:13:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thunderbolts.info\/wp\/?p=7228"},"modified":"2012-06-28T20:07:14","modified_gmt":"2012-06-29T03:07:14","slug":"rime-of-the-ancient-water-bridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thunderbolts.info\/wp\/2012\/06\/24\/rime-of-the-ancient-water-bridge\/","title":{"rendered":"Rime of the Ancient Water Bridge"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The floating water bridge. Credit: Fuchs homepage<\/p><\/div>\n

June 25, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n

Discoveries in space plasma may provide an explanation for a century-old mystery.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sir William Armstrong, an English hydraulics engineer, first observed the floating water bridge in 1893. It defied explanation and was ignored until recently. Findings in space plasma that have renewed attention to plasma\u2019s electrical properties, a matter which itself has been neglected for a century, may provide an explanation<\/a> that has been sitting in plain sight all along.<\/p>\n

A water bridge<\/a> is simple to produce. Two containers of pure water are set an inch or less apart. An electrode is inserted into each one, and a high voltage is struck between them. In short order, a spinning tube of water will stretch across the gap in defiance of gravity.<\/p>\n

While the phenomenon and its possible explanation are interesting (and may be pursued in the links), this writer will for a moment prescind from the science and comment instead on the century of neglect. (My apologies to Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his ancient mariner.)<\/p>\n

Confounded the theories, confounded the texts,
\nProfessors were in dismay;
\nWe did speak of phenomena
\nAnomalous and fey:<\/p>\n

All in two electrified cups
\nWith voltage high between,
\nFloating right across the gap
\nA water bridge was seen.<\/p>\n

Day after day, day after day,
\nFor a hundred years and more,
\nRespected theorists denied the sight:
\n\u2018Twas heresy, they swore.<\/p>\n

Water, water, floating there,
\nWhat mystery doth it veil?
\nWater, water, floating there,
\nAnd all the theories fail.<\/p>\n

Our settled knowledge overthrown!
\nThat ever should this be!
\nUnorthodox the thoughts that rose,
\nFrom peer review set free.<\/p>\n

About, about; in reel and rout
\nDid speculations dance;
\nAnd voices shrill argue still
\nThe bridge\u2019s significance\/<\/p>\n

And some in dreams assur\u00e9d were
\nTo utter oaths uncouth:
\nNine fathoms deep in certitude
\nOf orthodoxy\u2019s truth!<\/p>\n

But every observation that
\nWas spurned with scorn and mock
\nRevealed accepted theory
\nTo be a bloody crock!<\/p>\n

Ah! well-a-day! The thing to watch
\nIs the phenomenon:
\nThe water goes its merry way;
\nOur thoughts must follow on.<\/p>\n

Mel Acheson<\/p>\n

\n

Now Available \u2013 New DVDs<\/h1>\n

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Electric Universe 2012:<\/strong>\u00a0The Human Story<\/h2>\n

These are DVD\u2019s of selected presentations\u00a0given at the first annual conference of The Thunderbolts Project in Las Vegas, January 6-8, 2012, entitled:\u00a0Electric Universe 2012:<\/strong>\u00a0The Human Story.\u00a0Each DVD contains two presentations. \u00a0<\/em>See\u00a0Electric Universe 2012 Conference DVDs<\/a>. \u00a0And look for more to come soon.<\/p>\n

Speakers at the January Conference discussed a broad spectrum of topics, including:<\/p>\n