Can earth levitate ?

Question

second hand alien encounter : Entry for 02 July 2008

My parants saw bits of earth flying into the sky without air terbulence ,

Floating like rafts in a slow river strait into the sky,

As i was called later i only saw black dots high into the sky,

I was unable to photograph it as it was a set of pin sized dots floating high in the sky,

and not moving arround quickly just a few miles an hour

there where no special winds or tornadoes in our area of france !

( like flying dragons from china )

Answer 1

In theory, it could.  You'd need very small grains, very dry conditions and lots of static electricity.

If the grains are small enough (not much weight) and all carry the same static charge (they will repel each other), then they will seem to float in the air.

Once in the air, the "Brownian movement" of the air molecules will help them stay separate.

However, the least bit of humidity normally "shorts" the static charge and the phenomenon does not last very long.

You also need a strong, sudden source of static electricity.

Lightning can sometimes provide the charge, but it is often associated with strong winds and rain (the water would tend to kill the effect -- the wind would hide the static effect and the Brownian movement).

Answer 2

I see what you mean .. if I look out of my window RIGHT NOW I can see HUGE BLACK things floating in the sky ... some have grey edges and also there are some white bits around the edges ...

I'm going to have to shut my window now because it's raining ...

Answer 3

I don't think this question deserves to be under "science" but more something like "superstitions".

Answer 4

These are floaters in your eyes. I get them all the time.

Answer 5

You couldn't photograph it.  What a shock.  Another unsupported hoax.

.

Answer 6

Earth is already levitating in space.