Huge scrapyard tech could hurl giant lightning bolts

For years, San Francisco-based electrical engineer Greg Leyh has harboured ambitious plans to build the biggest lightning generator in the world. When New Scientist talked to him in 2006, he was planning to construct two giant Tesla coils that would launch electric arcs crackling across a space the size of a football stadium at an estimated cost of $8.9 million.

Leyh’s hope of funding that project faded when the recession hit. Now he’s trying crowdsourcing to get it up and running within two years. He is seeking donations for the Lightning Foundry, an equally impressive but lower-budget version costing about $350,000. New Scientist asked him about his plans — via redwolf.newsvine.com