Story
A static electricity mystery comes to the surface
Key takeaway
The buildup of static electricity on identical materials is driven by carbonaceous molecules stuck to their surfaces, a surprisingly complex process with implications for static discharge in everyday objects.
Quick Explainer
This news item reports on a scientific study that found a thin layer of carbon-rich molecules on the surface of materials can alter how they exchange electric charge, suggesting surface contamination plays a major role in the phenomenon of static electricity.
