Editing Ball lightning (section)

=== Silicon experiments ===
Experiments in 2007 involved shocking [[silicon]] wafers with electricity, which vaporizes the silicon and induces [[oxidation]] in the vapors. The visual effect can be described as small glowing, sparkling [[Orb (optics)|orbs]] that roll around a surface. Two Brazilian scientists, [[Antonio Pavão]] and [[Gerson Paiva]] of the [[Federal University of Pernambuco]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufpe.br/ |title=Universidade Federal de Pernambuco |publisher=Ufpe.br |access-date=13 July 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090621072728/http://www.ufpe.br/| archive-date= 21 June 2009 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref> have reportedly consistently made small long-lasting balls using this method.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufpe.br/new/visualizar.php?id=5005 |title=Pesquisadores da UFPE geram, em laboratório, fenômeno atmosférico conhecido como bolas luminosas |publisher=Ufpe.br |date=16 January 2007|access-date=13 July 2009 |archive-date=20 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220115152/http://www.ufpe.br/new/visualizar.php?id=5005 }}</ref><ref name=NGN>{{cite news|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070122-ball-lightning.html|title=Ball Lightning Mystery Solved? Electrical Phenomenon Created in Lab|last=Handwerk|first=Brian|website=National Geographic News|date=22 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210072832/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070122-ball-lightning.html|archive-date=10 February 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> These experiments stemmed from the theory that ball lightning is actually oxidized silicon vapors ''(see [[#Vaporized silicon hypothesis|vaporized silicon hypothesis]], below)''.