Politics
What Happens When an Actor Needs to Pee Mid-Scene?
I’ve been learning more about the urinary habits of celebs recently than I ever thought I would. First, it turned out that loads of singers use a pee bucket backstage if they’ve gotta go mid-concert (yes, really).
And now, it seems some on-screen talent have their own secret code to ask to go to the loo ― at least, that’s according to makeup mogul, singer, motel owner, and RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Trixie Mattel.
In a recent video, the drag star shared the behind-the-scenes secrets of reality TV. “I had to learn on my feet what exactly a TV set was,” the star said in the video ― and that included working out how to nip to the loo.
So, how’s it done?
“Did you know on television when you have to pee… you say, ‘I have to ten-one’, ’I’m taking her to ten-one,’‘she’s going to ten-one,’” Trixie shared.
“It’s a more elegant way of saying ‘go pee,’” the drag star added. “And on a TV set when I was 24 years old, my instinct was to go, ‘will someone take me to pee?’ And they’d be like, ‘you mean ten one?’”
Studio Binder confirms that 10-1 is walkie-talkie lingo for needing to pee ― and it turns out that 10-2 refers to needing to, well, go number two, as well.
They add that if you find you need more time in the bathroom than you’d expected as a TV cast member ― maybe that dodgy food from last night caught up with you out of nowhere ― you can ask to “upgrade your 10-1″ on the walkie-talkie too.
This will buy you more precious alone time.
“I have no idea where that came from,” Trixie shared, referring to the initial 10-1 code. Well, we think we might have answers ― the ten does seem to apply to the ten code, which refers to abbreviated speech you can use across telecoms, and one is, well, going number one.
But why you couldn’t just ask to pee instead is frankly a little beyond me. Perhaps I’m just inelegant…
There’s more pee drama (there’s always more)
This is less specific to TV shows in general and more applicable to drag ― but Trixie brought up the topic of urine again towards the end of her tell-all video.
“This one I’m going to be vague about, but we’re in drag for long days, and drag is very taxing on the body, and sometimes people don’t get to pee,” she said. “And sometimes pee happens… that’s all I’m going to say,” she added.
“I’ve never peed myself on Drag Race,” she pointed out, “but I know it’s happened. Whether or not people have said it happened, I think people have peed their pants and it hasn’t shown on camera so no-one knew.”
Basically, I’m learning that if you haven’t faced a pretty Medieval peeing system at least once in your showbiz career, you haven’t made it big. I knew fame wasn’t for me…
Politics
Zia Yusuf Launches Bizarre Attack On ‘Dishonourable’ Politicians
Zia Yusuf has taken aim at anyone who has the “right honourable” title – the exact honorific style used by several of his Reform UK colleagues.
His attack comes shortly after Reform already suspended one of his most vocal critics, prominent Nigel Farage ally Tim Montgomerie.
Yusuf wrote on X: “Have you noticed the people with ‘Right Honourable’ in their titles are among the most dishonourable people in the country?”
Yusuf’s colleague, Reform’s Treasury spokesperson and Tory defector Robert Jenrick, holds that very title.
The Conservative Party’s official X account tagged Jenrick in a reply on social media, adding: “He means you mate.”
Suella Braverman, a former home secretary who was elected as a Tory MP in 2024 but defected earlier this year, is also a “Right Honourable”.
Other ex-Conservative ministers who defected to Reform but are no longer MPs – Nadhim Zahawi, Nadine Dorries and Jake Berry – would have been targeted by the same X post, too.
The style means someone was previously appointed to the Privy Council, an advisory body to the sovereign, on advice of the prime minister.
All cabinet ministers are, by custom, privy counsellors for life which is how Jenrick, Braverman, Zahawi, Dorries and Berry all received the title.
Many X users criticised Yusuf’s “dishonourable” attack, pointing out that he describes himself as the “Shadow home secretary”.
However, he is neither a peer nor an MP and Reform is not the official opposition.
Only the party with the second largest proportion of MPs – currently the Conservatives – is entitled to have a shadow cabinet.
Yusuf also suggested he was a victim of the media following the coverage of Montgomerie’s suspension from the party.
The political commentary, who defected from the Tories in 2024, told the Spectator on Tuesday that Yusuf needed to become a team player and should not act “like a child” in politics.
Montgomerie alleged Yusuf was also set on being Farage’s successor as the Reform leader.
It’s understood his suspension followed the podcast’s recording but came before the episode was published online.
Montgomerie has since alleged that Farage did not know about the decision to suspend him in a subsequent social media video, and revealed he intends to appeal the decision.
Yusuf did not address Montgomerie’s criticism directly but claimed on X last night: “The entire Tory client press is now out to get me because they’ve seen same the polling I have. I am a lethal electoral threat to their party.
“They know I am locked onto the target of making Nigel Farage Prime Minister. And I will not be deterred.”
Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
Politics
‘Israel’ kills Gaza’s civilian police yet again in attempt to derail ‘Peace Plan’
On 19 August, Israel attacked Gaza’s provincial police headquarters, killing nine Palestinians, including two female officers: Lt. Samaher Misbah Abdelhadi Hamada and police chief Col. Fatina Al-Sahhar. Moreover, a 13-year-old girl, Dana Haitham al-Jamasi, was also killed:
https://twitter.com/gazanotice/status/2090082511284048316
Claims that Israel was after Hamas “completely unfounded”
The Israeli occupation alleges it was targeting ‘resistance leaders.’ Hamas says these claims are false and “completely unfounded.” In a statement, Hamas says ‘Israel’ put forward these lies to:
Justify its aggression and cover up its deliberate targeting of the civilian police and defenseless civilians in Gaza.
The attack followed a recent meeting between Hamas and the US envoy Jared Kushner, in Egypt. This took place with the hopes of advancing the implementation of the Trump’s ‘Peace Plan’ for Gaza. The agreement was signed by both Hamas and ;Israel’. It calls for the disarmament of Hamas in stages and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces (IOF) from the Strip. However, Netanyahu is now rejecting this plan. He says the IOF will not leave until Hamas is fully disarmed.
Hamas added that the timing of the targeted attack confirms the occupation is “deliberately undermining” and attempting to derail these peace initiatives. In addition, Israel, they said, is “dangerously pushing for the resumption of the genocide” rather than adhering to what has been agreed upon.
Gaza’s civilian police intentionally targeted to bring chaos and instability, and displace Palestinians
The deliberate strike on Gaza’s civilian police force, yet again, isn’t incidental.
The force, which is responsible for public order, undertakes vital functions including regulating traffic, escorting aid trucks, and protecting spaces used by the public.
They have been hunted down and killed to create lawlessness, instability and chaos across the Gaza Strip since October 2023. Furthermore, this forms part of a broader plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza.
By intentionally destroying everything in Gaza necessary to sustain life, and deliberately targeting children, the UN states that ‘Israel’ continues to commit genocide in the Strip. The occupation’s ultimate aim, which it has publicly admitted to, is to ethnically cleanse Gaza of Palestinians, by forcibly transferring the population out of the enclave. In fact, this would amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Featured image via the Canary
By Charlie Jaay
Politics
Republican Mike Rogers backs Michigan data center moratorium
Republican Mike Rogers expressed support Thursday for a “pause” on data center construction as he runs against a progressive Democrat for Michigan’s open Senate seat.
Michigan is one of the top Senate battlegrounds this cycle, with Democrats hoping to hold on to the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters.
Asked during a news conference about his “policy on data centers,” Rogers said, “I think we need to take a pause, probably, and make sure that we’re answering all the questions that people have.”
Rogers specified to the Detroit News that he supports a one-year moratorium on data centers in Michigan — a proposal state policymakers would approve — not a national ban.
“While I don’t support a federal ban, Michigan needs stronger guardrails to protect community control, prevent utility price hikes, protect our water and stop pay-to-play schemes,” Rogers told the News.
“That is why I am calling for a one-year moratorium on new data centers until we establish a fair, transparent approval process that puts local communities first.”
The position is a massive shift for the former congressman and separates him from most of the Republican Party and even many Democrats. Rogers’ campaign did not immediately respond to POLITICO’s requests for comment or clarification.
Rogers’ opponent, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, has called for strict new standards to prevent data center impacts on the electric grid, water and local communities, but has not called for a large-scale moratorium, as other progressives have.
Data centers have become a pivotal issue in numerous midterm campaign as voters grow increasingly weary of the facilities and blame them for electricity costs and other impacts. The Data Center Coalition has said the facilities alone are not to blame for higher utility rates.
Data centers are also defining another major Senate campaign this year — the Ohio contest between Republican Sen. Jon Husted and former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who has accused Husted of being too tight with data centers.
This week, the National Republican Senatorial Committee sent a memo to the technology sector warning that data centers are proving toxic in the midterms, especially in the fight between Husted and Brown.
On Capitol Hill, House lawmakers are moving forward with legislation called the Ratepayer Protection Act, H.R. 9340, to shield Americans from the impact of data centers. Husted is sponsoring the Senate companion, S. 5028.
In the past, Rogers has been generally supportive of the data center build-out. In a July interview with ABC affiliate WXYZ, he said there should be electric grid and environmental rules for data centers, but communities that want them should be able to allow their construction.
“If the people are willing to put up with one of these things in their community, they ought to have direct benefit,” he said. “I think that’s a better way to get the community involved in the decision.”
El-Sayed, who focused a large portion of his primary campaign against Rep. Haley Stevens, seemed skeptical of Rogers’ change. He responded to the news on X with an emoji with its eyebrow raised.
“People really effing hate data centers,” the Democrat said in one campaign event.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) called for a state data center moratorium during her race for governor. She lost the primary.
Politics
‘Burnham’s vibe is not establishment’ according to establishment Guardian journalist
The ground is up, the sky is down, and Andy Burnham’s vibe just isn’t “establishment”, you know? That last bit’s according to Guardian columnist Johnathan Freedland. Though, of course, that statement makes almost as much sense as either of the other two.
"Burnham's vibe is not establishment."
Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland says it's difficult for the Green Party to run an "anti-establishment" campaign against PM Andy Burnham. #Newsnight pic.twitter.com/MynzDRDdez
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) August 19, 2026
Politics is about vibes – and Burnham is vibing
In his recent appearance on BBC’s Newsnight, Freedland opined that:
So much of politics in the 21st century is about vibes, and part of the vibe of Zack Polanski is …one of his messages that he’s the anti-establishment candidate on the left.
Freedland pronounces ‘vibe’ there like a recently acquired novelty from a foreign language, as opposed to – you know – common parlance for anyone aged 40 or below. Also, politics is a surface-level popularity contest now? What is the world coming to!
Freedland goes on:
That was easy when you’re running against Sir Kier Starmer, who looked like, even if it was more complicated, he looked like an establishment figure.
Andy Burnham’s vibe is not establishment in the same way – the Manchester, the outsider, the t-shirt under the jacket. Just, the vibe of him is different.
‘He can’t be the establishment – he’s from the North! AND he wears a t-shirt.’ Absolutely cracking political analysis right there, a credit to Newsnight for airing it. I bet Burnham doesn’t even pronounce ‘scone’ right, the bloody renegade.
#1 warm-up act for No.10
Then, we get to the crux of the matter:
It’s harder to run a left anti-establishment message against Andy Burnham than it was against Keir Starmer.
You know what, I’ve got to give Freedland that one. That’s hardly a complement though – it’s just that Starmer was a howling, soulless void in the shape of a man. Practically anyone would look like a mover-and-shaker following that act.
Not you, Wes Streeting. I said practically anyone.
Freedland then heaped praise on Burnham’s integrity, of all things:
And then in terms of substance, you’ve got a prime minister now who says that 40 years of neoliberalism was a terrible mistake – well that’s stealing a kind of Zack Polanski line, and trying to close off Gaza as an issue by saying ‘we got things wrong’.
Really demonstrating the point that politics is vibes-based there mate. Burnham may criticise neoliberalism, but his actions say another thing. As the Canary’s Cameron Baillie wrote:
Burnham says he would still obey Rachel Reeves’s fiscal rules. That means accepting the same Treasury constraints that have blocked serious public investment for decades. Can you really challenge neoliberalism while simultaneously reassuring bond markets, protecting fiscal rules, and refusing to confront financiers?
And don’t even get me started on how much ‘we got things wrong’ on Gaza doesn’t even begin to cover it. Call me when Burnham admits the UK is complicit in genocide, and then follows through and bloody does something about it.
‘Adolescent politics’
Freedland finished off his insightful ramble with two final bangers:
So he’s trying to eat into the Polanski base, and so far pollsters are saying that voters have shifted to Labour, they’ve actually come more from the Green side than the Reform side. So it’s Polanski, even in a way more than Farage, who has to worry about Burnham very specifically.
Again, Burnham is following Starmer’s premiership. It’s hardly the political shock of the century if some Labour voters who couldn’t bring themselves to vote for the centrist’s centrist have now returned to the fold.
Also, I just think Burnham’s kind of doing stuff shows up Polanski’s adolescent politics, the sort of protest gesture stuff, while Burnham is there in Downing Street – or in Number Ten North – actually able to affect change. Some voters on the left will look at that choice and think “we’d rather go with the guy who can actually do things, rather than just wear a slogan on a t-shirt.
It’s almost like one of them’s the prime minister and the other isn’t even an MP. But sure, Burnham’s the very spitting image of an anti-establishment figure.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to claim Polanski’s a 100% political outsider by any stretch. The man was a Lib Dem – though of course, we all deserve second chances.
But next to Andy ‘I was in Blair’s cabinet during the Iraq war‘ Burnham? Why, Polanski’s practically popping off AND rizzed up, as the kids are saying.
Featured image via the Canary
By Grace
Politics
It Turns Out Sebastian Stan Hasn't Actually Confirmed His Role In The New Batman Film After All
Sebastian Stan in 2025It’s been four years since Robert Pattinson donned the dark cape for the first time in The Batman – and we’re still waiting for the sequel.
Although we know very little about Matt Reeves’ superhero follow-up, it was announced in May that Sebastian Stan would be joining the cast alongside fellow newcomers Scarlett Johansson, Charles Dance and Brian Tyree Henry.
Although there hasn’t been a reveal of which characters they’re all playing just yet, after Sebastian’s casting, rumours quickly circulated online that he would be appearing as Harvey Dent, Gotham’s District Attorney, who eventually becomes the villainous Two-Face.
The French publication Le Journal du Dimanche recently built fans’ hopes up on when they quoted Sebastian as saying: “I also can’t say anything about The Batman: Part II, by Matt Reeves, where I play Harvey Dent.”
However, it was later reported that Sebastian had been misquoted, and the French publication has since removed the quote from its online article.
This isn’t the first time the Thunderbolts* actor has teased his role in the upcoming movie.
Speaking to Deadline at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, the Oscar nominee, best known for playing Bucky Barnes in the MCU, responded to online speculation by saying he would be playing “many roles in one”.
He also spoke about working with the DC film’s hair and makeup team, who “devised how his disfigurement will look”.
“I’m excited, I’m nervous and trying to keep surprising myself,” the star of The Apprentice added.
Robert Pattinson in 2022’s The BatmanHarvey Dent has previously been played on screen by Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever and Aaron Eckhart in The Dark Knight.
In addition to the returning Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman: Part II, Jeffrey Wright is back as Jim Gordon, with Andy Serkis also set to return as the trusty butler Alfred Pennyworth.
Meanwhile, Barry Keoghan is also expected to reprise his role as the Joker in The Batman Part II, following his brief cameo in the 2022 film.
After the success of his standalone show, Colin Farrell will make a small appearance in the superhero sequel as The Penguin.
“I do have a few scenes in the new Batman sequel, which I am OK with,” he said on The Graham Norton Show back in October last year. “I had the script a few months ago and it is extraordinary.”
The sequel was announced in April 2022 following the box office success of The Batman, and although it was slated for a 2025 release, this has now been pushed back to the autumn of 2027.
Politics
Suranne Jones In Doctor Foster Season 3 Photo As Slow Horses Star Joins Cast
The TV comeback a decade in the making is almost upon us.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that a third and final season of the domestic drama Doctor Foster was coming to our screens in 2027, with Suranne Jones returning as TV’s most chaotic GP.
More details about the new series have been revealed, including exactly what’s in store this time around.
The official synopsis had already teased: “Ten years ago, on discovering her husband Simon was having an affair, Gemma Foster enacted a masterful revenge. But the fallout was devastating when her 15-year-old son Tom disappeared.
“Now, in series three, Gemma is still a GP, still in the same house, but on the brink of a fresh start: she has met someone new and is getting married. But as the wedding day draws closer, and friends and family gather, shadows from the past begin to re-emerge threatening both her happiness and her reputation.”
“As Gemma fights to protect those she loves and expose whoever’s intent on hurting her, will she be able to put the past to bed, dispense justice, and claim the future she deserves, before it is too late?” the teaser concludes.
Gemma’s new man will be played by Slow Horses actor Dustin Demri-Burns, with Adam James, Thusitha Jayasundera and Anna Madeley also set to return after their appearances in the first two seasons, alongside series leads Tom Taylor and Bertie Carvel.

Meanwhile, Riot Women star Rosalie Craig will play a new character, joining the series alongside fellow new additions Gracie Oddie-James, Lois Baglin, Karima McAdams, Anjana Vasan, Michael Balogun, Christina Balmer, Justin Salinger and Ash Tandon.
Suranne previously claimed: “When I got the call to ask if I wanted to return as Gemma Foster, I knew the time was right. We needed space from the first two series, and we needed Tom – Gemma and Simon’s runaway son – to return as an adult with questions.
“For me, this time around it’s about accountability and questioning – ‘can we ever truly sever ties with our past and the damage or traumas that haunt us, so we can fully move forward?’. Gemma and Simon have so much to unpick!”

Doctor Foster became a huge hit when it debuted in 2015, with the cast also including Jodie Comer and Victoria Hamilton, whose character later appeared in her own spin-off, Life.
Suranne’s leading performance in the show earned her two NTAs, a Royal Television Society Award and a TV Bafta.
Politics
Wings Over Scotland | Before Action
Our solicitors have today sent the letter below to Police Scotland.
(Click pics to enlarge.)
It’s worth remembering what this is about.
– Peter Murrell was recently sentenced to over five years in prison for misappropriating approximately £400,000 from the SNP, which is the crime of embezzlement.
– John Swinney recently admitted that the SNP misappropriated close to £700,000 from donors to “ring-fenced” fundraisers for a second indyref, spending the money on party interests instead, which is also the crime of embezzlement.
– Police Scotland and the Crown Office have declined to prosecute the second embezzlement offence, saying that they investigated it before and somehow failed to notice what the First Minister has now publicly admitted on camera.
– Despite the First Minister’s admission, which came after the police investigation into the missing money was closed, Police Scotland inexplicably refuse to consider this as “new evidence” and reopen the investigation.
– Police Scotland and the Crown Office blame each other for the decision not to prosecute, but neither will release any correspondence between them on the subject to clear up which of them is telling something at least in vague proximity to the truth.
– Police Scotland and the Crown Office also both flatly refuse to release the written statement given to them by Nicola Sturgeon regarding the investigation following her seven-hour “no comment” interview.
(Sturgeon also refuses to release it, despite previously saying she would, and the Crown Office blocked Police Scotland’s attempts to interview her again on account of her lack of co-operation.)
The former First Minister, the current First Minister, the police and the prosecution service are all on the same side, saying the same thing: there’s nothing to see here, but you can’t see it anyway.
(Their being on the same side is all the stranger when you consider that two of them are supposed to be investigating crimes committed by the party the other two were leader and deputy leader of at the time.)
In the name of justice, transparency and accountability, we will continue trying to expose what all of them are united in not wanting you to know. As ever, we’ll keep you updated on how it goes.
Politics
BBC To Finally Air Mandy Special That Was Pulled From Last Year's Christmas Schedule
Diane Morgan in character as MandyFans of Diane Morgan’s hit comedy Mandy finally have the news they have been waiting for.
Last year, the sitcom’s festive special was mysteriously pulled from the BBC’s Christmas schedule just days before it was due to air, with reports at the time suggesting the broadcaster had decided not to air the episode until certain elements of it could be updated.
The BBC has now confirmed to TV Zone that the unaired Christmas episode of Mandy will now be part of this year’s festive line-up instead.
A description of the episode, which was filmed in January 2025, read: “Mandy rarely dabbles in global diplomacy, especially over Christmas when it’s so cold out and there’s good telly on, but when she does, you can bet that she makes a real difference to the balance of power in the world.”
While some fans speculated online that Donald Trump’s intended lawsuit against the BBC around this time may have caused the disruption, Radio Times later clarified that the US president was not referenced in the Mandy episode.
However, the comedy seemingly did reference Russian leader Vladimir Putin, with Popbitch alleging in January that the sitcom episode featured graphic scenes of violence involving Putin (or, rather, his body double) and a cheese wire.
Meanwhile, last month, Diane claimed during an interview with The Independent that she couldn’t say much about the episode being pulled, other than that the decision was made “because of world events”.
“I think they decided it was for the right reasons,” she said. “It was a complete accident. I’m never one of these comedians that tries to be topical – it’s just not what I do. It’s completely out of keeping with me,” the Philomena Cunk creator added.
This latest update on Mandy comes after the successful debut of Diane’s newest comedy, Ann Droid, which sees her play a social humanoid robot who forms an unlikely friendship with a widow, portrayed by Sue Johnston.
The first episode pulled in four million viewers in its first seven days, with a second series reported by The Sun to be in development earlier this month.
Politics
Pro-Palestine groups call for Israel arms ban on anniversary of UK recognition
UK pro-Palestine groups have called for a full ban on arms sales to Israel. The demand comes a year on from the UK’s recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Palestinian Forum in Britain, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Friends of Al-Aqsa and Muslim Association of Britain all co-signed the call.
Their 19 August statement said:
Nearly three years into Israel’s continuing genocide in Gaza, Palestinians still face killing, starvation and displacement, while British-funded humanitarian aid remains subject to Israeli restrictions.
The Government must secure an end to Israeli attacks and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza.
Across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, settlement expansion, settler violence and restrictions on Al-Aqsa Mosque continue to intensify – restrictions the Government must act to end.
A year on from the UK’s recognition of the State of Palestine, that decision has yet to be matched by action.
And:
Britain’s commitment to international law cannot be hostage to Israel’s election timetable. Real action means confronting Britain’s own complicity.
The groups also urged an end to UK arms sales to the settler colonial state:
That means ending the arms trade with Israel, suspending military and intelligence support that facilitate violations of international law, and stopping British businesses, banks, universities and charities from supporting occupation or settlement activity – starting with a ban on trade connected to Israel’s illegal occupation and comprehensive sanctions on Israel.
Their call comes ahead of a major national demonstration in solidarity with Palestine on Saturday 10 October:
Join us for the national march in central London to mark three years of the ongoing genocide. We call on people across the country to stand together in demanding justice and an end to British complicity.
Pro-Palestine groups on UK arms sales to Israel
In February 2026, Oxfam reported:
Since 2015, the UK has licensed at least £500 million worth of military exports to Israel.
However, given the opaque nature of the global arms trade, Oxfam warned this was likely to be a severe underestimate:
There are also a number of additional open licences in place that the government does not publicly report on, so the figure is likely to be much higher.
Stop the War Coalition vice-president Chris Nineham told New Arab that UK recognition:
was welcome, but, as we feared, it was symbolic.
He said the people of Palestine “need action”:
and we are calling on our government to end British support for Israel immediately.
We are working to organise another mass demonstration on 10 October to pressure it to take action.
It is essential that pressure is kept on the UK government. Whether through marches, protests, legal actions, investigative reporting and other routes, it all counts towards holding the UK establishment to account for its complicity in crimes against the Palestinian people.
Featured image via the Canary
By Joe Glenton
Politics
Senior Engineer Explains What Happens When Lightning Strikes Airplane During Flight
I’m not an anxious flyer, but even I have to admit that the idea of a plane being struck by lightning mid-air terrifies me.
Perhaps it shouldn’t – after all, the National Weather Service of America said most commercial planes “are hit by lightning an average of one or two times a year.”
But why does it happen, and is it even dangerous for the passengers and crew inside?
There’s a LOT more lightning than I realised
Most lightning strikes to planes occur at altitudes between 5,000 and 15,000 feet, Simple Flying shared. That’s because takeoff and landing is when the vehicles pass through clouds, which are electrically charged.
Edward Rupke, senior engineer at Lightning Technologies, Inc. told Scientific American that planes actually trigger lightning strikes as they pass through non-striking, but electrically-charged, clouds.
“Actually, aircraft often initiate the strike because their presence enhances the ambient electric fields typical for thunderstorms and facilitates electrical breakdown through air,” the US National Weather Service explained.
The strike attaches itself to an extremity like the nose or tip of the plane first. Then, the electricity moves along the outer “skin” of the plane as it flies through the strike, eventually leaving the body of the plane when it leaves the polarity.
Is it dangerous?
It used to be. 1967 was the last noted commercial plane crash due to a lightning strike – the contact caused the fuel tank to explode.
Nowadays, however, planes are made from seamless aluminium or even more advanced composite materials that conduct electricity well enough to keep them away from the sensitive parts of the plane.
Occasionally, pilots might notice flickering lights or very brief interference.
“When it is suspected that a plane was hit by lightning, there is a mandatory inspection for damage, which can delay flights and be quite expensive,” the US National Weather Service revealed.
So, for that reason, pilots try to steer clear of thunderstorms.
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