Nikola Tesla Explains Strange Electric Wave

Nikola Tesla, the electrician and scientist, who has spent many years in the study of solar disturbances and their effect on the earth, last night explained the phenomenon by which the Aurora Borealis caused the crippling of telegraph and cable lines all over the world. He said:

"The earth is normally charged to an electric potential of about 2,000,000,000 volts, but when there are disturbances in the sun this potential changes very much, with the result that a very strong discharge of electricity takes place from the earth into the atmosphere, generally on the side which is turned away from the sun.

"This state disturbs all the electric lines which are connected to points of the earth which are of different electric potential, or which lie so that there are created by the solar disturbances differences of potential on the ends of the lines.

"The aurora is often caused by solar spots, and that would offset the potential very much, as, would also be the case if a comet were approaching the earth, as astronomers recently announced.

"Sometimes the discharge of electricity into the atmosphere is caused by the moon or by stars, but in such cases the current is extremely light and very sensitive instruments are needed to make the measurement of the quantity of electricity."