1st sighting of 'ball lightning' in England uncovered
In 1195, monks recorded the first sighting of ball lightning in England. They described it as a "fiery globe threw itself down into the river."
Giles Gasper
Professor in High Medieval History, Durham University
Giles is a Professor in High Medieval History at Durham University in England, where he focuses on the history of medieval thought and the making of medieval theology. Giles has written on Anselm of Canterbury, monastic learning in the period, especially on notions of natural phenomena and economy, and most recently on Robert Grosseteste. He is a principal investigator on a project with modern scientists as well as medieval specialists to re-edit, translate and explore Grosseteste's scientific works.