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Can snow create electricity?

Answer: Yes.

All it has to do is land on some silicone first.

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have devised a way to siphon electricity from fallen snow. Snowflakes are full of positively charged electrons, so all the team had to do was find a surface material for them to fall on that is negatively charged, which would trigger the transfer of electrons that generates electricity.

After testing many negatively charged materials like aluminum foil and Teflon, the researchers found that silicone generated the most electricity when it came into contact with snow. The team envisions their device being used in a wide range of applications, from generating power when solar panels are covered with snow to powering wearable tech for winter sports.

Kate is a senior copy editor in Northern California. She holds a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in professional writing from the University of California, Davis.