Static electricity is a mystery, and scientists are all charged up

Static electricity has puzzled scientists for centuries, and despite being behind everyday phenomena like clingy clothes and lightning, researchers still don't fully understand how objects transfer electric charge. A small but growing group of physicists, chemists, and engineers are now combining their expertise, using advanced techniques like acoustic levitation, to uncover the basics. Recent experiments revealed that invisible carbon compounds coating nearly every surface play a major role in how objects charge, complicating the search for a unified theory.