A plasma lamp uses high voltage to ionize a gas inside a glass sphere, creating a plasma. Collisions between electrons and gas atoms emit light, producing the colorful glowing filaments visible inside the lamp.

When you touch the glass sphere of a plasma lamp, your finger attracts the glowing filaments because your body provides an easier path for electricity. The plasma filaments concentrate around your finger, creating a captivating visual effect. You may also feel a slight sensation of warmth due to the electrical energy dissipating into your skin. This phenomenon illustrates how electric fields can be influenced by conductive objects and how plasma reacts to these changes.

Discover how plasma is used at CERN with the AWAKE experiment.