Hindenburg Mystery Solved After 76 Years: Static Electricity To Blame For Explosion That Killed 36

76 years after the Hindenburg mystery explosion, the question as to what caused the disaster has finally been solved. The Hindenberg mystery explosion was caused by static electricity.

On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg airship was attempting to dock at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey when it exploded. 36 people were killed in the disaster that remained a mystery for 76 years.

Like most disasters, as soon as it was over, theories about the cause of the explosion began to surface. The most popular theory was sabotage, and it was the basis for many books written about the Hindenburg. At the time nobody would have thought static electricity was the cause of the Hindenburg explosion.

Officials at the time agreed that a spark had ignited leaking hydrogen gas. However, they were not sure what created the spark.

Hence the Hindenburg mystery was born.

At team of experts based at the South West Research Institute, led by British engineer Jem Stansfield, conducted tests to determine what caused the Hindenburg explosion.

The team blew up and set fire to models of the airship so they could rule out the theory that a bomb was planted on board. Another tested theory was that the paint used on the Hindenburg had explosive properties. Neither of these theories turned out to solve the Hindenburg mystery. 

The team believes the ship went through an electrical storm where it was statically charged. Then, a leaking valve let hydrogen gas into the ventilation system.

The final piece of the mystery came together when the team realized that the crew on the ground "earthed", or grounded, the ship when they went to grab the landing ropes.

This meeting of charged opposites caused the fire that killed 36 people. 

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