[reeckoh]

I've always wondered, is Earth's electrical ground significantly different from that of a random planet hundreds of light years away?

If two spaceships from different parts of the galaxy were ever able to meet, would they experience the biggest static electricity shock in history?

Apparently this is not an issue with terrestrial space stations, because spacecraft only accumulate something like an 80V potential as they travel through the atmosphere. But what about another star system that has sailed through who knows how many charged nebulae?

[hgomersall]

Well birds regularly charge themselves up to 100s of thousands of volts, then merrily fly back to earth with no significant effect. I think the point is the total stored charge is very small, so not much energy is transferred.

[psychphysic]

Heh never thought about this. Mind blowing.