BUFFALO, N.Y. — Thursday, Jan. 9 is National Static Electricity Day. Breanna Fuss braved the Van De Graaff Generator at the Buffalo Museum of Science to learn why we see more static electricity in the colder months, and what causes it. 

Turns out when it's colder, there's less humidity in the air. Most of the time, that is. The lack of water molecules means the electricity needs somewhere else to go, and that's you! It's caused by friction.