I Hacked My Electronics With Plasma

What happens when you bring an old plasma globe near sensitive electronics? In this video, we put it to the test with an electronic keyboard, a laptop, and a pair of vintage electronic drumsticks (Hit Sticks) to see what kind of chaos unfolds! 🔬 Why Does This Happen? (The Science Behind It) Inside a plasma globe is a high-voltage, high-frequency oscillator (typically a miniature Tesla coil circuit) operating at tens of kilohertz (around 20–50 kHz) and several thousand volts. This high-frequency electric field ionizes the low-pressure noble gases inside the glass sphere, creating visible plasma filaments. However, that energy doesn't stop at the glass: Electromagnetic Interference (EMI): The plasma globe emits strong radio frequency (RF) energy and intense oscillating electromagnetic fields into the surrounding air. Capacitive Coupling & Induced Currents: Unshielded conductive traces, ribbon cables, and circuit boards act like receiving antennas. The oscillating electric field induces small fluctuating voltages and currents directly across the sensor traces and key matrix pads. Ghost Inputs: In devices like membrane keyboards or electronic synthesizers, key presses are registered by small voltage drops when keys touch the board. The induced currents trick the microcontrollers into thinking keys are being pressed—causing the keyboard to play notes spontaneously and triggering unexpected inputs on connected devices! Timestamps 0:00 – Finding the Old Plasma Globe & Powering It Up 1:36 – Experiment 1: The Electronic Keyboard 3:12 – Experiment 2: USB Keyboard & Laptop Chaos ⚠️ Disclaimer: High-frequency electromagnetic fields can permanently damage sensitive microchips, laptops, and delicate electronics. Don't try this at home with expensive gear!