Laurence Marks, Professor, Northwestern University: The two pieces of hair, if they're both 2negatively charged, they 3repel each other. So, it pushes them apart. So, if you have a lot of 4static electricity, your hair will literally 5stand on end. 

CNN Correspondent: Dr. Lawrence Marks, who studies static electricity, tells us that when something's negatively charged, that means it has more 6electrons, which are 7subatomic 8particles found in 9atoms, which make up everything. 

Laurence Marks: Sometimes those electrons can get transferred from one material to another material when you rub, or it may be that an atom loses an electron and that atom gets 10transferred to the other material. 

CNN Correspondent: And that's what causes us to feel shocks after doing things like 11petting a cat. And it gets worse in the winter, Mark says, because the air is so dry. 

Laurence Marks: There's a lot of data which says that if you have water, it short 12circuits the static electricity. 

CNN Correspondent: There are other things that can do that too. Maybe you've seen videos like this one on TikTok where people use tinfoil to 13get rid of staticky hair. 

Laurence Marks: That is because the aluminum foil will conduct away the electricity. Water can also 14conduct away the electricity. 

CNN Correspondent: And Mark says on a much larger scale, static electricity is what causes lightning. So just remember, the next time you pet Fluffy and feel that 15spark. 

Laurence Marks: You've actually had a little 16lightning shock between your hand and the cat. 

CNN Correspondent: And that's everyday science.