What's the use of these ballons on electric wires?

Those colorful balls that look like giant Christmas ornaments dangling from power lines? They're not just there to add a splash of color to the landscape or to confuse aliens (although that would be a fun side effect).

Those are actually called visibility marker balls, and they serve a very important purpose: to make power lines more visible to pilots of low-flying aircraft, such as helicopters or planes taking off or landing at nearby airports. They're like big, bright warning signs in the sky, saying "Hey, watch out, power lines ahead!"

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires these markers on power lines that cross canyons, lakes, rivers, and near airports. They're usually placed at intervals of about 200 feet, and they alternate between colors like aviation orange, white, and yellow to maximize visibility.

So, the next time you see those colorful balls hanging on power lines, you can impress your friends with your knowledge of aviation safety. Or, you know, just enjoy the view and wonder what aliens would think of them.