Lightning is essentially a giant spark of static electricity, though much about how and why it forms remains unknown and the subject of scientific research. It is known that lightning occurs in thunderstorms when there is a separation of electrical charge within the storm clouds, which can cause cloud-to-cloud lightning, the majority of lightning that occurs in a storm. A charge separation can also form between thunderstorm clouds and the ground, leading to classic cloud-to-ground lightning. Thunder is the acoustic shock wave that results from the heat that a lightning strike produces. NASA research suggests that lightning flashes 40 times a second around the globe. Read about the latest lightning research and see amazing lightning photos below.
Latest about lightning
Astronaut snaps giant red 'jellyfish' sprite over North America during upward-shooting lightning event
NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers captured an electrifying image of a giant lightning "sprite" shooting up over Mexico and southern U.S. states. The red "jellyfish" could help researchers learn more about this rare phenomenon.
Rare colorful lightning caught on camera by ISS astronaut. 'OK, this is kind of out there'
NASA astronaut Don Pettit captured breathtaking video of a rare atmospheric phenomenon from his perch high above Earth on the International Space Station.
Spectacular photo taken from ISS shows 'gigantic jet' of upward-shooting lightning towering 50 miles over New Orleans
A newly unveiled astronaut photo shows a "gigantic jet" shooting upward from a thunderstorm above Louisiana in November 2024.
New thunderstorms wider than Earth are spewing out green lightning on Jupiter — and could make one of the gas giant's massive bands disappear
A pair of massive thunderstorms have been spotted swirling in Jupiter's "South Equatorial Belt" and are likely unleashing massive bolts of green lightning. Some experts think the pale clouds could end up altering the rusty band's color — and potentially even making it "disappear."
Giant wildfires can create their own weather. Here's how.
Wildfires can generate tornado-like fire whirls and other "unpredictable and erratic" weather. An atmospheric scientist explains how.
Can static electricity cause a fire?
It's commonplace to get a jolt from static electricity. But does it have enough electrical charge to start a fire?
Mysterious flashes on Venus may be a rain of meteors, new study suggests
Bright flashes in the clouds of Venus once thought to be lightning strikes may have a cosmic origin.
Eerie, ultra-detailed photo of a lightning 'sprite' exposes one of nature's least understood phenomena
An astronomer in Slovakia captured the rare luminous phenomenon as it briefly flashed in Earth's upper atmosphere during a thunderstorm.
