Wildfires
Latest about Wildfires
Stark 'drought' maps reveal just why wildfires have blazed through Los Angeles
By Ming Pan published
The state is seeing a sharp water divide this year, with lots of rain in the north while the south has stayed dry. A hydrologist explains what’s happening.
Giant wildfires can create their own weather. Here's how.
By Kyle Hilburn published
Wildfires can generate tornado-like fire whirls and other "unpredictable and erratic" weather. An atmospheric scientist explains how.
'Wall of flames' from out-of-control Canadian wildfire devastates town of Jasper and national park
By Patrick Pester published
Firefighters are battling a 'monster' wildfire in the evacuated town of Jasper and Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada.
Canadian wildfire smoke detected thousands of miles away in Norway
By Kiley Price published
Wildfire smoke from Canada has hit Norway, which is more than 3,000 miles from the North American country.
NYC's air quality ranked worst of any major city on Wednesday. With climate change, will it happen again?
By Rebecca Sohn published
New York City's normally good air quality rating recently plummeted to the worst of any major city in the world, as wildfire smoke drifted over the city from Canada.
Why does lightning zigzag?
By Tom Metcalfe published
The characteristic zigzag pattern of lightning is caused by a highly conductive form of oxygen that builds up as the bolt travels toward the ground.
Rare, 'rule-breaking' quasicrystal found in chunk of 'fossilized' lightning
By Stephanie Pappas published
A type of crystal that breaks the rules of ordinary crystallography has been found in a tube of melted sand from Nebraska.
Plant leaves spark with electricity during thunderstorms — and that could be altering our air quality in unpredictable ways
By Harry Baker published
During thunderstorms, leaves from trees and other plants create mini electric discharges that can significantly alter the surrounding air quality. But researchers are unsure if this is beneficial or harmful.
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