Lightning
Latest about lightning
Lightning Can Warp Rocks at Their Core
By Elizabeth Goldbaum published
A zap of lightning can change the very structure of a rock, new research shows.
'Iron Man' Laser: Beams Can Shape Electrical Discharges
By Jesse Emspak published
Snapshot of a Storm: Scientists Capture 1st 'Image' of Thunder
By Shannon Hall published
For the first time, scientists have imaged thunder, shedding light on the physical processes that create it.
Zap! New Map Charts Every Lightning Bolt
By Shannon Hall published
A new map shows the distribution of lightning strikes across the Earth over the past two decades.
Cities Birth More Thunderstorms Than Rural Areas
By Becky Oskin published
Hot and humid cities can birth more summer thunderstorms than rural areas in the Southeast.
Sun's Shifting Magnetic Field May Predict Lightning Strikes
By Kelly Dickerson published
The sun may be partly responsible for lightning strikes on Earth, and scientists think fluctuations in the sun's magnetic field could be used to predict lightning storms weeks in advance.
Global Warming Will Bring More US Lightning Strikes
By Becky Oskin published
Expect a 50 percent increase in lightning strikes within the United States by 2100 if temperatures continue to rise due to greenhouse gas emissions.
Flash Photography: 'Bolt from the Blue' Caught on Camera
By Becky Oskin published
A high-speed camera run by the University of Florida's Lightning Research Laboratory caught an unusual bolt from the blue in Gainesville.
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.