It's one of nature's most striking regular phenomena, but you may not know that lightning can appear in many different forms. Intracloud lightning is contained within one cloud jumping between ...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lightning is one of the most powerful and dangerous natural phenomena on Earth. A giant spark of static electricity, lightning serves as a type of “neutralizer” for electric charges ...

The dance of electrical charges high above us is more complex than most people realize. While we typically think of lightning ...

As particles rub together from wind friction in a thunderstorm, the charges separate and static electricity develops. The negative charges or electrons separate to the bottom of the thunderstorm, ...

When it comes to lightning, most people see it and head for safety, choosing not to stop and discuss what type it is. But researchers say they have developed a technique that shows how diverse ...

Seeing the bright flash of lightning, followed by some thunder, and a whole lot of rain is a normal experience for many people across the country. These types of thunderstorms are a common weather ...

Thunderstorms can develop at any time of year in the U.S., but they typically occur during the warmer months of spring, summer and fall. All types of thunderstorms carry one major threat: Lightning.

A thunderstorm with cloud to ground lightning rages during the day in China on July 21, 2025. CREDIT: Photo by Liu Wei/Xinhua via Getty Images. Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs ...