A lightning flash tore across the sky above the Great Plains, stretching across a staggering 515 miles (829 kilometers) from eastern Texas to Kansas City. That “megaflash” shattered the previous record for longest lightning flash of 477 miles (768 kilometers), set in 2023. An international team of researchers documented the record-breaking flash in a new […]
This Debunked Lightning Safety Tip Just Won’t Die—and It’s Still Dangerous
If you get caught outdoors during a lightning storm, safety experts once recommended adopting a crouched position to lessen your chances of being struck by lightning. It turns out, however, that the position doesn’t make you any safer. In response to social media and other internet sources allegedly spreading misinformation about lightning safety, the National […]
Struck by Lightning? This Tree Kinda Likes it
If you’re stuck outside in the middle of a lightning storm, the most common advice is to stay away from trees, which might attract lightning. And while getting struck by lightning would certainly be very bad news for you, new research suggests certain trees might draw unexpected benefits from the electrocution. A team of researchers […]