How Does Lightning Form?

Scientists at Pennsylvania State University have explained lightning formation in thunderclouds. Their research shows how cosmic rays seed electrons, which multiply in strong electrical fields and collide with air molecules, producing X-rays and triggering electron avalanches. This process leads to high-energy photons generating intense light and heat bolts. Using mathematical models to validate field observations, the researchers have illuminated the events leading to lightning, which occurs about 100 times per second globally.