Thunderstorm Gamma-Ray Flashes May Be Missing Link for Lightning Bolts

New research using a retrofitted spy plane reveals thunderstorms produce more gamma-ray emissions than previously thought, including a new type called "flickering gamma-ray flashes." These high-energy events may play a crucial role in lightning formation, suggesting particle acceleration and gamma-ray production are common in tropical thunderclouds. The findings could help explain how lightning starts. Further studies are planned to investigate storms in other regions and explore the relationship between gamma-rays and lightning.