Cosmic rays may spark Earth's lightning
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 - 10:30
in Astronomy & Space
By Charles Q. ChoiLiveScienceAll lightning on Earth may have its roots in space, new research suggests.Lightning flashes on Earth about 100 times per second, but what triggers lightning in thunderstorms remains mostly unknown. Especially odd is the fact that decades of analysis suggest electrical fields within thunderclouds have only a tenth or so of the strength needed to spark a lightning bolt.M...