Lightning strikes the Earth roughly 9 million times every day, slicing through the sky and illuminating clouds. Yet, the most astonishing fact is that science still cannot fully explain how the first spark forms within clouds. A sensational new discovery, however, could change that.

Using a laser and a microscopic particle, researcher Andrea Stöllner of the Austrian Institute of Science and Technology (ISTA) has observed a tiny spark that might reveal the origins of lightning. The discovery emerged from unexpected results during her experiments, leading to a finding that has surprised scientists worldwide.

Stöllner’s team noticed that a microscopic particle trapped in the laser suddenly became charged, vibrated rapidly, and then discharged after several days. This ‘instant charge drop’ c

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