Scientists discover new type of gamma-ray radiation in thunderstorms

Physicists have discovered a new type of gamma-ray radiation that emerges from tropical thunderstorms, according to two studies published on Wednesday in Nature, a science magazine based in London.

The research, led by scientists at the University of Bergen in Norway, utilized a converted NASA spy plane to observe storms in the Caribbean and Central America.

The studies reveal that high-energy gamma-ray phenomena are more common on Earth than previously thought.

The team observed around 500 gamma-ray glows and 130 terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) during 10 flights in 2023. Additionally, they identified 24 instances of a new type of radiation dubbed "flickering flashes."

Joseph Dwyer, a physicist at the University of New Hampshire, called the findings "game-changers" for the field.

The discovery reportedly could help explain the initiation of lightning, a centuries-old mystery.

The research suggests that these gamma-ray events may be key to understanding how high-energy radiation occurs in Earth's atmosphere, potentially supporting a model involving electron-positron interactions.