The mystery of superbolts

When it comes to lightning, not every strike is the same. The most powerful lightning bolts on Earth are known as 'superbolts' and they remain largely a mystery to us.

First discovered in the 1970s, these bolts occur in winter over water, contrary to the more typical summer lightning on land. One study finds that these lightning bolts can be 1,000 times brighter than regular strikes and their reach even extends into space.

So what causes these supercharged bolts? We don't really know. It was only recently that researchers were able to capture them in action.

Further research is now being carried out to see how this lightning forms and whether its energy reaching into space could impact spacecraft.