These researchers captured a gamma radius during a thunderstorm, a great first!

Usually, gamma rays are associated with nuclear reactions and certain cosmic events. However, researchers observed the formation of this kind of department in Japan during a thunderstorm. Furthermore, Thus, their work reveals that lightning can also generate gamma rays.

An unprecedented observation – These researchers captured gamma radius

Gamma rays are high frequency electromagnetic radiationissued during the desexcitation of an. Therefore, atomic nucleus resulting from a disintegration. However, Composed of high energy photons. However. Meanwhile, these same rays can also be the result of events among the most violent in the universe, for example gamma starts or, relativistic jets produced by supermassive black holes. Consequently, In 2025. gamma record rays were detected in the heart of the Milky Way, where one of these black holes is located.

What if on earth, lightning was also able to produce gamma these researchers captured gamma radius new rays? A team of researchers from the University of Osaka (Japan) shared their unprecedented observation. via these researchers captured gamma radius a publication in the journal Science Advances in May 2025. According to the authors. a thunderstorm striking the city of Kanazawa made it possible for the very first time Formation of a gamma. radius generated by lightning.

Usually associated with nuclear and space, gamma rays are now new. The Japanese study confirms the following hypothesis: during a thunderstorm. the collision of two electric currents (lightning) can form gamma rays.

How did this gamma ray formed?

As part of their work. scientists have used a Point sensor devicein order to capture the collision of the melting through several wavelengths. However. insofar as the air is not very driver. ionized channels appear during thunderstorms in order to Promote the circulation of electric currents. These are “lightning leaders” which can also go from the ground these researchers captured gamma radius new to the clouds. from the top to the bottom. This situation also promotes the creation of an intense electric field. which these researchers captured gamma radius is the source of a Brutal acceleration of free electrons present in the air. However, these same electrons slow down just as suddenly, causing energy loss and potentially, gamma rays.

In addition. a device capturing details on the scale of microseconde allowed scientists to understand that gamma. lightning rays do not appear at the same time. In reality, the rays would occur before lightning, although this latency corresponds to a tiny fraction of time. Here, researchers observed two lightning leaders (See diagram below). The first negatively charged descended from a cloud to a television tower on the ground. the second, positively loaded, started from the bottom up.

Before these two lightning leaders are struck. a high intensity electric field appeared, in which the electrons circulated at a speed close to that of light. According to the study authors. the first gamma photon issued by the department was detected 31 microseconds before meeting the two lightning leaders. In addition, the radius persisted for 20 microseconds After the flash formation.