bead lightning: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	chain lightning

Photos

Three frames from a motion-picture film of bead lightning, showing the appearance of luminous beadlike segments in the lightning flash.

See All Images →

Topics

lightning Today in History—June 10: Benjamin Franklin Flies a Kite—and Makes History Can Lightning Strike the Same Place Twice?How hot can lightning get?What causes thunder after lightning?How fast is lightning?

Umbrella colored like a rainbow sticking out above a sea of black umbrellas while it rains. (storm, weather)

Weather Words Vocabulary Quiz

rain. Child in the rain, wearing a rain coat, under a yellow umbrella. April Showers weather climate rain storm water drops

April Showers to March’s Lions and Lambs

Lightning over a farm field. Weather electricity thunderstorm light energy tree

Facts You Should Know: Weather Quiz