Lightning Basics

Lightning is a natural way of nitrogen fixation. Each bolt of lightning carries electrical energy that is powerful enough to break the strong bonds of the nitrogen molecule in the atmosphere. With satellites, the scientists of NASA have discovered that more than 1.2 billion lightning flashes occur around the world every year. In 1827, the German chemist Justin von Liebig first observed that lightning produced NOx—scientific shorthand for a gaseous mixture of nitrogen and oxygen that includes nit

How lightning can help make your grass green