Lightning is one of the oldest observed natural phenomena on Earth, yet atmospheric physicists and meteorologists alike have grappled for years regarding the mechanisms by which clouds become electrified in order to produce these sparks of electricity that can rocket through the atmosphere at 186,000 miles per second. On this episode we discuss that and more with Dr. Vanna Chmielewski, Research Scientist with OU-CIMMS and NOAA-NSSL.