Lightning

Scientists said on Jan. 16 they have used a laser beam to guide lightning for the first time, hoping the technique will help protect against deadly bolts and one day maybe even trigger them.

Lightning strikes between 40-120 times a second worldwide, killing more than 4,000 people and causing billions of dollars worth of damage every year.

The European Union unveiled plans Thursday to require smartphone makers to adopt a single charging method for mobile devices.

The European Commission is expected to reveal its proposal for common charger for all mobile phones, tablets and headphones. The idea has met strong opposition from the technological conglomerate Apple which is also a producer of the popular iPhones, Reuters reported. The move is likely to affect badly Apple more than its rivals.

A bolt of lightning killed a coach during a football match in the village of Lesichovo in Pazardzhik, BTA reports.

The 41-year-old coach at the academy of FC "Heber" Ivan Ranchev was struck by thunder on the field around 18:40 PM. This happened during a control match between the local team and the team of Botev (Chernogorovo).

144,000 lightning bolts fell in 24 hours in Southeast Europe.

Thunderstorms were accompanied by hail as 144,000 lightning bolts have fallen in Southeast Europe in the last 24 hours.

This shows a reference from  "Blitzortung" platform, which registers real-time thunderstorm activity.

About 1/4 of all of them are on the territory of Bulgaria.

Lightning strikes illuminate Ankara's sky as rainy weather continues throughout the capital. (AA Photo)

Lightning strikes inside the Arctic circle may double this century, sparking widespread tundra fires and increasing the risk of setting off the carbon time bomb held within permafrost, new research showed on April 5.

A bolt of lightning struck at the Turkish parliament's garden on March 22 noontime.

A plane tree was split into two parts after the lightning.

The broken piece of the tree fell on a vehicle that moved into the parliament's parking garage.

There is no injured in the incident, while material damage occurred.

A lightning strike killed a 15-year-old boy in the field of the Botevgrad village of Gurkovo. The incident happened shortly after 8 p.m.

"The family raises cattle. The child helped his parents to take the animals home when the tragedy happened, "Genka Yotova, the deputy mayor of the village of Gurkovo, told NOVA TV.  

More than 3,000 lightening strikes were recorded Greece on August 15, with the biggest frequency detected in central regions of the country during rainstorms, according to the National Observatory of Athens.