SYDNEY — A lightning bolt scorched and knocked out four people near the Sydney Opera House on Monday as they sheltered under a tree during a violent electrical storm, rescue officials said.

Trees struck by lightning can ignite from within, leaving behind a hollow structure that may either reignite a wildfire or ...

View Full Profile. Learn about our Editorial Policies. Although historically overlooked, lightning may play a surprisingly large role in shaping tropical forests, accounting for as much as 40 percent ...