Lightning forms when air currents cause water and ice particles in storm clouds to collide, creating a positive charge at the cloud's top and a negative charge at its base.

When this electric field grows strong enough to break down the air's insulation, a negative "stepped leader" descends toward the ground while positive charges rise from tall objects to meet it.

Upon connection, a powerful return stroke surges upward, producing the visible flash. This rapid discharge violently heats the surrounding air, generating a shockwave heard as thunder.

Did you know this toad secretes poison to protect itself? 🐸

Meet Oak, our Cane Toad whose shoulder lumps, called parotoid glands, ooze a milky toxin strong enough to stop predators and even kill smaller ones. Cane toads are an invasive species. They were once only found in Central and South America but have been brought to places like Australia, Florida, and the Caribbean to control crop pests. This ended up not being a success and is a good reminder to leave native species where they are.