Physicists have discovered a new type of gamma-ray radiation emanating from tropical storms, according to two studies published in the London-based scientific journal Nature.

The research, led by scientists at the University of Bergen in Norway, used a converted NASA spy plane to observe storms in the Caribbean and Central America.

Studies show that high-energy gamma-ray phenomena are more common on Earth than previously thought.

The team observed about 500 gamma-ray flares and 130 terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) during 10 flybys in 2023. In addition, they identified 24 instances of a new type of radiation called flickering flashes.

Joseph Dwyer, a physicist at the University of New Hampshire, called the findings "game-changing" for the field.

The discovery is said to help explain the onset of lightning, a centuries-old mystery.

The research suggests that these gamma-ray events could be the key to understanding how high-energy radiation occurs in Earth's atmosphere, potentially supporting a model involving electron-positron interactions. /AA