Lightning is one of nature’s most frequent yet least understood phenomena, striking the Earth 8 million times a day with temperatures six times hotter than the sun. In this documentary, we trace the incredible journey of a lightning bolt, from its mysterious origins involving cosmic rays from deep space to its devastating forensic effects on the human body. We explore the bizarre world of ball lightning, “sprites,” and “elves” that dance above the clouds, and reveal a startling discovery: without lightning’s radio waves clearing radiation in space, our modern satellite and communication systems might cease to exist.