Searching for St. Elmo’s Fire

By Lucas Willard

Published April 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT

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The modified Toyota Sienna the team used to observe coronae on trees under thunderstorms in the field. The roof-mounted periscope directs light to an ultraviolet-sensitive camera to detect coronae outdoors, where ambient light renders them invisible to human eyes.

Few people may have seen St. Elmo’s Fire, the mythical glow that appears on structures and ships at sea during thunderstorms.

But a team of researchers has discovered the fabled phenomenon is quite common. You just need the right equipment to see it.

And we’ll discuss two recent landmark court decisions against social media companies that are part of the national discussion over the negative impacts of tech on young people.

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