Soil is one of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth, containing millions of species of microorganisms per gram.

Some trees can communicate with each other using underground fungal networks.

Cacao trees grow their pods directly from their trunk and major branches, not from small branches.

The longest recorded lightning bolt stretched hundreds of miles.

You are more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a shark.

The world's largest musical instrument is the Stalacpipe Organ in Luray Caverns, Virginia — it uses stalactites as keys.

Altruism — acting for others' benefit at a cost to yourself — challenges purely self-interested models of human nature.

Humans have a vestigial muscle called the palmaris longus that once helped ancestors climb trees — about 14% of people lack it.

Most lightning strike victims survive.