Lightning is often seen as a killer, leaving behind destruction and death of trees — but one tropical species has evolved to use the force of nature to its benefit. The tonka bean tree ...

Lightning strikes may kill hundreds of millions of trees every year, but one tropical tree has evolved to benefit from the sudden jolts of electrical currents.

Evan Gora / Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Getting struck by lightning might not sound like a very wise idea to us, but for one tropical tree species, an occasional zap is a good thing.