NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers captured a sprite from the space station while orbiting above Mexico and the United States. Sprites are a rare atmospheric phenomenon that occurs because of intense electrical activity in the storm clouds. Ayers shared the photo on X, and wrote alongside, “Just. Wow. As we went over Mexico and the US this morning, I caught this sprite.” Sprites are a type of Transient Luminous Event (TLE). Its small bursts of light occur high above thunderstorms. Sprite stands for Stratospheric Perturbations Resulting from Intense Thunderstorm Electrification. They are basically massive discharges of electricity in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Sprites have been earlier captured from Earth over the Himalayas.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/green-ghosts-and-red-sprites-scientists-reveal-what-caused-strange-phenomenon-in-himalayas-8873082">Green 'ghosts' and 'red sprites': Scientists reveal what caused strange phenomenon in Himalayas</a>&nbsp;Ayers noted that these pictures taken from space can help scientists understand more about sprites and what's really going on up there. "We have a great view above the clouds, so scientists can use these types of pictures to better understand the formation, characteristics, and relationship of TLEs to thunderstorms," he wrote. Sprites have not always been an accepted phenomenon. Until 1989, no one believed sprites were real. Pilots had often reported seeing the electric "red lightning", but only when they were accidentally photographed, scientists started believing in them.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Just. Wow. As we went over Mexico and the U.S. this morning, I caught this sprite. Sprites are TLEs or Transient Luminous Events, that happen above the clouds and are triggered by intense electrical activity in the thunderstorms below. We have a great view above the clouds, so… <a href="https://t.co/dCqIrn3vrA">pic.twitter.com/dCqIrn3vrA</a>&mdash; Nichole “Vapor” Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Astro_Ayers/status/1940810789830451563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>Red sprites and green ghost captured over Himalayas</h2>In 2022, red sprites were captured over the Himalayas. But at that time, no one knew what they were. The red lights were photographed from near a lake site in the southern Tibetan plateau. A study published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences found that the red wonder that was seen in the Himalayas was linked to thunderstorms. Two astrophotographers near the Pumoyongcuo Lake in Tibet saw the "dancing red sprites" above the Himalayas. They clicked pictures while being scared at the same time as they looked like dancing jellyfish. It won the Skyscapes category of the 2023 Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.&nbsp;There were not only red sprites but 16 rare secondary jets. A green airglow called "ghosts" at the base of the ionosphere was recorded for the first time in Asia. “Nearly half of these events involved dancing sprites, with an additional 16 uncommon secondary jets and at least four extremely rare green emissions called ‘ghosts’ observed following the associated sprites,” study authors wrote. They found that the sprites were triggered by a "high-peak current" positive cloud-to-ground lightning strikes within a massive convective system that spanned a cloud area of over 200,000sqkm.

NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers saw red sprites from space and took a photo. It shows a red spark with white light around it over a region of Mexico and the USA. 

NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers captured a sprite from the space station while orbiting above Mexico and the United States. Sprites are a rare atmospheric phenomenon that occurs because of intense electrical activity in the storm clouds. Ayers shared the photo on X, and wrote alongside, “Just. Wow. As we went over Mexico and the US this morning, I caught this sprite.” Sprites are a type of Transient Luminous Event (TLE). Its small bursts of light occur high above thunderstorms. Sprite stands for Stratospheric Perturbations Resulting from Intense Thunderstorm Electrification. They are basically massive discharges of electricity in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Sprites have been earlier captured from Earth over the Himalayas. Also Read: Green 'ghosts' and 'red sprites': Scientists reveal what caused strange phenomenon in Himalayas Ayers noted that these pictures taken from space can help scientists understand more about sprites and what's really going on up there. "We have a great view above the clouds, so scientists can use these types of pictures to better understand the formation, characteristics, and relationship of TLEs to thunderstorms," he wrote. Sprites have not always been an accepted phenomenon. Until 1989, no one believed sprites were real. Pilots had often reported seeing the electric "red lightning", but only when they were accidentally photographed, scientists started believing in them.

NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers saw red sprites from space and took a photo. It shows a red spark with white light around it over a region of Mexico and the USA.&nbsp;

NASA astronaut captures rare electric sprites from space. Know when green 'ghosts' were seen over Himalayas

Sprite is ditching its signature green bottle—which has been in use for more than 60 years—and replacing it with a more sustainable clear container.

The Coca-Cola Co.—Sprite’s parent company—in a statement on Wednesday said that the new design will start rolling out on August 1 and is part of an effort to “support a circular economy for plastic packaging."

The current green plastic is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is often converted into single-use items such as carpets and clothing.

But the company said that it is easier to reuse clear plastic than green one for new bottles.

“When recycled, clear PET Sprite bottles can be remade into [new] bottles, helping drive a circular economy for plastic," Julian Ochoa, chief executive officer of R3CYCLE —a recycling company that works with Coca-Cola Consolidated, said in a statement&nbsp;Wednesday.

However, cans and packaging graphics of Sprite will still be green, but its logo will change.

The lemon-lime soft drink has been packaged in green colour ever since it was first launched in the US in 1961. According to Coke, the drink has been one of its bestselling products.

Coke said the move to switch to the clear plastic bottle would help support “a circular economy for plastic packaging”.&nbsp;

In some foreign countries, Sprite has already switched to clear plastic bottles with specific flavours like cherry and sugar-free.

Coca-Cola also announced that the bottled water brand Dasani will be made from 100 per cent recycled PET plastic. The move will reduce plastic waste by 20 million pounds compared with what was used in 2019, according to the release.

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Sprite is ditching its signature green bottle—which has been in use for more than 60 years—and replacing it with a more sustainable clear container. The Coca-Cola Co.

Sprite is ditching its signature green bottle—which has been in use for more than 60 years—and replacing it with a more sustainable clear container. The Coca-Cola Co.—Sprite’s parent company—in a statement on Wednesday said that the new design will start rolling out on August 1 and is part of an effort to “support a circular economy for plastic packaging." The current green plastic is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is often converted into single-use items such as carpets and clothing. But the company said that it is easier to reuse clear plastic than green one for new bottles. “When recycled, clear PET Sprite bottles can be remade into [new] bottles, helping drive a circular economy for plastic," Julian Ochoa, chief executive officer of R3CYCLE —a recycling company that works with Coca-Cola Consolidated, said in a statement Wednesday. However, cans and packaging graphics of Sprite will still be green, but its logo will change. The lemon-lime soft drink has been packaged in green colour ever since it was first launched in the US in 1961. According to Coke, the drink has been one of its bestselling products. Coke said the move to switch to the clear plastic bottle would help support “a circular economy for plastic packaging”. In some foreign countries, Sprite has already switched to clear plastic bottles with specific flavours like cherry and sugar-free. Coca-Cola also announced that the bottled water brand Dasani will be made from 100 per cent recycled PET plastic. The move will reduce plastic waste by 20 million pounds compared with what was used in 2019, according to the release. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Sprite ditches its signature green bottle for clear white, cites environmental reasons

ISRO launched its PSLV rocket on June 23 that placed the world&#39;s smallest spacecraft named &#39;Sprites&#39; in low Earth orbit. The Indian spacecraft was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.&nbsp;

Along with the smallest spacecraft, the launch vehicle also carried the 712 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite with 30 other satellites. The 30 smaller satellite included 6 prototypes of interstellar spacecraft &#39;Sprites&#39;.

The tiny spacecraft measures 3.5cm by 3.5cm and weighs around four grams.&nbsp;

The spacecraft is successfully travelling in low Earth orbit and communicating with systems on Earth. These have been designed to help pave the way for even smaller single-chip spacecraft.&nbsp;

According to a report, the launch is part of the ambitious project called &#39;Breakthrough Startshot &#39;by the Russian billionaire investor Yuri Milner and famous cosmologist Stephen Hawking.

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ISRO launched its PSLV rocket on June 23 that placed the world's smallest spacecraft named 'Sprites' in low Earth orbit

ISRO launched its PSLV rocket on June 23 that placed the world's smallest spacecraft named 'Sprites' in low Earth orbit. The Indian spacecraft was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre(SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. Along with the smallest spacecraft, the launch vehicle also carried the 712 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite with 30 other satellites. The 30 smaller satellite included 6 prototypes of interstellar spacecraft 'Sprites'. The tiny spacecraft measures 3.5cm by 3.5cm and weighs around four grams. The spacecraft is successfully travelling in low Earth orbit and communicating with systems on Earth. These have been designed to help pave the way for even smaller single-chip spacecraft. According to a report, the launch is part of the ambitious project called 'Breakthrough Startshot 'by the Russian billionaire investor Yuri Milner and famous cosmologist Stephen Hawking.

Indian rocket aids launch of smallest spacecraft

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