World News for Students of English

02-07-2026 07:00

A powerful summer heatwave moving across Europe recently brought extreme temperatures to Germany and Hungary, while a violent nighttime thunderstorm broke the heat in Paris.

During this storm, a spectacular lightning strike hit the Eiffel Tower, which was captured from multiple angles on social media.

Experts explain that despite the intense storm, visitors inside the tower’s restaurants or elevators remain completely safe and feel nothing. This safety is due to a sophisticated lightning protection system originally envisioned by Gustave Eiffel in 1889. The structure features nine lightning rods connected to copper cables that safely conduct the massive electrical currents, averaging 30,000 amperes, directly into the ground. Beyond protection, the tower operates as an active scientific laboratory. Engineers constantly gather data on lightning waveforms and characteristics to study meteorology and improve components. For storm watchers, local guides recommend viewing these rare events safely from a distance, from elevated spots like Montmartre or Trocadéro.

Difficult words: envision (to imagine or picture something as a clear possibility for the future when planning a project), conduct (to allow electricity, heat, or light to travel easily through a wire or a material), constantly (happening all the time, again and again, or without stopping).

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