Spiders are a new class of millisecond pulsars in binary systems: the so-called black widows feature a very low-mass stellar companion (typically Mc <0.05 Msol), and the so-called redbacks a low mass companion ( 0.1Msol < Mc < 0.5 Msol typically) which in both cases orbits very closely the pulsar with periods of a few hours only.

Pulsars are rapidly rotating, strongly magnetised neutron stars, 
emitting flashes of non-thermal radiation covering up to eighteen decades of 
energy in the electromagnetic spectrum.
They are powerful tools used in physics, astronomy and even cosmology.
I’ll review their observational status and prospects for the future.
I’ll then present current models of high-energy processes as well as new
theoretical developments in modeling pulsars and their wind zones.

Energetic radiation associated with thunderstorm activities have been detected by on-ground, airborne, rocket-triggered lightning experiments, as well as in-orbit detectors as terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs). The high energy emissions, including bremsstrahlung gamma rays with energy extending up to 20 MeV, indicate powerful electron accelerations inside thunderclouds or along lightning discharge paths. We focus on unique characteristics of winter thunderstorms such as lower cloud bases and powerful activities, and started a multipoint mapping observation campaign since 2015.