Students at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, say a lightning strike is most likely to blame for completely stripping the bark off an on-campus tree.
One student says he and others heard a "loud bang and crack," and went outside to see what had happened, only to encounter an all-natural streaker.
Another witness to this incredible phenomenon posted a daylight photo of the scene to Reddit, prompting many amateur scientists to offer explanations for the incident — "the water just under the surface was converted to steam" — and lament the imminent demise of the naked tree unless someone does something soon.
[H/T: HyperVocal, photos via Reddit]