Here's why:

* Stars: Stars are essentially giant balls of plasma. The intense heat and pressure within a star strip atoms of their electrons, creating a superheated, ionized gas.

* Lightning: Lightning is also a form of plasma. The intense electrical discharge in the atmosphere ionizes the air, creating a superheated, electrically conductive channel.

Plasma is often called the "fourth state of matter," after solids, liquids, and gases. It is a highly energized state where atoms are stripped of some or all of their electrons, creating a mixture of ions and free electrons.