Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod after his famous kite experiment proved that lightning was a form of electricity. The device is a pointed metal rod attached to the top of a building, connected to the ground by a wire. It works by providing a path of least resistance for the lightning strike, conducting the electrical charge safely into the earth rather than through the structure of the building. Before this invention, lightning strikes frequently caused devastating fires in wood-built cities and churches. The lightning rod was one of the first practical applications of the study of electricity. It significantly reduced fire hazards globally and remains a standard feature on tall structures today, including skyscrapers and telecommunication towers.