Nowadays, many patients with neurological problems are fitted with Direct Brain Stimulation (DBS) devices such as Implantable Pulse Generators (IPGs). However, like any electronic devices, they can be adversely affected by strong electrical and electromagnetic fields. A recent case was brought to light in the Journal of Neurosurgery, describing the plight of a 66-year-old woman […]
Tag: lightning
Shocking Mushrooms Technique (report)
“The SPLG [pictured above] consists of four parts: a controller, connection cable, a high voltage generator, and a wheel electrode. The system is powered by rechargeable AA sized batteries. Lightening [sic] is generated by an epoch-making device which can be disassembled and used elsewhere.” The epoch-making lightning dispenser was developed by Ferzana Islam and Shoji […]
Prize-winning biscuit-dunking analyst assesses redheads’ lighting-strike risk
Len Fisher, who was awarded an Ig Nobel Prize in physics in 1999, has devised some possible insights stemming from an old report about a red-haired bullock that was struck by lightning. Fisher wrote it up, with the headline “If you want to survive a lightning strike, be a redhead“.
Phoning during a thunderstorm – Unrecommended
“Is it dangerous to make a landline phone call during a thunderstorm?” It can be. Background is provided by Emeritus Professor Mat Darveniza, AO, FTSE, BE, PhD, DEng, Hon DSc (Eng), FIEAust (Hon), FIEEE (life), FTSE, LIVA, from the University of Queensland Australia – who is a leading authority on lightning strikes. In Australia alone […]
Profiling Professor Persinger – part 1
Human brains and lightning-discharges – what might they have in common? Could there be potentially congruent scale-invariant quantitative properties connecting the two? These questions have been examined by professor Michael A. Persinger of the psychology dept. at Laurentian University, Ontario, Canada. The professor presents his findings in the May 2012 edition of the scholarly journal […]
Elves, lightning, El Niño and La Niña
Complain all you like that it would be dull to study the weather. This study demonstrates otherwise: “Occurrence of elves and lightning during El Niño and La Niña,” Wu, Y. J.; Chen, A. B.; Hsu, H. H.; Chou, J. K.; Chang, S. C.; Lee, L. J.; Lee, Y. J.; Su, H. T.; Kuo, C. L.; Hsu, […]
Lightning, now and then
Investigator Lawrence Masterson writes: “I am, by my own admission, a lightning enthusiast. I want to direct your attention to one of my favorite publications, the Journal of Lightning Research. It appears about as often as lightning strikes, is the way I like to describe how often a new issue comes out. There were three […]