Nature’s most ferocious electrical phenomenon, leave behind both terrifying scars and captivating beauty serving as remarkable testaments to survival against all odds.
Scars serve as tangible echoes of our past. Each carries a distinct story and no two are precisely alike. They’re as unique as the individual who bears them, etching tales of survival, endurance, and life’s challenges onto the canvas of our skin. I have a personal testament to this – a prominent scar on my face from a dog bite that almost blinded me in my youth. It’s a poignant reminder of a daunting encounter I miraculously survived.
Yet, we’re about to delve into a realm of scarring far more elusive and captivating, both in their terrifying origin and artistic allure. These are the indelible marks left by nature’s most ferocious and deadly electrical phenomenon – lightning strikes.
These images, compiled from Bored Panda, unveil a fascinating interplay between terror and beauty. On one hand, they’re a stark reminder of the lethal power of nature, and on the other, they bear an extraordinary resemblance to beautiful fern-like patterns, known as Lichtenberg figures or “lightning flowers.”
Technically known as “fern-like erythema,” these intricate patterns are likely the aftermath of lightning searing through and rupturing capillaries beneath the skin. In this near-death experience, the body is etched with a remarkable testament to survival.
Bearing in mind the odds of experiencing a lightning strike, they are exceedingly rare, standing at a staggering one in ten million. To put things into perspective, this is vastly more likely than winning the Powerball, which boasts a minuscule one in 292 million chance.
Lightning strikes, while producing intriguing scars, are no laughing matter. The specter of death often accompanies these rampant bolts from the skies. When the tempest roars, the prudent course of action is to seek shelter and avoid exposure to these bolts of raw power, pulsating with up to 100 million volts of electricity.
The aftermath of a lightning strike can inflict severe organ damage, fundamentally altering the victim’s life. In some instances, victims experience a ‘flashover effect,’ where the electricity scurries across the skin, creating temporary, vivid markings.
The Royal Meteorological Society postulates that these fern-like markings emanate from the electrons of the lightning bolt being thrust into the skin, subsequently radiating outward in a fractal pattern of repeated divisions.
Lightning bolts encapsulate raw, ruthless power. Their pace can clock up to a mind-boggling 270,000 miles per hour, with a girth ranging from 2 to 3 centimeters. The heat they generate can soar to 30,000 degrees Celsius, which is a staggering five times the temperature of the sun’s surface.
The internet is abuzz with fascination over these captivating scars, with many marvelling at the extraordinary beauty imprinted by such a fearsome force of nature. Online comments on the Daily Mail capture a diverse range of reactions:
“Undeniably painful, but what an astounding result.”
“These folks are incredibly fortunate to be alive. I wonder if they purchased a lottery ticket after surviving such an ordeal.”
“They’re genuinely quite stunning.”
“These fern-like marks aren’t permanent. They dissipate after a few months. My cousin experienced a lightning strike, and she had the same pattern. It’s miraculous they survived.”
Source: AWM