Lichtenberg Figures in wood

July 29, 2016 12:22 PM

Lichtenberg Figures are branching electric discharges that sometimes appear on the surface or in the interior of insulating materials. Which is a fancy way of describing what is happening here. And you can do it too! (though please be extremely careful).
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI (7 comments total)

For anyone who wants to be brave, here's a Google Image Search for Lichtenberg Figures in flesh, usually from lighting strikes. I don't think you can make these at home, though.
posted by griphus at 12:31 PM on July 29, 2016 [1 favorite]

There have got to be some hardcore body-modders doing intentional Lichtenberg scarification. Can't say as I blame them, the patterns are amazing.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:02 PM on July 29, 2016

I don't think you can make [Lichtenberg Figures in flesh] at home, though.

You'd probably need a 1.21 gigawatt power source.
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:04 PM on July 29, 2016

Nah, you don't need that much. See: Arc Flash

You probably won't survive it though.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 1:59 PM on July 29, 2016

I don't think you can make these at home, though.

I had a physiotherapist friend who told me about someone who did. They were grabbing the door knob of their front door when their house got hit by lightning. I was told it was unclear if the man would get to keep his right arm because of the nerve damage.
posted by srboisvert at 2:25 PM on July 29, 2016 [1 favorite]

Nah, you don't need that much.

Maybe not, but that reference immediately popped into my head and I just had to share. :)
posted by Greg_Ace at 2:49 PM on July 29, 2016

Be careful trying this at home.

http://www.wcvb.com/news/man-fatally-electrocuted-while-working-in-framingham-garage/40434434
posted by Doroteo Arango II at 4:16 PM on July 29, 2016 [1 favorite]