Named a strange way to save lives when struck by lightning

Wet skin can be a lifesaver

Getting wet during a thunderstorm may seem like the epitome of a bad day, but research shows it can save lives when struck by lightning, writes The Guardian.

In what appears to be a strong contender for the Nobel Prize, researchers subjected 3D models of the human head to the equivalent of a direct lightning strike and showed that the models suffered less damage when wet.

“If you’re outdoors and there’s no shelter, wet skin is better than dry skin because the water film is like a protective coating,” says Rene Machts, study author from Ilmenau University of Technology in Germany. But, the scientist added: “It’s safer to find a ‘protected’ place and take up as little space as possible.”

In a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, Rene Machts and colleagues say theoretical studies previously suggested that moist skin could reduce the amount of current flowing through a person’s body when struck by lightning. Additionally, studies have shown that animals with moist skin have a higher survival rate when exposed to lightning.

However, it was unclear how water on a person’s head—which can actually happen during the rain that often accompanies a thunderstorm—would affect the impact of a lightning strike.

To delve deeper into this issue, the team created two models of the human head, consisting of three layers of an agar-like substance containing varying levels of sodium chloride, carbon black or graphite to reflect the conductive properties of the brain, skull and scalp.

The scientists then connected electrodes to the various layers and platform on which the models were placed. While one of the models was left dry, the other was sprayed with a solution representing rainwater. Each model was then placed in a chamber and subjected to 10 simulated direct lightning strikes.

The results show that with each lightning strike, a current passed through the scalp of both models – an event known as a flash, says The Guardian. However, shortly after impact but before the flash, the wet head had 12.5% ​​lower average electrical current in the medulla and 32.5% lower specific energy in the medulla than the dry head – which the researchers said , may be responsible for the increased survival among wet animals in earlier experiments.

The team adds that the wet scalp also showed fewer signs of damage, such as scalp perforations or cracks after a lightning strike. But further work is needed, according to study participants.

Rene Machts says: “Based on these results, we plan to create additional headgear models to quantify the effect, such as headgear, and possibly explore the material for an optimal headgear to further reduce the current in the head. This could certainly help tourists who are unable to find shelter.”