News
iPod blamed for teenager’s lightning strike
A 17-year-old Colorado teenager blames his iPod for being struck by lightning while mowing the lawn. Jason Bunch says the current from the strike traveled through the headphone wires of his iPod, burning his ears, cheeks and side. The Denver post reports: “The wounds follow the line of his iPod, from his ears down his right side to his hip, where he was carrying the device. The iPod has a hole in the back, and the earbuds dissolved into green threads. Bunch and his mother believe the iPod acted as an antenna, drawing the lightning to him. There were tall pine trees nearby that didn’t get hit.” Weather experts, however, say that is unlikely. “There is no scientific evidence to show that lightning is ‘attracted’ to items like an iPod. However, if someone wearing earbuds is struck, current may travel along the wires into the ears,” said Gregory Stewart of the Denver-based Lightning Reference Center. “There are documented cases of lightning traveling through wired telephones and killing the users.” [via Gizmodo]
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61
Y’know what, I was thinking of walking around carrying an aluminum baseball bat during a lightning storm… if I get struck, I’m sueing Easton!
ridiculous.
Posted by AnthonyJTa on July 10, 2006 at 7:39 AM (PDT)
62
As a research meteorologist, I have authored or co-authored more than a dozen professional papers on lightning and I founded the National Lightning Science and Research Group. In the last two decades we have conducted more than 50,000 field experiments to test the cause and effects of lightning strikes on humans. To date our findings show NO relevant increased risk by humans who wear jewelry, chains, or headphones for that matter. Interestingly, our findings do show a substantial increase in risk of lightning strikes to humans who sport wide Elvis-like sideburns.
Posted by Dr. Watt on July 10, 2006 at 6:52 PM (PDT)
63
Ok, folks, lets look at this more intellegently -
No, the ipod did not attract the lightning and to think so is just plain ignorant. It did serve as a conduit ans possibly saved his life.
Yes, it is stupid to mow the lawn during a thunderstorm, when you know one is developing. However, if he had the music really loud (in order to hear it over the lawn mower), he probably didn’t hear the thunder. In addition, his eyes were probably on the grass, not the sky so he didnt see anything either.
They are just trying to blame someone because he will be scarred for life.
I say, oh well. Live and learn and listen on!
Posted by KS on July 11, 2006 at 6:11 PM (PDT)
64
2ProngedCrown was the band, it was not Metallica. We have it from a reliable source that the youth was listening to the band 2ProngedCrown, from Atlanta.
We searched for info on this band and found them at myspace.com
http://www.myspace.com/2prongedcrownmusic
Posted by Johnny Dammit on July 17, 2006 at 2:48 AM (PDT)
65
more proof that god hates metallica
Posted by JD on August 9, 2006 at 2:19 AM (PDT)
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