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DEATH FROM LIGHTNING AND THE POSSIBILITY OF LIVING AGAIN

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HELEN B. TAUSSIG · 1969

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Lightning research shows electromagnetic fields can profoundly disrupt human biology, highlighting our bioelectrical vulnerability to EMF exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1969 research examined lightning strike fatalities and the potential for successful resuscitation using artificial respiration techniques. The study explored medical approaches to reviving lightning strike victims who appeared clinically dead. Lightning represents one of nature's most extreme electromagnetic field exposures, delivering millions of volts in microseconds.

Why This Matters

While lightning strikes might seem unrelated to everyday EMF concerns, this research actually highlights a crucial principle: electromagnetic fields can have profound biological effects, and the dose makes the poison. Lightning delivers an astronomical electromagnetic pulse that can stop the heart and disrupt the nervous system, yet some victims can be revived with proper medical intervention. This demonstrates both the vulnerability of human bioelectrical systems to EMF exposure and their remarkable resilience when the exposure ends. What's particularly relevant today is understanding that while our daily EMF exposures from phones, WiFi, and power lines are millions of times weaker than lightning, they're also continuous rather than instantaneous. The biological systems that lightning can disrupt and that medical intervention can restore are the same systems potentially affected by chronic, low-level EMF exposure from our technology.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
HELEN B. TAUSSIG (1969). DEATH FROM LIGHTNING AND THE POSSIBILITY OF LIVING AGAIN.
Show BibTeX
@article{death_from_lightning_and_the_possibility_of_living_again_g5109,
  author = {HELEN B. TAUSSIG},
  title = {DEATH FROM LIGHTNING AND THE POSSIBILITY OF LIVING AGAIN},
  year = {1969},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Lightning delivers millions of volts that can stop the heart, disrupt brain function, and interfere with the nervous system's electrical signals. The massive electromagnetic pulse overwhelms the body's natural bioelectrical processes, potentially causing cardiac arrest and neurological damage.
Yes, many lightning strike victims can be successfully resuscitated with immediate artificial respiration and cardiac support. The key is recognizing that apparent death may be reversible if proper medical intervention begins quickly after the electromagnetic trauma.
Lightning demonstrates that electromagnetic fields can profoundly affect human bioelectrical systems. While daily EMF exposures are much weaker, they're continuous rather than instantaneous, raising questions about cumulative effects on the same biological systems lightning can disrupt.
Lightning's electromagnetic pulse can paralyze the respiratory system and stop breathing while the heart may still be viable. Artificial respiration helps restore oxygen flow and can restart normal breathing patterns after electromagnetic disruption of nerve signals.
This research established that electromagnetic fields can disrupt human biology but that these effects may be reversible. It highlights both our vulnerability to EMF exposure and our body's potential to recover when harmful exposure ends.