Rainwater significantly reduces damage from lightning strikes to the head

Research carried out by the Technische Universität Ilmenau has shown that rainwater on the scalp can reduce the damage caused by direct lightning strikes to the head. In comparison to dry scalps, wet scalps are less severely struck and the wetness also reduces the electrical current to which the brain is exposed. The scientists concluded that a person would have a significantly higher chance of survival in the event of a direct lightning strike to the head. The results of the research conducted by the Biomedical Engineering Group and the Group for Lightning and Surge Protection at TU Ilmenau have just been published in the renowned journal Springer Nature Scientific Reports.
The scientists then carried out a comparative experiment: One head was exposed to the electrical discharges in a dry state, while another had previously been sprayed with artificial rainwater. On the wet artificial head, there were fewer perforations and less severely damaged areas in the vicinity of the lightning strikes. In addition, the recorded currents to which the brain was exposed were lower on the wet head than on the dry one, which is why it was exposed to much less stress. From both results, the scientists concluded that the chance of survival of a person whose head is struck by lightning is significantly higher if the scalp is wet. Nevertheless, lightning discharges pose great dangers and a protected environment should be sought as quickly as possible.

Original publication:

Machts, R., Hunold, A., Drebenstedt, C. et al. Rain may improve survival from direct lightning strikes to the human head. Sci Rep 14, 1695 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598­’023 -50563-w

Prof. Jens Haueisen

Head of the Biomedical Engineering Group
+49 3677 69-2861
jens.haueisen@tu-ilmenau.de