Studying Edwin E. Robinson's Lightning Case

avatar

Lightning strikes have been known to affect individuals, albeit rarely. In the southwestern region of Nigeria, when someone is struck by lightning, it's attributed to the supernatural power of Sango, a mythological god associated with lightning, thunder, and fire. Although lightning strikes are generally unfortunate events, the majority of people survive them with varying degrees of disability. In this post, we'll focus on an unusual case where a man regained his sight after being struck by lightning.

This remarkable incident dates back to the 1980s when Edwin E. Robinson, who had lost his sight due to a car accident, was struck by lightning, rendering him unconscious for approximately 20 minutes. Upon waking, he miraculously found that he could see again, raising questions as to whether it was a scientific phenomenon or a miracle.


Image Credit

Let's understand what happened to Edwin when he was struck. You must have heard that when charges of electrons flow from one point to another, electricity is transferred. Electrons are negative change, so when a person has lots of electrons, then the substance is negatively charged but when the electron is little, the substance would be positively charged. When two points of different charges come together, electrons flow from one point to another, equalizing their charges. The charge difference in the substances is known as voltage which describes the strength of the electricity.

During rainfall, within clouds, water and ice particles collide, causing friction and electron exchange. This generates more positive and negative charges within the cloud. The negatively charged particles sink to the bottom of the cloud because they become heavier than the positively charged ones, which remain at the top. When there are positive charges on the ground, the cloud discharges the negatively charged electrons in the form of lightning bolts to balance the charges between the earth and the cloud.

While lightning may appear sharp, fast, and bright, it is exceptionally dangerous, with temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun, reaching about 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Nevertheless, the annual incidence of lightning strikes is relatively low.


Image Credit

According to Mary Ann Cooper M.D., there are about 50 to 70 fatal cases of lightning on average yearly in the United States, with only about 10% of people who are struck not surviving, while the rest are left disabled. But then, the Odds of getting struck by lightning is about 1 in 700,000 people, and the odds of being struck in a lifetime is 1 in 3000, which is lower than the chances of a person being born with 11 fingers or toes, which is 1 in 500, but higher than the chances of being hit by a coconut when standing under its tree which is about 1 in 250 million.

Although the chances of being struck by lightning are still relatively low, it's crucial to seek shelter indoors during heavy rain and storms. Additionally, it's essential to avoid proximity to conductive materials during rainfall, As for me, I do not use my phone at all when it is raining, other people can take precautional measures. According to the National Weather Service, lightning can generate up to 300 million volts of electricity, resulting in severe electrical burns, entry and exit wounds, cardiac arrest, neurological issues, and scarring.

The lightning temperature can cause burning, as well as scaring, leaving a Lichtenberg figure on the skin of affected individuals. People who do not die from the accident are left with lifelong issues such as chronic pain, memory and cognition issues, and nerve damage. How could such a very disturbing phenomenon as lightning be responsible for curing blindness and deafness?

Given the extensive damage lightning can cause, it seems paradoxical that it could be responsible for curing blindness and deafness. However, in the case of Edwin, who had lost his sight due to trauma, there are multiple theories. Some suggest that he may have suffered from conversion disorder, where psychological distress manifests as physical conditions. While the exact cause of conversion disorder in the brain remains unknown, those affected genuinely experience physical disturbances.

If Edwin was struck by lightning, he should have experienced burns, because rubber sole shoes do not protect against lightning. There is a possibity that instead of lightening, Edwin was protected from Step potential which is the voltage difference between his feet anf the energized, grounded Object which could be earth itself where the lightning struck.

The case of Edwin Robinson remains enigmatic, with some medical practitioners considering it hysterical. Nevertheless, there have been other instances where lightning appears to have had a healing effect. For instance, in 1855, Reuben Stephenson was struck by lightning, and subsequently, a malignant tumor on his lip showed signs of healing. Although scientists have not fully comprehended Robinson's case, they have explored electrical stimulation to restore vision. Recent studies suggest that electrical stimulation of the cerebral cortex can reorganize neuronal circuits and contribute to the development of visual cortical areas. While significant results remain elusive, scientists continue to investigate micro-electrical stimulation for visual purposes.

Reference

hive-196387 stemng stemgeeks neoxian proofofbrain waivio cent ocdb alive bee
0
0
0.000
2 comments
avatar

Lightning carries a lot of voltage which is enough to roast whatever it comes in contact with. If I were to write my own hypothesis, Edwin didn't get struck by lightning. it is possible that he had a Step potential effect which then performed some kind of shock therapy, but I cannot say the same with the other phenomenon where the lightning destroyed the cancer cells. Actually, science will be able to explain this if we can make advances in electrical and shocking therapy in visual treatment.

0
0
0.000
Reply
avatar

Thanks for your contribution to the STEMsocial community. Feel free to join us on discord to get to know the rest of us!

Please consider delegating to the @stemsocial account (85% of the curation rewards are returned).

Thanks for including @stemsocial as a beneficiary, which gives you stronger support. 
 

0
0
0.000
Reply