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Ball Lightning Caused By Magnetic Hallucinations

KentuckyFC writes "Transcranial magnetic stimulation involves placing a human in a rapidly changing magnetic field powerful enough to induce eddy currents in the brain. Focus the field in the visual cortex, for example, and the induced eddys cause the subject to 'see' lights that appear as discs and lines. Move the field within the cortex and the subject sees the lights move too. Physicists have calculated that the fields associated with certain kinds of multiple lightning strikes are powerful enough to induce the same kind of visual hallucinations in anybody unlucky enough to be within 200 meters or so. These fields ought to induce hallucinations that would take the form of luminous lines and balls that float in front of the subject's eyes, an effect that would explain observations otherwise classed as ball lightning, say the scientists."

9 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. FDA Response by bughunter · · Score: 4, Funny

    Feds will ban Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the assumption that it can be used recreationally.

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    1. Re:FDA Response by Philip+K+Dickhead · · Score: 4, Funny

      Magnified transcrotal what?

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      "Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell
  2. What the article fails to address by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is how effective Tin foil might be at stopping the hallucinations. They haven't stopped since I started wearing my hat, I'm beginning to doubt they are hallucinations like my doctor tells me.

  3. Scissors by MrEricSir · · Score: 4, Funny

    Perhaps this explains the appearance of a giant pair of scissors in the sky when performing the iron pyramid experiment.

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    There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
    1. Re:Scissors by safetyinnumbers · · Score: 3, Funny

      Perhaps this explains the appearance of a giant pair of scissors in the sky when performing the iron pyramid experiment.

      I'd forgotten about that! Maybe it also explains the giant pliers on Google Street View:

  4. Re:Doesn't explain... by Em+Emalb · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh wow, I feel so proud, my first ever [citation needed]

    Do I get a Slashdot "Achievement" for that?

    I didn't expect anyone to take my comment seriously. Every video ever seen showing "ball lightning" appears to be either edited heavily or easily explained away as something else.

    Carry on about your day, good sir.

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  5. Re:idea != fact by eln · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ball Lightening Caused by Magnetic Hallucinations

    It's clearly a bogus theory. In my experience, ball lightening is usually caused by filling it up with helium.

  6. This is your brain. by osu-neko · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is your brain on lightning. Get the picture?

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    "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies."
  7. Re:Doesn't explain... by fractoid · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...let me also point out that LSD doesn't explain real spiders.

    HOLY SHIT THOSE THINGS ARE REAL?

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