Today I Learned (TIL)

6544 readers

13 users here now

You learn something new every day; what did you learn today?

/c/til is a community for any true knowledge that you would like to share, regardless of topic or of source.

Share your knowledge and experience!

Rules

Information must be true
Follow site rules
No, you don't have to have literally learned the fact today
Posts must be about something you learned

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

188

TIL when lightning rods were first introduced in the 18th century, people found them so fascinating that wearable lightning rods become fashionable, e.g. a lightning rod in your hat or umbrella. (en.wikipedia.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

18 comments fedilink hide all child comments

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Did it work?

[–] [email protected] 80 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The answer may shock you.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

This comment gave me goosebumps.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Theoretically

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well, at the currents associated with a lightning strike, those thin chains would probably explode instantly and spray molten metal around. And the conducting path from the top would probably make a lightning strike more likely than without

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

The article basically kept repeating 'theoretically protect the wearer'.