14-billion-years-later:

Trapping Lightning

The above image is of a Lichtenberg Figure which is both a real life example of a branching fractal and also the result of electrical discharge (double awesome). These “lightning trees” are created by the movement of electricity through an insulator such as plexiglass. As the electricity discharges it alters the structure of the insulator which causes its path to be clearly outlined and preserved within the material. This of course is a great way of analyzing the shapes of plasma filaments and was an important step in plasma science.

Lichtenberg figures can also often be found burnt across the skin of lightning strike victims or people who were in the vicinity of a lightning strike. Which as uncomfortable as it sounds seems pretty awesome to me.