MythBuster: Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice
Lightning is unpredictable. Yet, many believe it follows a rule: it never strikes the same place twice. This idea has been passed down for generations. But is it true? Not at all!
This month, we will break down this common myth. Tall buildings, mountains, and even people have been struck multiple times. Science and real-world evidence prove that lightning is far from a one-time visitor.
The Truth: Lightning Is A Repeat Offender
Lightning often strikes the same spot multiple times. It’s not a one-and-done phenomenon. In fact, some places get struck several times a year.
Tall buildings? Prime targets. The Empire State Building alone gets hit by lightning about 25 times every year. The Willis Tower in Chicago? Same story. These structures reach high into the sky, making them perfect conductors for electrical discharges.
Natural formations like mountains, trees, and open fields? Also frequent targets. If a location provides an easy path for electricity, lightning is more than happy to revisit.
But why does this happen?
Lightning is electricity. It follows the path of least resistance. If a building, tree, or mountain peak offers a direct route to the ground, lightning will strike it—again and again.
Think of it like water flowing downhill. It doesn’t randomly change paths every time it rains. It follows the easiest route. Electricity behaves the same way.
Still not convinced? Meet Roy Sullivan, a U.S. park ranger and human lightning magnet. Between 1942 and 1977, Roy was struck by lightning seven times—and survived them all. Either lightning loved him, or he was just really unlucky. Either way, he’s proof that repeated strikes are not just possible but inevitable under the right conditions.
NASA and Lightning Research
NASA has spent years studying lightning to better understand its behavior. Their research has helped improve lightning protection for spacecraft, airplanes, and tall structures. By analyzing repeated lightning strikes, scientists have developed better shielding techniques, ensuring the safety of astronauts and pilots alike.
Their findings confirm what scientists have known for a long time—lightning has no memory. It doesn’t avoid places it has struck before. If the conditions are right, it will strike the same place over and over again.
The next time someone tells you, "Lightning never strikes the same place twice," feel free to set the record straight. Not only can it strike twice, but it often does.
Lightning is powerful, unpredictable, and absolutely not bound by old sayings.
Did you miss our January MythBuster? Read Do We Only Use 10% of Our Brain?Here! Stay tuned for next month’s myth.