respect.
Strange But True

Lightning sometimes does
Q: If you were an anthropologist studying kissing
customs around the world, where might you be a bit
good
squeamish about visiting? Hemophiliacs, take note.

A: Natives of the beautiful Trobriand Islands of the
South Pacific are far more open about showing
By Bill & Rich Sones
affection than are most cultures, says College of

Staten Island English teacher and attorney Michael
Sunday, July 19

Christian in "The Art of Kissing."

Q: Lightning strikes kill thousands of people every
When nine or 10 years old, they begin playing
year. Does lightning ever do anyone any good?
communal kissing games in large grass huts, with a

couple of couples going in at a time. They rub each
A: On the planetary scale, lightning may have
other's tongues and suck and bite the lower lips so
helped in the early formation of amino acids,
vigorously these often bleed.
precursor to life on Earth, says Colby College's
James R. Fleming, historian of science and
Chin biting may follow, along with eyelash
technology. Long ago, lightning perhaps brought
nibbling. For this reason, short eyelashes are a
fire to humankind. Today, lightning fixes nitrogen
status symbol -- proof of being a sought-after
in the air,, creating natural fertilizer, and ignites
romancer.
eco-sound forest-thinning fires. Also, lightning's
electromagnetic fields aid scientists in study of the
Q: What's the U.S. Pentagon's latest version of
atmosphere.
"bugging" an enemy?

And every once in a while, says FMA Research, Inc.,
A: It's the first wireless flying-insect cyborg -- a
a consortium of atmospheric scientists, lightning
remote-controlled beetle borg by University of
does a few bolt-from-the-blue individual good
California at Berkeley engineers -- which can rise,
deeds. In 1856, reported by "Scientific American"
hover and fly on command, guided by a radio
magazine, a strike in Kensington, N.H. made a hole a
receiver that relays signals to electrodes connected
foot wide and 30 feet deep -- a "well" that soon filled
to the insect's optic lobes and flight muscles, says
with good water.
Spencer Ornes in "Discover" magazine.

A Greenwood, S.C., electrician was hit and never
Researchers recently demonstrated the bug-bot at a
again felt cold, even when working outside, in sub-
conference in Italy With the mind of a machine and
zero temperatures.
the nimble body of an insect, it may be the perfect

scout: expendable and strong enough to carry
There are stories of blind people regaining their
payloads, such as a miniature reconnaissance
sight, and even published claims of victims with
camera.
improved intelligence. But these are rare exceptions,
with lightning deserving from all of us the utmost
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Page 31 of 179
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