I wonder what kind of superpower he'll gain from this experience?
This is exactly what I was thinking. Maybe he'll become Meteor Boy or something.
I wonder what kind of superpower he'll gain from this experience?
Gerrit Blank, a teenager from Essen, western Germany, is the second known human to be struck by a meteorite. The fourteen year old was struck by the meteorite as he was walking to school in June, 2009.
Prior to being struck by the meteorite, the schoolboy claimed he saw a bright streak of light heading towards him. The pea-sized meteor grazed the top surface of his left hand, leaving a three-inch long scar before striking the asphalt road surface. The strike was immediately followed by a sonic boom.
Astronomer Ansgar Korte, of Essen’s Walter Hohmann observatory, was quoted to say: "It's a real meteorite. It's very valuable to scientists." Mr. Korte further stated that the chances of being hit by a meteorite are one in 100 million per year, because "[m]ost don't reach the ground as they disintegrate in the air." However, according to astronomer Phil Plait "my friend the Dutch science writer Govert Schilling talked to Korte who is claiming he never saw the meteorite and was misquoted".[1] Plait goes on to identify a number of inaccuracies or ambiguities in the story as reported.
- The German Scientists quoted in the original press articles were also asked for an explanation (and clarification); The reply follows:
" Typically a meteorite fall happens as described below:
A piece of rock or metal from space collides with the atmosphere of our planet. Due to the high speed in the range of 30 to 80 kilometers per second the friction between atmosphere and the object from space heats the object up to shining bright glow; At a height of about 100 km the Object begins to glow, and the meteor appears in the sky; At a height between 20 and 40 km all the kinetic energy is depleted and the remaining object - if still existing - falls further down to the ground like a common stone or piece of metal. Because of this long- lasting flight through the atmosphere such a small object as reported in the last days has enough time to cool down to ambient temperature.
Given these facts it appears to be very unlikely that the occasion reported a few days ago was caused by a meteorite. "
The only other human confirmed to be struck and injured by a meteor was 31 year old Ann Hodges, of Sylacauga, Alabama. She was struck while asleep in bed on November 30, 1954, after the meteorite punched through the roof of her home, smashed a wooden cabinet, and then bounced off the floor to struck her in the hand and hip. The meteorite, which weighed about eight and a half pounds, caused extensive bruising.
"Why does this scar come from?"
"I got hit by a meteorite"
Best conversation ever (well not best as nothing sexual is involved, but still nice)
What about the crater in the road?