When I first heard about this, I figured it to be something like an Urban Legend. Further investigation proved me wrong about that! Plenty of proof to show it's a real fact. Pretty cool, if you ask me!
The Glowing Soldiers
The Battle of Shiloh was one of the bloodiest in the entire Civil War. It was a constant, two-day struggle that left little time for the medics to tend for the wounded, and the massive amount of wounded soldiers meant that many of them would be left just lying on the battlefield for days. As the wounded men lay in agony, a strange thing happened: Some of their wounds started glowing. The eerie sheen was clearly visible in the dark, and no one could understand what was happening. However, the strangest part happened when the medics actually started treating the wounded: The soldiers with glowing wounds were healing much better than the ones with normal, non-glowing injuries.
The phenomenon soon became known as Angel’s Glow. Its nature remained a mystery, and many suspected the healing shine was actually divine in origin.
The strange secret of Angel’s Glow was finally solved in 2001 by two high school students who were investigating the phenomenon for a science fair project. They figured out that the glow on the wounded soldiers was most likely Panellus stipticus, a ”good” bacteria with bioluminescent properties that was transported to the wounds by the many insects that were infesting them. Although P. stipticus wouldn’t usually survive in human body temperature, it was able to survive in the hypothermic wounded soldiers, allowing it to fight the bad bacteria that were trying to infect their wounds.
You can find out more about this incident at this link right here!See what fun a little research can be? Actually, I stole this story from the folks at Listverse, so they get the credit!
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Sunny and in the high 70s later, so all is good!
9 comments:
Thanks for that link, Mr. Hermit = very interesting story! 9 degrees here, I'll bring some warm apple pie.
That is such a cool story. And to think it took 2 high school students to solve the mystery. A little warmer here this morning - 22 degrees. However, we are expecting another major snowstorm today. Thanks for the coffee Mr. Hermit and thanks Chickenmom for the apple pie.
Bubba - Cool story, even though I have to admit I first read the headline as "growing" soldiers. And to think 2 high school kids found the answer - cooler even.
Are you loving this weather - 73 today! Sorry to your other readers, but I have a terrible cold with all the back & forth cold, warm weather. Life in se Texas!
Big hugs -
Love that story. We have seen foxfire here on our place, and that is always a sight to behold.
WOW how interesting. To bad they couldn't figure it out sooner and maybe be able to use it on more of the wounded. Kudo's to the high school kids.
Patio time is always a good time. It has been getting really warm here and around 2-3 pm need to turn on a/c for about 45 min. to cool the house down.
Isn't amazing what can happen......some say nature...I say hand of God either way, it is amazing....70's n patio sound wonderful...that apple pie sounds good too... 3° here this a.m. :/
Hey Phyllis...
I'm glad you enjoyed it and also happy you are bringing apple pie! One of my favorites!
Thanks for coming over today!
Hey Linda M...
Sometimes the most interesting solutions are found by folks you would least expect.
I'll bet you are really tired of all the snow! I would be.
Thanks for the visit this morning!
Hey Sis...
I found a whole bunch of stories from the civil war era I'll share later on!
Weather is doing good for me! Working in the garden now!
Thanks for coming over this morning!
Hey Dizzy...
Nature sure has some pleasant surprises to show us from time to time!
Thanks, buddy, for coming by today!
Hey Jo...
I think that's what the teens are trying to do now...isolate the healing properties.
Thanks, sweetie, for coming by today!
Hey Mamahen...
It is amazing, isn't it? Had to be a higher power working somewhere in there!
Thanks for coming by today!
I wondered about growing solders too.. someday I have to learn to read the whole word.
I'd never heard of this, one heck of a story!
Fascinating, wasn't that? I read it elsewhere on a recent night of insomnia. But if this is proof of a higher power? It needs to step up its game and take some bigger steps/bites at issues afflicting humanity.
Course, me? I think it is OUR job to quit crapping in our messkits, but no sign of that happening.
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