Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Glowing Wounds On Western Wednesday...!

Sometimes a legend from long ago turns out to be true. Such is the story about some glowing wounds during the battle of Shiloh.

Angel Glow

After the Battle of Shiloh in 1862, soldiers reported a peculiar phenomenon: glow-in-the-dark wounds. More than 16,000 soldiers from both armies were wounded during the battle, and neither Union nor Confederate medical personnel were prepared for the carnage. Soldiers lay in the mud for two rainy days, and many of them noticed that their wounds glowed in the dark. In fact, the injured whose wounds glowed seemed to heal better than the others. In 2001, two Maryland teenagers solved the mystery (and won a top prize at an international science fair). The wounded became hypothermic, and their lowered body temperatures made ideal conditions for a bioluminescent bacterium called Photorhabdus luminescens, which inhibits pathogens.

You can find out more interesting facts about the civil war right here.

Coffee out on the patio this morning...OK?

7 comments:

linda m said...

That is so cool that some young kids solved the mystery. "Kudos" to those kids. Finally starting to warm up a little around here. 36 degrees this A.M. with a high of 50 today.

Rob said...

Two young people are looking for a science project, one of them says "say, I wonder what caused the wounds to glow in the dark at the battle of Shiloh 139 years ago?"
Then they figure it out... heck of a story!

Our patio this morning is out by the campfire, Cuzzen Dick gets that going every morning! See ya there!

Mamahen said...

Interesting stuff! A warm patio sounds nice. Its currently 39° here.

HermitJim said...

Hey Linda...
I'll bet they got an "A" on the project.
Thanks for stopping by today!


Hey Rob...
It would be interesting to know the story behind their decision. Anyway, it seems it was a good call!
Thanks for coming by this morning!


Hey Mamahen...
Glad to see a little warmer weather coming your way.
Thanks for the visit today!

JO said...

I hope these kids keep up there science they can become our next hero's in the battle of disease.

Nice to sit on the patio again. It will be 95 today by Friday 68 I'll take the 68 anyday

Dizzy-Dick said...

I guess with the wounds glowing, it made it easier for the medics to treat them and night (grin).

HermitJim said...

Hey Jo...
Like they say, curious minds want to know. These kids certainly have done their research.
Thanks, dear, for dropping by today!


Hey Dizzy...
That is very possible, I reckon. I would hope they didn't have to treat them at night, though.
Thanks for the visit today!