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Science

Experiment: Will a Person Getting Zapped With a Tesla Cannon Power a Light Bulb?

Sep. 12, 2012 10:10pm

Matt Inman with the blog “The Oatmeal,” who has helped lead the online charge to raise funds to buy the property in New York that was once Nikola Tesla’s lab for use as a science center, is now channeling Tesla himself.

Armed with a Tesla Cannon, which Discovery News describes as a portable Tesla coil, Inman and Matt Harding, who maintains a popular YouTube channel, set out to test Inman’s new toy. With Harding as the test dummy holding a fluorescent rod light bulb, Inman zaps him with the Tesla Cannon for a good 15 seconds.

Matt Inman Shoots Matt Harding With a Tesla Cannons Electrical Current to Light Up a Florescent Blulb

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

“Yes, the current is lighting the bulb. And yes, it hurt,” Harding wrote on the video’s description.

Discovery News reports the current from the coil is traveling from Harding’s body to the floor, ”following a path of least resistance.”

Watch the clip:

As an update on the Tesla Science Center project as a whole. Last month, TheBlaze reported Inman began a online campaign to fundraise money to help purchase the $1.6 million piece of property on which sits the Wardenclyffe lab. The goal was to raise $850,000 — the rest would be matched with a state grant — but with 18 days left in the campaign, the project has more than $1.2 million pulled together.

In an interview with TheBlaze, president of the Nikola Tesla Science Center Jane Alcorn said the matching funds from the state were appropriated toward the project in 2009. Alcorn clarified that the grant was part of a “capital fund” and will function to reimburse the project for the allocated amount after the land is purchased. She said the funds come with no strings attached and that the museum has details to work out in terms of how they will continue to fund the facility when it is complete, but admission fees and renting out an auditorium are on the table as options.

Alcorn said they are trying to raise funds beyond even the cost of the land so they will be able to move forward with creating a science center on the property as a whole. For 17 years, Alcorn and her small team with the non-profit have been trying to scrape together the money for the project.

“I’m a pretty tenacious person. If you believe it, work hard enough and don’t give up, you can achieve the dreams you have,” Alcorn said. “This project is proof of that.”

Still, she said it really only gained the steam it has seen in the last month, thanks to Inman taking on the cause.

“This could not have happened even six months ago,” Alcorn said. “It was a perfect storm. The right case, right catalyst and the right platform.

“We could not have done what happened without him. He generated interest through his website and his followers.”

(H/T: Huffington Post)

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Comments (54)

1 2
  • forthepeople
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:21am

    Who said our schools & teacher’s are doing a bad job ? Just look at these ( future ) rocket scientist zap each other .

    Report this comment

    forthepeople  
    • Dr Vel
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 12:07pm

      Too bad they did not learn science either in the schools, nor from any teachers. This type of knowledge is learned by studying on your own using tools such as the internet.

      Report this comment

      Dr Vel  
    • DLV
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 1:36pm

      the Tesla cannon always reminds me of something out of the Fallout series. I love it.

      Report this comment

      DLV  
    • Mr. H.
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 1:56pm

      It’s not rocket science. It’s just extremely high voltage. I was doing this kind of stuff for science fairs in the 60′s while in high school.

      These guys are idiots. That arc you see is a stream of electrons. Electrons in motion through “the air” like that are beta radiation and that can cause some really serious damage to your body.

      Report this comment

      Mr. H.  
    • Protoham
      Posted on September 14, 2012 at 11:55am

      These kids are nuts, stop it! I am a EE and I design very high voltage equipment (100KV to 200KV). I am also and EMT. YOU ARE GOING TO KILL YOURSELVES!!!

      Report this comment

      Protoham  
  • TheMajority
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:16am

    Water boarding looks like a walk in the park compared to that. Back in my mind, I wondered if college students were water boarding at parties—-for fun.

    If you had your choice thrust before you

    1) the Tesla cannon
    2) water boarding

    As the recipient, what would you prefer ?

    Report this comment

    TheMajority  
  • bald stick
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:36am

    I think this is an experiment that proves that white guys still can’t dance (or dress).

    Report this comment

    bald stick  
    • DimmuBorgir
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:49am

      liberal media brainwashing at it’s finest

      whites’ can’t ______

      thanks pop culture

      Report this comment

      DimmuBorgir  
    • muffythetuffy
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:02am

      I will bet that device can be used against government drones. High powered broad band rf oscillators will also disable government drowns by overloading the receiver front end.

      Report this comment

      muffythetuffy  
    • Lysander Spooner
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 11:37am

      Imagine the outcry if “Black Men Can’t Swim” were produced instead of “White Men Can’t Jump”

      Report this comment

      Lysander Spooner  
    • Protoham
      Posted on September 14, 2012 at 11:57am

      Muffy – I have already tried it on police radar, it doesn’t work unless you get close enough, then ZAP

      Report this comment

      Protoham  
  • ktmrider1
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:25am

    hey, they ought to use this on biden. maybe it would zap him into reallity

    Report this comment

    ktmrider1  
    • oldduffer
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:36am

      Only if you could shove the cannon up his a ss. Anywhere else would only dim even an LED.

      Report this comment

      oldduffer  
  • mlimberg
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:19am

    How much did their education cost taxpayers?

    Report this comment

    mlimberg  
  • perry1980
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 9:37am

    Tweedle Dee and Tweedle dumb.
    Dumb and Dumber

    Report this comment

    perry1980  
    • Chris
      Posted on September 14, 2012 at 4:29am

      Hey Perry…
      I’m going to go out on a limb as make the assumption that you don’t earn a 6 figure a year income from your creativity. Nor does your “intellectual property” gain you any notoriety of any kind unless you are here… Matthew Inman makes internet comics that some may or may not like. I think they are pretty funny. But that’s my personal opinion… But to say that two people who helped raise over a $ Million for a Tesla Museum “Dumb and Dumber”… Well when have you raised a $ million for a worthy cause? Maybe before you call someone “Dumb and Dumber” have an IQ half as big huh?

      Report this comment

      Chris  
  • term limits for congress
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 9:02am

    I need one of those for the neighbor’s dog.

    Report this comment

    term limits for congress  
  • RightThinking1
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 8:36am

    But can he still have kids?

    Report this comment

    RightThinking1  
    • OniKaze
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 10:36am

      Someone who willingly lets themselves get zapped by a Telsa Cannon SHOULD NOT be allowed to have kids….

      Fingers crossed the answer is NO…

      Report this comment

      OniKaze  
  • stinkybisquit
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 8:30am

    Send a link for the video to a friend, with absolutely no explanation. It’s funny enough when you know what it is. Out of context, it’s something Dali would be proud of.

    Report this comment

    stinkybisquit  
  • ENIGMA28724
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 7:52am

    What a pud! I build an AC powered version when in high school that would arc 4-5 feet to a solid ground. It tingled and stung slightly if not holding a metal contact point but was not painful.

    Report this comment

    ENIGMA28724  
  • magadog
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 4:47am

    Cool…zap those surly, nasty libs…make ‘em smile and do the happy dance!

    Report this comment

    magadog  
  • NOTMOHAMMED
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 2:24am

    Anybody know who Stanley Milgram was? I suggest you google him right now. For your own good.

    Report this comment

    NOTMOHAMMED  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 6:00am

      I did read the stuff.. what is your point? Other than tying his name to the experiments done in the 60′s , that is very old news…. has something NEW occurred? If so please provide the link………..

      Report this comment

      Stoic one  
  • Al_Jolsen
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 12:56am

    Raising funds for this?
    I saw this done no less than 40-43 years ago in Pittsburgh, PA at the Buhl Planetarium where they had a Tesla ball.

    Wonder if I can get money for some of those wild experiments I did with my chemistry set?

    Report this comment

    Al_Jolsen  
    • DEFCON4
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 1:20am

      Al , Oohhm. I “currently” would have “resistance” in those wild experiments…lol lol …

      Report this comment

      DEFCON4  
  • Eastinfection
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 12:49am

    I saw Tesla open for Def Leppard in 1987… They were really, really good.

    Report this comment

    Eastinfection  
  • lonestarbill
    Posted on September 13, 2012 at 12:06am

    Shocking, simply shocking.

    Report this comment

    lonestarbill  
  • Joel Knows
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 11:31pm

    This has me wondering if the amperage could be boosted and this turned into a lightning gun. Might be an interesting toy to disrupt and overload all sorts of electronics.

    Report this comment

    Joel Knows  
  • SteveSD
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 11:01pm

    Yes but clearly, the interstate highway system is responsible for the invention of that ‘Tesla Gun’. They didn’t make that by themselves!

    :)

    Report this comment

    SteveSD  
  • stang289
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:59pm

    You can light a florescent bulb off a CB radio antenna while holding it . That is what HAARP is which is Tesla technology .

    Report this comment

    stang289  
  • daveposh
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:50pm

    Our house in Michigan backed up to a 600′ wide power easement that had high tension power lines running through it. I could walk out to the end of our backyard and hold up a 4′ fluorescent bulb and it would light up from the radiation from the power lines traveling through the tube and through me to the ground.

    Report this comment

    daveposh  
  • kettererbg
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:40pm

    Similar to a vandegraaff generator. When I was in the USAF, our radar could light up florescent bulbs at 100 yards with no problem. The ACW radar could do it much farther away. This is a “so what” moment.

    Report this comment

    kettererbg  
  • OlefromMN
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:35pm

    Better yet, report on the ever increasing cost of that fluorescent tube he is holding and then ask why many are being phased out by government regulation. I was quoted $20/tube for a simple F96 T-12 today. It is getting insane.

    Now go into most warehouses in the nation and see what lamps they run. Anybody wonder why business is afraid to hire? Their operating costs are going up quicker than their healthcare costs.

    Report this comment

    OlefromMN  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:59pm

      Understood, my apartment complex had all of the hall lighting ‘upgraded’ due to the phasing out of many kinds of lights, (the contractors told me this when I asked), and wound up using three different kinds of light installations; now we have come to find out even these are to be phased out.

      Our Federal government is beyond out of control; it is utterly insane.

      Report this comment

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • wisehiney
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:29pm

    Whaddya know, initiative lives in America.

    Report this comment

    wisehiney  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:26pm

    Let’s do another experiment, if someone has a brain stroke and labotomy, can they function as Vice President? Well, last time we seen Joe, he had a biker chick on his lap, and two biker dudes looking pissed off.

    Report this comment

    Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:31pm

      Potatoe.

      Report this comment

      Exrepublisheep  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:33pm

      Ha ha ha, the dirty old man that our parents warned us about. Well, he and Encinom anyway.

      Report this comment

      4xeverything  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:40pm

      At least he didn’t pull the “Hole in the Pop Corn Bucket” Trick on her, or the biker dudes.

      Report this comment

      Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:50pm

      @Exrepublisheep
      If Joe had only misspelled a word, which was written down Potatoe by the spelling bee board, then we wouldn’t be too bad off.

      But if you want to mention Dan Quayle, his best quote was on Dec 7, 1989 (I was there), Pearl Harbor. “Hawaii has always been a very pivotal role in the Pacific. It is in the Pacific. It is a part of the United States that is an island that is right here.”

      Report this comment

      Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 12:01am

      Darmok. We hire vice presidents (or wannabe ones) to be attack dogs. I guess we get what we pay for.

      Report this comment

      Exrepublisheep  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:21pm

    Bazinga…….

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on September 12, 2012 at 10:17pm

    Ask Uncle Fester…. he knows. : O )

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
    • JACKTHETOAD
      Posted on September 13, 2012 at 2:36am

      …snap snap… ( The Tesla family started, when ol’ Prometheus farted, and now we’re too soon parted, and it’s a goddamned shame. ) …snap snap…oh Morticia, where art thou? I know a little French…

      Report this comment

      JACKTHETOAD  
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