Lichtenberg figures

Lichtenberg figures are intricate, branching patterns that appear on surfaces after an electrical discharge, such as a lightning strike or high-voltage electrical experiment. They resemble natural lightning or fractal-like diagrams and are formed when electricity rapidly disperses through a material, creating visible, tree-like pathways. These patterns are not permanent; they result from the electrical energy interacting with the material’s surface or interior. Lichtenberg figures help scientists study electrical discharges, and they can also be formed deliberately in materials like acrylic for artistic or decorative purposes.