Do It For The Science! Scientist Repeatedly Shocks Himself With Electric Eel

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Electric eels are long, slimy and can fend off predators with their unsuspecting ability to deliver a shock that makes even the toughest animals swim the other way. These things have roughly 6,000 cells called electrocytes that produce electricity. They can generate close to 600 volts, which is 5 times stronger than the electricity generated in a standard wall socket.

Many people understand the science behind eels while they are in their natural habitats but few know their capabilities when out they’re out of the water. A Vanderbilt University professor named Kenneth Catania posed the question of how effective the eel is when above water and in the name of science, he volunteered his own arm for the tests.

Professor Catania quickly figured out that the eels leaping shocks are even more powerful and effective than the shocks they’re able to deliver under water. When the eel is under water, much of the charge dissipates when they come in contact with a predator because water carries electricity. On the other hand, when an eel is airborne, there is more electricity that can flow through the victim. Catania used an ammeter, which is used to measure how much current is flowing through a system, to test his curiosity.

The test took roughly 10 attempts due to the eel’s shock and Catania’s involuntary jerking. In his post-experiment analysis, Catania figured he was on the wrong end of about 40 to 50 milliamperes of electricity. These measurements are relative to the size of the eel and where the victim gets shocked but nevertheless, Catania’s experiment has opened the door to further understanding the true capability of eels and their defensive tactics.