What are Lichtenberg figures, and how do we make them?

The irony is that you can make these figures without the microwave transformers and associated potentially lethal hazards… I mean other than the obvious required momentary high voltage hazard that’s needed to make the figures.

There are lots of “safer” high voltage sources that could be used, the issue is the proliferation of dangerous, unsafe instructions out on the net that following them could result in injuries.

Like the widely publicised incident of a child asking Alexa for a challenge and being suggested to short a mains voltage power point with a penny. Its all about how you do something, not what you’re doing. I basically did that challenge as a child but with a paper clip and without electrocuting myself because I learned and after deciding I was confident enough in my knowledge, I took precautions (unplugged appliances, ensured I minimised my potential path to ground, used appropriately insulated electricians pliers to hold the paper clip, etc) and had a few seconds of fun seeing a cool spark.