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There are moments when we all wish we had superpowers. For most, it's nothing more than a distant fantasy. But believe it or not, there are people among us who have genuine, mind-blowing abilities that seem straight out of a comic book.
And who knows, this might just be the beginning. There could be many more out there, hidden in the shadows or right in front of us, ready to step forward when the time comes to either protect or reshape the world! Here are ten real individuals with bona fide superpowers.
10. The True-Life Batman
Daniel Kish was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancer affecting the eyes, as an infant. By the time he was one, he had lost both of his eyes. However, to navigate the world, Kish developed his own method of echolocation, much like bats use to soar in the dark. Because of this remarkable skill, he’s often called “the real-life Batman.”
As he navigated his environment, Kish began making clicking sounds with his tongue. He quickly discovered that each surface produced a unique sound. For example, he could tell a tree apart from its surroundings because the trunk emits a different echo compared to the branches or leaves.
By listening to the echoes of his clicks, Daniel Kish forms a mental 3D map of the objects around him. It's believed that the clicking activates the brain's visual functions, improving his ability to perceive space and depth. Kish claims that he can often find an exit in a concert hall faster than someone with sight because he can detect the exit from a distance. In noisy environments, he simply raises the volume of his clicks.
9. The True-Life Mr. Freeze
Like many superheroes, Wim Hof discovered his extraordinary abilities by chance. At 17, he was walking along a frozen canal in Amsterdam when an intense urge to jump in overcame him. He did, and soon realized he possessed an extraordinary ability to endure cold, a gift that has earned him 26 world records.
He attempted to climb Everest wearing only a pair of shorts. Despite surviving the Death Zone unscathed, he had to turn back due to a foot injury, not the cold. Wim Hof has also run barefoot marathons in snow and set a new record for ice submersion four times.
Researchers investigating Wim Hof’s extraordinary capabilities have found that he can bypass his brain's stress responses using breathing and meditation techniques. When exposed to extreme cold, his brain releases opioids and cannabinoids, which block the sensations of cold and pain. However, it remains unclear how these breathing techniques influence other physiological processes, such as Hof’s incredible resistance to frostbite, which should not be affected by his breathing practices.
8. The True-Life Flash
Dean Karnazes has an unparalleled ability to run endlessly. He is one of the most exceptional endurance athletes in the world. He once ran continuously for 563 kilometers (350 miles) over three days. Karnazes has run across Death Valley and even reached the South Pole on foot. Among ultra-endurance athletes, he is truly a superhuman.
Most runners hit a limit due to their body’s lactate threshold. When the body breaks down glucose for energy, lactate is produced as a by-product. Once you reach this threshold, the body can't clear the lactate fast enough, causing acid to accumulate in the muscles, leading to the painful sensation known as 'hitting the wall.' Continuing past this point causes muscle fatigue, shortness of breath, and an elevated heart rate, ultimately leading to collapse in a sweaty, exhausted heap.
Dean Karnazes doesn’t have a lactate threshold, which means, in theory, he could run endlessly.
Karnazes has never experienced cramps or muscle soreness, even during grueling runs that exceed 160 kilometers (100 miles). The only thing that limits him is his need for sleep, and occasionally, he has experienced 'sleep running,' where he continues moving even while dozing off.
7. The True-Life Spider-Man
Known as the 'French Spiderman,' Alain Robert is one of the world’s top climbers. He’s renowned for his free solo climbs of skyscrapers, ascending them without ropes or safety harnesses. The only 'gear' he carries is a bag of chalk. Robert has scaled over 160 skyscrapers, including the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Taipei 101 in Taiwan, and the Lloyd’s building in London.
In October 2018, Robert was arrested after scaling the Salesforce Tower in London. He climbed the 202-meter (662-foot) tower without any safety equipment, drawing a crowd below. Though he made it to the top safely, he was promptly arrested 'on suspicion of causing public nuisance.'
After the court hearing following his daring stunt, which took only around 45 minutes, Robert was banned from climbing any building in the UK. While it’s unfortunate, there are still many cities around the world with tall buildings that could be his next challenge.
6. The True-Life Professor X
Actress Marilu Henner possesses extraordinary mental abilities. She has Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM), a rare condition that enables her to recall virtually every moment of her life in vivid detail. Fewer than 100 individuals worldwide have been diagnosed with HSAM. While HSAM can be incredibly helpful in some aspects of life (such as never forgetting where you left your car keys), it also comes with challenges, including a higher likelihood of anxiety disorders, depression, and OCD.
Marilu Henner has the ability to remember the exact month, day, and even time of any event in her life. She can also recall details from the news or happenings involving others. She first became aware of this incredible gift when she was six years old.
MRI scans have shown that individuals with HSAM have larger temporal lobes and caudate nuclei compared to those without the condition. However, researchers are still uncertain whether these differences are a cause or a consequence of having HSAM. Regardless of the cause, Henner has found her condition particularly useful in certain situations, such as memorizing lines for acting.
5. The True-Life Elastigirl
Javier Botet, a Spanish actor, has a unique gift. His unusually long limbs and thin body give him a skeletal appearance. When he auditioned for a role in 2013, many viewers mistakenly thought they were watching a puppet, due to his ability to move his limbs in strange and unsettling ways. Botet has Marfan syndrome, a condition that causes hyperflexibility.
This condition has allowed Botet to build a career in horror films, where he has portrayed a variety of eerie characters, including aliens, lepers, monsters, mummies, and even the folklore-inspired Slender Man. He first became aware of his unusual ability as a child and enjoyed folding his arms and legs into odd shapes. (We all have our quirks.)
Marfan syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by excessive height, slenderness, and hyperflexibility. While it can lead to serious complications such as heart defects and blindness, Javier Botet is currently using his elastic abilities to dominate Hollywood.
4. The True-Life Overseer
A Connecticut family has become the subject of extensive research by genetic scientists due to their extraordinary bone density. Similar to the character played by Bruce Willis in the film *Unbreakable*, this family has a genetic mutation that makes their bones virtually unbreakable.
No one in this family has ever experienced a fracture, and they are believed to have the strongest bones on Earth, which is truly remarkable. The condition appears to be hereditary. Scientists conducted tests on 20 family members, and nearly half of them were found to possess unusually dense bones. By studying the DNA of those with this condition, researchers hope to uncover more insights into bone density, potentially leading to breakthroughs in treating osteoporosis.
Thanks to their condition, this Connecticut family will never need a plaster cast, though they might spend a lot on plastic ponchos. (A bit of an *Unbreakable* reference there.)
3. The Real-Life Deadpool
While not exactly like the comic book character Deadpool, a woman known only as 'SM' suffers from a condition called Urbach-Wiethe, which has caused damage to parts of her brain. This condition has left her completely devoid of fear—she feels no fear whatsoever.
This condition first showed itself as an utter lack of fear in the face of external dangers—like the large, venomous spiders and snakes SM would casually pick up as a child. Once, when she was held at knifepoint during a robbery, her utter lack of fear so rattled her attacker that he ended up letting her go.
Like all superheroes, SM does have one vulnerability. After a series of tests where she displayed no fear responses, she was exposed to carbon dioxide, which triggered a panic attack. Neurologists studying her brain suggested that the threat of suffocation finally prompted a fear response, something no other stimulus had done before. However, when the test was repeated, SM showed no anxiety until the gas started to take effect, proving that her response was a physical reaction to suffocation rather than a psychological one.
It could have been worse. She could have a fear of cows.
2. The Real-Life Vision
Back in 1972, when Veronica Seider claimed she could see tiny objects from 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) away, no one took her seriously. But eyesight tests are easy to conduct, and it quickly became apparent that Seider's vision was truly extraordinary. She was soon recognized by Guinness World Records for having eyesight 20 times stronger than that of an average human.
Not only can she distinguish people and objects from 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) away, but she can also judge distances and positions accurately, which can come in handy. Additionally, she has the ability to see the individual colors that make up a television screen. Though, not quite as useful.
1. The Real-Life Invisible Woman
It is widely accepted that everyone has a distinctive set of fingerprints. Even identical twins have their own unique patterns in the whorls and loops of their prints. With modern technology using fingerprints for tasks like cybersecurity, Cheryl Maynard might just feel like she’s living under the radar.
Fingerprints are typically formed before birth. However, those with adermatoglyphia are born without any fingerprints. (In the image above, Cheryl's finger is shown next to a normal one.) It’s thought that only four extended families worldwide have this condition, which is caused by a genetic mutation.
This condition has left Cheryl Maynard feeling nearly invisible. Her lack of fingerprints has even made it difficult to secure employment. On the flip side, if she were ever interested in a career as a criminal, she'd already have a significant advantage.
