The Schmidt Pain Scale Explained

Ever get stung by a yellowjacket? Think it’s bad—wait till you feel a level four sting. Entomologist Justin Schmidt, who died in 2023, spent years getting stung over a thousand times to create the world’s most infamous pain scale. Level one? A tiny spark. Level two? Like a cigar smothered on your tongue. Level three? Explosive and screaming-inducing. Level four? Blinding, electric agony—like walking on flaming charcoal with a nail in your heel. The bullet ant and tarantula hawk top the list. But here’s the kicker: most stingers only attack when provoked. And even the worst stings? Usually just a temporary nuisance. So next time you get zapped, remember—your pain could’ve been way worse. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/9ce72962ad69b405