In 2006, scientists at Cambridge University discovered a Pakistani street performer who was able to cut himself with knives without experiencing pain. Upon investigation, they found that he was one of a handful of local people who had a defect in a gene called SCN9A meaning that pain did not flow from the nerves to the brain. Researchers are currently studying whether this may provide the key to treating chronic pain conditions.

Similarly, a biotech company called Chiroscience is developing an osteoporosis drug based on the study of a community in South Africa, which has exceptionally strong and dense bones on account of a “bone mass gene.”

Earlier this year UCB, a Belgian pharmaceutical company, launched a competition to find more such superhumans, in the belief that their extraordinary genetic make-up could form the basis of new medicines.

“Individuals or groups who exhibited exceptional wound healing warrant further investigation,” explained Dr Duncan McHale, UCB’s vice president of global exploratory development. He is also interested in “those who have consistently displayed exceptional resistance or immunity to infections, or who, after a robust clinical diagnosis, displayed unusually fast or spontaneous disease remission”.

This is only scratching the surface. In all corners of the world, there are ordinary people with powers that leave mere mortals astonished. Some can swim like fish; some are able to withstand extreme temperatures; others have extraordinary mental powers, and are able to recall every word they have ever read.

Here at Elektra, we believe that many Invisibles can help humanity. This is our token mission.