*UP* Back to The X-Taggers

(Fire Ball) The Mysteries of Ball Lightning

In 1967 a Russian chemist, M.T. Dmitriev was camping on the banks of the River Onegaw when he saw an intense flash of lightning. He claimed that a ball of fire appeared, hovering over the water.

The ball was unaffected by the wind and hovered above the water at a height of 30cm. He heard it crackle and hiss and it flew across his head and up on to the river bed. It stayed there for about 30 seconds.

It then passed into a group of trees and started to emit a trail of bluish smoke. The ball bounced from tree, to tree, like a "billiard ball". Then , after a few minutes, it disappeared from view.


*Facts About Ball Lightning * Speculation About Causes
Burning inflammable gas
One of the earliest theories is the that the balls were burning puffs of inflammable gas released when lightning impacts on the ground. However this has been discredited by many people because:
Atomic Reaction: This section by Charles Cagle (singtech@teleport.com)

"Curious Phenomenon In Venezuela"
Cowgill, Warner; Scientific American, 55:389, December 18, 1886

During the night of the 24th of October last, which was rainy and tempestuous, a family of nine persons, sleeping in a hut a few leagues from Maracaibo, were awakened by a loud humming noise and a vivid, dazzling light, which brilliantly illuminated the interior of the house.

The occupants, completely terror stricken, and believing, as they relate, that the end of the world had come, threw themselves on their knees and commenced to pray, but their devotions were almost immediately interrupted by violent vomitings, and extensive swellings commenced to appear in the upper part of their bodies, this being particularly noticeable about the face and lips.

It is to be noted that the brilliant light was not accompanied by a sensation of heat, although there was a smoky appearance and a peculiar smell.

The next morning the swellings had subsided, leaving upon the face and body large black blotches. No special pain was felt until the ninth day, when the skin peeled off, and these blotches were transformed into virulent raw sores.

The hairs of the head fell off upon the side which happened to be underneath when the phenomenon occurred, the same side of the body being, in all nine cases, the more seriously injured.

The remarkable part of the occurrence is that the house was uninjured, all doors and windows being closed at the time.

No trace of lightning could afterward be observed in any part of the building, and all the sufferers unite in saying that there was no detonation, but only the loud humming already mentioned.

Another curious attendant circumstance is that the trees around the house showed no signs of injury until the ninth day, when they suddenly withered, almost simultaneously with the development of the sores upon the bodies of the occupants of the house.

This is perhaps a mere coincidence, but it is remarkable that the same susceptibility to electrical effects, with the same lapse of time, should be observed in both animal and vegetable organisms.

I have visited the sufferers, who are now in one of the hospitals of this city; and although their appearance is truly horrible, yet it is hoped that in no case will the injuries prove fatal.


C. Cagle's notes

Cowgill was attached to the U.S. Consulate at Maracaibo. This fairly remarkable event has many of the attributes of a "classic" ball lightning event. Humming is frequently reported as being associated with many other BL events and may be associated with direct stimulation of the aural nerves. There are reports of airmen assigned to radar stations of having direct stimulation of their aural nerves such that they could "hear" the radar. Also, there are reports of "hissing" as a fireball (meteorite) passes overhead (another case of electromagnetic stimulation of the aural nerves). A smoky appearance and a peculiar smell are also common BL signatures. What seems most remarkable of all, however, is that the physiological effects, both on plant and human life, have the distinct "flavor" of exposure to radioactive particles. The particular effects are not inconsistent with exposure to a strong neutron flux in the near region of the phenomenon attendant with possible related products (such as beta particles, alpha particles, and various daughter products from thermal or epithermal or even fast [over .1 Mev] neutron induced decays) as might be expected from exposure to such a flux. The severe skin burns associated this event could be taken as evidence of hydrogen recoil related to the interaction of fast neutrons and hydrogen in the water in the skin of the victims. It is interesting to note that in 1886 radioactivity was unknown. Likewise, electrons, protons, alpha particles, and neutrons were years away from discovery.

Electricity
Ball lightning could be produced by the currents flowing from the clouds to the ground. This theory explains where the balls get their energy from. It does not, however, suggest how they can pass through objects, especially metal ones.
Anti-Matter
One of the more radical suggestions, and possible the one that offers the best explanation, is that the balls are composed of anti-matter from the upper atmosphere. It is theorised that the thunder storm sucks the anti-matter down to earth where it "reacts" with matter, releasing the energy that makes the glowing ball.
Optical Illusion
One Canadian scientist claimed that ball lightning was merely an optical illusion caused by after-images. When people stare at bright lights, and then look away, they often see a blurred, coloured after-image. He claims that this could easily be mistaken for ball lightning. This is supported by the fact that: However, this theory does not explain why some balls are reported to make sounds. It also neglects any explanations to the after effects some balls leave.
Extra-terrestial Origin
As with most strange occurrences there will always be some people who attribute them to alien involvement. With the lack of solid scientific theory about ball lightning it is easy to see why this is the case.

Is any information incorrect, or out of date, on this page? If so please mail me at jones@mail.eclipse.co.uk with any corrections.


Return To Paranormal Information Menu