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{{Infobox Paranormalterms {{Infobox Paranormalterms
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Revision as of 00:32, 31 October 2007

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Template:Infobox Paranormalterms

For other uses, see Ghost light (disambiguation).

A ghost light is any one of many unusual visual phenomena that appear in specific areas around the world. This describes the appearance of lights where one presumes there should be none. The lack of definitive explanations or sources has led them to be associated with the paranormal.

Explanations

There is no single explanation for what causes ghost lights, but possible causes are mirages, refracted light from automobile headlights, swamp gas, ball lightning, St. Elmo's fire, Will o' the wisp or the piezoelectric effect from underground quartz crystals (earthquake lights).

Phosphorus

One possible explanation, for some ghost lights, is phosphorus. On its own swamp gas cannot spontaneously ignite but during the decay of organic material in waterlogged ground phosphine (phosphorus trihydride) is formed (along with other compounds like phosphorous tetrahydride) which can cause the methane to burn on contact with air. This can occur with buried dead bodies and may also explain related phenomena like corpse candles, corpse lights or corpse fire.

In popular culture

It is also the name of an ethereal being that haunts the area in and around Radiator Springs in the animated film Cars, and plays a central role in the associated short film Mater and the Ghostlight. It is rumored to be a floating orb of blue light that preys upon unsuspecting vehicles, leaving only their license plates behind.

Examples

Examples of this phenomena can be found across the world:

References

  1. John Emsley, The 13th Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus, 2000, ISBN 0471394556

External links


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