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If some lights are a natural phenomenon, what produces them?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·7 answers·0·0 following
Seven answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

Where it stands

Seven answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Seven are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet.

Why it matters

Several mechanisms have been proposed, none tested quantitatively against the station's data⁠[1]⁠[2]. They make different predictions about spectra, location and timing.

Answers 7

Evidence: 1 for, 2 against
Disputed
Evidence: 1 against
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Still possible
New physics, such as micrometric wormholes.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: 1 against
Still possible
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 against
Disputed
Show 2 more answers

History

  1. Teodorani: the 1984 usable spectra showed a continuum with no lines.Against: Dusty plasmas formed from ionised air and dust in the valley.
  2. Paiva & Taft puts forward: dusty plasmas formed from ionised air and dust in the valley.
  3. Hauge puts forward: combustion of dust clouds from the valley floor containing scandium.
  4. Paiva & Taft: the model was extended to account for a spectrum recorded at Hessdalen and for cluster formation.For: Dusty plasmas formed from ionised air and dust in the valley.
  5. Caron & Faridi: proposed from spectra analysed by Hauge in 2007 and 2010.For: Combustion of dust clouds from the valley floor containing scandium.
  6. Paiva puts forward: an electrically active temperature inversion layer over the valley produces the lights.
  7. Vargemezis et al.: the VLF survey found conductive zones, mainly sulphides, outlining a 6 × 12 km ellipse over the gabbro…For: A natural battery of sulphide and copper ores, with groundwater as electrolyte, supplies charge that drives…
  8. Pascoli: proposed as a working hypothesis without a quantitative test.Against: New physics, such as micrometric wormholes.
  9. Teodorani puts forward: a natural battery of sulphide and copper ores, with groundwater as electrolyte, supplies charge that drives…
  10. Teodorani puts forward: stress-activated charge from rock (piezoelectric or positive-hole currents) ionises the air.
  11. Teodorani: a geobattery yields at most about a volt, about six orders of magnitude short of air breakdown.Against: A natural battery of sulphide and copper ores, with groundwater as electrolyte, supplies charge that drives…
  12. Teodorani: the 2024 survey judged seismicity in the valley too weak to sustain such a source.Against: Stress-activated charge from rock (piezoelectric or positive-hole currents) ionises the air.
  13. Asked on this site
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