Mysteries Department
Sign inRequest access
0

Did the hydroacoustic signal come from the same event as the flash?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of Was the signal of 22 September 1979 a nuclear explosion?·3 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: the Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash timeAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. The Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time. leads, with evidence 3 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

An independent signal at the right time and place would be strong corroboration, and the NRL director in 1979 regarded it as decisive⁠[1]; the Ruina panel did not accept it⁠[2].

Answers 3

Evidence: 3 for
Most likely
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible

History

  1. Office of Science and Technology Policy (panel chaired by Jack Ruina) puts forward: the signal had another source, natural or man-made, and its timing is coincidental.
  2. De Geer & Wright puts forward: the Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time.
  3. De Geer & Wright: signal at SNR over 300, bearing 198 ± 10 degrees, path about 10,000 km, origin time about 00:52 UTC.For: The Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time.
  4. De Geer & Wright: the Ruina panel judged the hydroacoustic evidence not persuasive.For: The signal had another source, natural or man-made, and its timing is coincidental.
  5. Cohen & Burr: alan Berman, NRL director, stated the data persuaded him of a detonation near the Prince Edward Islands.For: The Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time.
  6. Asked on this site
Add evidence
1What it bears on2What you found3Where it comes from
Which answer?
Does it count for or against it?
In a sentence, what did you find?
What you found optional
Where it comes from optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Propose an answer
Your answer, in a sentence
What would rule it out? optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Ask a sub-question
Your question
Why it would help optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Add a source
The source
What it shows about this question optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.

Discussion 0

Add to the discussion