Mysterious Ball Lightning

Ball lightning may be an atmospheric electrical phenomenon, the physical nature of which is still controversial. The term refers to reports of luminous, usually spherical objects which vary from pea-sized to several meters in diameter. It is sometimes associated with thunderstorms, but unlike lightning flashes, which last only a fraction of a second, ball lightning reportedly lasts many seconds.

Laboratory experiments have produced effects that are visually similar to reports of ball lightning, but it is presently unknown whether these are actually related to any naturally occurring phenomenon. Scientific data on natural ball lightning is scarce owing to its infrequency and unpredictability. The presumption of its existence is based on reported public sightings, and has therefore produced somewhat inconsistent findings. Given inconsistencies and the lack of reliable data, the true nature of ball lightning is still unknown. Until recently, ball lightning was often regarded as a fantasy or a hoax. Reports of the phenomenon were dismissed for lack of physical evidence, and were often regarded the same way as UFO sightings.

Natural ball lightning appears infrequently and unpredictably, and is therefore rarely (if ever truly) photographed. However, several purported photos and videos exist. Perhaps the most famous story of ball lightning unfolded when 18th-century physicist Georg Wilhelm Richmann installed a lightning rod in his home and was struck in the head - and killed - by a "pale blue ball of fire."

• Category

  Science & Technology

[pantsempire]

actually it isn't a UFO since it is identified.

[phatphace]

That moment when the top two comments contradict one another.

[BlackCodLulz]

Doesn't fly

[QrayzHD]

At least one of the videos is fake, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that ball lightning is natural and even if it was it cannot explain a lot of UFO sightings where the objects have control of themselves, although ball lightning is convenient for skeptics it still doesn't explain how multiple independently secure nuclear missiles can be shutdown at 2 different sites in the same week while UFOs hovered above in both circumstances.

[soblo234534534]

Questionable Flying Object

[Mega1UpMan]

so a flying object.

[PuReExquizite]

redditers, welcome

[LordSuva]

That's because it's one of those flying lanterns. They are often misidentified as UFO's or ball lightning and they often have prints on them.

[VokunKendovJosh]

2:16 looks like alien spacecraft. It also looks like a face.

...

That is scary.

[296192001]

Ya.... cameras had quality better than this back then.

[Beanmachine91]

and people try to pass this off as a ufo

[ShadowKilla225]

Seriously? You can't even take a second to look for a date? It was recorded in 1996 idiot.