Summary
Scientists have discovered how the mysterious will-o’-the-wisps, ghostly blue flames seen in marshes and wetlands, can occur. The team found that tiny electrical discharges, called microlightning, happen between bubbles of methane in water. This natural ignition process can cause the blue flames to appear.
Key Facts
- Will-o’-the-wisps are ghostly blue flames sometimes seen in marshes and cemeteries.
- They are also known as ignis fatuus and are linked to methane gas from decaying matter.
- Methane needs a high temperature to ignite, which is usually not present in nature.
- Scientists found that microlightning occurs between methane bubbles in water, igniting the gas.
- In experiments, scientists observed brief flashes between bubbles using high-speed cameras.
- The study showed that these electrical discharges cause the methane to oxidize and emit light.
- The research provides a new explanation for how will-o’-the-wisps form naturally.
