Ball ray, or orb, is an unexplained phenomenon described as luminescent, spherical objects ranging in size from a pea to several meters in diameter. Although generally associated with thunderstorms, this phenomenon is reported to last much longer than the brief flash of lightning. Some 19th-century accounts describe these orbs exploding and leaving behind the odor of sulfur. Reports of spherical lightning have appeared throughout history and have drawn scientific attention.
In January 2014, an optical spectrum of what appeared to be a lightning event was published alongside high-frame-rate video footage. While laboratory experiments have produced effects visually similar to reported lightning phenomena, their connection to the actual occurrences remains unclear. While ball lightning has been reported for centuries, scientific verification has been limited, with most studies relying on eyewitness accounts rather than direct measurements.
Scientific Hypotheses and Uncertainty
Scientists have proposed various hypotheses to explain reports of lightning throughout history, but scientific data on the phenomenon remains limited. The presumption of its existence has relied on inconsistent eyewitness reports. Due to the lack of reproducible data, the physical existence of ball lightning remains unproven.
Widecombe-in-the-Moor Great Storm
One of the earliest recorded accounts of ball lightning dates back to the Great Storm at a church in Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Devon, England, on October 21, 1638. During a heavy storm, a fireball approximately 2.4 meters in diameter reportedly struck and entered the church, nearly destroying it. Large stones from the church walls were thrown to the ground, and massive wooden beams were shattered. The fireball allegedly burst through pews, broke numerous windows, and filled the church with thick dark smoke and a pungent sulfuric odor.
The fireball was said to have split into two, with one part exiting through a broken window and the other disappearing somewhere inside the church. At the time, the event was interpreted as a supernatural occurrence, with some attributing it to “the devil” or the “flames of hell.” Others blamed the destruction on two individuals who had been playing cards during the sermon, believing they had provoked the wrath of God.
The Great Storm of 1638 left the church heavily damaged. At the time of the incident, an afternoon service was in progress, with around 300 worshipers present. Four people were killed, and approximately 60 others were injured. According to local legend, the storm was caused by the devil’s visit to the village.
While the Widecombe-in-the-Moor incident is one of the earliest and most well-documented cases, numerous similar sightings have been recorded over the centuries.
Notable Sightings of Ball Lightning
Lightning Ball Over St. John’s Wood, London — June 26, 1921
A glowing, pear-shaped body was observed hovering beneath the clouds during a slow-moving night storm. The object remained visible for at least two minutes.
A Lightning Visitor, Linguy (Eure-et-Loire), France — 1897
The Malvern Hills Horror — July 3, 1826
During a storm over Worcestershire Beacon, a massive ball of “electric fire” rolled into a stone shelter and exploded, blasting through the opposite wall. Two people were killed, and others were injured.
Rare Electrical Phenomenon at Sea — March 19, 1887
During a violent storm in the North Atlantic Ocean, a bright, dark object was seen hovering above the JPA barge. The glowing body then fell into the sea, creating a massive wave. Following the event, the atmosphere became unbearably hot, but solid chunks of ice soon rained down onto the deck.
The Paris Tailor and His Visitor — Summer 1843
During a storm, a small glowing globe entered a tailor’s room through the chimney. It moved across the floor, ascended, and exited through another chimney—first removing the paper that had covered the opening. Once in the open air, the globe exploded, destroying the chimney.
Lightning Ball Chase Over Milan — June 1841
A reddish-yellow fireball, pursued by a group of men and boys, rolled down a street amid a storm.
The Fall of a Lightning Ball — October 27, 1697
A “fire body” descended from a “fire cloud,” igniting the gunpowder store at Athlone Castle, Ireland. The resulting explosion devastated the city, though only seven lives were lost.
A Sighting in Basel, Switzerland — 1566
In the early hours before sunrise, witnesses in Basel, Switzerland, reported a celestial spectacle. Red and black orbs appeared in the sky, seemingly engaged in battle, a phenomenon recorded among numerous historical accounts of unexplained aerial events.
The Celestial Phenomenon of Nuremberg — April 14, 1561
On the morning of April 14, 1561, the skies over Nuremberg, Germany, were said to be filled with an extraordinary display. Witnesses described numerous celestial objects engaged in a chaotic aerial event, a spectacle that has remained one of the most well-documented accounts of unexplained phenomena in history.
Orbs in the Sky Over Rome — 73 BC
In the land of the Romans in 73 BC, witnesses reported seeing orbs in the sky that descended to the earth, then rose again, soaring toward the rising sun. Their immense size was said to obscure the sun entirely. This strange occurrence was followed by the outbreak of the Great Roman War.
Orbs Seen and Unseen
Orbs appear in all environments, regardless of religious or secular settings. They have been captured by cameras, recorded on camcorders, and witnessed with the naked eye, both during the day and at night.
Some speculate that orbs may act as a form of portal. In a meditation video, numerous orbs were observed, and at one point, the symbol of the swastika briefly appeared on an iron fence. While orbs appear to be pure energy, interpretations vary. Some consider them manifestations of angels, demons, spirits of ancestors, or souls of those who have passed. Ultimately, their nature remains open to interpretation, leaving each observer to reflect and draw their own conclusions.
The Mystery of Ball Lightning
Ball lightning—an unexplained, slow-moving sphere of light occasionally seen at ground level during thunderstorms—has intrigued scientists for centuries. There have also been reports of ball lightning on aircraft, yet the origins of this phenomenon remain a mystery.
In 2003, John Gilman of the University of California, Los Angeles, suggested that one of ball lightning’s key properties—its cohesion, which allows it to remain intact for tens of seconds—could be explained in terms of Rydberg atoms (J. J. Gilman; Cohesion in ball lightning. Appl. Phys. Lett. 15 September 2003; 83 (11): 2283–2284). However, definitive scientific understanding of ball lightning remains elusive.
Despite ongoing research, ball lightning remains one of nature’s most elusive and controversial phenomena. Whether it is an atmospheric anomaly, a plasma event, or something yet to be understood, the quest to unravel its true nature continues.
