The Meteors You Can Hear
Some people say they hear a hiss or crackle at the very moment a bright meteor flashes overhead. Scientists said that was impossible.
What was reported
For centuries, people watching very bright meteors have reported hearing sounds at the same time: hissing, crackling or popping, like frying bacon. Scientists dismissed these reports, because a meteor burns up many kilometres high, and its sound should take minutes to reach the ground.
Some witnesses even said the sound seemed to come from objects around them, such as trees or their own glasses.
Explanations offered
In 1980, Australian astronomer Colin Keay proposed that bright meteors give off very low-frequency radio waves, which travel at the speed of light and can make nearby objects, such as dry grass, pine needles or frizzy hair, vibrate faintly and produce sound. Experiments have supported the idea. These are now called electrophonic sounds.
- When
- Reported for centuries; explained in 1980
- Where
- Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- Witnesses
- Meteor watchers worldwide
- Status
- Mostly explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.