ABSTRACT

Various descriptions of luminous phenomena have been reported to occur in connection with fault areas and seismic events. Earthquake lights have been designated as "well-established" by some and "just stories" by others. Why is there such a wide spectrum of opinions about these phenomena? This talk will examine the social and scientific basis for popular ideas about earthquake lights (and other types of "earth lights") and why they remain controversial… and rather spooky.

About the Speaker:

Sharon A. Hill is a geologist and educator focusing on science and society. As a writer and podcaster, she advocates for science appreciation, critical thinking, and evidence-based inquiry, and specializes in researching anomalous natural phenomena and paranormal topics. Her new book is Scientifical Americans: The Culture of Amateur Paranormal Researchers (McFarland, 2017). She is the creator of DoubtfulNews.com, SpookyGeology.com, and the host of the podcast 15 Credibility Street. Her personal website is SharonAHill.com. She lives in Harrisburg, PA.