One of the most famous photos of the Hesddalen Lights. Photo: Life in Norway

Since the 1980s Scientists have been studying a strange aerial phenomenon in Norway but they yet to find a definitive explanation.

What are the Hessdalen Lights?

NewScientist shares footage of th Hessdalen Lights

The Hessdalen lights are strange, unexplained lights seen in a part of Norway called the Hessdalen valley since the 1930s. These lights can appear during the day or night and look white, yellow, or red.

They move around the valley, sometimes quickly and other times slowly. Sometimes they stay in one spot. Hundreds of people have seen these lights over the years.

At times, these lights can be as large as cars and linger in the air for as long as 2 hours. Sometimes, they may swiftly traverse down the valley before vanishing abruptly. Other times, there are instances of quick blue and white flashes that appear and disappear in an instant, along with sightings during the daytime resembling metallic objects in the sky.

In the early 1980s, there was a huge uptick in the amount of sightings. Since 1983, a group called “Project Hessdalen” and later a program named EMBLA have been trying to study these lights.

They’ve set up cameras and equipment to record them. Scientists from Østfold University College, Norway and Italian National Research Council are spearheading this research.

The 80s Sightings

Reports of sightings in the Hessdalen valley started in late-1981. On December 1st, there were multiple reports of unusual sightings including a “bullet-shaped object,” a sphere, and various strange lights moving northward towards Trondheim. About six weeks later, on January 18th, 1982, another sighting described a strange light tilting slightly up and down as it moved.

A significant sighting occurred on February 11th when a skeptical journalist, Arne Wisth, witnessed the lights himself. Initially intending to write a dismissive piece about the sightings, Wisth changed his mind when he saw the phenomenon. He described a star-like object approaching rapidly with tremendous speed, growing larger and brighter as it came closer. The object then stopped, hovered briefly, and descended closer to the ground before disappearing. Although Wisth managed to capture a photograph, the object vanished before he could take another picture.

Wisth observed the lights again exactly one week later, on February 18th, this time with around thirty witnesses present. The lights pulsated and changed colors several times before disappearing. Approximately twenty minutes later, a long red-white luminous shape appeared, moving slower and closer to the ground between the Fjellbekkhogda and Finsahogda mountains.

Leif Havik, a well-known ufologist and writer in Norway, was among those who witnessed the initial sightings of lights over Hessdalen. During a four-day expedition starting on March 17th, he and his team encountered six separate incidents.

The first incident occurred shortly after 7:30 pm on the first evening. As they prepared to leave their transport and head to their base on Varhusvollan Mountain, Havik’s colleague, Lars Lillevold, suddenly exclaimed, “There it is!” They all observed an oblong object slowly passing in front of Finnsahogda Mountain. Despite their awe, they couldn’t unpack their cameras in time and proceeded to their mountain hut for the night. Shortly after their arrival at 8:39 pm, another luminous object passed over the valley, confirming the reality of the sightings.

The following evening, around the same time, the oblong-shaped object reappeared with a red light at the front and two white-yellow lights separated by a dark patch at the back. It flew low over the group for about forty-five seconds. Almost exactly twenty-four hours later, on March 19th, a “star” suddenly appeared in the night sky. Initially unsure if it was a star, the object then turned a warmer yellow-white color, growing in size as it followed the same route as the previous evenings.

Hessdalen Light Research

In 2018, the Hessdalen Observatory was set up atop a mountain, situated nearly 1,000 meters above sea level. It operates using solar panels and methanol fuel cells, allowing four researchers to work there throughout the year.

Even though scientists are studying the phenomenon, they still haven’t agreed on what causes it. Some think the lights might be mistaken sightings of things like stars, airplanes, or car lights.

One idea suggests that the lights could be caused by dust particles from mining in the area burning up in the air. This theory gained attention when researchers found certain elements in the air that are known for their ability to reflect light.

Another theory proposes that the lights form when certain types of crystals in the rocks of the valley create electricity under pressure.

In 2010, a different hypothesis suggested that the lights are created by a special kind of plasma made from charged particles in the air and dust. This could be caused by natural processes like radon decay.

Piezoelectricity and the Hessdalen Lights

In a study from 2011, Gerson Paiva and Carlton Taft proposed an explanation for the strange shapes seen at the center of the Hessdalen lights. They suggested that these lights form clusters due to interactions between different types of waves in the air. These clusters of light balls can shoot out at very high speeds, similar to what’s been observed. The central ball is white, while the ones that shoot out are green, likely because of certain types of ions in the air. These ions break apart more quickly than others, so only certain colors are seen.

Paiva and Taft also developed a model to explain the specific pattern of light seen in the Hessdalen lights. They suggested that the light behaves like thick gas, which affects how its spectrum looks. When the air is clear, the light shows a certain pattern. They also proposed that the shapes of the lights might be caused by rocks underground breaking apart quickly.

In 2014, Jader Monari introduced another theory, suggesting that the valley itself could act like a battery. In this model, the river and the sides of the valley play roles similar to the parts of a battery. Gas bubbles rising from the ground could become charged and create the Hessdalen lights.

Paranormal Theories about the Hessdalen Lights

The shape taken by the lights in this image could be imagined as reflective surfaces on a spacecraft.

UFO enthusiasts often find the Hessdalen lights intriguing and compelling evidence of extraterrestrial activity. Some believe that these lights could be manifestations of alien spacecraft or advanced technology from other worlds. They argue that the lights’ behavior, such as their sudden appearances, rapid movements, and unconventional shapes, are consistent with characteristics commonly attributed to UFO sightings.

Paranormal theories about the Hessdalen lights propose various supernatural explanations. Some suggest that the lights are manifestations of ghosts, spirits, or otherworldly entities. Others propose connections to ley lines, Earth’s energy grids, or mystical phenomena. These theories often draw upon folklore, pseudoscience, and speculative interpretations of the lights’ behavior to support their claims.

What do you think is causing the Hessdalen Lights? Tell us your theories in the comments.

If you enjoyed this article you might also be interested in Kristina Florence’s UFO Abduction or the 1994 Muskegon UFO Sightings.

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A UFO seen on an infrared camera that was invisible to the naked eye. Source: Loredo Paranormal Research Society

In an almost infinite universe, it’s unlikely that we’re the only intelligent life. But where is everyone else? Could it be that aliens have been coexisting with us on Earth, invisibly, since the beginning of our time?

The Shadow Biosphere

In our world, phosphorus is a very important part of life. It’s needed for making RNA and DNA, which are like the instruction manuals for living things. Every plant and animal needs phosphorus to survive, even though there’s not much of it around. Scientists like Matthew Pasek from the University of South Florida say that phosphorus is rare compared to how much it’s needed for life.

The “shadow biosphere” idea suggests that there might be other kinds of life here on Earth that we haven’t noticed yet. They might be living alongside the life we know about, but they work in different ways that we don’t recognize as life. For example, there are tiny organisms in Mono Lake that use arsenic instead of phosphorus to stay alive. Even though this arsenic use is because of very special conditions, it’s possible that there are bigger shadow biospheres all over Earth’s history. Some might have disappeared when things changed, while others might have been taken over by the life that uses phosphorus.

There’s also the idea that maybe life was brought to Earth by things like meteorite crashes or visits from aliens. This life might need a different kind of energy, and these shadow biospheres might have been here for a long time, hidden away and not bothering anyone.

Invisible Aliens Among Us

A UFO that was not visible to the naked eye but could be seen with an infrared camera.

Recently, a group called the Laredo Paranormal Research Society in Texas filmed a triangle-shaped UFO that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. They used an infrared camera, and in their video, you can see three glowing orbs flying together. The object flew quietly and disappeared behind a house.

Ismael Cuellar, who started the group, said they checked to see if it could be birds, bugs, planes, or drones, but none of those things matched what they saw. They believe it might be an alien spaceship that is invisible to the naked eye.

In 2001, during an interview, astrophysicist and Project Galileo Research Affiliate Dr. Massimo Teodorani, talked about his research on UFOs in the lower atmosphere. He mentioned that sometimes these UFOs aren’t visible as lights but are able to move into a lower frequency of light that is invisible to us.

Teodorani’s perspective on invisible UFOs aligns with his scientific approach to studying UFO phenomena. He often emphasizes the importance of gathering empirical data and applying rigorous scientific methods to investigate reports of UFO sightings. Through his research, Teodorani aims to contribute to a better understanding of the nature of UFOs and their potential implications for our understanding of the universe.

He referred to his colleague, Prof. Erling Strand from Norway, who in 1994 recorded about 34 instances of these phenomena using radio technology. These phenomena were sometimes visible and sometimes not, but their position and speed were accurately tracked by radar even when they couldn’t be seen. Dr. Teodorani speculated that these UFOs might change into a form of energy that’s invisible to the human eye but still detectable by radar.

Strand began investigating the Hessdalen Lights in the early 1980s. These lights appeared as bright, colorful orbs or flashes of light in the sky and were reported by numerous witnesses over several years. Strand, along with other scientists and researchers, established the Hessdalen Phenomena Project to study these lights scientifically.

The project involved setting up monitoring stations equipped with cameras, spectrographs, magnetometers, and other instruments to observe and record the phenomenon. The goal was to gather empirical data and analyze the characteristics and behavior of the lights to better understand their nature and origin.

Over the years, Strand and his team collected a vast amount of data on the Hessdalen Lights, but despite extensive investigation, they have not been able to definitively explain the cause of the phenomenon.

Can Anyone See These UFOs with an Infrared Camera?

If you have a spare couple of grand, the Panasonic Lumix GH6 camera is thought to be able to capture UFOs that can only be seen in infrared. Check it out on Amazon.

Atmospheric Lights claim that their experts have tested many different kinds of infrared cameras and find that the Panasonic Lumix GH6 camera is a great option for capturing UFOs that can only be seen in the infrared spectrum. The GH6 features LifePixel, which is really helpful for taking pictures using infrared (IR) technology.

Regular cameras have a special filter that stops infrared and ultraviolet light, which is usually not good for normal photos. This makes the camera’s sensor more sensitive to infrared light, helping to capture better pictures of UFOs that can only be seen in infrared.

Almost every camera’s sensor can detect infrared light, but they have a special filter called an IR blocking filter or hot mirror in front of the sensor, behind the lens. This filter stops the infrared light from coming through so that the photo doesn’t look too reddish or bluish.

To take infrared photos on a non-specialised camera, you have two options:

The first option is to use a special filter that goes on the front of the lens. These filters are made of deep red glass and block out visible light almost completely. This means your camera can capture infrared light, but it will take a long time to do so, and it will be hard to capture anything that’s moving.

The second option is to modify the camera’s sensor itself. This involves opening up the camera, removing the IR blocking filter, and replacing it with a filter that lets infrared light through. Because this new filter is now behind the lens, you can take infrared photos at normal speeds, making it easier to capture moving objects.

Skepticism about Invisible UFOs

Ben McGee, a geoscientist and aerospace consultant, known for his skeptical views on UFOs and his role as the lead field researcher on the National Geographic series “Chasing UFOs,” has offered an alternative explanation for the Laredo UFO sighting. McGee believes that the object in question is likely a border patrol drone equipped with infrared anti-collision or identification lights. He supports his theory with several points.

McGee notes that a significant portion of the air traffic passing through the nearby Laredo International Airport consists of military aircraft, given Laredo’s proximity to the Mexican border. He points out the increasing use of drones by the military for border security purposes, highlighting their characteristics such as being small, quiet, and often triangular in shape.

Regarding the camera’s infrared sensor being oversaturated, McGee suggests that this could be attributed to the intense infrared lights used for anti-collision systems on drones. He mentions a recent development where a UAV lighting manufacturer announced custom infrared navigation lights for a major defense contractor, which, if constantly on, could result in certain parts of the drone appearing exceptionally bright in infrared, obscuring its actual shape.

McGee concludes that the issue lies in the interaction between high-intensity infrared lights in close proximity to the camera, rather than the camera’s ability to detect invisible shapes such as triangles or pyramids in the airspace.

Do you think its possible that aliens are able to live among us without being seen? Tell us your theories in the comments.

If you enjoyed this article you might also be interested in the 1994 Muskegon UFO sightings or the abduction of Kristina Florence.

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