During the earthquake in eastern Morocco last Friday, unusual lights were spotted in the sky. Amateur videos of this phenomenon were shared on social media in the days following the quake. Experts suggest it could be a rare case of "earthquake lights."
“Earthquake lights” have been observed several times throughout history. These are bursts of light associated with earthquakes, which can range from brief flashes to colorful fireballs that fly across the sky for several minutes.
There are several theories to explain this strange phenomenon. According to geophysicist Friedemann Freund of the SETI Institute, friction between tectonic plates could generate static electricity that in turn causes the flashes of light. Another theory suggests that the lights are the result of damage to power lines during major earthquakes.
Because we can’t predict when an earthquake will happen, it’s difficult to study this phenomenon in depth. As a result, we don’t know for sure whether “earthquake lights” are real or what causes them.
However, if these lights are shown to be linked to powerful seismic activity, we could use them to improve our ability to respond to earthquakes.
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