Scientists have confirmed the long-suspected cause of eerie marsh lights, known as will-o'-the-wisps. Researchers discovered that tiny lightning sparks, called "microlightning," generated by electrically charged water droplets colliding in methane-rich marshes, ignite the gas. This microscopic chemical reaction produces the ghostly flames previously attributed to supernatural causes. The findings, published in PNAS, suggest this "microlightning" phenomenon could have played a role in initiating chemical reactions, potentially even contributing to the origins of life.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.