Mysterious Flashes Coming From Earth That Puzzled Carl Sagan Finally Have An Explanation

By Evan Gough May 16, 2017
Mysterious Flashes Coming From Earth That Puzzled Carl Sagan Finally Have An Explanation

"We found quite a few very bright flashes over land as well." - Alexander Marshak, DSCOVR Deputy Project Scientist

"Lightning doesn't care about the sun and EPIC's location." - Alexander Marshak, DSCOVR Deputy Project Scientist

"The source of the flashes is definitely not on the ground. It's definitely ice, and most likely solar reflection off of horizontally oriented particles." -Alexander Marshak, DSCOVR Deputy Project Scientist

  • NASA's EPIC view spots flashes on Earth

  • A search for life on Earth from the Galileo spacecraft

  • Terrestrial glint seen from deep space: oriented ice crystals detected from the Lagrangian point

    • Evan Gough

    Evan Gough

    Evan Gough is a science-loving guy with no formal education who loves Earth, forests, hiking, and heavy music. He's guided by Carl Sagan's quote: "Understanding is a kind of ecstasy."