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Marfa Lights Explained

Posted by Zonk on from the another-crypto-critter-explained-away dept.

billsoxs writes "The Marfa lights are ghostly lights that have been observed for years around Marfa TX (near Big Bend). They have been the subject of curiosity , a source of tourism and scientifically studied a number of times. Now a group of physics students from the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) have use small lasers and traffic sensors to show that these lights are most likely headlights from cars on a distant highway. The publication is in the Society of Physics Students website. The PDF of the article is here. (Unfortunately the related video is no longer available on the web but more stuff is here.)"

6 of 183 comments (clear)

  1. BREAKING NEWS! by Ruff_ilb · · Score: 4, Funny

    Lights in distance probably headlights from far off cars! Populace of Marfa stunned! Physicists skeptical! Sensastionalists de-sensastionalized!

    I've never heard of these "Marfa Lights," but I can't help making fun of them out of context...

    --
    http://www.TheGamerNation.com/Forums
  2. Video Link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Marfa Video

  3. Re:Do you really need lasers? by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Funny
    why haven't somebody just walked/drove in the direction of the lights?!
    They did....
    And were never heard from again.
    --
    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!
  4. Re:Weird... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    The headlights are obviously a DeLorean's.

  5. Re:Interesting, but ruining a source of revenue... by gijoel · · Score: 3, Funny
    So, it's like an episode of Scooby-Doo basically, everyone knows the lights are cars but the local area has used it as sort of fun way of attracting tourists and they even have a festival around the event.


    "And we would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for those pesky kids!!!" says Mayor of Marfa.
  6. Re:This has been an urban legend here in Texas... by sillyman71 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm betting this strange luminecent phenomenon is more likely due to "blue smoke".