ArXiv blog: Magnetically-Induced Hallucinations May Explain Ball Lighting

For an overview of the disputed "ball lighting", see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning

My parents live on top of a hill in the middle of an extinct volcanic valley. On several occasions (over a period of years) my father swore he saw a glowing green ball of light slowly moving toward the ground, which I naturally and sceptically dismissed. Then one night during a storm I witnessed the same phenomena myself.

I was inside the house. It was several hills away, so I had no concept of size (let alone smell). And it was only a few years later that I encountered the concept of ball lightning, which remains the best explanation of what I saw.

It was also late at night, so perhaps I was susceptible to and victim of the type of hallucinations detailed in the OP?

Now all we need is an explanation for the magnetic field.

I've always been fascinated by this phenomenon.

Many accounts of ball lightning leave behind physical evidence, though. Dead rabbits, dead priests, damaged buildings, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning

One thing that really surprised me after moving to Japan was how many people talk about ball lighting (specifically seeing small balls of light). This is especially true in the countryside. I'd never even heard of it before that.