This layer of cold air can also concentrate the distant light and stop it from spreading – so it doesn’t get weakened by extreme distance.John Pettigrew used geometry to show a Min Min light was actually very bright truck headlights – 300km away! He called this optical phenomenon the Fata Morgana and explained that in such situations the light passing through the layers of air undergo steep refraction, making it seem as though the image is floating above the horizon or in front of the person. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.A quick guide to help you understand coral bleachingHow Aussie scientists used cane toads to confirm pregnanciesA quick guide to help you understand coral bleachingHow Aussie scientists used cane toads to confirm pregnanciesWhat would happen if our planet stopped spinning entirely? His latest book, Vital Science is published by Pan MacMillan.

“It could be our spirits that look after country. Die Min Min Lichter, die die Stadt Boulia, im westlichen Queensland gelegen, berühmt gemacht hat, sind mysteriöse Lichter, die Reisenden über lange Strecken zu folgen scheinen. The small outback town of Boulia in Queensland, Australia, is home to a peculiar phenomenon that has been spooking trespassers for ages. “When I was a young girl lying in my backyard, these lights came down,” Ms Clerc said. Europeans first documented the Min Min lights in 1838. In the Kimberley in Western Australia some Aboriginal people believe the Min Min lights are the spirits of elders. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Explore the world from the comfort of your home with our lush pictorial books. Min Min light sign in Boulia, Queensland, Australia. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. An Australian neuroscientist has solved the mystery of Min Min lights. This layer bends the light and keeps it close to the ground, so it can be seen over great distances. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Min Min lights are usually white, but can be green, yellow, red or rarely blue. Popularly known as ‘Will-o’-Wisp’, these orbs appear mostly around bogs and marshes, and believed to be fairies or spirits. His companions reported via radio seeing a bobbing light just above the horizon, half the size of the full Moon, changing from vivid red, to orange, yellow then green. The Aboriginal Australians have always been wary, and have consistently believed that the lights were the spirits of their dead ancestors risen from their graves. Meet wombat joeys Beatrice, Bronson and Landon: few babies have had such a tough start to life as these three.Over the past year, CSIRO has given scientific names to 165 new species.Get great photography, travel tips and exclusive deals delivered to your inbox.Subscribe & Save