View source for Naga fireball

{{Short description|Atmospheric phenomenon on the Mekong River}}
[[File:Beung Fai Phraya Nag (187) ball.JPG|thumb|The tracks of two Naga fireballs (at left) rising vertically into the sky before petering out near the top of the photo. The other tracks are of sky lanterns or fireworks.]]

'''Naga fireballs''' ({{langx|th|บั้งไฟพญานาค}}; {{RTGS|bang fai phaya nak}}), also known as ''bung fai phaya nak'' or "Mekong lights" and formerly "ghost lights",<ref name="BP-20181028" /> are a phenomenon said to be seen annually on the [[Mekong River]]. Glowing balls are alleged to naturally rise from the water high into the air.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/photos/5-natural-events-that-science-cant-explain/the-naga-fireba|last=Knoblauch|first=Jessica|title=5 natural events that science can't explain|website= Mother Nature News|date=15 March 2010|accessdate=2018-10-29}}</ref> The balls are said to be reddish and to range in size from smaller sparkles up to the size of basketballs. They quickly rise up to a couple of hundred metres before disappearing. The number of fireballs reported varies between tens and thousands per night.<ref name=Nation-20110921/> The phenomenon is locally attributed to ''phaya nak'', a giant serpent ([[Nāga]]) said to live in the Mekong.<ref name="BP-20181028">{{cite news |last1=Biggs |first1=Andrew |title=A Spiritual land |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/social-and-lifestyle/1565906/a-spiritual-land |accessdate=29 October 2018 |work=Bangkok Post |issue=Brunch |date=28 October 2018}}</ref>

==Description==
The fireballs are most often reported around the night of [[Wan Ok Phansa]] at the end of ''[[Vassa]]'' in late-October.<ref name=Nation-20110921>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/travel/Let-there-be-lights-30165777.html|title=Let there be lights|work=The Nation|first=Phoowadon|last=Duangmee|date=21 September 2011|accessdate=2018-10-29|archive-date=2018-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712003854/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/travel/Let-there-be-lights-30165777.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Naga fireballs have been reported over an approximately {{convert|250|km|abbr=on}} long section of the Mekong River centered approximately on Phon Phisai in the Phon Phisai District. Fireballs have also been reported rising from smaller rivers, lakes and ponds in the region. The fireballs were called "ghost lights" by locals until the mid-1980s, when the local council officially named them "phaya nak lights". In 2018, one observer noted that while the light phenomenon is "hundreds of years old", the new name Phaya Nak lights is only about 35 years old."<ref name="BP-20181028"/>

{{expand section|reason=Please explain the origin and nature of this cult.|date=August 2017}}

== Explanations ==
{{See also|Ball lightning|St. Elmo's fire|Will-o'-the-wisp }}

Although the fireballs are regularly seen on the river during the Phayanak Festival, a 2002 [[iTV (Thailand)|iTV]] documentary showed Lao soldiers firing [[tracer rounds]] into the air across the river from the festival. Skeptic [[Brian Dunning (author)|Brian Dunning]] suggests that it would be impossible for anyone across the half-mile river to hear a gunshot because it would take 2.5 seconds for the sound to travel to the spectators, and by then the crowd watching would have already noticed the light and started cheering, drowning out any sound to reach them.<ref name=dunning /> Thai biologist Jessada Denduangboripant analysed footage of a Naga fireball event and concluded that the effect was caused by the firing of [[flare gun]]s from the other side of the river.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Krausz|first1=Tibor|title=Myth busters: Thai scientists debunk sweating crystals, boiling oil and other superstitions|url=https://www.scmp.com/culture/article/1984141/myth-busters-thai-scientists-debunk-sweating-crystals-boiling-oil-and-other|accessdate=4 March 2017|work=South China Morning Post|date=4 July 2016|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mystery Of The Naga Fireballs At Mekong River|url=http://www.messagetoeagle.com/mystery-of-the-naga-fireballs-at-mekong-river/|date=2016-02-12|website=MessageToEagle.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref> A 2021 official investigation by Lao authorities during a COVID-19 lockdown and curfew, concluded "In response to the news in foreign media, I would like to state that it is extremely unlikely that anyone could have fired weapons or flare ammunition without our knowledge on that night. We ensured a heavy police presence through the night and did not encounter any incidents".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Phonevilay|first=Latsamy|date=2021-10-29|title=Authorities in Laos Respond to Thai Conspiracy Theory on Naga Fireballs|url=https://laotiantimes.com/2021/10/29/authorities-in-laos-respond-to-thai-conspiracy-theory-on-naga-fireballs/|access-date=2021-10-29|website=Laotian Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

Some individuals have attempted to explain the phenomenon scientifically. One explanation is that the fireball is a result of flammable [[phosphine]] gas generated by the marshy environment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Science-Ministry-solves-Naga-fireballs-mystery-87105.html|title=Science Ministry solves Naga fireballs mystery|work=The Nation|access-date=2013-11-08|archive-date=2015-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430145614/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Science-Ministry-solves-Naga-fireballs-mystery-87105.html|url-status=dead}}{{nonspecific|date=October 2018}}</ref> Dunning writes that such fireballs are very unlikely to spontaneously ignite, and would not stay lit when at the speeds the fireballs travel, and that there is no science that can explain "the Naga Fireballs to be naturally produced burning gas bubbles."<ref name=dunning>{{Skeptoid|id=4183|number=183|title=The Naga Fireballs|date=December 8, 2009 |accessdate=2011-11-14}}</ref>

A similar explanation involves a phenomenon seen in [[plasma physics]]: free-floating plasma orbs<ref>{{cite web|title=Free Floating Plasma Orb|url=http://www.aps.org/about/physics-images/archive/plasma-orb.cfm|website=American Physical Society|access-date=2012-01-15|archive-date=2015-10-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013020127/http://www.aps.org/about/physics-images/archive/plasma-orb.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref> created when surface electricity (e.g., from a capacitor) is discharged into a solution. However, these are produced under controlled conditions during [[Ball lightning#Laboratory experiments|plasma ball experiments]] using high voltage capacitors, [[microwave]] oscillators, or [[microwave oven]]s, rather than naturally occurring.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Naga Fireballs: Science, Myth or Hoax? |url=https://www.hostelbookers.com/blog/destinations/southeast-asia/naga-fireballs-in-thailand/|date=2011-10-07|website=Hostelbookers.com Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Naga Fireballs|url=https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4183|website=Skeptoid|access-date=2020-04-30}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Hessdalen lights]]
* [[Chir Batti]]
* [[St. Elmo's fire]]
* [[Longdendale lights]]
* [[Marfa lights]]
* [[Min Min light]]
* [[Paulding Light]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Naga fireballs}}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.thaifolk.com/doc/literate/payanak/payanak_e.htm |title= Bang Fai Phaya Nark (Naga fireballs)  |translator-last1= Manowongsa |translator-first1= Aketawan |date= 7 Feb 2003 |quote= English translation of Thai report of the myth and science }}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.magiedubouddha.com/p_thai-naga-intl.php |title= The giant snake water spirits : The Nagas |website= Magie du Bouddha [Magic of Buddha] }}
===Reviews===
* {{youtube|lGhvF7X_4GM| ກຳເນີດບັ້ງໄຟພະຍານາກ [Generation of rocket fire] (Oct 30, 2012) }}<!-- pure-amature; tourism at its best -- crude, w/sounds of fireworks and cheering crowds, no less -->
* {{youtube|Rm979kybGUY|Mysterious 'Dragon' FIREBALLS Rise From River EVERY Year: The Naga Fireballs (July 6, 2017) }}<!-- pseudo-professional; "Beyond Science", surprisingly detailed and almost "balanced" review -->
* {{youtube|GOFwp-iCRbQ|Thousands of people will flock to witness the Naga fireballs (Sep 10, 2014) Lao NEWS on LNTV }}<!-- professional; news journalist introduces review w/smile (smurk ?) -->

{{DEFAULTSORT:Naga Fireballs}}
[[Category:Isan]]
[[Category:Atmospheric ghost lights]]
[[Category:Unsolved problems in physics]]
[[Category:UFO-related phenomena]]
[[Category:Unexplained phenomena]]