Getting closer to the truth about orbs

The latest research into the orb phenomenon, conducted by the British PSI research team, provides new insights into their formation. Funded by the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena, the study aims to provide a scientific explanation for why orbs appear in photographs. Preliminary results, to be published in the spring issue of the Journal of Investigative Psychical Research, suggest that orbs may be caused by volatile particles in the so-called "orb zone," which is located in front of the camera lens. The research examines various technical aspects of photography, including depth of field and flash intensity.

OrbsWith the publication of a note in the Journal of Investigative Psychical Research, a new stage in the study of the orb phenomenon has begun.

At that time, the British PSI research team received funding from the Society for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena to scientifically explain the causes of the orb phenomenon. The full results of the study were expected to be published in the December issue of the journal, but technical details required repeat testing, and the results were not expected to be published until spring 2007.While studying the technical aspects of photography, researchers concluded that orbs could be volatile particles located in a theoretical "orb zone" located in front of the lens. The "orb zone" must possess the following characteristic features:

1. It must be in the camera's field of view - so that it can be "noticed" in the surroundings

2. The photographed area must be adequately lit for the particles to be visible - usually a flash is sufficient, but other lighting conditions (including daylight) may also be sufficient.

3. The "orb zone" must be located behind the area of greatest sharpness - particles outside this area will appear "clumped" and will be too small to be distinguished

4. It must be in front of the lens - in another place it may be too far away to be visible

In practice, the "orb zone" is usually a small area a few centimeters in front of the camera.

The experimental procedure used was tested by scientists from British universities and was designed to systematically vary:

1. Depth of field of view (which allowed the "orb zone" to change position in the low-focus area)

2. Flash power

3. Distance of the flash from the lens (the greater this distance, the weaker the light from the flash, which caused the "orb zone" to enlarge)

4. Cameras (digital and 35mm film cameras were used interchangeably)

5. Resolution in megapixels

The results of these experiments were independently evaluated and subjected to final statistical tests to confirm that their conclusions were not just the result of luck.

The most important obstacle to a rational explanation for the orb phenomenon is logic. For example, fifty photos were taken with the flash on, and then, under the same conditions, fifty more photos were taken without the flash. If we assume that with the flash on, twenty orbs would appear in the photos, but none would appear with the flash off, then we could say that the orbs are the result of flashes from the camera flash, and then such a rational explanation has some basis; however, in most cases, the orbs have no independent light source.

A common opinion is that "some orbs" are created by volatile particles, while "some other orbs" are not. There is little hope for theorists who fail to distinguish between these apparently different "varieties" of orbs. If volatile particles can cause the appearance of one orb, how can unknown forces cause the same type of orb to appear? Other perspectives on orbs will be presented soon in the Journal of Investigative Psychical Research.