.png)
When a big earthquake hit Marrakesh , Morocco last Friday, people didn't just talk about the shaking ground. Many saw strange lights in the sky right before the shake. People everywhere were checking their phones, looking for news. Sadly, this earthquake took the lives of over 2,600 people and hurt many more.
Some might think these lights are just made-up stories, but experts have a different idea. They say earthquakes can sometimes make lights appear in the sky. This is because of electricity changes deep below where we stand.
Friedemann Freund, a science expert, talked about these lights: "Because the earthquake was at night, many people could see the lights clearly." He told us that our world has electricity moving around inside it. When there's an earthquake, this electricity can move and create bright lights in the sky.
These "earthquake lights" can look different — like steady glows, bright balls, or even lightning. And the colors? They change based on what's in the air. For example, some lights might be red or green, while others could be bright yellow.
Funny enough, these electric changes can also affect us and our pets. Some might get headaches or act weird right before an earthquake. You might even feel a strange tingling on your skin or see your hair stand up.
But do these lights always show up before earthquakes? Some experts aren't sure. John Ebel, who studies earthquakes, thinks these lights are real. He even talked about old stories from hundreds of years ago that mention them. He thinks that if we understand these lights better, we might know when an earthquake is about to happen.
Knowing when an earthquake will happen can save a lot of lives. These lights might give us a clue in the future. As experts keep studying, we could get better at guessing when these big shakes will happen.
So, if you hear about an earthquake and lights in the sky, remember: there's more happening than just a cool light show.