1 00:00:01,904 --> 00:00:06,840 narrator: worldwide, six billion Cameras are watching us... 2 00:00:06,909 --> 00:00:08,609 On our streets, 3 00:00:08,678 --> 00:00:10,444 At work... 4 00:00:10,513 --> 00:00:12,512 And in our homes. 5 00:00:12,581 --> 00:00:15,616 They capture things That seem impossible. 6 00:00:15,685 --> 00:00:18,985 It defies the laws of physics. 7 00:00:19,054 --> 00:00:20,587 Man: This is unbelievable, man! 8 00:00:20,656 --> 00:00:23,023 Narrator: experts carry out Forensic analysis 9 00:00:23,092 --> 00:00:24,791 Of these unusual events. 10 00:00:24,860 --> 00:00:28,395 There's got to be some Explanation for what's going on. 11 00:00:28,464 --> 00:00:31,264 [ woman screaming ] 12 00:00:31,333 --> 00:00:34,034 Narrator: Coming up, does a demonic blaze 13 00:00:34,103 --> 00:00:38,004 Signal a genuine threat Of total destruction? 14 00:00:38,073 --> 00:00:41,875 It's the ultimate disaster. 15 00:00:41,944 --> 00:00:45,879 It could be an extinction event. 16 00:00:45,948 --> 00:00:48,515 Davis: that is the Craziest thing I've ever seen. 17 00:00:48,584 --> 00:00:50,283 Narrator: In the land of the witches, 18 00:00:50,352 --> 00:00:54,020 Possessed turkeys do A disturbing dance of the dead. 19 00:00:54,089 --> 00:00:57,060 This looks like Some kind of satanic ritual. 20 00:00:59,829 --> 00:01:02,496 Woman: look! 21 00:01:02,565 --> 00:01:04,431 Narrator: And the ghosts of gettysburg 22 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:06,467 Finally caught on camera. 23 00:01:06,536 --> 00:01:08,872 -right there! -super creepy! 24 00:01:10,039 --> 00:01:12,072 Narrator: Bizarre phenomena... 25 00:01:12,141 --> 00:01:14,708 Mysteries caught on camera. 26 00:01:14,777 --> 00:01:17,077 What's the truth behind this? 27 00:01:17,146 --> 00:01:19,612 "Strange evidence." 28 00:01:19,681 --> 00:01:22,616 -- captions by vitac -- Www.Vitac.Com 29 00:01:22,685 --> 00:01:25,619 captions paid for by Discovery communications 30 00:01:25,688 --> 00:01:30,723 A terrifying blue inferno Erupts from the ground. 31 00:01:30,792 --> 00:01:32,059 Pojman: It looks like the firefighters 32 00:01:32,128 --> 00:01:34,194 Have shown up To a portal of hell. 33 00:01:34,263 --> 00:01:36,663 It's really a chilling sight. 34 00:01:36,732 --> 00:01:38,565 Narrator: Investigators race to find out 35 00:01:38,634 --> 00:01:40,433 The cause of the bizarre blaze. 36 00:01:40,502 --> 00:01:42,402 Youngquist: I've never Seen anything like it, 37 00:01:42,471 --> 00:01:44,704 And I likely won't see Anything quite like it again. 38 00:01:44,773 --> 00:01:47,574 Narrator: what's behind This sinister firestorm? 39 00:01:47,643 --> 00:01:51,481 What created this? It's a blue flame of death. 40 00:01:57,686 --> 00:02:00,821 Narrator: july 7, 2017. 41 00:02:00,890 --> 00:02:02,589 Worland, wyoming. 42 00:02:02,658 --> 00:02:05,960 A tiny town on the banks Of the big horn river. 43 00:02:06,029 --> 00:02:09,062 [ radio chatter ] 44 00:02:09,131 --> 00:02:12,266 It's 10:30 at night When the local fire department 45 00:02:12,335 --> 00:02:14,134 Gets an emergency call. 46 00:02:14,203 --> 00:02:16,237 You don't know What you're getting into. 47 00:02:16,306 --> 00:02:18,038 This could be anything. 48 00:02:18,107 --> 00:02:20,073 Firefighters Race to the location 49 00:02:20,142 --> 00:02:22,109 On the outskirts of town. 50 00:02:22,178 --> 00:02:24,277 As they approach The danger zone, 51 00:02:24,346 --> 00:02:27,748 They witness a disturbing sign Of what lies ahead. 52 00:02:27,817 --> 00:02:30,583 You could see kind of The blue glow on the horizon. 53 00:02:30,652 --> 00:02:32,252 Youngquist: it's a Little bit more adrenaline 54 00:02:32,321 --> 00:02:36,222 and a little bit More fear and concern. 55 00:02:36,291 --> 00:02:38,091 Narrator: Nine miles out of worland, 56 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:41,328 The firefighters arrive At the apocalyptic scene. 57 00:02:41,397 --> 00:02:42,629 [ sirens wailing ] 58 00:02:42,698 --> 00:02:46,432 Horrified, they record The searing inferno, 59 00:02:46,501 --> 00:02:50,604 But they don't know what kind Of fire they're dealing with... 60 00:02:50,673 --> 00:02:53,072 ...Or what could have caused it. 61 00:02:53,141 --> 00:02:54,975 Yule: I've been A firefighter for 10 years, 62 00:02:55,044 --> 00:02:57,277 And I've never seen Anything quite like this. 63 00:02:57,346 --> 00:03:00,447 This is a hellish scenario. 64 00:03:00,516 --> 00:03:04,817 What created this? It's a blue flame of death. 65 00:03:04,886 --> 00:03:06,954 yule: my first thought is, "How do we put it out?" 66 00:03:07,023 --> 00:03:09,025 what's gonna happen When we hit it with water? 67 00:03:14,963 --> 00:03:16,763 Narrator: the footage Comes to the attention 68 00:03:16,832 --> 00:03:19,866 Of geologist sian proctor. 69 00:03:19,935 --> 00:03:21,935 She believes The color of the flames 70 00:03:22,004 --> 00:03:24,504 Could point To a terrifying possibility. 71 00:03:24,573 --> 00:03:27,874 Proctor: in indonesia, there's A volcano called kawah ijen, 72 00:03:27,943 --> 00:03:31,478 and it produces A similar blue flame 73 00:03:31,547 --> 00:03:33,213 to what we see in the video. 74 00:03:33,282 --> 00:03:36,186 And that is produced By the burning of sulfur. 75 00:03:38,954 --> 00:03:41,722 Narrator: kawah ijen Pumps enormous quantities 76 00:03:41,791 --> 00:03:46,326 Of sulfuric gases Out if its vents. 77 00:03:46,395 --> 00:03:50,663 Super-heated up to 1,112 degrees celsius, 78 00:03:50,732 --> 00:03:53,066 The gas erupts into Bright blue flames 79 00:03:53,135 --> 00:03:56,803 16 feet high When it hits the air. 80 00:03:56,872 --> 00:04:00,173 What looks like blue lava Pouring down the mountainside 81 00:04:00,242 --> 00:04:02,212 Is burning liquid sulfur. 82 00:04:04,213 --> 00:04:07,617 The similarity to the fire In worland is striking. 83 00:04:12,087 --> 00:04:16,556 Investigators test to see What gas is present at worland. 84 00:04:16,625 --> 00:04:20,260 Analysis confirms Proctor's worst fears. 85 00:04:20,329 --> 00:04:24,164 It's toxic sulfur dioxide. 86 00:04:24,233 --> 00:04:28,235 There is the potential that It could be a volcano forming. 87 00:04:28,304 --> 00:04:31,538 Narrator: science journalist Jeff wise investigates. 88 00:04:31,607 --> 00:04:34,374 He checks the location Of the wyoming fire 89 00:04:34,443 --> 00:04:36,710 And uncovers A dreadful connection. 90 00:04:36,779 --> 00:04:38,111 Wise: in geological terms, 91 00:04:38,180 --> 00:04:41,714 Yellowstone's not A terribly huge distance. 92 00:04:41,783 --> 00:04:43,951 Narrator: the town sits In the bighorn basin 93 00:04:44,020 --> 00:04:46,687 In the shadow of The absaroka mountain range, 94 00:04:46,756 --> 00:04:49,155 The remnant Of a large volcanic field 95 00:04:49,224 --> 00:04:52,191 That extends To yellowstone national park. 96 00:04:52,260 --> 00:04:55,195 The demonic blue fire Is geologically linked 97 00:04:55,264 --> 00:04:59,132 To one of the biggest natural Threats to life on earth. 98 00:04:59,201 --> 00:05:01,068 Wise: Yellowstone is, in fact, 99 00:05:01,137 --> 00:05:03,603 The top of an Ancient supervolcano 100 00:05:03,672 --> 00:05:07,007 that is due to explode sometime, More or less, around now. 101 00:05:07,076 --> 00:05:09,943 Proctor: If yellowstone goes off, 102 00:05:10,012 --> 00:05:12,979 It's not just a disaster For wyoming. 103 00:05:13,048 --> 00:05:17,317 It's a disaster for the entire United states and the world. 104 00:05:17,386 --> 00:05:20,219 Narrator: The yellowstone supervolcano 105 00:05:20,288 --> 00:05:25,091 Erupted 640,000 years ago With a mega-explosion 106 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,060 That produced enough debris 107 00:05:27,129 --> 00:05:31,631 To bury texas In five feet of ash and rock. 108 00:05:31,700 --> 00:05:33,934 When the next Super eruption strikes, 109 00:05:34,003 --> 00:05:35,969 It could cause a global winter 110 00:05:36,038 --> 00:05:40,406 Even worse than A thermonuclear war. 111 00:05:40,475 --> 00:05:43,810 Proctor: our worse nightmare Is that we have 112 00:05:43,879 --> 00:05:48,481 Volcanic activity anywhere near yellowstone. 113 00:05:48,550 --> 00:05:52,319 Narrator: Proctor fears the signs of Volcanic activity in worland 114 00:05:52,388 --> 00:05:56,723 Could be an omen Of a terrifying scenario... 115 00:05:56,792 --> 00:05:59,026 That the yellowstone Supervolcano 116 00:05:59,095 --> 00:06:01,131 Is about to blow again. 117 00:06:02,965 --> 00:06:05,965 It could be an extinction event. 118 00:06:06,034 --> 00:06:10,637 Narrator: journalist jeff wise Examines seismic surveys 119 00:06:10,706 --> 00:06:13,841 For further signs Of volcanic activity. 120 00:06:13,910 --> 00:06:15,675 Right now It's not an active volcano. 121 00:06:15,744 --> 00:06:18,378 You do have things like hot Springs, geysers, and so forth. 122 00:06:18,447 --> 00:06:21,982 So it's not impossible, but We don't have active volcanos 123 00:06:22,051 --> 00:06:24,287 Right now as such in wyoming. 124 00:06:30,126 --> 00:06:31,926 Narrator: John pojman is a chemist 125 00:06:31,995 --> 00:06:34,727 At louisiana state university. 126 00:06:34,796 --> 00:06:39,398 He looks at the map coordinates Of where the video was filmed. 127 00:06:39,467 --> 00:06:43,470 Records show that the location Of the video was a sulfur mine. 128 00:06:43,539 --> 00:06:45,739 Sulfur has been used Throughout history 129 00:06:45,808 --> 00:06:47,741 for making things like gunpowder 130 00:06:47,810 --> 00:06:52,212 or for making strong acids, Like sulfuric acids. 131 00:06:52,281 --> 00:06:54,381 Narrator: working in A volcanic sulfur mine 132 00:06:54,450 --> 00:06:57,651 Is one of the most hazardous Jobs on the planet. 133 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,854 At the summit of the Ijen volcano in indonesia, 134 00:07:00,923 --> 00:07:02,956 Locals extract "The devil's gold," 135 00:07:03,025 --> 00:07:05,926 As it is known, From the edges of a lake of acid 136 00:07:05,995 --> 00:07:08,795 That can dissolve human flesh. 137 00:07:08,864 --> 00:07:11,698 The villagers go up There without any Protective equipment, 138 00:07:11,767 --> 00:07:14,167 Collect this, chip it away, Put it in baskets, 139 00:07:14,236 --> 00:07:16,103 And carry it out of the caldera. 140 00:07:16,172 --> 00:07:19,239 Narrator: workers carry 200-pound baskets of sulfur 141 00:07:19,308 --> 00:07:24,277 Two miles down the volcano For about $5 a day. 142 00:07:24,346 --> 00:07:28,515 Their average life expectancy Barely exceeds 50 years. 143 00:07:28,584 --> 00:07:31,351 This is a terrible, Toxic environment. 144 00:07:31,420 --> 00:07:33,387 Narrator: in march 2018, 145 00:07:33,456 --> 00:07:37,190 Mount ijen belches out Thick clouds of sulfuric gas, 146 00:07:37,259 --> 00:07:39,926 Sending 30 people To the hospital. 147 00:07:39,995 --> 00:07:42,562 When you burn sulfur, You get it into your lungs, 148 00:07:42,631 --> 00:07:43,930 And it will scar them. 149 00:07:43,999 --> 00:07:47,635 Mixed with water, It turns into sulfuric acid. 150 00:07:47,704 --> 00:07:49,306 Nasty stuff. 151 00:07:52,407 --> 00:07:57,177 Narrator: the huge sulfur mine In worland closed in the 1960s, 152 00:07:57,246 --> 00:08:01,084 But its sulfurous remains Are a ticking time bomb. 153 00:08:02,618 --> 00:08:04,117 Proctor: When you mine sulfur, 154 00:08:04,186 --> 00:08:06,653 It pretty much gets everywhere And contaminates the soil. 155 00:08:06,722 --> 00:08:08,355 Pure sulfur Is very easy to ignite. 156 00:08:08,424 --> 00:08:10,257 All you can do Is just put a match to it, 157 00:08:10,326 --> 00:08:12,926 And once it starts burning, Then it will melt 158 00:08:12,995 --> 00:08:15,829 And produce the gases And keep burning. 159 00:08:15,898 --> 00:08:18,632 Narrator: Armed with the knowledge That the blue flame is sulfur, 160 00:08:18,701 --> 00:08:21,568 Firefighters tackle the blaze With water. 161 00:08:21,637 --> 00:08:25,005 The cooling liquid reduces The surface temperature. 162 00:08:25,074 --> 00:08:29,042 At 239 degrees fahrenheit, The sulfur solidifies, 163 00:08:29,111 --> 00:08:33,080 Forming a crust That extinguishes the flames. 164 00:08:33,149 --> 00:08:34,480 The cause of the fire 165 00:08:34,549 --> 00:08:37,250 Is eventually identified As an off-road vehicle. 166 00:08:37,319 --> 00:08:39,486 Yule: they were riding Around on the mound, 167 00:08:39,555 --> 00:08:41,321 And they got the atv Up on the pile of the sulfur 168 00:08:41,390 --> 00:08:42,789 And actually got it stuck. 169 00:08:42,858 --> 00:08:45,992 high throttle heated up The exhaust on that atv, 170 00:08:46,061 --> 00:08:48,628 and because it was in Direct contact with the sulfur, 171 00:08:48,697 --> 00:08:50,931 it ignited the sulfur. 172 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:55,069 Narrator: This time, the fire crew Manages to control the blaze. 173 00:08:55,138 --> 00:08:58,305 Worland remains on red alert. 174 00:08:58,374 --> 00:09:00,674 Next time, The unpredictable sulfur 175 00:09:00,743 --> 00:09:04,344 Could wipe out the whole town. 176 00:09:04,413 --> 00:09:08,181 They never know when to expect The next raging inferno. 177 00:09:08,250 --> 00:09:11,084 When a call comes in, You just don't know What you're getting into. 178 00:09:11,153 --> 00:09:13,190 [ siren wails ] 179 00:09:20,997 --> 00:09:22,896 Davis: bro, this is wild. 180 00:09:22,965 --> 00:09:26,400 Narrator: in an american state Notorious for witchcraft, 181 00:09:26,469 --> 00:09:30,404 Bizarre footage stops zoologists In their tracks. 182 00:09:30,473 --> 00:09:33,440 Something seems to have Possessed these birds. 183 00:09:33,509 --> 00:09:36,843 This is definitely the weirdest Animal behavior I've ever seen. 184 00:09:36,912 --> 00:09:39,746 A circle of death Around the body of a cat. 185 00:09:39,815 --> 00:09:42,583 This looks like Some kind of satanic ritual, 186 00:09:42,652 --> 00:09:44,487 With the uniform circle. 187 00:09:50,159 --> 00:09:52,993 Narrator: Randolph, massachusetts. 188 00:09:53,062 --> 00:09:56,162 The town sits within Striking distance of salem, 189 00:09:56,231 --> 00:10:00,034 A place synonymous with Satanic rituals and witchcraft. 190 00:10:00,103 --> 00:10:02,236 [ crows cawing ] 191 00:10:02,305 --> 00:10:04,338 March 2017. 192 00:10:04,407 --> 00:10:06,240 6:45 a.M. 193 00:10:06,309 --> 00:10:08,841 Jonathan davis heads to work. 194 00:10:08,910 --> 00:10:12,478 I came to a stop sign right About down the street there. 195 00:10:12,547 --> 00:10:17,416 Narrator: it isn't the sign that Stops davis dead in his tracks. 196 00:10:17,485 --> 00:10:20,287 I thought to myself, "Nobody's gonna believe What I'm actually seeing," 197 00:10:20,356 --> 00:10:23,123 so I was like, "Let me get some video." 198 00:10:23,192 --> 00:10:24,458 [ turkeys gobbling ] 199 00:10:24,527 --> 00:10:26,793 Narrator: 20 wild turkeys are circling 200 00:10:26,862 --> 00:10:29,696 The lifeless body of a cat. 201 00:10:29,765 --> 00:10:32,032 Davis: yo, this is the craziest Thing I've ever seen. 202 00:10:32,101 --> 00:10:33,533 what the heck are these turkeys 203 00:10:33,602 --> 00:10:36,373 doing walking in a perfect Circle around this dead cat? 204 00:10:40,342 --> 00:10:44,644 Narrator: in the 1690s in salem And the surrounding towns, 205 00:10:44,713 --> 00:10:48,982 200 people are accused Of practicing witchcraft. 206 00:10:49,051 --> 00:10:52,752 20 of them are put to death. 207 00:10:52,821 --> 00:10:54,988 At the trials, Ownership of a cat 208 00:10:55,057 --> 00:10:57,457 Was seen as evidence Of devil worship. 209 00:10:57,526 --> 00:11:02,028 Condemned witches Were said to return as cats. 210 00:11:02,097 --> 00:11:05,065 In the footage, It is the lifeless body of a cat 211 00:11:05,134 --> 00:11:06,566 That provides the focus 212 00:11:06,635 --> 00:11:09,635 Of what looks like Some weird animal ceremony. 213 00:11:09,704 --> 00:11:12,406 Kays: this looks like Some kind of satanic ritual, 214 00:11:12,475 --> 00:11:14,875 With the uniform circle. 215 00:11:14,944 --> 00:11:17,711 Narrator: witchcraft is no Longer a punishable crime, 216 00:11:17,780 --> 00:11:19,112 And there are now estimated 217 00:11:19,181 --> 00:11:23,950 To be 800 self-proclaimed Witches in salem, alone. 218 00:11:24,019 --> 00:11:27,421 It seems far-fetched to link The behavior of these animals 219 00:11:27,490 --> 00:11:30,223 With superstitious Pagan practices, 220 00:11:30,292 --> 00:11:32,626 But scientists Are having difficulty 221 00:11:32,695 --> 00:11:34,928 Explaining the turkey behavior. 222 00:11:34,997 --> 00:11:36,229 I've never heard of anything 223 00:11:36,298 --> 00:11:38,565 Such as what I saw That morning happening. 224 00:11:38,634 --> 00:11:41,402 Did they kill this cat Or are they trying To bring it back to life? 225 00:11:41,471 --> 00:11:43,607 [ turkeys gobbling ] 226 00:11:46,609 --> 00:11:48,175 -woman: look! -narrator: coming up... 227 00:11:48,244 --> 00:11:50,177 Ghostly figures strike fear 228 00:11:50,246 --> 00:11:53,047 At america's Bloodiest battlefield. 229 00:11:53,116 --> 00:11:54,248 Woman: right there! 230 00:11:54,317 --> 00:11:56,316 Hyde: thousands of men Died on this spot, 231 00:11:56,385 --> 00:11:58,684 So maybe one of them's Come back. 232 00:11:58,753 --> 00:12:03,660 Narrator: and the mystery around The creepy turkeys deepens. 233 00:12:04,827 --> 00:12:06,393 Could these turkeys be stuck 234 00:12:06,462 --> 00:12:09,897 In some kind of circular Scent trail of death? 235 00:12:09,966 --> 00:12:13,570 ♪♪ 236 00:12:18,573 --> 00:12:21,708 Narrator: a macabre scene In a massachusetts town 237 00:12:21,777 --> 00:12:25,213 Conjures up images Of witchcraft. 238 00:12:25,281 --> 00:12:26,646 [ cat growls ] 239 00:12:26,715 --> 00:12:31,185 A circle of wild turkeys Walks slowly around a dead cat. 240 00:12:31,253 --> 00:12:34,087 I was freaked out. It was Something out of a scary movie. 241 00:12:34,156 --> 00:12:36,556 Narrator: Cryptozoologist scott mardis 242 00:12:36,625 --> 00:12:38,291 Has an encyclopedic knowledge 243 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,962 Of mythical animals And their supposed powers. 244 00:12:42,031 --> 00:12:44,431 He doubts The turkeys are possessed. 245 00:12:44,500 --> 00:12:46,533 But what he sees at work In the footage 246 00:12:46,602 --> 00:12:49,436 Could be a different form Of mind control. 247 00:12:49,504 --> 00:12:51,771 the turkeys Are not looking around. 248 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,142 they're all just staring at The turkey in front of them. 249 00:12:55,211 --> 00:12:56,510 It's possible these animals 250 00:12:56,579 --> 00:12:59,047 Could have Hypnotized themselves. 251 00:12:59,115 --> 00:13:01,714 ♪♪ 252 00:13:01,783 --> 00:13:04,919 Narrator: zoologist roland kays Explores the theory 253 00:13:04,987 --> 00:13:06,253 That the turkey gang 254 00:13:06,322 --> 00:13:09,088 Have entered into A trance-like state. 255 00:13:09,157 --> 00:13:12,126 we don't really know why, But chicken and other poultry 256 00:13:12,195 --> 00:13:13,860 can kind of be hypnotized 257 00:13:13,929 --> 00:13:15,929 or become really, really fixated On certain things. 258 00:13:15,998 --> 00:13:19,266 So, one example is you can Draw a line on the ground, 259 00:13:19,334 --> 00:13:22,336 And they'll just become fixated And just stare at that line 260 00:13:22,405 --> 00:13:25,105 Kind of like they're hypnotized. 261 00:13:25,173 --> 00:13:27,808 Narrator: scientists Think this chicken trance 262 00:13:27,877 --> 00:13:30,510 Is a form of tonic immobility, 263 00:13:30,579 --> 00:13:33,713 A defense mechanism In which animals play dead 264 00:13:33,782 --> 00:13:36,650 In order to confuse a predator. 265 00:13:36,718 --> 00:13:38,919 Kay:s so, it makes you wonder If there's something like that 266 00:13:38,988 --> 00:13:41,157 Going on with these turkeys. 267 00:13:43,258 --> 00:13:45,992 Narrator: but wildlife biologist Mark hatfield 268 00:13:46,061 --> 00:13:50,097 Has been studying the behavior Of the wild turkey for 15 years 269 00:13:50,166 --> 00:13:52,065 And is not convinced. 270 00:13:52,134 --> 00:13:53,767 Hatfield: turkeys follow The leader a little bit. 271 00:13:53,836 --> 00:13:55,569 They learn from each other. 272 00:13:55,638 --> 00:13:59,072 But I wouldn't say That they get hypnotized. 273 00:13:59,141 --> 00:14:02,308 Narrator: hatfield instead Believes that the turkeys 274 00:14:02,377 --> 00:14:05,879 Are keeping their distance From perceived danger. 275 00:14:05,948 --> 00:14:09,315 Hatfield: they identified that Cat as a potential predator, 276 00:14:09,384 --> 00:14:12,953 but they did not recognize That the cat was deceased. 277 00:14:13,022 --> 00:14:15,122 narrator: Hatfield observes in the footage 278 00:14:15,191 --> 00:14:19,192 That the turkeys keep a constant 8 feet away from the cat. 279 00:14:19,261 --> 00:14:22,228 They never cross that threshold, And they never got real close, 280 00:14:22,297 --> 00:14:25,266 But they were still far enough Away that if the cat moved, 281 00:14:25,334 --> 00:14:29,136 Then they would have Probably fleed. 282 00:14:29,204 --> 00:14:31,038 Narrator: But this still doesn't explain 283 00:14:31,107 --> 00:14:33,907 Why the turkeys are in a circle. 284 00:14:33,976 --> 00:14:38,312 Zoologist tara pirie Comes up with another theory. 285 00:14:38,381 --> 00:14:41,348 this unusual Circular behavior -- 286 00:14:41,417 --> 00:14:43,483 you don't see it very often, 287 00:14:43,552 --> 00:14:46,186 But it has been seen In other species. 288 00:14:46,255 --> 00:14:47,988 Ants, for example, Use pheromones, 289 00:14:48,057 --> 00:14:49,889 And they put this Chemical track down 290 00:14:49,958 --> 00:14:52,792 So that ants can Actually find the food. 291 00:14:52,861 --> 00:14:55,829 Narrator: It's the ant equivalent Of a trail of breadcrumbs, 292 00:14:55,897 --> 00:15:00,200 And each colony has its own Unique chemical signature. 293 00:15:00,269 --> 00:15:03,403 However, if one of these trails Gets drawn in a perfect circle 294 00:15:03,472 --> 00:15:06,807 And loops back, the ants will Walk around and loop back up 295 00:15:06,875 --> 00:15:10,343 And continue on the loop again And again and again and again. 296 00:15:10,412 --> 00:15:14,181 They don't realize that they're Stuck in this continual loop. 297 00:15:14,249 --> 00:15:16,617 Pirie: these ants can go 'round And 'round and 'round and 'round 298 00:15:16,686 --> 00:15:18,384 Until they die. 299 00:15:18,453 --> 00:15:20,954 I mean, that is Absolutely crazy. 300 00:15:21,023 --> 00:15:23,791 Narrator: because of what Can happen to circling ants, 301 00:15:23,860 --> 00:15:25,225 Tara pirie wonders 302 00:15:25,293 --> 00:15:27,794 If the turkeys Are marching to their death. 303 00:15:27,863 --> 00:15:30,630 Pirie: if these turkeys Cannot break the circle, 304 00:15:30,699 --> 00:15:34,500 I mean, this really could be A turkey death dance. 305 00:15:34,569 --> 00:15:37,937 Narrator: ultimately, nobody Has a satisfactory explanation 306 00:15:38,006 --> 00:15:41,878 For why these birds are behaving In this extraordinary way. 307 00:15:47,216 --> 00:15:48,516 Woman: what is that? 308 00:15:48,585 --> 00:15:50,417 Civil war specters... 309 00:15:50,486 --> 00:15:52,786 They had Light-colored clothing on 310 00:15:52,855 --> 00:15:54,821 That appeared to be a uniform. 311 00:15:54,890 --> 00:15:58,124 Narrator: ...A bloodbath that Changed the course of history... 312 00:15:58,193 --> 00:16:00,260 Hyde: thousands of men Died on this spot, 313 00:16:00,329 --> 00:16:02,795 So maybe one of them's Come back. 314 00:16:02,864 --> 00:16:05,532 Narrator: ...And a video image That defies logic. 315 00:16:05,601 --> 00:16:07,568 There's really No easy explanation 316 00:16:07,637 --> 00:16:08,969 To what Would cause that. 317 00:16:09,038 --> 00:16:10,773 What is in that wood? 318 00:16:14,344 --> 00:16:16,477 Narrator: october 2001. 319 00:16:16,546 --> 00:16:19,379 Gettysburg, pennsylvania. 320 00:16:19,448 --> 00:16:22,548 Sight of the greatest battle Of the civil war, 321 00:16:22,617 --> 00:16:26,119 A battle that changes the course Of american history, 322 00:16:26,188 --> 00:16:29,190 Immortalized in Lincoln's gettysburg address 323 00:16:29,258 --> 00:16:31,358 Where he promises That these dead 324 00:16:31,427 --> 00:16:33,660 Shall not have died in vain. 325 00:16:33,729 --> 00:16:38,031 It is also the bloodiest battle Ever fought between americans. 326 00:16:38,100 --> 00:16:41,935 there were 51,000 killed, Wounded, and missing. 327 00:16:42,004 --> 00:16:45,339 one author said It was a vast sea of misery. 328 00:16:45,408 --> 00:16:47,111 And it really was. 329 00:16:50,746 --> 00:16:54,318 Narrator: delia underwood Is a civil war enthusiast. 330 00:17:00,489 --> 00:17:03,490 underwood is studying The isolated location 331 00:17:03,559 --> 00:17:06,726 of one particularly Brutal massacre. 332 00:17:06,795 --> 00:17:10,834 a long-abandoned site, It's known as "Bloody run." 333 00:17:18,007 --> 00:17:20,110 [ men screaming ] 334 00:17:22,845 --> 00:17:24,577 Narrator: As night closes in, 335 00:17:24,646 --> 00:17:28,715 Underwood sets up her camera To take a shot of bloody run. 336 00:17:28,784 --> 00:17:31,885 She is expecting these Remote woods to be empty, 337 00:17:31,954 --> 00:17:35,856 But her camera Captures something. 338 00:17:35,925 --> 00:17:38,028 -right there! See it? -uh-huh. 339 00:17:40,996 --> 00:17:43,634 -you see what I'm seeing? -what's that? 340 00:17:46,269 --> 00:17:47,868 Narrator: There is no path here, 341 00:17:47,937 --> 00:17:49,803 And the figures, or lights, 342 00:17:49,871 --> 00:17:52,940 Appear slightly elevated Off the ground. 343 00:17:53,008 --> 00:17:54,912 woman: what is that? 344 00:18:00,684 --> 00:18:01,982 look! 345 00:18:02,050 --> 00:18:04,785 narrator: the dull, gray lights, Or figures, appear briefly 346 00:18:04,854 --> 00:18:07,591 and then are gone. 347 00:18:12,028 --> 00:18:14,528 woman: what is that? 348 00:18:14,596 --> 00:18:16,730 is it something inanimate? 349 00:18:16,798 --> 00:18:19,834 is it real? Is it chemical? What could it be? 350 00:18:19,903 --> 00:18:21,705 what is in that wood? 351 00:18:24,340 --> 00:18:25,706 Narrator: coming up... 352 00:18:25,774 --> 00:18:28,541 How can a tree Burn from the inside? 353 00:18:28,610 --> 00:18:33,280 When you look at this tree, it Looks like something pure evil. 354 00:18:33,348 --> 00:18:36,984 Narrator: And experts get spooked By the gettysburg ghosts. 355 00:18:37,052 --> 00:18:38,956 Super creepy! 356 00:18:46,028 --> 00:18:47,861 Narrator: With no obvious explanation 357 00:18:47,930 --> 00:18:50,697 For ghostly images Captured at gettysburg, 358 00:18:50,766 --> 00:18:54,134 Some refuse to rule out The supernatural. 359 00:18:54,203 --> 00:18:58,739 there is a real spiritual power In a place like gettysburg. 360 00:18:58,808 --> 00:19:00,874 narrator: Terri forest lives in the area 361 00:19:00,943 --> 00:19:02,810 and believes That there's something eerie 362 00:19:02,879 --> 00:19:04,745 about the gettysburg site. 363 00:19:04,814 --> 00:19:09,616 there are a lot of unexplained Things that go on in gettysburg. 364 00:19:09,685 --> 00:19:10,984 Narrator: For more than a century, 365 00:19:11,053 --> 00:19:12,419 There have been sightings 366 00:19:12,488 --> 00:19:14,621 Of the ghosts Of the restless souls. 367 00:19:14,690 --> 00:19:18,261 But evidence of any paranormal Activity remains elusive. 368 00:19:24,767 --> 00:19:27,701 But the strange images Recorded by the camera 369 00:19:27,770 --> 00:19:29,971 Aren't necessarily ghosts. 370 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,773 ♪♪ 371 00:19:32,842 --> 00:19:34,808 Anthropologist deborah hyde 372 00:19:34,877 --> 00:19:38,446 Warns that people will often see What they hope to see. 373 00:19:38,515 --> 00:19:40,014 Hyde: With gettysburg, the fact 374 00:19:40,083 --> 00:19:42,049 That so many people Died violently 375 00:19:42,118 --> 00:19:43,917 And died before their time 376 00:19:43,986 --> 00:19:47,520 make it a perfect candidate For a ghost-hunting site. 377 00:19:47,589 --> 00:19:49,623 Narrator: she wonders Whether these aren't just 378 00:19:49,692 --> 00:19:53,092 Ghostly shots of living humans. 379 00:19:53,161 --> 00:19:56,396 You can see that there Are two white figures there, 380 00:19:56,465 --> 00:19:58,632 And they're going In opposite directions. 381 00:19:58,701 --> 00:20:00,100 They look, to me, 382 00:20:00,169 --> 00:20:03,704 Like people walking backwards And forwards behind the trees. 383 00:20:03,773 --> 00:20:06,076 Woman: right there! 384 00:20:08,978 --> 00:20:12,246 Narrator: in virginia, security Analyst william dranginis 385 00:20:12,315 --> 00:20:15,415 Examines the footage. 386 00:20:15,484 --> 00:20:17,584 He uses specialized software 387 00:20:17,653 --> 00:20:21,288 To enhance and decipher Low-resolution images. 388 00:20:21,357 --> 00:20:23,790 dranginis: What the enhancement shows us Is a much brighter shape. 389 00:20:23,859 --> 00:20:25,926 and it's much easier To track its movements 390 00:20:25,995 --> 00:20:27,460 as it goes through the trees. 391 00:20:27,529 --> 00:20:29,163 narrator: Whatever these things are, 392 00:20:29,232 --> 00:20:32,465 He believes they are not Living human beings. 393 00:20:32,534 --> 00:20:35,635 Dranginis: if these are people That we see in the images, 394 00:20:35,704 --> 00:20:39,406 That means they're walking 15 to 20 feet through the air 395 00:20:39,475 --> 00:20:43,243 And through the trees, Which is impossible. 396 00:20:43,312 --> 00:20:45,379 These shapes Seem to be floating. 397 00:20:45,448 --> 00:20:47,347 There's really No easy explanation 398 00:20:47,416 --> 00:20:50,617 To what would cause that. 399 00:20:50,686 --> 00:20:54,687 Narrator: physicist simon foster Of imperial college london, 400 00:20:54,756 --> 00:20:57,724 Reviews the footage And suspects that clues 401 00:20:57,793 --> 00:21:01,662 May lie in how transparent The ghostly figures are. 402 00:21:01,731 --> 00:21:03,964 foster: what could be Happening in gettysburg 403 00:21:04,033 --> 00:21:06,100 is something called "Pepper's ghost." 404 00:21:06,169 --> 00:21:08,502 narrator: foster believes The ghostly images 405 00:21:08,571 --> 00:21:11,138 Could be the result Of an optical illusion 406 00:21:11,207 --> 00:21:15,075 Named after its inventor, John henry pepper. 407 00:21:15,144 --> 00:21:16,576 Foster: it was actually used 408 00:21:16,645 --> 00:21:18,812 To project ghosts Up onto the stage. 409 00:21:18,881 --> 00:21:22,716 The thing about pepper's ghost Is it may be 150 years old, 410 00:21:22,785 --> 00:21:26,587 But it's good enough To even be used today. 411 00:21:26,656 --> 00:21:27,855 Narrator: to test his theory, 412 00:21:27,924 --> 00:21:30,724 Foster erects scaffolding, Bright lights, 413 00:21:30,793 --> 00:21:32,225 And black-out fabric 414 00:21:32,294 --> 00:21:34,728 To construct areas Of light and dark 415 00:21:34,797 --> 00:21:38,398 To replicate conditions At gettysburg. 416 00:21:38,467 --> 00:21:41,668 For this to work, the setup Needs to be really precise. 417 00:21:41,737 --> 00:21:44,971 Everything needs to be In the exact position. 418 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,608 By carefully positioning A source of light, 419 00:21:47,677 --> 00:21:51,645 You can make objects appear In different positions. 420 00:21:51,714 --> 00:21:53,881 If there's anything Even slightly out, 421 00:21:53,950 --> 00:21:55,716 The illusion is ruined. 422 00:21:55,785 --> 00:21:57,885 Narrator: With his equipment 423 00:21:57,954 --> 00:22:00,454 Set up in exactly The right position, 424 00:22:00,523 --> 00:22:03,023 Foster steps into place, 425 00:22:03,092 --> 00:22:05,395 And his ghost appears. 426 00:22:07,095 --> 00:22:10,864 Foster: this is because glass is Actually partially reflective. 427 00:22:10,933 --> 00:22:12,599 You may have seen this When you've looked out 428 00:22:12,668 --> 00:22:14,301 Of a window on a dark night. 429 00:22:14,370 --> 00:22:15,969 When the light's on in the room, 430 00:22:16,038 --> 00:22:19,239 The glass actually Looks like a mirror. 431 00:22:19,308 --> 00:22:21,842 Narrator: it's possible Hoaxers could exploit 432 00:22:21,911 --> 00:22:25,145 This property of glass To deceive. 433 00:22:25,214 --> 00:22:28,282 Foster: this gives this effect Of ghosts appearing. 434 00:22:28,351 --> 00:22:31,085 Now, I believe this is What could be occurring 435 00:22:31,154 --> 00:22:33,457 Here in the gettysburg ghosts. 436 00:22:38,461 --> 00:22:40,661 Narrator: Image analyst william dranginis 437 00:22:40,730 --> 00:22:42,896 Wants to test the theory. 438 00:22:42,965 --> 00:22:44,998 He looks for clues That illusionists 439 00:22:45,067 --> 00:22:47,671 Have used The pepper's ghost technique. 440 00:22:49,238 --> 00:22:50,604 Dranginis: The problem with that 441 00:22:50,673 --> 00:22:52,439 Is that the size Of the glass plate 442 00:22:52,508 --> 00:22:54,908 Would have to be enormous. 443 00:22:54,977 --> 00:22:58,278 Pulling off a hoax like this Would take many people, 444 00:22:58,347 --> 00:23:00,514 Possibly a crane To lift the glass. 445 00:23:00,583 --> 00:23:02,349 I don't think This video is a hoax. 446 00:23:02,418 --> 00:23:05,522 So whatever they filmed there Is still unexplained. 447 00:23:08,890 --> 00:23:13,426 Narrator: coming up, a tree Inferno baffles fire experts. 448 00:23:13,495 --> 00:23:17,497 Nobody expects to see a tree Burning from the inside out. 449 00:23:17,566 --> 00:23:19,432 -right there! You see it? -uh-huh. 450 00:23:19,501 --> 00:23:22,736 Narrator: and has paranormal Activity at gettysburg 451 00:23:22,805 --> 00:23:24,671 Finally been captured on camera? 452 00:23:24,740 --> 00:23:26,907 Bundy: it's tough to tell What's making the shapes 453 00:23:26,976 --> 00:23:29,212 That appear to be Moving in the tree. 454 00:23:37,086 --> 00:23:38,352 Woman: what is that? 455 00:23:38,421 --> 00:23:40,186 Narrator: Gettysburg, pennsylvania. 456 00:23:40,255 --> 00:23:43,623 On the site of america's Bloodiest civil war battle, 457 00:23:43,692 --> 00:23:47,560 Ghostly images Are caught on camera. 458 00:23:47,629 --> 00:23:51,899 Is it something inanimate? Is it real? Is it chemical? 459 00:23:51,968 --> 00:23:53,633 What could it be? 460 00:23:53,702 --> 00:23:57,238 Narrator: chemist andrea sella At university college london 461 00:23:57,307 --> 00:23:59,006 Examines the footage. 462 00:23:59,075 --> 00:24:00,240 initially, I thought, 463 00:24:00,309 --> 00:24:02,809 "Somebody's manipulated This image." 464 00:24:02,878 --> 00:24:06,213 but there's got to be Another explanation. 465 00:24:06,282 --> 00:24:09,016 Narrator: sella suspects The location of the recording 466 00:24:09,085 --> 00:24:12,018 Holds vital clues. 467 00:24:12,087 --> 00:24:16,490 He analyzes the foreground And discovers that it's marshy. 468 00:24:16,559 --> 00:24:18,291 Sella: Scientists have suggested 469 00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:20,860 That the decaying Organic matter in the mud 470 00:24:20,929 --> 00:24:25,266 Produces this strange, Ghostly, white-ish light 471 00:24:25,335 --> 00:24:27,868 Which comes and goes. 472 00:24:27,937 --> 00:24:29,269 Narrator: It's not the first time 473 00:24:29,338 --> 00:24:32,872 People have seen mystery Apparitions over marshy ground. 474 00:24:32,941 --> 00:24:36,376 For centuries, people have been Spooked by ghostly lights 475 00:24:36,445 --> 00:24:38,912 In marshes, bogs, and swamps. 476 00:24:38,981 --> 00:24:40,948 Decaying organic matter 477 00:24:41,017 --> 00:24:44,151 Might produce A mixture of methane 478 00:24:44,220 --> 00:24:47,855 And then traces of A highly inflammable gas 479 00:24:47,924 --> 00:24:49,389 Called phosphate. 480 00:24:49,458 --> 00:24:54,094 And the two together Catching fire in the darkness 481 00:24:54,163 --> 00:24:58,065 Might actually give rise To a ghostly light. 482 00:24:58,134 --> 00:25:01,168 ♪♪ 483 00:25:01,237 --> 00:25:05,172 Narrator: Anthropologist deborah hyde Re-examines the footage. 484 00:25:05,241 --> 00:25:07,641 But for her, The behavior of the lights 485 00:25:07,710 --> 00:25:10,177 doesn't suggest swamp lights. 486 00:25:10,246 --> 00:25:12,479 the movements they're making Are repetitive. 487 00:25:12,548 --> 00:25:15,482 and they're the same. They're similar. 488 00:25:15,551 --> 00:25:18,352 If this was some Naturally occurring phenomenon, 489 00:25:18,421 --> 00:25:21,488 I would expect it To be a bit more random. 490 00:25:21,557 --> 00:25:23,357 Narrator: Hyde returns to the footage 491 00:25:23,426 --> 00:25:25,826 And discovers That delia underwood 492 00:25:25,895 --> 00:25:29,396 Didn't just capture ghostly Humanoid shapes on camera -- 493 00:25:29,465 --> 00:25:33,737 She also recorded something that Deepens the mystery further. 494 00:25:35,037 --> 00:25:36,669 You can't really say what it is, 495 00:25:36,738 --> 00:25:39,540 But there are little Flashes of something, 496 00:25:39,609 --> 00:25:40,941 Something white. 497 00:25:41,010 --> 00:25:44,247 Narrator: underwood is sure She knows what she saw. 498 00:25:48,652 --> 00:25:50,784 [ gunshots ] 499 00:25:50,853 --> 00:25:54,855 ♪♪ 500 00:25:54,924 --> 00:25:56,690 Narrator: The basic infantry weapon 501 00:25:56,759 --> 00:25:58,491 During the battle of gettysburg 502 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:01,395 Was a muzzle-loading musket That a good soldier 503 00:26:01,464 --> 00:26:05,932 Could load and fire Three times in a minute. 504 00:26:06,001 --> 00:26:09,269 It is said that during the Three-day battle of gettysburg, 505 00:26:09,338 --> 00:26:12,409 Seven million rounds of ammo Were fired. 506 00:26:18,014 --> 00:26:20,614 But what alternative Rational explanation 507 00:26:20,683 --> 00:26:22,983 Could there be For the flashes? 508 00:26:23,052 --> 00:26:24,417 The footage is analyzed 509 00:26:24,486 --> 00:26:27,654 By scott bundy At new mexico university. 510 00:26:27,723 --> 00:26:31,591 Bundy is an entomologist, An expert on insects. 511 00:26:31,660 --> 00:26:36,196 He thinks he's seen A similar light show before. 512 00:26:36,265 --> 00:26:38,298 it indicates to me It might be fireflies 513 00:26:38,367 --> 00:26:41,067 as the males move around And search for females. 514 00:26:41,136 --> 00:26:43,370 Narrator: Fireflies, or lightning bugs, 515 00:26:43,439 --> 00:26:48,041 Are flying beetles with An extraordinary characteristic. 516 00:26:48,110 --> 00:26:50,745 Bundy: fireflies have Enzymes and proteins 517 00:26:50,814 --> 00:26:52,145 That react with one another, 518 00:26:52,214 --> 00:26:54,380 And they cause This light reaction. 519 00:26:54,449 --> 00:26:58,051 Narrator: Firefly light is the most Efficient light in the world. 520 00:26:58,120 --> 00:27:01,421 Pound for pound, these bugs Are brighter than the sun. 521 00:27:01,490 --> 00:27:03,590 People have always Been impressed with the amount 522 00:27:03,659 --> 00:27:07,527 Of light that's generated By these tiny, little insects. 523 00:27:07,596 --> 00:27:11,598 Narrator: but local terri forest Is used to seeing fireflies, 524 00:27:11,667 --> 00:27:13,634 And she's not convinced. 525 00:27:13,703 --> 00:27:15,435 no. They're too big. 526 00:27:15,504 --> 00:27:18,939 fireflies just flicker briefly And go out. 527 00:27:19,008 --> 00:27:21,342 This was -- This was totally different. 528 00:27:21,411 --> 00:27:23,443 -right there! See it? -uh-huh. 529 00:27:23,512 --> 00:27:25,312 Narrator: Underwood remains convinced 530 00:27:25,381 --> 00:27:27,680 That she has captured A ghostly echo 531 00:27:27,749 --> 00:27:30,183 Of one of the most traumatic And bloody events 532 00:27:30,252 --> 00:27:32,122 in american history. 533 00:27:36,858 --> 00:27:41,064 Yet one more report of ghosts At gettysburg. 534 00:27:44,133 --> 00:27:45,799 -now... -what the [bleep]? 535 00:27:45,868 --> 00:27:47,434 Narrator: ...An ancient oak tree 536 00:27:47,503 --> 00:27:50,937 Spontaneously erupts into flames From the inside. 537 00:27:51,006 --> 00:27:54,141 You do not expect to see The inside of a tree burning 538 00:27:54,210 --> 00:27:56,243 And the outside To be perfectly fine. 539 00:27:56,312 --> 00:27:57,911 Narrator: Investigators wonder 540 00:27:57,980 --> 00:28:00,580 If more trees will combust In this freaky way. 541 00:28:00,649 --> 00:28:03,816 Nobody expects to see a tree Burning from the inside out. 542 00:28:03,885 --> 00:28:07,424 Narrator: is this hellish fire From beneath the earth? 543 00:28:10,727 --> 00:28:13,594 ♪♪ 544 00:28:13,663 --> 00:28:15,362 Defiance, ohio. 545 00:28:15,431 --> 00:28:17,430 [ bell clanging ] 546 00:28:17,499 --> 00:28:21,368 A small midwestern town named After the 18th-century fort 547 00:28:21,437 --> 00:28:26,006 Built by general "Mad" anthony wayne. 548 00:28:26,075 --> 00:28:27,340 he built this fort, 549 00:28:27,409 --> 00:28:30,110 claimed it was the best fort He had ever built, 550 00:28:30,179 --> 00:28:33,114 and defied the british, The indians, 551 00:28:33,183 --> 00:28:34,684 And all the demons of hell. 552 00:28:36,319 --> 00:28:39,385 Narrator: December 21, 2015. 553 00:28:39,454 --> 00:28:43,757 Warehouse owner scott olsen Is battling the christmas rush. 554 00:28:43,826 --> 00:28:47,561 He hears a cry outside And runs out to investigate. 555 00:28:47,630 --> 00:28:50,163 What he sees Takes his breath away. 556 00:28:50,232 --> 00:28:51,565 Olsen: what the [bleep]? 557 00:28:51,634 --> 00:28:55,168 Narrator: he's met by what looks Like a scene from a horror film. 558 00:28:55,237 --> 00:28:57,671 Olsen: we stood there in Disbelief watching this thing, 559 00:28:57,740 --> 00:29:00,641 Trying to figure out What is going on. 560 00:29:00,710 --> 00:29:02,275 Narrator: The tree is burning, 561 00:29:02,344 --> 00:29:04,077 But it's burning From the inside. 562 00:29:04,146 --> 00:29:06,947 it really looks like the fire Is coming up through the ground. 563 00:29:07,016 --> 00:29:10,817 olsen: How is this happening? 564 00:29:10,886 --> 00:29:14,187 narrator: to some, the footage Looks almost demonic. 565 00:29:14,256 --> 00:29:17,324 to look at something This peculiar, 566 00:29:17,393 --> 00:29:20,127 you may well think that It's been touched by evil. 567 00:29:20,196 --> 00:29:21,728 It looked like the devil tree. 568 00:29:21,797 --> 00:29:23,663 Is satan rising up? 569 00:29:23,732 --> 00:29:27,234 Narrator: the residents, just Like their town, are defiant. 570 00:29:27,303 --> 00:29:29,239 We don't allow demons in town. 571 00:29:32,141 --> 00:29:35,675 Narrator: coming up, A crazy giant column of water... 572 00:29:35,744 --> 00:29:37,911 It's not like any rain That I've ever seen. 573 00:29:37,980 --> 00:29:40,580 Where is all this water Coming from? 574 00:29:40,649 --> 00:29:43,250 Narrator: ...And scientists Look for the strange force 575 00:29:43,319 --> 00:29:45,786 Behind ohio's Towering tree torch. 576 00:29:45,855 --> 00:29:47,520 Olsen: what the [bleep]? 577 00:29:47,589 --> 00:29:50,791 What has enough power To really make this thing burn 578 00:29:50,860 --> 00:29:53,596 And create the fire That I see here? 579 00:30:00,769 --> 00:30:04,271 narrator: in ohio, cameras Capture an oak-tree inferno 580 00:30:04,340 --> 00:30:06,607 burning from the inside. 581 00:30:06,676 --> 00:30:08,943 hyde: how can a tree Suddenly burst into flames? 582 00:30:09,012 --> 00:30:11,478 there has to be an explanation. 583 00:30:11,547 --> 00:30:13,113 narrator: The footage is analyzed 584 00:30:13,182 --> 00:30:17,617 by botanist jeffrey dean At mississippi state university. 585 00:30:17,686 --> 00:30:20,420 he knows that it's possible For organic matter 586 00:30:20,489 --> 00:30:24,024 to burst into flames Without warning. 587 00:30:24,093 --> 00:30:26,026 dean: this is a phenomena That's pretty well known 588 00:30:26,095 --> 00:30:27,627 in composting facilities. 589 00:30:27,696 --> 00:30:30,601 these things catch on fire Spontaneously. 590 00:30:33,269 --> 00:30:35,068 Narrator: With spontaneous combustion, 591 00:30:35,137 --> 00:30:40,107 An object ignites without Any apparent external cause. 592 00:30:40,176 --> 00:30:42,075 There have been Unconfirmed reports 593 00:30:42,144 --> 00:30:45,779 Of spontaneous Human combustion. 594 00:30:45,848 --> 00:30:49,050 In 1980, the charred body Of henry thomas 595 00:30:49,119 --> 00:30:51,085 Is discovered in his home. 596 00:30:51,154 --> 00:30:54,855 Just his legs below the knee Remain. 597 00:30:54,924 --> 00:30:57,825 It is suggested that A human body can burn 598 00:30:57,894 --> 00:31:00,227 Like an inside-out candle -- 599 00:31:00,296 --> 00:31:01,628 Clothes are the wick, 600 00:31:01,697 --> 00:31:05,433 Body fat is the wax Keeping the blaze going. 601 00:31:05,502 --> 00:31:11,141 ♪♪ 602 00:31:13,076 --> 00:31:14,541 Studying the footage, 603 00:31:14,610 --> 00:31:17,544 Dean thinks the center Of the tree looks dead 604 00:31:17,613 --> 00:31:21,081 And speculates that this Might be a possible trigger. 605 00:31:21,150 --> 00:31:24,818 As it rots, heat is being Generated by the microbes 606 00:31:24,887 --> 00:31:28,655 That are breaking That material down. 607 00:31:28,724 --> 00:31:32,025 And if the heat is not able To escape rapidly enough, 608 00:31:32,094 --> 00:31:35,666 It can potentially Set the material on fire. 609 00:31:37,900 --> 00:31:40,668 Narrator: but roger williams Is an expert on wildfires 610 00:31:40,737 --> 00:31:42,970 At ohio state university. 611 00:31:43,039 --> 00:31:45,072 When he analyzes The video evidence, 612 00:31:45,141 --> 00:31:47,141 He spots something That he believes 613 00:31:47,210 --> 00:31:50,510 Rules out Spontaneous combustion. 614 00:31:50,579 --> 00:31:52,880 Williams: all the foliage Is going off of the trees, 615 00:31:52,949 --> 00:31:56,550 So that would tell me That it's in the winter. 616 00:31:56,619 --> 00:31:59,118 One of the critical ingredients 617 00:31:59,187 --> 00:32:02,423 that we are lacking For spontaneous combustion 618 00:32:02,492 --> 00:32:03,891 is heat. 619 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:05,292 From my point of view, 620 00:32:05,361 --> 00:32:08,265 This could not be Spontaneous combustion. 621 00:32:12,101 --> 00:32:14,468 Narrator: terrifyingly, Williams suspects 622 00:32:14,537 --> 00:32:15,903 The hellish tree fire 623 00:32:15,972 --> 00:32:18,171 Could have been ignited From below. 624 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:21,408 We had a peat fire here in ohio Not too long ago 625 00:32:21,477 --> 00:32:24,078 Where all the fire Was all underground. 626 00:32:24,147 --> 00:32:26,513 You saw no flame. 627 00:32:26,582 --> 00:32:28,782 Narrator: Unseen beneath the surface, 628 00:32:28,851 --> 00:32:30,817 Peat fires can smolder for years 629 00:32:30,886 --> 00:32:33,955 Before flaring Into raging flames. 630 00:32:34,024 --> 00:32:36,723 ♪♪ 631 00:32:36,792 --> 00:32:39,726 Only recently in indonesia, Such a fire 632 00:32:39,795 --> 00:32:44,298 Devoured an area 440 times the size of manhattan 633 00:32:44,367 --> 00:32:47,267 With the loss of 100,000 lives. 634 00:32:47,336 --> 00:32:51,439 Vast clouds of smoke from the Blaze reached as far as china. 635 00:32:51,508 --> 00:32:53,774 ♪♪ 636 00:32:53,843 --> 00:32:58,145 It's very possible For fires to move underground, 637 00:32:58,214 --> 00:33:01,048 And it can work its way up Into some of those trees. 638 00:33:01,117 --> 00:33:04,017 ♪♪ 639 00:33:04,086 --> 00:33:05,452 Narrator: But there's a problem. 640 00:33:05,521 --> 00:33:08,188 Analysis of the soil In this part of ohio 641 00:33:08,257 --> 00:33:10,490 Shows there is no peat deposits. 642 00:33:10,559 --> 00:33:14,495 And scott confirms there were No signs of an underground fire. 643 00:33:14,564 --> 00:33:16,696 in the weeks Leading up to the fire, 644 00:33:16,765 --> 00:33:20,437 there were no signs of smoke, No signs of fire. 645 00:33:24,974 --> 00:33:27,607 Narrator: At mississippi state university, 646 00:33:27,676 --> 00:33:29,910 Electrical engineer David wallace 647 00:33:29,979 --> 00:33:31,878 Re-examines the footage. 648 00:33:31,947 --> 00:33:34,281 Wallace: When I started looking closer At this tree in the video, 649 00:33:34,350 --> 00:33:35,949 You sort of see A break in the bark 650 00:33:36,018 --> 00:33:37,551 Coming down the side Of the tree. 651 00:33:37,620 --> 00:33:39,620 now, this is A very strong indication 652 00:33:39,689 --> 00:33:40,721 of a lightning strike. 653 00:33:40,790 --> 00:33:43,356 [ thunder crashing ] 654 00:33:43,425 --> 00:33:46,827 Narrator: lightning strikes kill Thousands of people every year. 655 00:33:46,896 --> 00:33:49,096 They ignite deadly forest fires 656 00:33:49,165 --> 00:33:52,932 And cause billions of dollars' Worth of damage. 657 00:33:53,001 --> 00:33:55,669 To have ignition, You have to have a heat source, 658 00:33:55,738 --> 00:34:01,341 And the lightning is certainly Going to provide enough heat. 659 00:34:01,410 --> 00:34:03,576 Narrator: a lightning bolt Heats the air around it 660 00:34:03,645 --> 00:34:06,046 Up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit -- 661 00:34:06,115 --> 00:34:08,882 Five times hotter Than the surface of the sun. 662 00:34:08,951 --> 00:34:10,984 When you have A lightning strike hit a tree, 663 00:34:11,053 --> 00:34:12,920 Current is gonna flow From this bolt 664 00:34:12,989 --> 00:34:14,321 Down to the center of the tree, 665 00:34:14,390 --> 00:34:16,090 Heating it to Extreme temperatures, 666 00:34:16,159 --> 00:34:17,424 And it gets to the point 667 00:34:17,493 --> 00:34:19,792 Where the sap will Actually explode outward, 668 00:34:19,861 --> 00:34:22,463 Creating the pattern Of the lightning going down it. 669 00:34:22,532 --> 00:34:23,563 So, when you look at this tree, 670 00:34:23,632 --> 00:34:25,636 It looks like something Pure evil. 671 00:34:30,039 --> 00:34:32,473 Narrator: studying the Burnt-out stump of the tree, 672 00:34:32,542 --> 00:34:35,242 Roger williams tries To find more evidence 673 00:34:35,311 --> 00:34:38,178 To support his lightning theory. 674 00:34:38,247 --> 00:34:40,881 Williams: you can see Where you have charring. 675 00:34:40,950 --> 00:34:43,050 Have a definite line here. 676 00:34:43,119 --> 00:34:48,121 I believe that Lightning struck this tree. 677 00:34:48,190 --> 00:34:50,724 Narrator: but a cross-check Of local meteorological data 678 00:34:50,793 --> 00:34:52,592 Shows calm conditions On the day 679 00:34:52,661 --> 00:34:57,297 Scott olsen Witnessed the terrible fire. 680 00:34:57,366 --> 00:34:59,933 I do not remember Any lightning storms that day, 681 00:35:00,002 --> 00:35:02,036 And I do not remember Any lightning storms 682 00:35:02,105 --> 00:35:04,437 Leading up to that point. 683 00:35:04,506 --> 00:35:06,306 Narrator: With no conclusive evidence, 684 00:35:06,375 --> 00:35:09,610 The mystery of ohio's Burning devil-tree fire 685 00:35:09,679 --> 00:35:11,244 Remains unsolved. 686 00:35:11,313 --> 00:35:15,382 We still don't know, to this Day, exactly what caused it. 687 00:35:15,451 --> 00:35:17,918 Narrator: The tree is more than a mystery. 688 00:35:17,987 --> 00:35:21,454 To the residents of defiance, It's a cause of anxiety. 689 00:35:21,523 --> 00:35:24,491 If it happened once, It can happen again. 690 00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:27,428 And if it occurs in The tinder-dry summer months, 691 00:35:27,497 --> 00:35:30,167 Their whole town Could be consumed. 692 00:35:35,370 --> 00:35:39,506 And now, an immense, Perplexing pillar of water. 693 00:35:39,575 --> 00:35:41,341 What's surprising About the footage 694 00:35:41,410 --> 00:35:45,011 Is simply the Sheer amount of water. 695 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:47,714 Narrator: experts fear An apocalyptic weather event. 696 00:35:47,783 --> 00:35:50,183 It's not like any rain That I've ever seen 697 00:35:50,252 --> 00:35:52,790 In 20 years of storm chasing. 698 00:35:57,860 --> 00:35:59,760 Narrator: Yunnan province, china. 699 00:35:59,829 --> 00:36:03,697 A peaceful mountainous region Bordering vietnam. 700 00:36:03,766 --> 00:36:05,798 July 2017. 701 00:36:05,867 --> 00:36:10,069 A bizarre and terrifying event Caught on a tourist's phone. 702 00:36:10,138 --> 00:36:13,307 In the...Valley, A thundering plume of water 703 00:36:13,376 --> 00:36:16,009 Rising from the ground Into the sky. 704 00:36:16,078 --> 00:36:18,878 Is someone messing With mother nature here? 705 00:36:18,947 --> 00:36:23,149 That's a heck of a lot of water Falling in one location. 706 00:36:23,218 --> 00:36:24,584 Narrator: When the mystifying image 707 00:36:24,653 --> 00:36:26,520 Is made available in the west, 708 00:36:26,589 --> 00:36:28,688 Experts struggle to explain it. 709 00:36:28,757 --> 00:36:30,457 at first glance, It's kind of hard to tell 710 00:36:30,526 --> 00:36:34,928 whether this is man-made Or naturally occurring. 711 00:36:34,997 --> 00:36:36,530 Narrator: The clip comes to the attention 712 00:36:36,599 --> 00:36:40,634 Of expert meteorologist Karen kosiba. 713 00:36:40,703 --> 00:36:42,602 She believes It could be evidence 714 00:36:42,671 --> 00:36:45,404 Of a rarely seen And extreme weather event. 715 00:36:45,473 --> 00:36:48,642 this event has a large Concentration of water Over a very small area, 716 00:36:48,711 --> 00:36:52,579 which might make you Initially think a microburst. 717 00:36:52,648 --> 00:36:55,582 Narrator: microbursts Are a terrifying phenomenon 718 00:36:55,651 --> 00:36:59,219 That occurs when rapidly Cooled air in a storm cloud 719 00:36:59,288 --> 00:37:02,389 Rushes to the earth like a bomb. 720 00:37:02,458 --> 00:37:04,291 Storm chaser george kourounis 721 00:37:04,360 --> 00:37:08,395 Confirms that localized rain Is also often a feature. 722 00:37:08,464 --> 00:37:11,865 And that falling air can Quite often drag a lot of rain 723 00:37:11,934 --> 00:37:15,034 With it in a very small area. 724 00:37:15,103 --> 00:37:17,604 Narrator: rain bombs can drop Seven inches of water 725 00:37:17,673 --> 00:37:22,075 In just 30 minutes With catastrophic consequences. 726 00:37:22,144 --> 00:37:24,578 Microbursts can be classified As severe-weather events. 727 00:37:24,647 --> 00:37:26,880 They impact structures And people at the ground, 728 00:37:26,949 --> 00:37:29,783 But they also can cause Problems for air traffic. 729 00:37:29,852 --> 00:37:31,418 Some of these microbursts 730 00:37:31,487 --> 00:37:34,958 Can have wind speeds That rival small tornadoes. 731 00:37:37,793 --> 00:37:42,229 Narrator: coming up, man-made Mayhem in communist china. 732 00:37:42,298 --> 00:37:44,435 This is not how rain works. 733 00:37:52,441 --> 00:37:55,008 Narrator: expert storm chaser George kourounis 734 00:37:55,077 --> 00:37:58,412 Fears that a gushing torrent Of water filmed in china 735 00:37:58,481 --> 00:37:59,880 Is a microburst, 736 00:37:59,949 --> 00:38:03,583 One of the smallest yet Most lethal kinds of storms. 737 00:38:03,652 --> 00:38:08,922 microbursts are where air is Falling rapidly out of a storm. 738 00:38:08,991 --> 00:38:12,526 narrator: he analyzes The clip for evidence. 739 00:38:12,595 --> 00:38:15,996 A frame-by-frame analysis Of the footage fails to reveal 740 00:38:16,065 --> 00:38:20,367 The key element of a Microburst -- storm clouds. 741 00:38:20,436 --> 00:38:21,835 There's no big thunderstorm 742 00:38:21,904 --> 00:38:24,905 That you would associate With a microburst. 743 00:38:24,974 --> 00:38:28,612 This is not how rain works. It's got to be something else. 744 00:38:32,515 --> 00:38:34,548 Narrator: Geologist dr. Sian proctor 745 00:38:34,617 --> 00:38:36,416 Comes across the clip. 746 00:38:36,485 --> 00:38:37,884 She slows down the footage, 747 00:38:37,953 --> 00:38:40,988 Concentrating on the perplexing Movement of the water. 748 00:38:41,057 --> 00:38:42,756 Proctor: It looks, at first, as though 749 00:38:42,825 --> 00:38:46,059 It's coming from the sky, Falling down, 750 00:38:46,128 --> 00:38:47,661 But then you get this other idea 751 00:38:47,730 --> 00:38:49,262 that the water Is coming from below 752 00:38:49,331 --> 00:38:53,066 and being shot up into the sky And then falling back down. 753 00:38:53,135 --> 00:38:54,601 narrator: She suspects another 754 00:38:54,670 --> 00:38:57,404 deadly force of nature Is the culprit. 755 00:38:57,473 --> 00:39:01,041 my first thought, As a geologist, is geyser. 756 00:39:01,110 --> 00:39:04,711 this might be a geyser. 757 00:39:04,780 --> 00:39:06,612 Narrator: Geysers are capable of ejecting 758 00:39:06,681 --> 00:39:10,084 Thousands of gallons Of superheated water and steam 759 00:39:10,153 --> 00:39:13,420 Hundreds of feet into the air. 760 00:39:13,489 --> 00:39:17,257 Geologist alessandro grippo Fears a new super geyser 761 00:39:17,326 --> 00:39:21,328 Erupting in this area Is a troubling sign. 762 00:39:21,397 --> 00:39:23,063 grippo: When I see a geyser, 763 00:39:23,132 --> 00:39:27,434 I'm thinking of volcanic, Magmatic activity, 764 00:39:27,503 --> 00:39:29,537 And all of these activities 765 00:39:29,606 --> 00:39:32,008 Can be related to earthquakes. 766 00:39:34,144 --> 00:39:36,009 Narrator: 2014 -- 767 00:39:36,078 --> 00:39:39,683 An earthquake in the same part Of china kills hundreds. 768 00:39:42,952 --> 00:39:44,618 If this is a new geyser, 769 00:39:44,687 --> 00:39:48,091 It could soon be followed By another deadly quake. 770 00:39:54,998 --> 00:39:56,430 But when alessandro grippo 771 00:39:56,499 --> 00:39:58,899 Analyzes the footage In more detail, 772 00:39:58,968 --> 00:40:00,433 The volume of water 773 00:40:00,502 --> 00:40:03,504 Makes him doubt This is a geyser in action. 774 00:40:03,573 --> 00:40:05,472 Grippo: in a geyser, I would expect water 775 00:40:05,541 --> 00:40:08,308 To go up And then slowly come down. 776 00:40:08,377 --> 00:40:11,678 What is real surprising to me Is the speed with which 777 00:40:11,747 --> 00:40:13,446 The water is coming back On the ground, 778 00:40:13,515 --> 00:40:16,249 Like, really, somebody Is throwing a giant bucket. 779 00:40:16,318 --> 00:40:19,623 I would not expect a geyser To be behaving like that. 780 00:40:23,492 --> 00:40:26,259 Narrator: as the water Continues to gush into the air, 781 00:40:26,328 --> 00:40:30,464 The clip is spotted By physicist john di bartolo. 782 00:40:30,533 --> 00:40:33,000 He believes The enormous volume of water 783 00:40:33,069 --> 00:40:36,936 Is not a natural disaster, But a man-made one. 784 00:40:37,005 --> 00:40:42,308 What I think is going on here Is a broken water main. 785 00:40:42,377 --> 00:40:44,178 Narrator: Di bartolo zooms in on the clip 786 00:40:44,247 --> 00:40:48,382 To reveal A semi-submerged structure. 787 00:40:48,451 --> 00:40:50,450 Narrator: further investigation Show it to be 788 00:40:50,519 --> 00:40:55,021 A hydroelectric power station Under construction. 789 00:40:55,090 --> 00:40:59,793 Its turbines are fed from a Huge dam nine miles upstream, 790 00:40:59,862 --> 00:41:03,266 Which holds 29 billion gallons of water. 791 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:08,168 The dam releases water and Directs it to the power station 792 00:41:08,237 --> 00:41:10,704 Via an underground tunnel. 793 00:41:10,773 --> 00:41:14,775 Di bartolo: the water is kept At extremely high pressures. 794 00:41:14,844 --> 00:41:19,547 a break could result In water being sprayed out 795 00:41:19,616 --> 00:41:21,048 at such a velocity 796 00:41:21,117 --> 00:41:23,787 that it could reach Tremendous heights. 797 00:41:28,791 --> 00:41:30,990 narrator: Di bartolo analyzes the footage 798 00:41:31,059 --> 00:41:34,828 and finds that the water Reaches a height of 300 feet. 799 00:41:34,897 --> 00:41:36,863 di bartolo: The pressure can be 800 00:41:36,932 --> 00:41:40,100 10 to 12 times Atmospheric pressure. 801 00:41:40,169 --> 00:41:42,068 that is easily enough 802 00:41:42,137 --> 00:41:44,571 to send a fountain of water 803 00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:48,474 upward to the heights That we see in this video. 804 00:41:48,543 --> 00:41:50,844 narrator: countless thousands Of gallons of water 805 00:41:50,913 --> 00:41:54,280 are pouring into the sky Every minute. 806 00:41:54,349 --> 00:41:57,584 if chinese authorities don't Find a way to fix the leak, 807 00:41:57,653 --> 00:42:01,391 somebody is going to get One hell of a water bill.