A fascinating new report from a group of US scientists suggests that the mysterious "foo fighters" spotted by WWII pilots may have been plasmas or ionized gases rather than some type of ET phenomena. According to the new study, the inexplicable quickly-moving blobs or spheres are attracted to the electrical charge of planes, space vehicles, and satellites, which gives them the appearance of living organisms.
Plasma is considered a fourth state of matter different from solids, liquids, and gases, and formations of it in numerous shapes have also been observed clustering or hovering around satellite tethers. Residing in the thermosphere (66 to 372 miles high), they can dip into the lower atmosphere, which is when pilots may see them.
Co-author of the study, astronomer Christopher Impey from the University of Arizona, said: "These upper atmospheric electromagnetic plasmas may be engaging in 'energy cannibalism' and behaviors referred to as 'collisionality' in which they turn, follow, collide, intersect, and, possibly exchange energy."
While scientists continue to learn about plasma forms, intriguingly, some of the study's authors concede that plasmas, while not ET in nature, may represent a non-carbon-based form of life.