Ghost Spots: A Weather Folklore
Are "cold spots" in rooms caused by paranormal activity?
Long before modern science began to understand the processes that create our weather, people made up their own explanations. Many of these accounts were fantastic in nature, with evil or benevolent gods, monsters, and spirits controlling the elements. In this series, we’ll explore some of these ancient myths and share the science behind them. Weather + mythology = weather-ology!
One of the most common beliefs about ghosts is that you can detect their presence by temperature. “Cold spots” – areas where the temperature is much lower than the surrounding air – are said to accompany paranormal visitors. This belief can be found everywhere from the most ancient ghost stories to contemporary ghost hunters who come equipped with sophisticated modern instruments.
A common theory among believers is that ghosts leach thermal energy from the air in order to manifest themselves in our world.
Skeptics posit alternate explanations for purported ghostly cold spots. For one thing, they say, the body’s response to fear superficially resembles its response to cold. A person exhibiting goosebumps, hairs standing on end, tight muscles, clammy hands, or other common signs of fear may mistake these responses for coldness.
In addition, temperatures are not uniform across even relatively small areas. Many factors can influence the temperature of a given spot, including drafts and proximity to a source of heat or sunlight.
Furthermore, according to the second law of thermodynamics, heat can neither be created nor destroyed. If ghosts were responsible for a cold spot, say skeptics, there should be an accompanying hot spot somewhere nearby.
Of course, ghost hunters and other believers have their own answers to each of those explanations. Because modern ghost hunters use thermometers and thermal imaging equipment, they say the subjective experience of a person’s fear response doesn’t factor in.
In addition, they say, science has yet to understand – or even acknowledge – paranormal entities, so the laws of thermodynamics could be flawed, or at least incomplete, when it comes to the effect ghosts have on the physical world.
So what do you think? Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever felt a cold spot you couldn’t explain?
Jaime McLeod
Jaime McLeod is a longtime journalist who has written for a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites, including MTV.com. She enjoys the outdoors, growing and eating organic food, and is interested in all aspects of natural wellness.
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Jaime McLeod#molongui-disabled-link
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Jaime McLeod#molongui-disabled-link
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Jaime McLeod#molongui-disabled-link
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Jaime McLeod#molongui-disabled-link
You completely misquote and misunderstand the Second Law of Thermodynamics. But nice spin.
I do believe in ghosts. I feel coldness in my room, It’s usual. I am trying to get used to it
Y’all hit me up and tell me about y’all’s experience with ghost
9458993781
I have never have felt a warm spot only in swimming pools. I feel cold or negitive energy.
i do believe in ghost
Theyre real Lisa!!
We have the ghost of a little girl in our complex. She befriends the kids when they are small, such as my son. We weren’t at all sure until the neighbor captured her on film and shortly after that, there were full conversations heard, yet no people were in the room to speak. Even ghosts need friends!
I am a firm believer, I grew up in a real haunted house for 28 years and my father still lives there, as did my mom until she passed away there back in April!. I’ve lived in Indiana for the last 10 1/2 years and every house I’ve lived in since being here except 1 has had some sort of paranormal activity, rather the spirits were there before me, or if I have some who follow me, I’m not sure. But it doesn’t bother me what so ever as They (as those at my parents house that I grew up knowing about), have never been mean, or harmful, They’ve never tried to hurt any one.
However, Do I believe every picture I see online when people are screaming it has ghosts or orbs, NO I do not, most of their “Full of orbs” pictures are taken outside after dark and the “orbs” are due to environmental factors , Rather its rain, snow, or just general moisture in the air. Even bugs look like orbs at times.
I know how to tell the difference so I don’t believe everything I see.
Not quite. The only place orbs show is on a recording device. Those bits of “rain, snow and moisture” don’t show up in real life as they’re recording the area.
I’m a believer. We had the ghost of a german shepherd in our house when I was very young. My sister and I would both see it.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV /
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:11 ESV /
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV /
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Matthew 26:41 ESV
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
AMEN, Robin and more so. People should pray that any spirits still abiding in this reality be shown the way to Jesus.
I belive in it, couple years ago my family had a reunion and we all went to our old home place and we were walking behind the house together and we all at the same time said did you feel that, a cold spot and this was in middle of July very hot that day. We belive it was our parents, our dad who past away 30 years and our mom 5 years. We lived in a small southwest little town in Arkansas.
There are GHOSTS& there are cold spots when they appear! Thousands of people including me can’t be wrong! Feeling is believing!
Maybe not, but you would be surprised at the number of people who fundamentally misunderstand certain ideas. No, you cannot use an electrical meter to judge paranormal activity. No, the author of this article even misunderstands the Second Law of Thermodynamics. No, you can’t use a thermal meter to determine paranormal activity.
But I AM a believer because the very first house I lived in for 3 years was haunted to the core. Someone had gotten stabbed to death in our walk-in attic before we moved in and our entire family experienced things; my mum saw spirits both good and bad, and even our dog barked at them; they tried to kill us one night by stripping the valve off of our living room heater and then cranked it to high so we could burn to death. So they ARE real, but these physicist-wannabes and metaphysicists need to retake a few physics classes in order to know the difference in what is standard, proven science, and in what is wishful thinking. Their testing methods need lots of work.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
– Hamlet (1.5.167-8)
I believe it’s possible; it’s far more illogical to think it impossible.
I lived in a modern upstairs apartment in Houston, Tx in the early 80s. On a pleasant evening I left one window open. There were only 2 windows and one exterior door all sharing the same wall. This was an efficiency appartment (very small). The bed area was away from the main living area past a divider wall. I heard my pet cat become suddenly very agitated and it started screaching and ran away from the window. She also seemed to be watching something I couldn’t see. I picked her up and carried her to the bed, holding her, observing her behavior as I sat on the edge of the foot of the bed. I tried in vain to calm her. Her head would follow something invisible to me. I laid back on the bed and immediately felt a cold spot that sent shivers through my body and gave me some fear of the unknown. The cat had been fearfully looking at that very spot. I sprang up sitting and let go of the cat. I tested the spot again slowly moving my hand and arm into it. I felt it again and it seemed stationary, as the further I moved my extremity into it the cold correspondingly increased up my arm. I jerked away and stood up and didn’ t relax again until my cat did. Time passed and I promised myself not to speak a word of this. I kept my promise until one day I ran into a friend I had not seen nor spoken to for a long time. In fact I missed her very much. At the very outset of our reaquaintance conversation I told her “long time, no see.” She told me “well I saw you.” I asked why she didn’t speak to me. She then told me she went to my apartment while I was there, went in through the window (which was a sheer drop from the second floor to the ground), and laid down in bed with me. I finally had my answer as to what transpired that evening. She explained she astral projected from about 30 miles away. I cannot refute her claim as it matched my experience. I never spoke of my experience until she told me she visited me that strange evening. I could never have made this up. I swear it to be true.
I too see and hear spirits….especially after buying a second hand bedroom suite. Darn dude keeps waking me up with tapping, frustrates me. I thought maybe I was losing it until my husband heard it too.
My Fathers spirit also came to visit me. He would sit at the end of my bed, (like he always did) I thought it was my cat as I could feel the pressure but, when I put my hand down to pet him,,,,no cat, just an indent. I said “hi” to my Dad. I haven’t sensed him since I told him “I’m ok, you can rest in peace.” I let him go.
The Bible Says
After death a person: returns to dust (Psalms 104:29), knows nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5),
possesses no mental powers (Psalms 146:4), has nothing to do with anything on earth
(Ecclesiastes 9:6), does not live (2 Kings 20:1), waits in the grave (Job 17:13), and continues not (Job 14:1, 2).
Makes you wonder about global warming .
I am a ghosthunter and I believe this too be true. Have pictures to prove it too. Science keeps growing and discovering everyday, to emphatically deny there are the possibilities or ghosts or spirits is to believe the world is flat or the sun revolves around the earth. To have cold spots or warm spots in a singular area with no drafts for air to change temperature does mean that “someone” has used the air to manifest, just like brand new or newly charged batteries die and equipment fails. The naysayer in paranormal realm can not be justified. An open mind is a wonderful thing.
Ive seen the angel of my mom who passed away in October 2000. 3 days later she was standing at the foot of my bed. I thought it was just a dream but she kneeled down right beside me and started talking to me. She was going through my jewelry box and moved it to the headboard of my bed. I thought it was just a dream.. but it wasent. I woke up to my jewelry right behind me and everything was switched around in my room as she did that night. 2 weeks later I heard my son yelling (he was 3 at the time) “nanny nanny nanny!!” out of his crib. He was pointing to his toy box and I saw nothing. He is now 16 and still remembers what he saw. He was 3!! That tells you something. He told me he saw her sitting on his toy box and i will never forget the smile on his face he had. I remember one time when he was 5 or 6 he said he talks to granny down by the woods. Her angel was comforting us I dont care what a skeptic tells me, there is more to this world than just us humans! I saw an angel, and when you see an angel its not scary, you feel comforted. Heaven is real. I agree with the folks who said spirits are real. As well as angels and evil forces
The farm I grew up on 40 miles west of Ottawa Canada must have had lots of ghost on it because the only warm spot was 3 to 4 feet from the old Findley Oval cook stove. The coal oil lamp also had a glow of warmth which also would flicker for some unknowen reason. I know now it was ghosts. By the way the almanac was a treasure in the 50s and 60 when growing up Thank you
Not only believe in them i have seen them.
boy is it ever nice to read comments that have common sense,good for you five,my thoughts are exacttly with you guys .
OF COURSE I BELIEVE IN GHOSTS!! AFTER ALL, THERE ARE OTHER WORLDS BESIDES THE ONE WE KNOW AND LIVE IN. HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALSO SPIRITS. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. GHOSTS MOSTLY ARE SCARY, WHEREAS SPIRITS ARE MOSTLY GOOD AND SOMETIMES BAD, IT WOULD BE NICE IF ALL GHOSTS WERE LIKE CASPER. BUT, I DON’T THINK SO. THE KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE USUALLY DRAWS THE SAME KIND OF GHOSTS/SPIRITS. AND, AFTER ALL, IT IS HALLOWEEN TODAY!!!!
Thank you Regina F. I couldn’t have said it any better. I too grew up in a haunted house.
Totally agree with you, Regina. There are many things in this world that are & will remain enexplainable. When we depart this life, I suppose The Good Lord will reveal many of these mysteries ~
Just let us have our fun! I am a believer but don’t push the negative side of it either. We need some fun in this life. Lol.
Scientists cannot explain every single thing that happens on earth. Just like they try to disprove how there is a sixth sense. There is more to the world than we know and science doesent explain it. I grew up in a haunted house.. i witnesses flashing lights in the rooms, babies crying, people laughing and in the middle of the night I would hear footsteps and shadows would linger around in the hallways. Cold spots represent a presence and there is no explanation of how temperatures can drop sooo rapidly in a constant enviroment. This is life, we’re here right now but there is more to the world than just us. Only the lord knows what walks this earth
I live in Oklahoma on an old farmstead. When we moved here we lived n the old home that was built originally and added onto. We added on to it too. Then it burned down and we got a mobile home and put it where the house used to be. The part of the mobile home (livingroom) that is over the place where the oldest part of the house was is always cold. The part not over the old house place isn’t. My bedroom is on the end , like 20 ft from livingroom. It is 20 degrees warmer with one less heater. The mobilehome is built the same from end to end. It doesn’t make sense. The original owner of the farm is buried in a cemetery 3 miles down the road in an unmarked grave. I have tried to find out the exact location in the cemetery so I could put his name on it. Can’t find out where the records are. I think he is upset and might be happy if I could mark his grave. Weird isn’t it.