Friday, September 25, 2026

Question: A mysterious glow called the Paulding Light has appeared almost nightly in a valley near Paulding, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, since the 1960s, long tied to a ghostly legend. When Michigan Tech students investigated it in 2010, what everyday source did they conclude was behind the light?

Answer: Car headlights. Michigan Technological University students observed the light through a telescope and traced it to vehicles traveling on U.S. 45, roughly 4.5 miles away. They said atmospheric conditions may help distort the headlights or make them visible over that distance. Local legend attributes the light to the lantern of a dead railroad brakeman.