Orbs are one of the most familiar visual anomalies in paranormal investigation, and they're also one of the most misunderstood. For many people, especially during the rise of early night-vision camcorders in the 2000s, these small floating spheres of light were taken as clear evidence of spirits beginning to manifest. Today, we have a much better understanding of what causes orbs, how cameras create them, and why they remain such a persistent part of ghost hunting culture.

Orbs typically appear as round, glowing shapes in photographs or video. They might be bright white, translucent, or tinged with colour. On video, they often drift across the frame or flicker briefly before disappearing. In some cases, investigators report spotting multiple orbs at once, giving the impression that something unusual is moving through the space.36It's easy to see why people once linked these shapes to spiritual activity. They can look purposeful, they often appear...