What Are Orbs In Pictures Paranormal Activity Explainer

Skip navigation!ADVERTISEMENTStory from SpiritWhat’s Actually Going On With That Spooky Photo You TookSara CoughlinAugust 29, 2017, 9:20 PM Photographed by Alexandra Gavillet.It's not easy having an interest in the paranormal while holding firm to the idea that seeing is believing. In theory, ghostly photographs — ones that feature silhouettes of the deceased or levitating orbs — should seal the deal for anyone who's on the fence about the spirit world's existence. Unfortunately, in a field of fakery, paranormal photographs are some of the most easily disproven pieces of evidence of the other side.The thing is, most supernatural photos that turn out to be, well, natural are rarely taken with malicious intent. Most of the time, when an orb shows up in photo, it's due to dust, dirt, or even bugs that the would-be ghost hunter disturbed the moment they snapped their pic.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENTYou may wonder how dust can make that much of impact on a photograph, but think about the types of places ghosts are believed to call home. More often than not, haunted places are old or abandoned buildings, if not actual graveyards. It'd be a little scary if these locations weren't on the dustier side.Beyond the shabby upkeep of so-called haunted sites are the mind games they can play on people who already believe in ghosts. A 2014 study suggested that "ghost encounters" tend to occur when people already expect to see something supernatural. In other words, if you visit an abandoned hospital hoping to witness some paranormal activity, you're more likely to believe you saw (or, for our purposes here, photographed) something truly not-of-this-world.None of this is to say that you should ignore that creepy feeling you get from your attic. If you want to believe in spirits but crave some kind of proof, there are other, more effective means of ghost detection than photography. Besides, even if you come away from a haunting without anything tangible to show for it, you'll still have a spine-tingling story to share.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT HoroscopesYour Horoscope This Week: December 28 To January 3Dossé-Via Trenou11 hours agoHoroscopesYour 2026 Horoscope Is Here — & It’s Going To Be A Very Pro...2026 is poised to be a highly productive year. Numerologically, 2026 is a number one year, promising a fresh start, which is exactly the kind of energy we by Lisa StardustHoroscopesYour 2026 Money Horoscope Is Here — You’ll Be Thinking Fast...Cosmic beings, 2026 is the money year many of us have been preparing for without even realizing it. In numerology, 2026 adds up to 1, the number of beginniby Dossé-Via TrenouAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTHoroscopesVenus In Capricorn Is Bringing All The Love & RomanceSometimes when we least expect it, love appears. Venus in Capricorn is going to bring a lot of rizz to our hearts, allowing us to elevate our romantic gameby Lisa StardustHoroscopesYour Horoscope This Week: December 21 To 27Welcome to a major transition week, R29 babes. On December 21st, the solstice strikes and Capricorn Season officially begins, marking one of the most powerby Dossé-Via TrenouHoroscopesCapricorn Season Will Tap Into Your Quiet & Calm EnergyRejoice! The last days of 2025 bring the onset of Capricorn season. On December 21st, the sun officially enters Capricorn and it’ll be a potent momenby Lisa StardustHoroscopesWhat Does The Winter Solstice Mean For Your Zodiac Sign?It’s time to put on our warmest scarf because winter is finally here! December 21st marks the onset of a new season and the sun’s entrance into Capby Lisa StardustHoroscopesThe Final New Moon Of 2025 Will Bring A Major Shake UpIn true form, the New Moon in Sagittarius on December 19th is going to be a wild roller coaster of emotions. It’s officially the last new moon of 2025 anby Lisa StardustHoroscopesYour Horoscope This Week: December 14 To 20R29 babes, we’ve made it to the final full week of Sag Season, and the energy shift is major. The highlight of this week is Mars leaving Sagittarius and by Dossé-Via TrenouAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTHoroscopesMars In Capricorn Is The Cosmic Glow Up We’ve Been Waiting ForAfter months of planetary retrogrades, we are finally regaining our energy. For the first time since the start of 2024, Mars is shining boldly in Capricornby Lisa StardustHoroscopesYour Horoscope This Week: December 7 To 13Cosmic beings, how are you feeling after that epic final full moon of the year? You might still be processing all the mental breakthroughs, communication by Dossé-Via TrenouADVERTISEMENT