One of the tests that PRISM conducted was to see what dust looked like on infrared video. We shook a dirty ball cap in front of one of our infrared video cameras, and here is the result...

Dust does look amazingly similar to spirit orbs, but there are a few important differences between the two. For the most part, dust "orbs" are translucent and travel in expected trajectories. Dust is usually affected by gravity and travels along with any air current present in a location.

Note: Looped video clip taken from an infrared video surveillance camera.

* Infrared Video: David Rodriguez

COBWEBS

Cobwebs, when hit with a camera's flash, can sometimes appear to be a vortex or some other paranoraml anomaly.

PRISM investigator Carl N. captured this photo of a cobweb in a basement during one of our residential investigations.

* Photo: Carl N. (Digital Camera)

CONDENSATION

Heavy humidity and rain also appear very similar to spirit orbs on film.

PRISM lead investigator David Rodriguez took this photo of a friend, Sergio Becerras, in front of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. At the time this photo was taken there was a light mist of rain falling. When David looked at the picture, he couldn't believe how much the light rain looked like spirit orbs. The only real giveaway in this photo is that it was taken outside and the fact that the floor appears to be wet.

* Photo: David R. (Canon PowerShot SD100 Digital Camera)

MOVING OBJECTS

Moving objects can sometimes be a false positive. When something moves in a room, and it is captured on video, the event first needs to be debunked. One must first try to figure out if there is a logical explanation for what occurred.

In this clip, it appears as if a chair moves on its own. In all actuality, one of our investigators was sitting on the floor, out of the camera's view, and accidentaly moved the chair twice.

Note: Looped video clip taken from an infrared video surveillance camera.

* Watch the video here (Windows Media, 9.8MB)
* Watch the video here (RealPlayer, 1.8MB)

* Infrared Video: David Rodriguez

REFLECTIONS

Some reflections can appear to be a ghostly apparition.

This photo taken during an investigation of the First Unitarian Church of Omaha, of PRISM investigator Jada M., captured what looks like the ghostly torso of a woman behind her. This anomaly was created by the reflection of the camera flash on the foil poster hanging on the wall.

* Photo: David R. (Canon PowerShot SD100 Digital Camera)

FLASH

This photo was taken during an investigation of Hummel Park (Omaha, Nebraska) in an area where a teenage boy was found murdered in 1992. What at first glance seems to be paranormal in nature is really just a tree branch being over-illuminated by the camera's flash.

* Photo: Dan C. (Digital Camera)

BLURRY PHOTOS

This photo was taken during an investigation of Hummel Park located in Omaha, Nebraska. What appears to be an apparition of a ghostly figure, upon review, ends up just being a blurry photo of PRISM investigator and interviewer Josie R. investigating the Devil's Den area of the park.

Note: The photo on the left is the original photo in question. The photo on the right is a photo taken on the same night of PRISM investigator Josie R..

* Photo on left: Anney H. (Digital Camera)
* Photo on right: David R. (Sony DSC-V3 Digital Camera)

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