For centuries, the captivating question has persisted: can the mesmerizing aurora borealis, with its spectacular colors, generate audible sounds?

Typically occurring near the Earth's poles due to the interaction of solar particles with gas molecules in the atmosphere, auroras have been an enchanting yet mysterious phenomenon.

Reports of auroras producing sound, although rare, have been largely dismissed by scientists until a groundbreaking 2016 Finnish study finally confirmed their existence, challenging historical skepticism.

This rare auditory facet of the Northern Lights was captured by one of the researchers involved in the study. The sound, emanating from approximately 70 meters (230 feet) above the ground, provided tangible evidence that auroras do produce sounds discernible to the human ear.

The mechanism behind these sounds remains somewhat elusive, as do the specific conditions that facilitate their audibility.

Recent research has delved into this enigmatic phenomenon, reviewing historical reports of auroral sounds to understand how they can be studied and assessing whether these reported sounds are objective, illusory, or fictional.

The debate surrounding auroras making sounds was particularly lively in the early decades of the 20th century. Accounts from settlements in northern latitudes suggested that during intense aurora borealis displays, a faint yet perceptible popping or whooshing sound accompanied the celestial spectacle.

Personal testimonials from the early 1930s, published in The Shetland News, a weekly newspaper in the sub-Arctic Shetland Islands, likened the sound of the Northern Lights to the "rustle of silk" or the "slapping of two planks of wood together."

Similar testimonies emerged from northern Canada and Norway, adding weight to the claims. However, the scientific community remained skeptical, particularly as few Western explorers attested to hearing these elusive sounds.

The credibility of auroral sound reports from this period was intricately tied to altitude measurements of the Northern Lights. The prevailing belief was that only those auroras descending lower into the Earth's atmosphere could produce sounds audible to humans.

However, data from the Second International Polar Year (1932-1933) contradicted this assumption, revealing that auroras occurred most frequently at altitudes above 100 kilometers (62 miles), with rare occurrences below 80 kilometers (50 miles). This challenged the notion that recognizable sounds emitted by the lights could reach the Earth's surface.

Prominent physicists and meteorologists, including Sir Oliver Lodge and George Clark Simpson, expressed skepticism, attributing the perceived sounds to folklore or auditory illusions.

Lodge, a British physicist involved in radio technology development, suggested that the vividness of the aurora borealis could induce a psychological phenomenon, akin to the whooshing sounds sometimes experienced when witnessing meteors.

Simpson, a meteorologist, proposed that low-altitude auroras might be optical illusions caused by interference from low-altitude clouds.

Despite historical skepticism, recent research has reignited interest in the possibility of auroras producing audible phenomena. The study of these celestial symphonies seeks to unravel the mystery behind auroral sounds, challenging preconceived notions and offering new perspectives on the enigmatic connection between the Northern Lights and auditory experiences.

As the allure of auroras making sounds gains renewed attention, contemporary research aims to unravel the complexities of this celestial symphony. By revisiting historical accounts and delving into the scientific discourse surrounding auroral sounds, recent investigations bring fresh insights.