In this follow-up to our last episode about the Brown Mountain Lights, we’re joined by physicist and astronomer Dr. Dan Caton—professor at Appalachian State University and one of the most dedicated researchers of the elusive lights. For over a decade, Dr. Caton has studied the phenomenon from the vantage point of science, deploying cameras and observatories in search of a rational explanation.

In this episode, we dive deep into his findings, the enduring mysteries that remain, and how science and folklore intertwine in the shadow of Brown Mountain. Could this be geophysical activity? Plasma? Or something not yet understood? And why do the legends persist?

Join us as we walk the tightrope between myth and science in the heart of Western North Carolina’s most enduring mystery.