Hello and welcome back to AfterWyrd, the place where we dive into all the weirdness that didn't quite fit into the main show. It's been a busy week, with one of us even attending a UFO conference, but before we get into that, let's talk about the weird news that’s got the Wyrdos talking.
We started with a confession, as one of us revealed we've been giving out the wrong social media handle for the last two years. Turns out there's another "Wyrd Wessex" on Instagram, which led to a few awkward mix-ups, including confusing the artist of the "Warminster Thing" mural. But as one of the hosts pointed out, this is all just a part of immersing ourselves in the weird.
A Familiar Face: Big Cats in the Midlands
For a while, it seemed the UK’s most elusive cryptid had gone to ground, but a recent spike in sightings in Worcestershire proves that the big cats are still out there. The latest report comes from a train driver who had a brief but terrifying encounter with a large black panther as it crossed the tracks ahead of him between the M5 and Bromsgrove. The anonymous driver described the creature as having a long, low-sweeping tail and being "definitely feline in shape and movement."
While one of us expressed our hesitation about anonymous reports, the sheer number of recent sightings in the area—including from a family by a canal in Droitwich and a separate observer in Pershore—suggests something is going on. We also learned that big cat expert Rick Minter is investigating, which only adds to the mystery. As one of the hosts, we can't help but wonder if our fascination with these animals is clouding our judgement. But as we said on the show, if we ever saw one, we definitely wouldn't shut up about it!
A Trio of Cosmic Tales
Next up, we abandoned Earth and went straight for the cosmos, because the universe is proving to be a lot stranger than we once thought.
First, a story from Earth.com revealed that astronomers have discovered an interstellar tunnel that connects our solar system to distant stars. This channel of hot, low-density plasma stretches out from our "local hot bubble" towards constellations like Centaurus. Our immediate thought? This could be a natural highway for UAPs to get here. While we don't know for sure, it's an exciting prospect that the universe is far more interconnected than we previously imagined.
Next, a NASA scientist named Dr. David Grinspoon is suggesting that the dwarf planet Ceres could have life-supporting seas. Dr. Grinspoon believes there may be liquid water inside the planet. The evidence? A bright salt deposit found in one of its craters, which is a sign that water was once there. This kind of research proves that even planets we once thought were "dead" are still full of surprises.
Was It a UFO, the Devil, or... Ball Lightning?
Finally, we tackled a story that fits squarely into the intersection of science and the paranormal: ball lightning. A couple in Canada were watching a storm when a bolt of lightning created a glowing orb that eerily hovered over their home. It floated for 23 seconds before disappearing with a "pop." While some might assume this was a UFO, the couple's sighting is a perfect example of the mysterious ball lightning phenomenon.
While scientists still have no widely accepted explanation for it, ball lightning has been described for centuries, often being blamed on demons or wizards. In fact, strange glowing orbs were often explained as "willow the wisps." During a church service in Woodcombe, a ball of fire reportedly entered the church. During the Siege of Leningrad, soldiers reported seeing strange glowing orbs that moved erratically. The fact that a natural phenomenon can still baffle experts and be confused with something supernatural just goes to show you that there's always something new to learn.
On that note, we hope you've enjoyed this AfterWyrd roundup. Be sure to check out the full episode where we also talk about the "Paul-ception" of our guests and why you should don't blame the owls.