New research explains phantom lighthouse illusion seen off Lady Elliot Island
Scientists have published new findings explaining why visitors to Lady Elliot Island in Australia frequently see a third, nonexistent lighthouse at night.
Two real towers exist on the reef
Lady Elliot Island hosts two actual lighthouses located at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. The first structure was built in 1873 and remained active until it was decommissioned in 1995. A second tower took over the duty of warning ships away from the dangerous reef waters.
Visitors report a third beam at night
Tourists visiting the island regularly claim to see signs of a third lighthouse shining on the horizon. This phantom light appears as rotating beams far out at sea when people stand away from the real towers. The phenomenon is well documented and even appears in local tourist guides for the location.
Brain expectations create the visual error
Researchers traveled to the site to investigate the cause of this specific optical illusion. They recreated the scenario inside a virtual reality environment to understand how the effect works. The study suggests the brain adds expectations to sensory evidence and arrives at an incorrect result.
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