Researchers of paranormal phenomena assert that clocks are highly sensitive to various forms of radiation, often malfunctioning or stopping entirely in certain areas. For instance, in the Pokaini Forest of Latvia—an anomalous zone known for its glowing air and heated stones—timepieces, whether wristwatches or laboratory instruments, frequently fail. One hypothesis by researcher Anita Biseniece suggests that anomalies occur in regions where time itself becomes uneven—either speeding up or slowing down. This could explain why many tourists lose their way, experiencing fear and stress, which are known to alter subjective perceptions of time.
Another theory, proposed by researcher Yevgeny Sidorov, posits that strong electromagnetic energy in the earth creates fields that interfere with clock mechanisms. In Mexico’s Zone of Silence—a desert area on the borders of Durango, Chihuahua, and Coahuila states—similar phenomena occur. Televisions and radios cease to function, compasses spin erratically, and clocks stop altogether.
On the island of Sicily, many residents complain of their clocks gaining ten minutes daily, disrupting routines and causing technical malfunctions in various systems, including banking networks. Some speculate alien bases emitting strong magnetic waves beneath the sea, while others blame amateur radio experiments or volcanic activity from Mount Etna. Despite many theories, science offers no definitive explanation.
Clocks Stop at the Moment of Death
This phenomenon has captured the attention of forensic scientists. If a person’s watch stops at the moment of death, it is often noted in official reports. Sometimes, all clocks in a house stop simultaneously upon a person’s passing. Coincidence or an unknown law? Nobody can say for sure, but stories of this occurrence have been passed down through generations.
Here are a few examples:
- One man recounted his father’s sudden passing. At the moment of death, all the clocks in their house stopped at precisely six o’clock. They resumed working only after being manually restarted. A clergyman from a nearby cathedral, called to read prayers over the deceased, calmly remarked that such occurrences were not uncommon.
- In 1887, George Fry in Pennsylvania noted his brother Gideon’s clock had stopped at 9:45 PM. Later, he learned Gideon had passed away at exactly that time.
- In Washington, Judge Jerry Wilson’s antique clock stopped at 2:10 AM—the same moment a close friend who gifted him the clock passed away unexpectedly.
At England’s Hampton Court Palace, the resident clock famously halts upon the death of its owner—a tradition noted since 1619 when Queen Anne passed away.
Clocks Resuming Movement
There are also stories of stopped clocks beginning to work again. A farmer’s heirloom clock in Missouri, idle for years, mysteriously restarted on the same day his son was killed in action during World War II.
A Modern Tale
A Ukrainian nurse for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Oksana Balynska, shared a recent account. She gifted her cousin Alla a watch given to her by Gaddafi. One evening, Alla noticed the watch had stopped at 11:15 PM. Hours later, news broke of Gaddafi’s death. This chilling coincidence left both women unsettled.
The mysteries of clocks—whether halting at death, malfunctioning in anomalous zones, or reviving after long dormancy—continue to intrigue and baffle, suggesting a deeper connection between timepieces and human life.
