It wasn’t an earthquake, and no, the Swiss Air Force didn’t forget to turn off the afterburners - that mysterious boom over eastern Vaud last Wednesday was, in fact, out of this world.
Around 4pm, a meteorite streaking across the sky at more than 200 times the speed of sound rattled windows and nerves alike.
Many did think it was the sound of a fighter jet – but that was denied by the air force.
The mystery was cracked not by NASA, but by a curious teacher from Leysin, Jean-Daniel Champagnac, who checked local seismographs and spotted the telltale signs of a celestial visitor.
Scientists say the space rock zoomed from Lake Geneva toward Interlaken at 75 km per second, dropping from 50 km high to only 5 before exploding.
Geneva is less attractive for businesses
Transport plan angers Geneva
Federal judges clear Sunday opening for Christmas
Vigilante pedo hunters sentenced
Petition for cycle lane on Mont-Blanc Bridge
Catfish develops taste for ducks
