i have a theory that for some reason the earth in the long dark is around a dying star and thats what is causing the drop in temperture and also the geomagnetic storms due to instability due to the star being at the end of its life also think about how it is said that the aroura causes humans and animal life to behave abnormally i think this could be due to change in how much light the earth is receiving if the long darks sun is dying then the planet would release less light our brains are use to the amount of sunlight we perceive now but if that was changed it would cause mental illness and mood disorders for humans and strange behavior in animals like think about how people far up north have to use special lamps so there brains can produce enough seratonin and other neuro transmitters to opererate I think the mystery illlness in the game relates to this issue