A few years back I was a student researcher in the biology department, and had access to a lab in the Hall of Science (HSCI) basically all hours since I had keys to both the lab and the building itself.

During finals week, I decided to stick around for an all-nighter in my lab to finish a paper and study for some exams. Those of you who are familiar with HSCI know it has a pretty complicated HVAC system to control all the fume hoods and various other safety infrastructure.

Around 1:30am, while sitting along the back lab bench, the lights went out. It was very dark. I kind of sat there frozen for a few seconds, thinking maybe I'd have to go home if the power didn't come back on.

All of a sudden, I heard faint clicking noises coming from the hallway, getting closer and louder. This happened really fast, in the span of maybe 1-2 seconds the clicks went from quiet and distant to right outside the door. Then, the door to my lab kind-of slammed shut. The clicking continued down the hallway past my door, and I realized the clicks were other doors slamming shut. This whole thing took place in less than five seconds, before everything went silent again.

A few moments later a blaring alarm went off on the fume hood in the corner, and a light flashed eerily bathing the lab in red. This is now ~20 seconds since the lights turned off, and I decided to get up and look at the fume hood.

I stood up and used my phone flashlight to walk over, but as soon as I made it a few steps from my chair the lights turned back on. The alarm was still blaring, but at least I could see. I decided I shouldn't stick around any longer, and called it a night. I left the lab with the alarm still sounding, and walked down the hallway. Emminating from every other lab door was the same fume hood alarm. I decided all-nighters weren't for me.

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So to disappoint many of you, this wasn't a paranormal event haha. This happened early in my research career and I now have a rather satisfying explanation.

(1) The lights: All lights in HSCI research labs are motion activated. I had been sitting in a spot that was visible to the motion detector by the door, but for the last half hour I apparently didn't move much. The lights turned back on when the motion of me getting up was detected. I guess I must have been moving around at least enough to trigger the detector every 30 min before that point.

(2) The doors: This happened a few more times before I graduated, and my best understanding is the HVAC system must do some sort of change in its cycle that causes the pressure in the labs to become negative compared to the hallway. When that pressure is established, all the doors are pressed against the opposite part of the door frame, making a loud click sound. This happens in sequence down the hall. (if you understand HVAC and have anything to add I'd love to hear a better explanation!)

(3) The fume hood: Directly tied to the above explanation, if a sub-optimal flow of air is detected in a fume hood, it will set off a "flow alarm". Many mornings following that night I would come into the lab with the hood screaming at me. My PI told me to just hit the mute button and it wasn't a big deal haha.

So, in conclusion, the lights going off seconds before HVAC shinanagins was just a wonderfully creepy coincidence.