NOT THUNDER

Quakes Caused Wisconsin Booms

Authorities had been flummoxed since Sunday.

Wisconsinites can rest easy tonight knowing that aliens aren’t behind the mysterious booms that have been rocking the state since Sunday. Geologists said a “swarm of microquakes” was likely behind the disturbances in Clintonville, Wis., which residents have described as sounding like thunder or fireworks and others half-joking that extraterrestrials were invading the town. Earlier in the week, quakes were ruled out as a possible cause since the state doesn’t lie on any fault lines. Some are still questioning that an earthquake caused the loud booms, since they’re not usually associated with earthquakes. A geologist explained that the soil and granite beneath Clintonville is different from most other earthquake-prone regions, which could account for the noises.