UNSOLVED PUZZLES

10 baffling natural phenomena we still don't fully understand

Published on January 24, 2025

Credit: Stormseeker

We have certainly come a long way since the first humans began wondering about the nature of the universe. But even with significant technological and scientific progress behind us, some phenomena remain elusive, even to experts. These unsolved mysteries continue to baffle researchers, often hinting at how much we still have to learn about the universe. So, jump aboard and join us on this journey through some of nature’s most intriguing mysteries, from dark matter to the reasons behind why we yawn!

Where is all the matter in the universe?

Credit: arnaud girault

You might think this is a rather dumb question, but its answer is something that keeps many scientists awake at night. The fact is that, according to the best calculations, the universe is missing a lot of mass. And by a lot, we mean A LOT—up to 85% of the total mass we can estimate from gravitational effects is nowhere to be found.

This has led scientists to posit the existence of an invisible form of mass that could account for many otherwise unexplained cosmic phenomena (such as the acceleration of the universe’s expansion), fittingly called "dark matter." Undetectable by most conventional means, recent experiments have allowed scientists to explore this mystery further. Some speculate that dark matter could consist of a new type of subatomic particle or even millions of minuscule primordial black holes.

Mysteries of the night

Credit: Jr Korpa

Dreaming seems like such a natural and commonplace phenomenon that we rarely question why we do it. The nature of dreams has fascinated humans since ancient times, with beliefs about their causes varying widely across cultures and centuries. But despite recent advancements in neuroscience and related studies of the human brain during sleep, both the purpose and precise origin of dreams remain unknown.

So far, we only know with certainty that dreams primarily occur during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. During this stage, brain activity is surprisingly high, resembling a state of wakefulness. Some theories propose that dreams help process emotions, solve problems, or even simulate threats, but their true function remains one of neuroscience's greatest mysteries.

Great balls of fire

Credit: Amos

Sometimes, during thunderstorms, people have observed a baffling phenomenon: ball lightning. These are luminescent, spherical objects that seem to fly erratically over the ground, only to suddenly disappear without a trace. This rare and elusive weather phenomenon has been reported since the 19th century, and it has been suggested as the origin of many ancient myths and legends.

While scientists have yet to determine its exact origin, there have been advances in experimentally reproducing the phenomenon through various methods. Hypotheses range from the vaporization of silica in the soil by lightning strikes to the disturbing possibility that ball lightning is entirely a product of lightning-induced hallucinations in the observers' minds.

Life beyond Earth

Credit: Lamna The Shark

Are we alone in the universe? So far, the search for extraterrestrial life has not yielded any significant results, though some recent findings have excited scientists about the possibilities. Traces of chemicals often associated with biological processes have been detected in Venus’ upper atmosphere, hinting at the possibility of extraterrestrial microorganisms being present in the planet’s clouds. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Also, there is the still largely unexplained "Wow! Signal," a mysterious radio signal picked up by the Ohio State University's Big Ear radio telescope in August 1977, which some researchers have suggested could be a sign of intelligent life. The signal appeared to come from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, but it has not been detected again since.

The placebo effect

Credit: James Yarema

A very well-documented phenomenon, to the point where it is essential to account for its effects in randomized clinical trials to test the efficacy of various medical treatments, the placebo effect remains largely a mystery to science. How can a sugar pill or an inert saline injection produce real, measurable health benefits instead of doing nothing at all?

Most hypotheses point to psychological mechanisms at play, where the belief in treatment activates the body's natural processes for relieving pain and other symptoms. This "ritual effect" could influence the individual's expectations, preparing them to feel better.

A mysterious explosion

Credit: Dmitrii Shirnin

In 1908, an extremely violent explosion seemingly out of nowhere flattened over 80 million trees in a vast forest area in Siberia. With an estimated force of 3 to 50 megatons (for comparison, a modern nuclear weapon yields just over 1 megaton), the explosion left no distinguishable impact crater, suggesting that it occurred above the ground.

So far, the leading explanation for the event is a meteor airburst—an explosion of a large rocky asteroid entering the atmosphere at an altitude of 3 to 6 miles. Despite the area being very sparsely populated, eyewitness accounts report observing a bluish light moving across the sky before the time of the explosion, supporting the meteor hypothesis. The sudden burst of energy was reportedly so strong that its shockwave knocked people off their feet and broke windows hundreds of miles away.

The origin of life

Credit: Adrian Lange

The origin of life on Earth, known as abiogenesis, remains a mystery. Various theories exist, from life emerging through almost spontaneous chemical reactions in a primordial soup to the idea of panspermia, which suggests that life could have originated elsewhere in the universe and been brought to Earth by meteorites.

The prevailing hypothesis, however, is that life did not originate from a single event but rather through a complex process involving many stages. Connected to this mystery is the question of whether life can exist in forms different from those we know, potentially using elements other than carbon and water.

Saturn’s weirdly geometrical storm

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

Saturn's north pole is home to a giant hexagon-shaped storm, a phenomenon unlike anything else seen in the solar system. This strange phenomenon was first discovered during the Voyager mission in 1981 and was later revisited by the Cassini-Huygens probe in 2006. Curiously, the hexagon seems to change colors over time, exhibiting variations from bluish to golden hues.

Some of the most compelling hypotheses point to complex atmospheric dynamics, such as wind patterns and pressure variations, as potential culprits for the storm’s bafflingly geometric shape. Experimental tests have managed to recreate similar patterns under laboratory conditions, but it remains uncertain whether these processes mirror those observed on Saturn.

Slime from the stars

Credit: Clay Banks

Star jelly is a mysterious, transparent gelatinous substance occasionally found on the ground or on tree branches. Since ancient times, its appearance has been linked to meteor showers and similar celestial phenomena. Theories about its origin vary widely, ranging from unfertilized frog spawn or even frog vomit to different species of slime mold or algae colonies.

However, no scientific consensus has been reached, and its true origin and nature remain unknown. Scientists have yet to conclusively determine where star jelly comes from.

Why do we yawn?

Credit: Miikka Luotio

If this article has got you yawning (we hope not!), you’re encountering one of life’s many unexplained mysteries right under your nose! Yawning is a universal human experience, yet its purpose remains unclear. Various theories suggest that yawning might help cool the brain, increase alertness, or even serve a social function, but no single explanation has been universally accepted.

Curiously, yawning is not limited to humans; it occurs in almost all vertebrate animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and even fish!

IN GOOD SPIRITS

Do You Know The Origin Of These 10 Alcoholic Beverages?

Published on January 24, 2025

Credit: Adam Wilson

You probably know many alcoholic beverages that you enjoy drinking alone or combined in different cocktails, but do you know where their names come from? From whiskey and gin to rum and absinthe, the origins of spirits have fascinating stories to tell. Are you ready to explore them? You will surely learn some curious facts to share at your next party!

Whiskey

Credit: emkanicepic

Whiskey is one of the most consumed alcoholic beverages in the world. It is produced by distilling malt fermented with cereals such as wheat, barley, corn, and rye, and the resulting spirit is subsequently aged in white oak barrels.

In the Middle Ages, alcoholic beverages were classified into two main groups: "aqua ardens" (burning water) and "aqua vitae" (water of life). Whiskey falls into the category of "aqua vitae." The Latin term was translated into Middle Irish as usque beatha, which in turn derived into usquebaugh, pronounced: "wiskyba," giving rise to "whisky" (Scotland) and "whiskey" (Ireland and the United States).

Brandy

Credit: Timothé Durand

The word brandy is an abbreviation of brandywine, an English term dating from the early 17th century. It comes from the Dutch brandewijn, meaning "burnt wine" or "burning wine," referring to the distillation process.

Brandy is made from the distillate of wine or fermented fruit pulp, primarily grape skins. There are different types of brandy. Perhaps one of the best known is cognac, a high-quality wine distillate, named after the city in France where it is produced.

Gin

Credit: John Fornander

Gin is a distilled drink made from juniper berries, among other ingredients. The term gin is an abbreviation of the Old English word genever, which in turn derives from the Dutch jenever and the French genièvre. Moreover, all these words trace back to the Latin word for juniper, juniperus.

This drink emerged among European monks during the Middle Ages as a medicinal liquor. Then, in the 17th century, gin gained popularity in England and transitioned into the modern drink we know and love. Nowadays, gin is used to prepare different cocktails, including Tom Collins, Negroni, and the popular Gin & Tonic.

Rum

Credit: C D-X

The first references to this drink date back to the mid-17th century in Barbados, a small Caribbean island with sugar plantations that was under British rule for several centuries. When rum began to be produced on a large scale in the colonies, the English imported it to Europe and popularized it throughout the continent.

There are many theories about the origin of the word rum. The most accepted one suggests that it comes from the English slang word rumbullion which means "great tumult." This term might have originated in the Devonshire area on the southwest coast of England. From rumbullion, it became known as rum in English, rhum in French, and ron in Spanish.

Vodka

Credit: Deeliver

Vodka is an emblematic drink of Eastern European countries and is used to prepare a multitude of cocktails, including the Martini Vesper, Moscow Mule, White Russian, Cosmopolitan, and Bloody Mary, among others. The word vodka comes from the Russian word voda, which means "water." The ending -ka makes it diminutive, translating to "little water."

Vodka is a distillate that comes from the fermentation of potatoes, wheat, barley, grapes, beets, or any plant rich in starch. Originally, the aim was to obtain a simple, alcoholic liquid composed of ethanol and water, with no pretensions in terms of aroma or flavor. It also needed to have a high alcohol content to cope with the harsh Russian winters. Traditionally it has a graduation around 40º, although there are vodkas that reach 80º and up to 96º. It is hard to believe that it’s simply called water!

Bourbon

Credit: Ryan Parker

This distillate made mainly from corn, was first introduced in the United States in the 18th century. The first known producer was Reverend Elijah Craig, a Baptist minister. Legend has it that the clergyman established the first distillery in Fayette County, Kentucky, with the help of a Southern farmer who provided surplus corn from his harvest.

Although it was born in Fayette, this variety of whiskey was named after another nearby county, Bourbon County, where the spirit began to be produced on a large scale. The names of both Kentucky counties have their origin in the same historical figure: Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat related to the House of Bourbon.

Vermouth

Credit: Giorgio Trovato

The word vermouth comes from the German word wermut, which means "wormwood," one of the main herbs used to make this beverage. This fortified wine, flavored with different botanicals (flowers, herbs, roots, and spices), has been used since ancient times for medicinal purposes. However, the modern version we know today was first introduced in Turin, Italy, in the 18th century.

In the 19th century, vermouth became a global trend thanks to the rise of bars and cocktails, as it was —and still is— an essential ingredient to prepare classic drinks such as Martinis, Negronis, and Manhattans.

Tequila

Credit: Deeliver

Tequila is, without a doubt, a staple of Mexican culture and a famous drink around the world. In ancient times, it was considered a gift from the gods. Today it’s served as an aperitif or combined with other beverages and ingredients to prepare cocktails.

This spirit is produced from the distillation of fermented juice obtained from the heart of a plant known as "blue agave." Its name comes from the Nahuatl word Tekilan, which means "place of the workers."

Absinthe

Credit: alandiaspirits

This popular anise-flavored spirit, made from wormwood oil and other herbs, has a high alcohol concentration. With a bitter taste, absinthe’s color is usually pale green. Its name derives from the Latin absinthium, which in turn comes from the Greek apsínthion, meaning "wormwood."

The use of wormwood to make alcoholic beverages dates back to the 1st century, but it was not until the end of the 18th century, in French-speaking Switzerland, that the drink we know today was created. At the end of the 19th century, absinthe, often called "Green Fairy," was the most popular spirit in Europe, enjoyed by all social classes, especially artists and bohemians. However, years later its consumption was limited because it could cause hallucinations, which gave birth to the term absinthism.

Pisco

Credit: eKokki

Peru and Chile, neighboring South American countries, share many things: the Andes mountain range, common ancestors, customs, and, notably, the debate over the origin of pisco. The true birthplace of this spirit has long been questioned, with both countries claiming it as their own. What we do know is that the name pisco may derive from the Quechua word Pisku, meaning "bird."

Peruvian and Chilean pisco are different varieties but have in common that they are grape distillations, made similarly to brandy and cognac. Despite the ongoing controversy, no one should miss trying a good pisco sour!