- 2 hours ago
Witness the longest rain lasting for 3 years and other rare natural occurrences that have experts scratching their heads in disbelief. These astonishing events will leave you in awe of the power and mystery of nature.
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:01It may seem that today, with our quite advanced technological development, science can explain pretty much any natural phenomenon.
00:09But that's not always true. Some things still stump experts and make them build exotic theories.
00:16Let's have a look at some of such phenomena.
00:21Hestalen lights are a puzzling phenomenon you can observe in Hestalen Valley in central Norway.
00:27The thing is that some highly unusual lights can often be seen over the valley.
00:33They appear mostly at night. The lights are typically white, but they occasionally turn yellowish or reddish.
00:39Nobody knows what makes them change color. What's more, the lights can move.
00:46And if at one moment they seem to motionlessly hang in mid-air, the next minute they may travel somewhere
00:53at lightning speed.
00:54There's no certain place where they appear, and you can't predict the duration of their stay.
01:00Despite all the research that has been done since the 1980s, scientists are still unable to explain this phenomenon as
01:07well as such weird behavior of lights.
01:13The sardine run lasts from May to July.
01:17During this time, millions of sardines swim northward along South Africa's east coast.
01:24You can probably imagine a feeding frenzy that starts at that time.
01:28It's believed that the water temperature must get lower than 70 degrees a file for the migration to begin.
01:37This mushroom with a difficult name, Choreoactis geester, is only found in Japan and Texas, and it makes scientists extremely
01:46confused.
01:47Why these two locations?
01:49It's true that they're on the same latitude, but these places are definitely not the only ones.
01:55Plus, they're so far away from each other.
02:00After studying the mushroom's DNA in 2004, experts suggested that the two populations might have been separated into two lineages
02:09around 19 million years ago.
02:15On Central Flores Island, there's a 3,000-foot-high volcano called Kelamutu.
02:21At its base, there is a small town.
02:24If you want to see the main attraction of the area, you'll most definitely stay there.
02:29And the attraction I'm talking about is three lakes.
02:42Why are these lakes so popular and attract so many people?
02:48They inexplicably change colors.
02:51Ancient legends claim that the lakes are the final resting place of human souls,
02:57and those souls stay in different lakes according to their actions.
03:03As for scientific research, no one has yet conducted any to discover the cause of the changing colors.
03:11But theorists suppose that it might be due to underwater volcanic activity.
03:17It might be pushing minerals to the lake's surface.
03:21Then, depending on what elements those are, the lakes can turn blood red, bright turquoise, or olive green.
03:31But the coolest thing?
03:33The lakes are never all the same color at the same time.
03:37This phenomenon is unique and hasn't been observed anywhere else in the world.
03:45Those who have ever heard an annoying noise a kettle makes to inform you the water inside is boiling
03:51can imagine what the whistle sounds like.
03:53Even though this noise isn't as blood-curdling as some other unexplained sounds,
03:58it doesn't make the whistle any less mysterious.
04:01It's incredibly elusive.
04:03In 1997, only one underwater microphone was able to pick it up.
04:09At that time, researchers didn't manage to pinpoint the source of the noise.
04:14The most likely cause of the unusual sound is an eruption of one of the submarine volcanoes.
04:20But once again, there's not enough proof to make sure.
04:27There's probably no person on Earth who doesn't marvel at the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle.
04:33But not everyone knows that there is another triangle.
04:37Not so famous, but just as dangerous.
04:41Dragon's Triangle, or the Devil's Sea, lies in the area between Japan and the islands of Bonin.
04:51It covers a big part of the Philippine Sea as well.
04:54That's why people also call this place the Pacific Bermuda Triangle.
05:00Surprisingly, or not really,
05:03the Devil's Sea is situated exactly opposite the Bermuda Triangle.
05:09Ships and planes tend to disappear here with the same regularity as in the North Atlantic Triangle.
05:15People also report seeing ghost ships in the open sea.
05:21And while scientists provide logical reasons for the vanishing vessels and aircraft,
05:26most people still believe in the paranormal nature of Dragon's Triangle.
05:32For the first time, a bizarre sound later called the upsweep was registered in 1991 in the Pacific Ocean.
05:41One of the most unusual things about the sound is that it's constantly changing.
05:47It varies from high to low frequencies, and then back again.
05:52You can hear it better in the spring and fall than in the winter and summer.
05:56The sound travels from the bottom of the ocean toward its surface.
06:03Scientists do have a theory explaining this phenomenon.
06:06They think it might be the activity of undersea volcanoes that causes the sound.
06:12Hot lava that's pouring into the ice-cold ocean water can theoretically produce such noise.
06:19But researchers haven't found any evidence to confirm this theory yet.
06:27On the thin Curonian spit splitting the Baltic Sea from the Curonian Lagoon,
06:32there is one of the most bizarre places on Earth.
06:36Locals call this area the Dancing Forest because pine trees in this forest have shockingly unusual shapes.
06:44They twist in spirals and circles along the ground.
06:48There are some theories why it could be happening, of course.
06:51Some people claim that huge amounts of positive and negative energies once clashed in that spot.
06:57More down-to-earth individuals believe that the reason is geological.
07:02Sandy soil in the area is too unstable to hold trees growing upright.
07:07The most popular is the idea that strong winds blowing from the water influence the shape of the trees.
07:14In any case, experts haven't come to the final conclusion yet.
07:22Potomsky Crater is described as a mount with a perfect shape.
07:27Its size is more than that of a 25-story building.
07:30It sits in the middle of the woods with its top chopped off and presents quite a sight.
07:37In fact, the shape of the crater is pretty unusual.
07:40It has a rounded inner dome that is about 40 feet high.
07:45At first sight, this formation looks like a volcano.
07:48But after a closer examination, you might realize that it's not the case.
07:54The dome in the center of the cone is extremely unusual for a volcano.
08:00In addition, there haven't been any volcanoes in this region for millions of years,
08:05while the age of the crater is estimated to be about 250 years.
08:12The weird shape that the crater has is like nothing scientists have ever seen.
08:18This, as well as the fact that any theory fails to explain the origin of the formation,
08:23adds to the mystery around it.
08:27And that's not the most terrifying thing.
08:29After researchers analyzed the growth rings of the trees near the crater,
08:34they found out that the trees experienced a period of strangely accelerated growth
08:40that lasted for 40 years.
08:43After that, they began to grow as they were supposed to.
08:46The level of radiation near the crater is also higher than in the nearby areas.
08:51No one has an explanation for this fact.
08:56On top of that, nothing grows on the blood-chilling formation.
09:01Perhaps because the crater also has a lovely habit of constant shifting.
09:06It rises and falls, influenced by some inexplicable force.
09:12Locals believe in the evil that dwells in that place.
09:18While exploring the Amazon rainforest,
09:21researchers discovered gigantic geoglyphs.
09:25Their geometrical drawings carved into the ground.
09:30The trenches were as large as 36 feet wide and 13 feet deep.
09:35They were created at different times,
09:38most between the 1st to the 15th century.
09:42There are more than 450 geoglyphs in the north of Bolivia and Brazil.
09:48The most ancient of them could have been created around 3,000 years ago.
09:55The huge earthworks were likely used for common meetings and discussions.
10:01But scientists haven't found enough proof yet.
10:06Now, have you ever wondered about the longest time it rained non-stop?
10:10Even an hour of rain could be a big deal if you're hanging out in a dry spot like the
10:15Atacama Desert in South America.
10:17It can set a record for that place.
10:19But in super rainy spots, like the Amazon rainforest,
10:23having 40 days of rain in a row might not even turn heads.
10:27Interestingly, we only have rainfall records where people live and keep track.
10:31Many towns and cities skip the whole rain data collection thing.
10:36Plus, there are so many places on earth where nobody lives,
10:39like rainforests or the open ocean.
10:42So our rainfall knowledge is a bit patchy.
10:45Now, if we were to talk about records, Hawaii has a couple.
10:49People there have some seriously long rainy days,
10:52especially on islands where winds come from the mountains.
10:55From 1939 to 40, they recorded 331 days in a row with measurable rainfall.
11:02If you're a person who likes to watch the rain at home with a cup of tea,
11:06this might sound ideal to you.
11:08But we need to see the sun at least occasionally.
11:12Getting some sun is good for your body and soul.
11:15Obviously, you get vitamin D.
11:17Just 5 to 15 minutes of sunlight a few times a week can make a real difference.
11:21And, uh, have you ever heard the phrase sunny disposition?
11:25Researchers found that people feel down when there's not much sun around.
11:29Sunny days make us happier.
11:31Sunshine boosts your serotonin, which fights off bad moods.
11:35That sunny serotonin isn't just for your mood.
11:38It also helps you sleep.
11:40And it's also a heart assistant.
11:42When the sun hits your skin,
11:44your body releases something called nitric oxide,
11:47which chills out your blood pressure.
11:49Healthy blood pressure means a healthier heart.
11:52Now, go tell that to the people who had to go through 881 consecutive days of rain.
11:58Yeah, the record was set almost three full years of rain.
12:02This happened from 1913 to 1916 in Hananumumaki, Hawaii.
12:07It rained like there was no tomorrow,
12:09because the region is a tropical rainforest.
12:12How do clouds make rain?
12:14Well, rain happens when damp air goes up into the sky and gets a bit chilly.
12:19As this air cools down, tiny water vapor molecules huddle up,
12:24forming super small droplets that look like a fluffy cloud team.
12:28Now, inside these clouds, things get playful.
12:31The air moving around can sometimes make these droplets bump into one another and get bigger.
12:36Then they can turn into ice crystals high up in the clouds where it's chilly.
12:40These little ice buddies get heavy enough to take a tumble down,
12:44melting in the rain on the way to the ground.
12:47Now, there isn't just one type of rain.
12:50Raindrops can come from all kinds of storms.
12:53Thunderstorms show up, make a splash, and then they're out.
12:57They can dump a ton of rain in no time.
12:59Other storms, like winter storms, are more laid back.
13:03They stick around for days and dish out gentle rain or even snow if it's cold enough.
13:07Usually, the weather switches between moods.
13:10It's nature's way of balancing things out.
13:13After stormy weather, the sun comes out, the air dries up, and we get to enjoy some clear skies.
13:19But things can get interesting if you're in a place with mountains near the ocean.
13:23When moist air hits the mountains, it's forced to climb over them,
13:28creating rainfall lasting sometimes for weeks.
13:30What if I told you there was a time on Earth when rain fell continuously for 2 million years
13:37and completely reshaped the planet's destiny?
13:40At the end of the Permian era, around 234 million years ago
13:45– I wasn't around then, but I read about it –
13:47the Triassic period began, marked by the onset of an extended period of rainfall.
13:53This phenomenon is now called the Carnian pluvial event.
13:56Well, that's what they decided to call it.
13:59Recent studies, supported by evidence, suggest that it didn't reshape the planet in that sense
14:04and that it was triggered by coal combustion.
14:07The rain wasn't continuous either.
14:09So we just debunked a myth here.
14:12Woohoo!
14:13Next, we have columnar jointing.
14:16This is the fancy term for groove patterns that form in lava flows, sills, dikes, and other rocky stuff.
14:23These lava creations come in all shapes and sizes.
14:26Most are seen as straight, parallel columns.
14:29Some have curves and varying widths.
14:32They can be as high as 1,181 inches.
14:36I'll save you the map.
14:37It's roughly 98 feet.
14:41The columns are formed by pressure and the cooling process.
14:45As lava becomes cooler, it shrinks and forms cracks.
14:49Once a crack starts, the lava moves around.
14:52These cracks expand to the surface of the flow.
14:55Water sneaks into the cooling lava, making it chill down fast starting from the surface, leaving its mark in those
15:01patterns.
15:03Devil's Postpile in California is a must-visit place if you want to see columnar jointing.
15:08But hey, they're found all around the world.
15:12Let's raise our heads to the sky to see something magical.
15:15Fire rainbows, also known as circumhorizontal arcs, look like flames dancing above the clouds.
15:22To see these eye-catching arcs, you need a special cloud type called cirrus clouds and the sun at least
15:2858 degrees high in the sky.
15:30It's a VIP collaboration between sunlight and clouds.
15:34Let's break it down further.
15:36Take London, for instance.
15:37It's around 51 degrees north.
15:40Now, sorry Londoners, no fire rainbows for you.
15:45Now we move to deep waters to see underwater crop circles.
15:49These are giant circular patterns found in 1995 near the shores of southern Japan.
15:55Locals were baffled.
15:56They dubbed them mystery circles, as if the ocean had a secret talent for sand art.
16:02The mystery was solved in 2011.
16:04The unlikely artist turned out to be a tiny pufferfish, just 5 inches long.
16:10The researchers found out that males were on a mission,
16:13spending a solid 7 to 9 days building their circles by swimming in and out
16:18and using their fins to carve valleys into the sandy floor.
16:21They decorate the peaks of their creations with bits of shells and corals,
16:25turning their sandy canvases into masterpieces.
16:29Okay, they don't do it for the sake of art.
16:31The curious circles have a purpose.
16:34The sandy center of the circle serves as a nest.
16:37Male swimming moves mix things up, getting sand particles just where they need to be.
16:43When a lady pufferfish swims by, the male twirls and dances, swirling sand around.
16:48If she is impressed and thinks he is the one,
16:52she lays her eggs in the sandy heart of the circle.
16:55There you go!
16:56Another happy ending!
16:58Now let's look at frost flowers.
17:01You might have seen thin sheets of ice that look like delicate petals
17:04and sometimes pop up from the stems of plants.
17:07The ice is about as thick as a credit card.
17:10It forms when the weather is cold outside.
17:13The soil is damp but not frozen, as well as plant stems.
17:17Not all plants produce these frost flowers, and the conditions must be just right.
17:22Here's how it happens.
17:24The water inside a plant stem gets pulled up from the ground.
17:28When it freezes, it expands and cracks the stem vertically.
17:32As it hits the chilly air, it turns into ice.
17:34As more water gets pulled up through the crack, it keeps pushing out super thin layers of ice.
17:40Whether a frost flower looks like a narrow ribbon or a wider one depends on the length of the crack.
17:46And the way it curls and shapes itself into these petals is random,
17:50or the reason might lie in the difference in friction along the sides of the crack.
17:54These frost flowers are unique and delicate, and they don't last long.
17:59They melt or just disappear quickly.
18:01To spot them, keep an eye out for tall grass, especially in places that don't get mowed much.
18:07Pay attention to purple ironweed, blackberries, and wing stems.
Comments