As children, we are all amazed at blue skies, white clouds, and bright stars. With age, this goes away for many, and we stop noticing nature. Check out this list of unusual natural phenomena, for sure it will make you once again surprised by the complex organization of our world, and natural phenomena in particular.
20. Lunar rainbow.
A moonbow (also known as a nightbow) is a rainbow spawned by the moon. The lunar rainbow is comparatively paler than the usual one. The lunar rainbow is best seen when full moon, or in the phase of the moon close to the full, since at this time the moon is at its brightest. For a lunar rainbow to appear, other than those caused by a waterfall, the moon must be low in the sky (less than 42 degrees and preferably even lower) and the sky must be dark. And of course it must rain against the moon. A lunar rainbow is much rarer than a rainbow seen in daylight. The lunar rainbow phenomenon is observed in only a few places in the world. Waterfalls in Cumberland Falls, near Williamsburg, Kentucky, USA; Waimea, Hawaii; Zailiysky Alatau in the foothills of Almaty; The Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe are well-known for their frequent sightings of lunar rainbows. Within Yosemite National Park in the United States is a large number of waterfalls. As a result, lunar rainbows are also observed in the park, especially when the water level rises in spring from melting snow. Lunar rainbows are also observed on the Yamal Peninsula in conditions of heavy fog. Probably, with sufficiently strong fog and sufficiently clear weather, a lunar rainbow can be observed at any latitude.
19. Mirages
Despite their prevalence, mirages always evoke an almost mystical sense of wonder. An optical phenomenon in the atmosphere: the reflection of light by the boundary between layers of air that are sharply different in density. For an observer, such a reflection consists in the fact that, together with a distant object (or a section of the sky), its imaginary image, displaced relative to the object, is visible. Mirages are divided into lower ones, visible under the object, upper ones, above the object, and side ones.
18. Halo
Usually halos occur at high humidity or severe frost- Previously, the halo was considered a phenomenon from above, and people expected something unusual. This is an optical phenomenon, a luminous ring around an object - a light source. The halo usually appears around the Sun or Moon, sometimes around other powerful light sources. There are many types of halo, but they are mainly caused by ice crystals in cirrus clouds at an altitude of 5-10 km in the upper troposphere. Sometimes in frosty weather, the halo is formed by crystals very close to earth's surface. In this case, the crystals resemble shining gems.
17. Belt of Venus
An interesting optical phenomenon that occurs when the atmosphere is dusty is an unusual "belt" between the sky and the horizon. Appears as a pink to orange band between the dark night sky below and the blue sky above, appearing before sunrise or after sunset, parallel at 10°-20° to the horizon, opposite the Sun. In the belt of Venus, the atmosphere scatters the light from the setting (or rising) Sun, which looks redder, which is why the color is pink instead of blue.
16. Pearl clouds
Unusually high clouds (about 10-12 km), becoming visible at sunset.
15. Northern lights
The northern or northern lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are truly a stunning sight. This natural phenomenon can most often be observed in late autumn, winter or early spring.
14. Colored Moon
When the atmosphere is dusty, high humidity, or for other reasons, the Moon sometimes looks colored. The red moon is especially unusual.
13. Biconvex clouds
An extremely rare phenomenon that appears mainly before a hurricane. Opened just 30 years ago. Also called Mammatus clouds. clouds that are round and shaped like a biconvex lens - in the past they were sometimes confused with UFOs.
12. The fires of St. Elmo.
A fairly common phenomenon caused by increased tension electric field before a thunderstorm, during a thunderstorm, and immediately after. A discharge in the form of luminous beams or tassels (or a corona discharge) that occurs at the sharp ends of tall objects (towers, masts, lonely trees, sharp peaks of rocks, etc.) The first witnesses of this phenomenon were sailors who observed the fires of St. Elmo on masts and other vertical pointed objects.
11. Fire whirlwinds
The fire whirl is also known as the fire devil or fire tornado. This is a rare phenomenon in which fire, under certain conditions, depending on temperature and air currents, acquires a vertical vorticity. Fire whirlwinds often appear when bushes are burning. Vertically rotating pillars can reach 10 to 65 meters in height, but only for the last few minutes of their existence. And with a certain wind, they can be even higher.
10. Mushroom clouds.
Mushroom clouds are clouds of smoke in the shape of a mushroom, formed as a result of the combination of the smallest particles of water and earth, or as a result of a powerful explosion.
9. Light pillars.
One of the most common types of halo, a visual phenomenon, an optical effect that is a vertical strip of light stretching from the sun during its sunset or sunrise.
8. Diamond dust.
Frozen water droplets that scatter the light of the sun.
7. Fish, frog and other rains.
One of the hypotheses explaining the appearance of such rains is a tornado that sucks out nearby water bodies and carries their contents over long distances.
6. Virga.
Rain that evaporates before reaching the ground. It is observed as a noticeable band of precipitation emerging from the cloud. In North America, it is most commonly seen in the southern United States and the Canadian prairies.
5. Bora.
Hurricane winds with many names. Strong (up to 40-60 m/s) cold wind in some coastal areas where low mountain ranges border the warm sea (for example, on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, on the Black Sea coast near Novorossiysk). Directed down slopes, usually observed in winter.
4. Fire rainbow.
Occurs when the sun's rays pass through high clouds. Unlike an ordinary rainbow, which can be observed almost anywhere in the world, a "fiery rainbow" is visible only in certain latitudes. In Russia, the visibility belt runs along the extreme south.
3. Green beam.
An extremely rare optical phenomenon, a flash of green light at the moment the solar disk disappears behind the horizon (usually sea) or appears from behind the horizon.
2. Ball lightning.
A rare natural phenomenon, a unified physical theory of the occurrence and course of which has not been presented to date. There are about 200 theories explaining the phenomenon, but none of them has received absolute recognition in the academic environment. It is widely believed that ball lightning is a phenomenon of electrical origin, of natural nature, that is, it is a special type of lightning that exists for a long time in the form of a ball, capable of moving along an unpredictable, sometimes very surprising trajectory for eyewitnesses.
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People have always been interested in various mysteries, mysteries and phenomena. It's all about human psychology, which explains the presence of a craving for everything hidden and new. It is difficult to argue that inexplicable phenomena on Earth are of a mystical nature, and scientists are tirelessly engaged in trying to understand the cause of existing phenomena.
Unexplained phenomena in the ocean
The depths of the sea have always attracted people and the oceans have been studied by no more than 10%, so many phenomena are still inexplicable, and people associate them with various mystical manifestations. Mysterious phenomena in the ocean are fixed regularly, so there are whirlpools, huge waves, luminous circles. It is impossible not to mention, called triangles, where people, ships and even planes disappear without a trace.
Whirlpool Maelstrom
In the Norwegian Sea near Vestfjord Bay, a modest whirlpool appears twice a day, but sailors are afraid of it, because it has claimed the lives of a huge number of people. Many inexplicable natural phenomena are described in the literature and the work “The Overthrow into the Maelstrom” was written about the maelstrom whirlpool. It is also noted that once every hundred days the movement of the whirlpool changes. Scientists argue that the danger of the Maelstrom and the stories of people are greatly exaggerated.
michigan triangle
Among the famous mysterious places, not the last place is occupied by the Michigan Triangle, which is located in the north of America on Lake Michigan. It is clear that serious storms and storms can regularly occur on a large body of water, but even scientists cannot explain some disappearances:
- Describing the most inexplicable phenomena, it is worth mentioning the mysterious disappearance of flight 2501. On June 23, 1950, a plane flying from New York disappeared from radar screens. The wreckage of the liner was not found either at the bottom or on the surface of the water. No one was able to determine the cause of the accident, and whether any of the passengers survived.
- Another disappearance that could not be explained occurred in 1938. Captain George Donner went to his room to rest and disappeared. What happened, and where the person went, could not be established.
Glowing circles in the ocean
In different oceans, large rotating and luminous circles periodically appear on the surface of the water, which are called “Buddha wheels” and “devil carousels”. According to reports, for the first time such inexplicable natural phenomena were noticed in 1879. Scientists put forward many hypotheses, but it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the appearance. There is an assumption that circles are formed marine organisms that rise from the bottom. There are versions that this is a manifestation of underwater civilizations and UFOs.
Unexplained atmospheric phenomena
Although science is constantly developing, many natural phenomena still remain inexplicable. Many phenomena continue to amaze the minds of people, for example, various flashes in the sky, incomprehensible movements of stones, drawings on the ground, and so on can be attributed here. Scientists put forward many assumptions that could have provoked the mysteries of nature and other inexplicable phenomena, but so far they remain only versions.
Fireballs Naga
Every year in October, in the northern part of Thailand, fireballs with a diameter of 1 m appear above the surface of the Mekong River. They fly into the air and dissolve after a certain time. People who have observed this phenomenon claim that the number of such balloons can reach up to 800, and during the flight they change color. People explain such mysterious natural phenomena in different ways:
- Local Buddhists claim that Naga (a gigantic seven-headed snake) releases fireballs in honor of his devotion to the Buddha.
- Scientists believe that these are not mysterious natural phenomena, but ordinary emissions of methane and nitrogen that form in the silt. The gas at the bottom of the river explodes, and bubbles form, which rise up, turning into fire. Why this happens only once a year, scientists cannot explain.
The lights of Hessdalen
In Holland, near the city of Trondheim, in the sky of the valley, one can observe a phenomenon inexplicable today - luminous rays that appear in different places. In winter, flashes are brighter and appear more often. Scientists attribute this to the fact that the air is rarefied at this time. Studying incomprehensible phenomena, it was determined that the shape of the luminous formations can be different and the speed of their movement can be different.
Scientists have done a huge amount of research, and what is strange - the lights behaved differently, so sometimes the spectral analysis did not give any results, but there were cases when the radars recorded a double echo. To determine what these inexplicable phenomena are and what nature they have, a special station was created that constantly takes measurements. In one of scientific journals it was hypothesized that the valley is a natural accumulator. The conclusion was made on the basis of the fact that large reserves of chemicals are concentrated in the territory.
black mist
Residents of London periodically cannot move normally around the city, as thick black fog envelops it. Similar inexplicable phenomena on earth were recorded by scientists in 1873 and 1880. It was noted that at that time the mortality rate of the inhabitants increased many times over. For the first time, the indicators increased by 40%, and in 1880 dangerous mixtures with high level sulfur dioxide, which claimed the lives of 12 thousand people. Last time an inexplicable phenomenon was recorded in 1952. It was not possible to determine the exact cause of the phenomenon.
Mysterious phenomena in space
The universe is huge and man is mastering it with leaps and bounds. This fully explains that the most mysterious phenomena occur in space, and many of them are still unknown to mankind. Some phenomena refute many laws of physics and other sciences. Thanks to the use of new technologies, scientists find confirmation or refutation of some phenomena.
Satellite of the Black Knight
Tens of years ago, a satellite was recorded in Earth's orbit, which, due to its external resemblance, was called the "Black Knight". It was first recorded by an amateur astronomer in 1958, and it did not appear on official radars for a long time. US military experts claim that this was due to the fact that the object was covered with a thick layer of graphite that absorbs radio waves. Such mysterious phenomena have always been considered a manifestation of UFOs.
After a while, thanks to ultra-sensitive equipment, the satellite was discovered, and in 1998 the space shuttle took photographs of the Black Knight. There is information that it has been spinning in orbit for about 13 thousand. After careful study, many scientists have concluded that there is no satellite and this is a simple piece of artificial origin. As a result, the legend was dispelled.
Space signal "WOW"
In the state of Delaware, on August 15, 1977, a signal was drawn on a printout of a radio telescope that lasted 37 seconds. As a result, the word “WOW” was obtained, which caused this phenomenon, it was not possible to determine. Scientists have established that the pulses came from the constellation Sagittarius at a frequency of about 1420 MHz, and, as you know, this range is prohibited by international agreement. Mysterious phenomena have been studied all these years, and astronomer Antonio Paris presented a version that the hydrogen clouds surrounding comets are the source of such signals.
tenth planet
Scientists have made a sensational statement - found the tenth planet of the solar system. Many strange phenomena in space, after much research, lead to discoveries, so scientists were able to determine that outside the Kuiper Belt there is a large celestial body that is 10 times more massive than the Earth.
- The new planet moves in a stable orbit, making one revolution around the Sun in 15 thousand years.
- In its parameters, it is similar to such gas giants as Uranus and Neptune. It is believed that it will take about five years to conduct all the research and finally confirm the existence of the tenth planet.
Unexplained phenomena in people's lives
Many can say with confidence that they have encountered various mystics in their lives, for example, some have seen strange shadows, others have heard footsteps, and still others have traveled in other worlds. Unexplained paranormal phenomena are of interest not only to scientists, but also to psychics who claim that this is a manifestation of the inhabitants of other worlds.
Ghosts of the Kremlin
It is believed that the souls of dead people live in ancient houses, who during their lifetime were associated with these buildings. The Moscow Kremlin is a castle that has a turbulent and bloody history. Various assaults, uprisings, fires, all this left their mark on the building and do not forget that there was a torture chamber in one of the towers. People who have ever been in the Kremlin claim that supernatural phenomena are not uncommon here.
- Cleaning ladies are already accustomed to the fact that frightening voices and other noises are heard in empty offices. Situations when objects fall by themselves are considered the norm.
- Describing the famous inexplicable phenomena of the Kremlin, it is worth mentioning the most famous ghost of Ivan the Terrible. Often he walks on the lower tiers of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. It is believed that the ghost of the king appears to warn of some kind of disaster.
- There is evidence that periodically in the inner territory of the Kremlin you can see Vladimir Lenin.
- At night in the Assumption Cathedral you can hear children crying. It is believed that these are the souls of children sacrificed in the temple, which used to be located on this territory.
Black bird of Chernobyl
The tragedy that occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is known in different parts of the world. For a long time, the information associated with it was hidden, but after that, evidence appeared that strange and inexplicable phenomena occurred before this event. For example, there is information that four employees of the station said that a few days before the accident they saw a strange creature with a human body and huge wings flying over it. It was dark and with red eyes.
Workers claim that after this meeting, they began to receive threatening calls, and at night they saw vivid and terrifying nightmares. When the explosion occurred, people who were able to survive after the tragedy claim that they saw how a huge black bird appeared from the smoke. Such inexplicable phenomena on earth are more considered delusions and stressful visions.
Near death experiences
The sensations that people experience before or during death are called near-death experiences. Many people believe that such sensations make a person understand that after earthly life other reincarnations await the soul. Strange phenomena associated with clinical death are interesting not only ordinary people but also scientists. The most typical sensations include the following:
- unpleasant noise;
- a tunnel at the end of which light is visible;
- understanding of one's own death;
- the feeling that the space has changed;
- peace and tranquility;
- meeting with people who have passed away;
- feeling that the soul has left the body;
- fear and desire to return to your body.
Such inexplicable phenomena on earth are not mysticism for scientists. It is believed that when the heart stops, hypoxia occurs, that is, a lack of oxygen. At such moments, a person can see specific. The receptors begin to react sharply to any stimuli and flashes of light may appear before the eyes, which many consider to be the "light at the end of the tunnel." Parapsychologists believe that the similarity of near-death experiences means that there is life after death and this phenomenon needs to be sorted out.
Green sunsets and sunrises
This rare photo is an illustration of a meteorological phenomenon that occurs for a couple of seconds during sunset and sunrise. The conditions for this must be ideal in order for the light to refract in the atmosphere, and the Sun turns green.
Gates to hell, Turkmenistan
From the crater of the Darvaza volcano, also called the "gates to hell", gas enters the Earth's surface. The bright fire has been burning since 1971, the moment it was lit. A similar fire burned in Iraq for 4000 years, which was even mentioned in the Old Testament.
Volcanic thunderstorm
This phenomenon in nature is similar to an ordinary thunderstorm, accompanied by volcanic eruptions. Sounds intimidating, but it's an amazing sight.
Round stones, New Zealand
"Moeraki Boulders" are huge round rock fragments that can be seen on the banks of the Koekohe. Such stones are found in many places in the world, including on the islands of our Arctic.
Eternal Thunderstorm, Venezuela
At the mouth of the Catatumbo River in Venezuela, a rare accumulation of thunderclouds can be observed, which form the phenomenon of the Catatumbo thunderstorm. Here, thunder and lightning can be enjoyed about 180 nights a year, 10 hours a day.
Great Blue Hole, Belize
Huge underwater holes were formed during the ice age, when sea levels were much lower than today, and the seabed was exposed to the elements. Huge holes were created due to erosion, but the holes stopped growing after they were filled with water.
Steam towers, Iceland
The area around Hvevir is extremely active. Ghost towers of steam rise from hot ravines in swamps and on the surface of the earth. In combination with the northern lights, it all looks like the landscapes of an alien planet.
ice caves
Ice caves are structures that form at the edges of a glacier under the influence of water. The cave is washed out with water. A thick layer of multi-year ice contains too little air and does not transmit any light other than blue, which gives the ice its unique hue.
Basalt columns
These columns are so perfect that one can hardly believe that they are not the work of human hands. Millions of years ago, everything here was filled with lava, which eventually cooled down and began to break off, so today we can see this amazing phenomenon.
fiery rainbow
A fiery rainbow can be observed when light is reflected in ice crystals in clouds at high altitude. This phenomenon can be so extensive that it often extends along the entire horizon.
Endless Wave
Pororoca is a wave that runs along the coast of the Amazon for 800 kilometers. Usually it is 3 to 4 meters high. The longest wave of the world comes twice a year, in February or March, when the tides of the Atlantic Ocean reach the mouth of the Amazon. The Brazilian surfer set a record by driving 13 kilometers on his board in 37 minutes.
Butterfly migration, USA and Mexico
Usually monarch butterflies are beautiful, black and orange creatures, but when they begin to migrate, miracles begin to happen in the sky. As temperatures begin to drop in October, the monarchs set out on their journey to Mexico. They have to overcome about 4000 kilometers. Butterflies can cover the trees with a whole layer during their journey.
Mother-of-pearl clouds, Arctic
These unique clouds are very rare, as there is usually not enough moisture in the stratosphere to form clouds. But during extremely cold winters, enough moisture accumulates so that clouds can form at an altitude of about 20 km.
Sardine run, South Africa
Sardines make their move every year from May to July. Billions of fish swim from the cold waters from Cape Point to the east coast of South Africa. Schools of fish are so gigantic that they can be seen from the satellite. Shoals 8 km long, one and a half kilometers wide and 30 meters deep are not uncommon.
Blooming desert, Chile
Every other year, the Atacama Desert blooms. A magnificent transformation can be seen after heavy rains that awaken plant seeds deep under the sand.
Lenticular clouds over mountains
Clouds of this form form when the air is humid in the mountains. Because of their shape, they are often confused with UFOs.
Crab migration, Christmas Island
In October and November, Christmas Island crabs begin their journey to the ocean to mate. For about 18 days, the movement of cars stops on the island, because all the streets are covered with a red carpet of crabs.
Kliluk, Spotted Lake, Canada
When the water rises in this lake, which is located near the Canadian town of Osoyo (British Columbia), the minerals form bizarre round shapes and the lake looks absolutely incredible. Each circle has its own color, which depends on the amount of minerals in the lake.
Underwater circles, Japan
These strange shapes are at the bottom of the sea, not in the fields. They are about 2 meters wide and cover the bottom of the Sea of Japan. Each circle has its own shape. Until recently, the reason for the appearance of these circles was unknown, but, surprisingly, the puffer fish was to blame for everything. Pufferfish males, despite their size (no more than 13 cm), draw such fields to attract females.
Frozen methane bubbles
Methane bubbles result from the decomposition of various organisms at the bottom of a reservoir. Methane rises to the top and freezes below the surface. However, you should not play with matches if such a bubble is opened.
Witch Circles, Namibia
Witch circles are spots on the sandy soil that appear in the pastures of Africa. If you fly from Angola to South Africa, you can observe thousands of such spots with a diameter of up to 9 meters. Scientists believe that this is due to termites that live under the stains and eat the roots of plants.
Luminous waves, Vaadu, Maldives
Phytoplankton, which glows in the dark, gives shine to the waves. The Milky Way along the beach is simply incomparable.
Vymoid clouds
Similar clouds form under ordinary clouds. This rare phenomenon occurs as a result of the mixing of air and clouds with different humidity, heavier clouds hang under lighter ones.
salt lakes
Some lakes are so salty that animals that fall into the water are covered with a layer of lime, freeze and turn into stone.
Wavy clouds
Undulatus asperatus (rumpy clouds) are so rare that they were only classified in 2009. We know little about them, in fact, that they are fascinating.
Horsetail Fall
Horsetail Fall is a seasonal waterfall on the slopes of El Capitan Mountain in Yosemite National Park. And the fiery waterfall is a very rare phenomenon that can be seen only for a few days in February, when the temperature and weather are suitable for this phenomenon. The sun is reflected in the water and you get this glowing orange effect.
Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees, Hawaii
Rainbow eucalyptus trees have their own special color, as if they were painted by an artist in different colors: green, orange, lilac, blue, brown. In fact, the reason is simple: the tree sheds its bark at different times of the year. The parts free from the bark age differently, which causes different colors.
Striped icebergs, Antarctica
The beautiful blue stripes on icebergs occur when a crack in the iceberg fills with water and it has time to freeze without bubbling. The green stripes are made up of algae that stick to the iceberg in the water. Brown, yellow and black stripes are various kinds of deposits "captured" by the iceberg on its way.
Snow colors, Arctic
These unusual flower fields form on a thin layer of ice on the sea when the air in the atmosphere is much colder than the ice on the sea. When warmer and more humid air interacts with cold air, such beautiful crystals are obtained.
Snowy chimneys, Arctic
Moffetts are called vents through which the vapor of the volcano comes to the surface. As soon as the steam leaves the vent, it freezes and forms into similar massive tubes around the vent.
Luminous pillars, Russia
Such pillars can be enjoyed in the extremely cold zones of Russia. They are natural origin, are formed by the light of the moon or the sun. Light reflects off very flat and smooth ice crystals.
Moving stones, Death Valley, USA
These stones, weighing up to 350 kg, move through the dry desert without human or animal intervention.
Whirlpool Maelstrom
These giant whirlpools occur when two sea currents meet. The current is so strong that it can sink small boats, not to mention swimmers. The largest whirlpool is called "Saltstraumen" and is located off the coast of Norway.
ice hair
This strange ice is soft and, as the name implies, looks like hair that grows from plants. The bacterium "Pseudomonas syringae" is the cause of this rare phenomenon. It raises the freezing point of water inside plants and when the water leaves the plant and meets the cold air, such ice hairs are formed.
This is how a person is arranged, that he is always trying to find a logical explanation for any unusual phenomena. In ancient times, every manifestation of nature was often attributed a divine origin, and thus people found an explanation for everything that science could not explain. Sometimes it even reached the point of absurdity - sacrifices were made to fictional gods to make it rain, and those who tried to explain the phenomenon from a scientific point of view risked being burned at the stake.
It would seem that today science has stepped beyond the horizon of the possible, giving answers to the questions of many millennia, but this is not entirely true. The more answers there are, the more questions there are. Moreover, even some long-studied phenomena still cause surprise and inspire fear of the power and unexplored nature.
The fantastic term, coined by the king of horror Stephen King, has become the definition of a phenomenon inexplicable by science - spontaneous combustion of a person. Evidence of such cases, when a person suddenly caught fire and turned into a handful of ashes in a matter of minutes, was mentioned in ancient times. In the old days, the paranormal was called the devil's fire. It was believed that this happens with a person who has entered into an agreement with the prince of darkness and violated it. Later, in the 16th century, another version appeared explaining what was happening, according to which the reason was assigned to alcohol, allegedly accumulating in the body.
Most scientists rejected the phenomenon itself and considered it a falsification until in the 18th century the incidents began to be officially recorded in police protocols. The most surprising thing is that the ignition occurred without an external source of fire, and when the body, clothes and flammable surrounding objects were burned, they remained without any special damage from the flame.
In Russia, only one recorded case of pyrokinesis occurred in 1990 on the border of the Saratov and Volgograd regions. The shepherd, sitting down to rest on a pile of hay, suddenly burned to death, and his clothes and even dry grass remained intact.
So far, science cannot explain the unusual phenomenon, but the version with alcohol has been refuted. The most plausible assumption is the hypothesis of the accumulation of acetone in the body as a result of ketosis. The main reason for the breakdown of fat cells into ketones, one of which is acetone, is a lack of glucose, which often occurs with diets and depressive states. However, even this version requires an external ignition source. According to scientists, a discharge of static voltage can become such a source.
There are many more versions related to other little-studied phenomena, but they have no scientific justification and are subject to harsh criticism. For example, the impact on a person of geomagnetic waves, fictitious subatomic particles - pyrotons, or still inexplicable ball lightning.
A rare phenomenon in the form of a luminous formation floating in the air has not found a scientific explanation recognized by the scientific community. The study of ball lightning is hampered by its spontaneity and is based only on eyewitness accounts. There are also photographs and videos that were taken by bystanders at a great distance using low-quality photographic equipment (cameras). mobile phones), which does not give scientists an accurate idea of the nature of the phenomenon.
The glowing ball has floating borders and can be of different sizes. In some cases, the ball has a tail, and in others it does not. The appearance and disappearance of the ball also has a different character. Sometimes it descends from the sky, flies into the open window of the room, and sometimes it suddenly appears from nowhere and disappears into nowhere. The trajectory of movement also raises many questions that have not yet been answered. It is not clear what caused a sharp change in the direction and speed of the ball, what does it react to? It is only known that computer technology and communication devices in the immediate vicinity freeze or fail.
Usually, witnesses who happened to observe ball lightning from a close distance experienced great fear, so they could not adequately assess the situation and pay attention to details. As a result, all the evidence does not give researchers a complete picture of the unusual phenomenon, and some of the evidence generally raises doubts about their reliability.
At the same time in two places
It seems impossible, but it's a fact. In addition to what we see and what we know, there is a microcosm, and the science that studies it is called quantum mechanics. Surely many have heard of Jung's famous experiment, which was even demonstrated in physics classes. Light from one source was passed through two diffraction slits. As a result, a diffraction grating appeared on the screen. Nothing unusual, because the phenomenon of diffraction and interference has long been studied. But how surprised the scientists were when they repeated this experiment with electrons.
Presumably, the flow of electrons, having passed through two slits, should have left two stripes on the screen, but no - interference occurred. So the discovery was made that electrons can behave like waves. Further it was even more interesting, the electrons began to shoot one by one. It would seem that one particle should pass through only one slit and leave one point on the photosensitive screen. Here the researchers were in for a real shock, as if the electron split in two and passed through two slits at the same time, and then colliding with itself led to interference. How is that even possible? And scientists, having decided to find out the nature of what was happening, installed devices that fixed the particle before and after the slits.
An attempt to "spy" on the behavior of the electron has become the main secret, which still has no answer. When the devices were turned on, the electron began to behave like a particle, passing through one slit, as it was originally supposed. When they stopped “peeping”, interference occurred. It seemed that the electron knew that he was being followed, and simply did not want to reveal his secret to humanity.
The first assumption was the theory of the impact on the particle by the devices that fixed it, and in order to refute this version, the experiment was repeated, but with some additions. The experiment was repeated many times with "peeping". At the same time, the results of devices and screens wrapped in paper were not considered immediately, but were sealed in envelopes. After that, the envelopes were mixed and divided into two equal piles. At one of the stacks, the envelopes were opened and the instrument readings were destroyed without looking, the other stack was left as it is.
After studying the results, scientists were once again stunned. In the first stack, where instrument data was destroyed, there was interference on all screens, but not in the second. How did the electron, being in two places at the same time, "know" that it was these results of the devices that a person would destroy and not see? Until now, science is silent, and the experiment remains a mystery.
It may not sound very scientific, but the most unusual, albeit quite logical, version was put forward by bloggers. In their theory, they were based on the principle of operation computer games, where, in order to reduce the load on the hardware, the machine reproduces only that part of the location that the gamer is looking at. They admitted that everything in this world does not happen as we suppose and see, and everything we observe is just a created interpretation intended for human perception. We create virtual worlds, but where is the guarantee that our world is not virtual, not created by someone or by ourselves.
Glow of Saint Elmo
For the first time, sailors began to notice an unusual phenomenon when flickering lights in the form of beams or tassels appeared on the tops of the masts. In those days, the coronal glow was explained by a good sign sent by St. Elmo, the patron saint of sailors in Catholicism. Hence the name of the phenomenon. In fact, the phenomenon, most likely, foreshadowed a thunderstorm, and its appearance on the sharp ends of objects arose due to the high electric field strength in the atmosphere.
IN modern world Elmo lights have often been observed on the wings of aircraft approaching a thunderstorm front. The phenomenon also occurred high in the mountains, when the climbers' hair stood on end and began to flicker with lights. The glow itself is not dangerous. In addition, it can be observed at home. To do this, you need to take a synthetic, just taken off sweater in one hand, and a sewing needle in the other. Entering a dark room, the needle should be slowly brought to the sweater. As a result, at a certain distance, a short-term coronal flicker will begin to appear at the tip of the needle.
Behind this romantic name lies a mortal danger, in which a person does not try to escape, but, on the contrary, takes his own life. For the first time, employees of marine hydrometeorological stations drew attention to an unusual phenomenon. Many of them noticed that in close proximity to an unmanned meteorological probe there is a strong headache. Academician Shuleikin took up the study of the phenomenon and, after conducting a series of experiments, published in 1935 a work devoted to the essence of the origin of this phenomenon.
The reason turned out to be not a probe at all, but the “voice of the sea”. This is the name given to infrasonic waves, inaudible to the human ear. Sound vibrations were characterized by a frequency of 0.1 to 7 Hz and a sound pressure of 75-85 dB. The absence of coherence testified to the significant extension of the source. As a result, it was found that the sound comes from the formation of vortices behind the wave crests when exposed to strong winds.
Later, academician A. Krylov joined the research, who noted that when the voice of the sea arises, all birds leave the sound propagation zone, and jellyfish abruptly go to the depths. US scientists came to grips with the study of the sea voice in 1939 and found that sound vibrations of this frequency cause a person to feel anxiety, fear and an unbearable headache.
After being studied, the unusual phenomenon was allegedly considered the cause of unexplained accidents that occasionally occurred on ships. For example, in 2003 in pacific ocean near about. Norfolk was discovered drifting a freighter flying the Indonesian flag. When the Australian border guards boarded the ship, they did not find a single member of the crew, although the ship itself was fully operational, and there were plenty of water and food supplies. In 2007, the situation repeated itself with a sailing catamaran. There were also no people on the ship, all electronics, radio and on-board computer worked, but what struck the policemen the most was the plates of food on the table. Such cases are not uncommon, and according to statistics, hundreds of sailors voluntarily end their lives at sea every year, and sometimes suicides are collective in nature.
So far, the involvement in such cases of the "voice of the sea" is only an assumption. There are still many open questions, since in most incidents on board no traces of panic were found, as if the sailors, turning into "zombies", were simply thrown overboard on command.
Today, there are still many unexplored and illogical phenomena in the world - the Bermuda Triangle, connecting rod waves, the Dyatlov Pass and other phenomena. Perhaps in the future, science will be able to unravel some of them, and some will remain a secret forever. And maybe it's for the better, because it is worth opening Pandora's box and the consequences will become irreversible.
15 most unusual natural phenomena
Most of us have seen these natural phenomena only in films or on the Discovery Channel. I present a detailed description with photographs of the most incredible natural phenomena.
1. Water bloom:
When the ocean, air, and temperature conditions permit, ocean phytoplankton reproduce fairly quickly, creating a thick, visible layer on its surface. This phenomenon, called a water bloom, looks rather unsightly during the day, but in parts of California and other places where there are bioluminescent nightlights, the water bloom is a truly spectacular sight. This species of phytoplankton glows blue when agitated, turning the dark ocean into a giant lava lamp. You can watch the waves begin to glow on impact as they ripple across the sand, and the earth begins to shine under your feet, and if you dive underwater, you will see an amazing radiance in all its glory.
2. Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence does not only occur in water. In late summer, an uncanny glow can be seen in many of the world's forests, where bioluminescent fungi grow on damp, rotting bark. Bioluminescence can be observed in different parts of the world, but the greatest diversity occurs in the tropics, where the moisture in the forests promotes the growth of fungi. A new species of glow-in-the-dark mushroom has been discovered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. If you want to admire this phenomenon, then plan to go to the forest during the wettest period and head away from light sources that can dim the faint glow.
3. Fire rainbow
Another natural phenomenon that occurs in the summer is called a fiery rainbow, and occurs when sunlight hits frozen ice crystals in cirrus clouds at high altitude. Since there is no rain during a fiery rainbow, scientists prefer to call it the more accurate name of a near-horizontal arc. Since this phenomenon requires the presence of cirrus clouds, and the sun must be very high in the sky, it can often be observed at latitudes closer to the equator. In Los Angeles, conditions allow you to observe a fiery rainbow for six months of the year, and in London for about two months.
4. Pearly clouds
For those of us who are far from the equator, there are many more reasons to look at the sky. Mother-of-pearl clouds are quite rare, but most often they appear when it is still dark outside before dawn or after sunset. Due to their extremely high altitude, they reflect sunlight from below the horizon, glowing brightly for those who watch them from below. In the lower stratosphere, where mother-of-pearl clouds are located, it is so dry that it often prevents the formation of clouds, but the harsh cold of the polar nights makes it possible to see this most beautiful phenomenon. You can see mother-of-pearl clouds in winter at high latitudes, such as in Iceland, Alaska, northern Canada and very rarely in the UK.
5. Snow rollers
Snow rolls form when a thick layer of snow falls on top of the ice. At certain temperatures and wind speeds, chunks of snow can break loose and begin to curl. As they roll along the ground like winter tumbleweeds, they pick up more snow along the way. The inner layers tend to be more brittle, allowing the wind to easily blow them away, leaving large natural snow donuts. Since a certain temperature and wind speed are needed to create this effect, snow rolls are rare, but they can be seen in North America and in the UK.
6. Basalt columns
Natural volcanic formation - basalt columns look like they were made by man. The hexagonal columns form naturally when a thick layer of lava cools rapidly, shrinking and creating cracks in the surface of new rock formations. Unusual geological formations can be seen in all corners of the world. The most notable examples of basalt columns are Giant's Causeway in Ireland and the Devil's Postpile National Monument in California.
7. Animal Rain:
Whereas in the small town of Yoro in Honduras, the Fish Rain Festival is held every year, actual eyewitnesses this phenomenon still quite small. However, in general, such a phenomenon was reported in different parts light for many centuries. Most cases of animals falling from the sky have included fish, frogs, or small aquatic animals, although there have been reports of birds, mice, and even chunks of meat falling. Although such a phenomenon is extremely rare, most cases are easily explained. The most obvious explanation is tornadoes, during which a whirlwind lifts small animals from the water, carrying them over long distances until they fall on your head. If you want to witness the rain of animals, then you should go to places close to the water during big storms.
8. Wavy clouds
Recently discovered cloud formations, the so-called wavy clouds (Asperatus clouds) are so rare that they were not included in the classification until 2009. Ominous and stormy, these clouds disintegrate rather quickly before causing a storm. As with most wavy clouds, these clouds form when eddies or oncoming air masses ruthlessly churn the lower layers of clouds, resulting in bizarre shapes and formations. Such clouds are more common on the plains in the US and can be observed in the morning or mid-afternoon during thunderstorms.
9. Green beam
The famous and elusive Green Beam is a rare meteorological phenomenon that occurs during sunrise and sunset. During these periods, the sun's light passes through large layers of the atmosphere, creating a prism effect. Of course, this explanation is not as exciting as sea legends that surround this phenomenon. But you can consider yourself lucky if you managed to observe this phenomenon. To see the green beam, try watching the sun rise or set on the horizon on a clear day. An ocean or prairie horizon is best suited for this purpose. The green beam lasts only a fraction of a second, so don't blink. In my opinion, this is very similar to the return of the soul from underworld in the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
10. False sun
When the sun is near the horizon and there are ice crystals in the air, you may see a few bright rainbow spots on both sides of the sun. Always to the right and left of the sun along the horizon, these halos faithfully follow the sun across the sky. While this atmospheric phenomenon can happen anytime, anywhere, the effect is usually quite subtle. When sunlight passes through cirrus clouds at just the right angle, these patches become as bright as the sun. False suns are most visible when the sun is low in the sky in colder regions where there are many ice crystals in the sky.
11. Double rainbow
The same forces that lead to the formation of an ordinary rainbow can also lead to the creation double rainbow. Sometimes, sunlight is reflected in the raindrops not once, but twice, resulting in a second rainbow that is behind the brighter first rainbow. The best time to see this phenomenon is when the sky is still dark and filled with clouds, as the dark background allows you to see the more vague colors of the second rainbow.
12. Striped icebergs
Icebergs, as a rule, are not uniform. Some icebergs in the polar regions are distinguished by their color bands, standing out from the arctic whites and blues. When water on an iceberg melts and refreezes, dirt and other particles can get trapped between the new layers of ice, causing colored streaks to form on their surface. Icebergs may show several colored bands. Blue streaks appear when water enters between layers of ice and freezes so quickly that air bubbles don't have time to form. When an iceberg breaks and falls into the ocean, algae and other materials present in the water can cause green and yellow streaks to appear.
13. Lightning Catatumbo
Quite a mysterious phenomenon, the Catatumbo lightning in Venezuela is known for its continuous discharges. This incessant lightning bolt can be seen from a distance and has often been noted for its ability to aid sailors in navigation. Since Catatumbo lightning strikes about 140-160 nights a year, you have a good chance of seeing them. They occur mainly in one place - above the confluence of the Catatumbo River around Lake Maracaibo.
14. Gravitational wave
Waves occur not only in water, but also in the sky. When the air is pushed up by the more stable layer of the atmosphere, it can cause a ripple effect, just like what happens when you throw a rock into a pond. For a gravitational wave to occur, interference must occur in the atmosphere, such as the updraft of air from a thunderstorm. According to recent research, gravitational waves can concentrate and intensify tornadoes, so if you happen to see them, you should first take care of the shelter.
15. Moeraki Boulders
The Moeraki Boulders are spherical stones that were naturally excavated from mudstone, a dense clayey rock on the New Zealand coast. People discovered these giants through erosion, but they acquired their spherical shape for a different reason. It is believed that boulders formed millions of years ago on the ocean floor, much like pearls formed in oysters - layers of sedimentary rocks and materials crystallized around a central core. Over the course of millions of years, they have grown to the gigantic proportions we can see today. Moeraki boulders have been found along the south coast of New Zealand, but they can also be seen in various parts of South America.
