Buzz
Many so-called mysteries are often just concealed truths. Determined scientists chip away at perplexing puzzles, sometimes uncovering remarkable new insights without fully resolving the entire enigma.
But genuine progress comes when we discard the imposters—those convincing 'facts' that deceive experts for years, only to reveal themselves as misconceptions. From a supposedly harmful vitamin to herbivores feasting on their own kind, even the simplest of 'facts' are now far more complex.
10. The Plateau of Aging
One commonly accepted theory suggests a deceleration in late-life mortality. This theory posits that as people age, their aging process slows down. The so-called 'aging plateau' implies that a 105-year-old individual statistically has the same chance of dying as a 90-year-old. However, this phenomenon is not completely understood or universally agreed upon.
In 2018, this idea was contested. Researchers opposing the plateau theory argued that the age surveys supporting the 'phenomenon' were flawed. They proposed that some seniors might have had their ages recorded incorrectly, and a simple demonstration showed how a few erroneous entries could heavily distort the results.
A study on the longevity of Italians found some support for the plateau, but it also suggested that if 1 in 500 individuals had their ages misreported, the outcome could align with the plateau. However, this hypothetical scenario relied on severe misreporting, not actual errors in data. Regardless, someone is mistaken.
9. China’s Ozone Crisis
In 2013, China’s smog was so severe that city skylines disappeared. By 2017, the country achieved the impressive feat of reducing the concentration of PM 2.5 particles by 40% in eastern China. These tiny particles are harmful to human respiratory health.
What seemed like a progressive step took an unexpected turn. In a move no one anticipated, ozone levels began to rise in the cities. While ozone is beneficial high in the atmosphere, at ground level it becomes a harmful air pollutant. In fact, inhaling ozone is detrimental to health.
A study revealed that China’s major cities, like Beijing and Shanghai, were overwhelmed by this dangerous pollutant. The cause? In their effort to remove PM 2.5 particles, the very substance that absorbed the chemicals leading to ozone production was also eliminated. The PM 2.5 haze had been acting as a large sponge, keeping the ozone in check.
8. Nun With Blue-Stained Teeth
Around the year 1100, a nun passed away at a monastery in Dalheim, Germany. When her skull was recently analyzed, an intriguing discovery was made. The woman, aged between 45 and 60, had blue stains on her teeth.
X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the blue flecks found on the nun's teeth were made of lapis lazuli, a semi-precious stone highly valued during the Middle Ages. This stone was the main ingredient in ultramarine, a rare and costly blue pigment. Ultramarine was exclusively used to embellish religious manuscripts, reserved for only the most talented painters.
The pigment had accumulated in the nun’s dental plaque over years of brushing with paintbrushes. This was a known practice among painters working on detailed pieces. However, this is the first time physical evidence of such a technique has been found.
This discovery also confirmed that nuns were involved in the creation of religious manuscripts, a task traditionally believed to be reserved for monks. Since lapis lazuli only came from mines in Afghanistan, located 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles) away, it also demonstrated that Germany and Asia had significant trade relations almost a millennium ago.
7. Extra Denisovan Genetic Surprises
For a long time, scientists have known that humans interbred with two ancient hominid species. While both the Neanderthals and Denisovans are now extinct, their DNA still exists in certain human populations. Our genetic map reveals two distinct 'pulses'—sudden bursts of hominid interbreeding—that occurred thousands of years ago in Siberia’s Altai region.
In 2018, researchers sought a third interbreeding event by analyzing the genetic data of 5,500 individuals from Asia, Europe, and Oceania. They discovered enough foreign hominid DNA to prove that Siberia wasn’t the only place where humans encountered pulses. In a surprising turn, Denisovan influence was found twice outside the Altai Mountains.
Fossils of these rare hominids are almost nonexistent. However, in ancient times, they were widespread enough to interbreed with humans traveling across South Asia. This groundbreaking study uncovered a Denisovan pulse in living Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese populations to the north. Another pulse was found to the south, likely caused by humans encountering Denisovans during their migration to Papua New Guinea.
6. Paternal Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondria reside in cells and are responsible for supplying them with energy. Normally, mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother, as the father’s mitochondrial DNA is discarded after conception.
In 2018, a groundbreaking study upended the established understanding of mitochondrial inheritance. While it’s well-known that mitochondrial DNA is passed down maternally, it seems the father's contribution can do one of three things—either skip a generation, provide a small amount, or almost entirely overshadow the mother’s. This unexpected behavior challenges much of what researchers previously understood about mitochondrial genetics.
The Cincinnati study identified 17 individuals who inherited mitochondrial DNA from both parents, lending credibility to a 2002 case in Denmark. In that instance, a man appeared to have inherited 90 percent of his father’s mitochondrial DNA, a finding that was initially dismissed as a technical error.
Interestingly, this phenomenon might be hereditary. The Cincinnati researchers discovered biparental inheritance in 10 individuals across three generations of the same family.
5. Carnivorous Hares
Snowshoe hares in Canada are thought to be herbivores. However, a recent study accidentally uncovered a shocking truth: not only do they eat meat, but they also practice cannibalism.
To study predator behavior, researchers set up a remote trail near the Alaskan border, rigging it with cameras. They placed hare carcasses as bait, hoping to capture images of predators scavenging on them.
Over 2.5 years, 20 dead hares were consumed by their still-living relatives. For the first time, these photos revealed the shocking discovery that hares themselves were scavenging. Researchers also noted that these winter-starved hares were indiscriminate eaters, even consuming their primary predator—the dead body of a Canada lynx.
This unexpected behavior seems to be a survival tactic rather than a preference. During the summer months, snowshoe hares feed only on plants. But winter, which transforms the region into one of the coldest places on Earth, brings scarcity of food. In such harsh conditions, any source of protein is invaluable.
Strangely, the hares also ate feathers from deceased birds. The reason behind this remains a mystery, as feathers offer almost no nutritional value.
4. The Real Formation of Tornadoes
Traditionally, it's believed that tornadoes form within clouds and develop a funnel reaching down to the earth. However, a 2018 study suggested otherwise. According to the new findings, Tornadoes actually begin at ground level.
For years, meteorologists chased the deadly swirls, but four tornadoes, spawned by rare supercell storms, changed everything. Tornado intensity is measured on the EF scale from EF1 to EF5. In 2012, Kansas saw a pair of EF1 'baby' tornadoes. Oklahoma experienced an EF3 in 2011, and in 2013, a monster storm tore through El Reno, creating the widest tornado ever recorded, an EF5 measuring 4.2 kilometers (2.6 mi).
Researchers had the advantage of observing from a hilltop, which allowed them to capture the tornado's birth. High-tech equipment detected signs that the tornado formed 10 meters (32 ft) above the ground. A number of storm chasers also captured photos of this event, which corroborated the findings.
This discovery led to a thorough review of the data. It soon became evident that the wind rotation started on the ground long before any visible signs appeared in the clouds. The other three tornadoes displayed similar patterns.
3. The Gaze of the Mona Lisa
Numerous people have claimed that Leonardo da Vinci’s painting seems to follow them with its gaze, a phenomenon now called the “Mona Lisa effect.” Her eyes are said to track observers no matter where they stand in the room.
In a recent study involving artificial intelligence programs, researchers wanted avatars to genuinely look at people. Given the famous “effect,” the Mona Lisa was included in the experiment. At one point, the team realized that her eyes were not actually following any of them.
To test this, they had volunteers view the painting on a computer. A ruler, marked with numbers, was placed in front of the screen, and participants selected the number where her gaze seemed to intersect. The ruler was then moved to a different point, and the experiment was repeated.
The two sets of results provided researchers with a new perspective. Mona Lisa doesn’t actually stare at anyone. Her gaze is consistently 15.4 degrees to the right of the observer. The real puzzle remains why so many people still believe otherwise.
2. Vitamin D Is Not Actually a Vitamin
Vitamin D has long been celebrated as a miracle nutrient. For decades, governments and health experts have encouraged its consumption, linking it to various health benefits and disease prevention. Recently, however, scientists have focused on one specific claim—the prevention of bone fractures. The largest study of its kind, involving over 500,000 people and 188,000 fractures, found no evidence that vitamin D prevents bone breaks.
The truth about this supplement is quite alarming. It’s not a true vitamin but a risky steroid. Its popularity stems from outdated studies from the 1980s and savvy marketing by food manufacturers and vitamin companies.
Aside from taking ever-increasing doses, people also get extra vitamin D through sunlight exposure and food. As a result, clinics are seeing more cases of overdose. At the lower end of the spectrum, the exact definition of a vitamin D deficiency remains unclear. Ironically, several studies have shown that doses above 800 IU actually increased the risk of fractures.
1. Lizard That Breathes Underwater
A species of lizards known as anoles has intrigued scientists for decades, with thousands of studies conducted over the last 50 years. Despite being extensively researched, one particular species baffled researchers. The Costa Rican river anole can submerge itself underwater for up to 15 minutes. Initially, it was assumed that these lizards had an exceptional ability to hold their breath.
In 2018, biologists teamed up with filmmakers to unravel the mystery. What they captured on film was truly remarkable. For the first time, footage showed that the anoles didn't stop breathing once submerged.
Instead, the female lizard filmed had a bubble on her head. For 10 minutes, it expanded and contracted, almost as though she was recycling the air inside. This behavior had never been observed in lizards or any other vertebrate species. As amazing as it was to see an anole with its own “diver's tank,” scientists are still unsure how the oxygen is stored or how the lizard accesses the bubble.
