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A true marvel of the modern age is the ability to capture and instantly share images globally. Thanks to technology, people today can explore mind-blowing scientific phenomena without ever stepping foot into a laboratory.
Images depicting newly solved mysteries or violent events in space are captivating, but they don't compare to the incredible world firsts. Recently, photographers have documented extinct animals, shock waves, and the most intense light in the universe flashing right here on Earth.
10. The Dutch Shipwreck
In 2019, metal salvagers ventured into the North Sea to recover shipping containers recently lost in the water. During their search near the Dutch island of Terschelling, they captured a sonar image of an intriguing object. Believing it to be a steel container, the crew deployed a retrieval arm, only to pull up ship timbers and 5 tons of copper sheets instead.
Remarkably, the salvagers had uncovered a piece of history—what could be the oldest ship found in the area. The wooden remnants belonged to a 500-year-old vessel. Measuring 30 meters (100 ft) long, the ship was loaded with copper. These copper sheets were likely on their way to Antwerp, where they would be turned into some of the Netherlands’ first copper coins. In fact, their chemical signature matched that of the copper used for coins introduced in the 1500s.
This vessel was tentatively labeled a ‘missing link’ in the evolution of Dutch shipbuilding. Its hull showed a transitional structure, a shift from the old “clinker” method to the more robust “carvel” style, which ultimately strengthened Dutch ships and enabled them to trade across the globe.
9. A Colombian Weasel
The Colombian weasel was known to exist only from a handful of specimens and had never been photographed alive. In 2011, an architect stumbled upon this rare South American carnivore by chance. It wasn’t a grand discovery, as one might expect for encountering a long-forgotten creature; the black weasel was found perched atop a toilet.
When Juan M. de Roux, an amateur naturalist, saw the animal at his parents’ house, he initially mistook it for the common long-tailed weasel. He snapped several photos before releasing the panicked creature, which had gotten trapped after slipping into the bathroom through the roof or flooring—both of which were being renovated.
After de Roux shared the images on the iNaturalist app, a platform for citizen scientists, the truth emerged. He discovered the Colombian weasel's existence, and experts confirmed that it was a living specimen.
Given that many had believed the species to be extinct, this discovery was an exciting revelation. The de Roux home was near Colombia’s National Natural Park Farallones de Cali, suggesting that a significant population of Colombian weasels might inhabit the park.
8. The Ghost Plane
In late 2018, Robert Morton stumbled upon something intriguing on Google Earth. At the coordinates 55 degrees 57 minutes 26 seconds north latitude and 3 degrees 05 minutes 35 seconds west longitude, he spotted what seemed to be an airliner in the sea off the coast of Edinburgh, Scotland.
He reported his finding to Mirror Online, which published the strange image. A Google spokesperson quickly offered a simple explanation: the ghostly plane wasn’t a real aircraft.
Indeed, when the original photo was taken, the object was a real airliner. However, Google employs a technique that blends multiple images into a composite, optimizing for the sharpest resolution.
These images are sourced from satellites and aerial photos. Occasionally, one of these captures a passing object, such as a plane. During the patching process, the object can become slightly misaligned and blurred, resulting in an eerie image that appears to depict a plane disaster.
7. The Largest Underwater Eruption
Since May 10, 2018, geologists have been puzzled by a mysterious event. A seismic anomaly was detected near Mayotte, an island in the Indian Ocean. The tremors, which resembled earthquakes, were so powerful that they were felt across the globe. The source remained a mystery, but scientists speculated that it was an enormous underwater volcano that had erupted deep beneath the ocean.
A research vessel was dispatched to the shores of Mayotte, not just to gather data but because the island, which was inhabited, continued to experience unsettling disturbances. In order to solve the riddle and protect the local population, scientists conducted studies of the area.
Astoundingly, they discovered a volcano on the seafloor that had not existed just six months earlier. And this was no small mound—it stood 800 meters (2,624 feet) tall and spanned 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) wide.
Notably, the location of the volcanic feature aligned perfectly with the epicenter of the seismic tremors. Current estimates now attribute the eruption to the largest underwater event ever recorded. In 2019, an extraordinary sonar image vividly captured the volcano in all its colorful glory.
6. A Cosmic Star Battle
R Aquarii is a binary star system made up of a red giant and a smaller white dwarf. Both stars are nearing the end of their lives. The death of a star is never a quiet affair, but a binary star system can be even more catastrophic. The two stars often interact, with explosive consequences. R Aquarii is a prime example of how the death of two stars can lead to mutual destruction.
In 2018, an incredible photograph was taken of the system. It depicted the red giant losing its outer layer while the white dwarf consumed it. The feast proved hazardous for the dwarf, as the material it consumed triggered repeated thermonuclear explosions on its surface. These blasts sent both the dwarf’s material and the red giant’s outer layer hurtling into space.
Captured by the European Southern Observatory, the image showcased the catastrophic destruction in the form of vast clouds of matter encircling the stars. Located roughly 650 light-years from Earth, this system is expected to meet its end in a breathtaking explosion that will likely be classified as a Type Ia supernova.
5. A Secret Amazon Tribe
In the Brazilian state of Amazonas, there are about 19 undiscovered tribes that have remained hidden. Their seclusion isn't because they perceive the world as one vast rainforest, but rather because they have intentionally chosen to avoid contact with the outside world.
This decision is understandable. Many tribes have suffered brutal massacres carried out by mercenaries hired by colonists, miners, and farmers who covet the land but are hostile to its indigenous inhabitants. This hostility stems from the fact that indigenous communities have legal rights, which interfere with the financial interests of outsiders.
Those working to protect the tribes must maintain a careful distance. Some tribes are hostile and may also fall victim to infectious diseases brought by outsiders.
In 2017, a groundbreaking expedition captured the first-ever drone photographs of an Amazonian community. The group had been known for years to Brazil’s National Indian Foundation (Funai), which also managed the camera. The images revealed a clearing and a few individuals, who appeared unaware of the drone—a fortunate outcome, as researchers aim to observe their lifestyle without interference.
4. The Albino Panda
In 2019, a camera trap was triggered. These devices, used by researchers to capture photos of elusive animals hiding deep in the wilderness, automatically take photos when an animal moves. This particular trap was placed in a forest within China’s Wolong National Nature Reserve.
The first time the image was seen, it must have been a breathtaking moment. It revealed a rare wild panda, but unlike the typical panda, there were no black body markings, ears, or eye patches. Instead, the bear was entirely white. A closer look showed its reddish eyes, confirming that the animal was an albino.
The panda appeared to be a strong and healthy individual, likely between one and two years old. The giant panda is already the rarest bear species on Earth, but encountering an albino is an extraordinary event. Capturing a photo of one is even more exceptional, and the image from Wolong seems to be the first known photo of such a panda.
3. The Roosevelt Artifacts
In 2014, the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt made its way to the East Coast. Onboard was a squadron training for a mission in the Middle East. The planes were equipped with decades-old radar systems, and after an upgrade, the screens began to show false trails.
The pilots soon realized that the so-called 'glitches' were tangible phenomena—especially when one pilot's missile locked onto an object. The same pilot later experienced another anomaly on his radar and decided to maneuver beneath it. He expected to see it, and the radar confirmed its presence, but when he looked, there was nothing there.
The objects remained unseen except for their remarkable radar signatures. For instance, they reached supersonic speeds, soared to altitudes of 9,144 meters (30,000 feet), and left no visible engine or infrared exhaust trails.
The objects appeared on most days, performing maneuvers that would have been lethal to human pilots—such as halting abruptly while traveling at high speeds. At one point, one nearly collided with a jet, speeding past the cockpit so closely that it became momentarily visible. It appeared to be a cube with a sphere inside it.
The pilots who came forward with their stories could not explain the phenomena, but they also refused to attribute it to extraterrestrial activity. The sightings ceased when the Roosevelt sailed to the Persian Gulf in 2015.
2. Supersonic Shockwaves
One of the most awe-inspiring images to surface recently came from NASA, where scientists have spent years attempting to capture shock waves on camera. The goal? To minimize airplane noise and sonic booms, which are disruptive when they occur over residential neighborhoods.
Sonic booms occur when a plane travels so fast that the air molecules can’t move out of the way fast enough. They collect in front of the aircraft, and when it surpasses the speed of sound, the pressure barrier breaks with a loud snap, creating a shock wave.
To capture these shock waves, NASA spent more than a decade developing a specialized imaging system. In 2019, the system was mounted on a NASA B-200 King Air and used to photograph T-38 US Air Force jets flying below. For the first time ever, scientists captured shock waves streaming off supersonic jets and observed how the waves interacted with one another.
In the experiment, one plane flew in the wake of the other, separated by about 9 meters (30 feet). The shock waves of the trailing T-38 were more curved due to the forces exerted by the leading jet. The high-resolution images could be crucial in understanding shock waves and, possibly, in finding a way to reduce or eliminate them.
1. First Terrestrial Gamma Rays
When it comes to the most energetic type of light, nothing surpasses gamma rays. These rays burst forth from exploding stars, colliding celestial bodies, and even from the intense gravitational pull of black holes. Their brilliance is so overwhelming that all surrounding light becomes nearly invisible.
As a result, gamma rays have captured the interest of scientists. The catch is that these extraordinary flashes of energy don’t last long. The most powerful gamma rays, typically lasting only a millisecond, are notoriously difficult to track or predict. Still, researchers have discovered that they can appear in massive thunderstorms, caused by interactions between electrons, although the full scientific explanation is still elusive.
In 2017, a bold project launched a specialized observatory to the International Space Station, with the goal of capturing these elusive gamma ray events by observing storms from space.
On June 18, 2018, a thunderstorm hovered over Borneo, an island in Southeast Asia. In a groundbreaking achievement, a gamma ray eruption from the storm was captured in an image for the first time ever. The observatory also revealed that such flashes occur frequently on Earth. In the first year of the project, astronomers recorded over 200 gamma ray bursts.
