Buzz
Ghost tales provoke fear because they explore the unknown, while history captivates us with real events that occurred in the past. The captivating link between these is the natural occurrences we still struggle to comprehend.
As we continually expand our understanding of the world around us, we often encounter natural 'miracles' that elude explanation, pushing us into the realms of speculation and imagination. From jelly raining from the sky to unexplained explosions flattening vast forests, to ominous blood-red skies, here are the top 10 most perplexing natural phenomena.
10. Star Jelly
Rain, snow, sleet, hail—these may not be the four classical elements, but they are the typical forms of precipitation we expect to fall from the sky. Strangely enough, despite our ability to track and predict these weather patterns, there is something that has fallen from the sky that remains entirely mysterious: star jelly.
Star jelly is a clear, gelatinous substance often found on grass or tree branches, disappearing soon after being observed. Many people have reported seeing it fall from the sky, sparking myths that it originates from dying stars, alien waste, or even government drones. The first accounts of this strange material date back to the 14th century, when doctors used it to treat abscesses.
Naturally, scientists must have researched this bizarre substance to uncover its origins, right? Well, sort of. Some believe the jelly to be frog eggs that have swelled due to exposure to water. However, this theory doesn’t hold up, as the jelly has shown to contain neither plant nor animal DNA, adding to the mystery surrounding it.
9. Morning Glory Clouds
Despite their pillow-like appearance, clouds are not soft and fluffy. They consist of evaporated water and would likely be unpleasant to fall onto, unlike the comfortable pillows they resemble. Since clouds are made of water, we can analyze their shapes and movements to help predict future weather—though not always with complete accuracy.
Morning glory clouds are long, tubular clouds that move across the sky in an almost eerie manner. Stretching over 965 kilometers (600 miles), these clouds are most often seen in Australia during the shift from the dry season to the wet season. The local Aboriginal people interpret these clouds as an omen predicting a rise in the bird population.
Aside from Aboriginal legends, the formation of morning glory clouds remains largely mysterious. Some climate scientists theorize that these clouds are created by a unique combination of sea breezes and changes in humidity, but no computer models have yet been able to predict this unusual weather phenomenon with accuracy.
8. Cities In The Sky
This is no comic book fantasy or ancient religious tale. It is real. On April 21, 2017, in Jieyang, China, many citizens were astonished to see what appeared to be a city floating above the clouds. People quickly took to the internet, sharing images and expressing their amazement, though there was no need for alarm, as such occurrences have been reported before.
The same floating city phenomena have been reported at five different locations across China in just over six years prior to this occurrence. This frequency has led some theorists to propose a variety of explanations: perhaps aliens are attempting to cross over from another dimension, the second coming of Christ is upon us, or these images are part of a holographic test conducted by either the Chinese or US governments.
At Mytour, we prefer to avoid all the speculation. We’re after the facts. So, here’s a possible explanation: a rare weather phenomenon called Fata Morgana, where light passing through heat waves creates a duplication effect. This could explain the images in the sky, but it doesn’t hold up when the skyline below them appears different.
7. Tabby’s Star
The universe is incomprehensibly vast, and while there are billions of galaxies that our future generations may explore, we don’t have to leave our own Milky Way to encounter mysteries that defy explanation. Enter: Tabby’s Star.
KIC 8462852, commonly known as Tabby’s Star after its discoverer Tabetha Boyajian, is one of the over 150,000 stars observed by the Kepler space telescope. What makes Tabby’s Star particularly fascinating is the frequent and extreme dips in its light.
Typically, stars are observed for dimming that signals planets passing in front of them. However, Tabby’s Star is unique because its brightness drops by as much as 20 percent at a time, which is far more dramatic than what is seen with other stars.
There are a wide range of explanations for this unusual light behavior, from large groups of planets passing by (which seems very unlikely) to large accumulations of dust and debris (which is abnormal for a star of Tabby’s age) to the possibility of alien activity (the most intriguing possibility).
One prominent theory suggests that an advanced alien civilization is using enormous machines orbiting the star to harvest energy. While this idea may sound far-fetched, it’s certainly more captivating than a buildup of space dust.
6. Raining Cats And Dogs...And Spiders?
One of the fundamental laws of the universe is that every person falls into one of two categories: a dog person or a cat person. These two options cover all of humanity. While nearly everyone loves animals, it’s probably not healthy to love them to the extent that you would want them to literally fall from the sky. If your affection for animals reaches that point, it might be time to seek professional help. But don’t worry, we have some good news for you.
Although it’s not something that happens every day, the phenomenon of flightless animals raining from the sky is an actual weather occurrence. While it’s rarely dogs or cats, various animals have been documented falling from the sky along with rain. Some examples include frogs, tadpoles, spiders, fish, eels, snakes, and worms (none of which paint a particularly pleasant picture).
The most widely accepted theory is that these animals were swept up into the sky by waterspouts or tornadoes in their natural environment. Unfortunately, no scientists have ever observed or recorded this event in action.
If this theory holds true, it still doesn’t explain the bizarre case in which raw meat fell from a clear sky in Kentucky in 1876. Yeah, good luck figuring that one out.
5. Bloody Sky
Quick quiz: What are the signs of the approaching apocalypse?
Maybe you thought of famine, war, or pestilence. Perhaps you imagined (insert your least favorite politician) getting elected. While those are all valid answers, consider this one: the sky turning a deep, blood-red hue for just a few seconds before quickly returning to its normal color.
This is exactly what the residents of Chalchuapa, El Salvador, witnessed in April 2016. The crimson light filled the sky for only about a minute before dissipating, leaving the atmosphere tinged with a pink hue. Many in the evangelical Christian community believe that this red flash is a sign of the impending apocalypse described in the Book of Revelation in the Bible.
Some of the potential explanations include the light being a byproduct of the annual April meteor showers frequently observed in that region. However, this is unlikely, as the blood-red sky is a phenomenon that has never been observed before.
Another theory suggests that the light could have been a reflection from the clouds caused by nearby sugarcane farmers' stubble fires. Whatever the cause may be, you might want to grab a Bible or head to the bar, depending on your personal beliefs.
4. The Great Attractor
The most widely accepted model of the universe follows the big bang theory: a massive explosion about 14 billion years ago that sent all matter spiraling outward, creating an ever-expanding universe. While this theory is the most accepted, it is only one of many potential explanations for the universe's formation over time. However, it doesn't account for anomalies like the Great Attractor.
In the 1970s, we began investigating a peculiar force situated 150–250 million light years away, which appears to be pulling the Milky Way and numerous nearby galaxies toward it. Due to the alignment of stars in the Milky Way, we cannot directly observe what is causing the pull, so we have simply labeled it 'The Great Attractor.'
In 2016, a team of international scientists, using the CSIRO’s Parkes radio telescope, were able to peer beyond the Milky Way and identified 883 galaxies clustered in this region. While some argue this provides a conclusive answer to the Great Attractor puzzle, others believe that these galaxies were drawn to this area just like we are being drawn now, leaving the true cause still a mystery.
3. Japanese Atlantis
This one is peculiar because we might discover that the explanation is not a natural occurrence once the mystery is unraveled.
Atlantis, the legendary underwater city, is said to be ruled by either Poseidon or Aquaman, depending on who you ask. Originating from Greek mythology, many believe the real-world version of Atlantis may be hidden somewhere in the Mediterranean. Or perhaps, it’s lurking just off the coast of Japan.
Beneath the waters of Yonaguni Jima in Japan, large stone formations lie submerged, resembling the pyramids of Egypt or the Aztecs. These structures have been underwater for approximately 2,000 years. Discovered by a local diver in 1986, they were initially thought to be natural formations, albeit with strikingly precise 90-degree angles.
The stone formations were later speculated to be remnants of an ancient city, approximately 5,000 years old, that was swept into the ocean by a massive seismic event. While this theory is widely accepted, it still remains unproven.
Unlike many other mysteries, this one has a fairly concrete explanation. Hopefully, that will bring some peace of mind.
2. The Tunguska Event
During the Cold War, nuclear annihilation was a pervasive fear. The destructive power of the atom bomb was well-known, not just from tests but also from its devastating use in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In that era, it seemed almost inevitable that fire would rain from the sky and the land would be laid to waste. But people living in 1908 likely didn’t expect anything like this.
On June 30, 1908, near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in Siberia, a colossal fireball streaked through the sky and detonated about 6 kilometers (4 miles) above the Earth. The blast obliterated countless animals and flattened vast swaths of forest, sending a searing shockwave for miles. At the Vanavara trading post, 64 kilometers (40 miles) away from the explosion’s epicenter, people were knocked off their feet by the shockwave.
Most scientists believe the fireball was an asteroid or meteor that exploded in the atmosphere before it could touch the ground, possibly due to atmospheric pressure or other factors. The most perplexing aspect is that no crater was ever found, meaning no meteor debris was available for analysis. One theory is that the object could have been mostly ice, which would explain the absence of physical remnants, though this remains impossible to verify.
1. The Taos Hum
At some point, almost everyone has experienced that annoying ringing in their ears, and many have heard the old superstition that it happens when someone is talking about you. What makes this audio oddity so frustrating is that it’s entirely internal – no one else can hear it. The first time it happens, it might make you wonder if you're losing your mind. But what if other people could hear it too?
The town of Taos, located in north-central New Mexico, is celebrated for its vibrant artist community and the famous celebrities who have lived there. However, it’s arguably best known for the mysterious “Taos Hum,” a sound that 2 percent of its population claims to hear, with each person describing it in their own way.
First documented in the 1990s, the hum has been studied by the University of New Mexico. While many locals insist they can hear the sound, no equipment has ever been able to detect it. Theories about its origin range from extraterrestrials to secret government experiments, which isn’t surprising. Until we find a way to capture the noise, all we can do is guess.
