These science mysteries will leave you baffled. Welcome to WatchMojo, and for this list, we’ll be looking at the most mysterious natural phenomena that still have no definitive scientific explanation, despite there being proposed theories in existence.
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00:00 The evidence to back this theory up is very persuasive.
00:04 Welcome to WatchMojo, and for this list, we'll be looking at the most mysterious natural
00:08 phenomenon that still have no definitive scientific explanation, despite there being proposed
00:14 theories in existence.
00:16 But maybe it's even weirder than that.
00:18 Not only are we not at the center of our universe, maybe we're not even in the only universe.
00:26 Number 10.
00:27 Rain of animals On New Year's Day 2011, residents of BB,
00:32 Arkansas witnessed an unusual event.
00:34 Thousands of blackbirds rained down from the sky, littering lawns, streets, and rooftops.
00:43 Although rare, such occurrences have actually been documented worldwide, involving various
00:48 creatures such as fish, frogs, and spiders.
00:50 This rain of animals typically occurs during storms or tornadoes, leading to theories of
00:55 strong winds or water sprouts lifting the animals from one location and depositing them
01:00 elsewhere.
01:01 Lightning, hail, and fireworks are some of the causes that experts are now looking into
01:06 as they try and figure out what's caused this bolt out of the blue.
01:10 However, this theory fails to account for the fact that the rains usually involve a
01:14 single species or type of animal.
01:22 The lack of comprehensive data and difficulty in observing certain aspects of this phenomenon
01:27 has made it hard for scientists to definitively explain its cause.
01:34 Number 9.
01:36 Yawning Everybody yawns.
01:38 It's a common behavior when we're tired, bored, sleepy, or hungry.
01:41 Most of us yawn multiple times a day.
01:44 In fact, all of this talk about yawning has probably triggered one of you already.
01:48 Right?
01:49 Even seeing a picture of someone yawning with no sound or motion can be enough to induce
01:52 a yawn.
01:54 For something that occurs that frequently, you'd think that science would have figured
01:58 out its exact cause by now.
02:00 Yet, despite several theories, the true explanation behind the yawn remains unclear.
02:18 Scientists think that it may help cool the brain or aid breathing by boosting oxygen
02:22 intake and carbon dioxide release.
02:25 Other theories posit that its contagious nature promotes social bonding or helps keep a group
02:30 of animals alert.
02:31 But as none of these is yet to be proven conclusively, the yawn's exact purpose remains a mystery.
02:44 Number 8.
02:45 Bouncing Rocks All around the world, there are certain naturally
02:48 occurring structures that seem to defy gravity.
02:51 Referred to as "balancing rocks", these geological formations are typically of a substantial
02:56 size and sometimes rest precariously on smaller points.
03:00 These rocks usually originate through a combination of wind, water, and/or chemical erosion which
03:06 shape them into their unique configurations.
03:08 Despite their delicate appearance, these structures tend to remain stable, thwarting any attempts
03:13 to topple them over, including by humans, elephants, and, in some cases, earthquakes.
03:19 Some scientists say that balancing rocks around fault lines are able to withstand earthquakes
03:23 due to an already weakened ground.
03:26 But this explanation is still considerably limited.
03:29 Number 7.
03:31 Mass Whale Strandings Also referred to as "beaching", this peculiar
03:35 phenomenon occurs when large numbers of whales strand themselves on land and are unable to
03:40 return to the water.
03:41 These aquatic creatures then perish, mainly as a result of dehydration or suffocation
03:46 under their own enormous weight.
03:48 While puzzling, whale strandings are fairly frequent, usually occurring along the coasts
03:53 of Australia and New Zealand.
03:56 Scientists have proposed a range of theories, such as navigation errors due to geomagnetic
04:00 disturbances or hunting endeavors gone awry.
04:25 Another possibility is that a great number of these creatures unintentionally beach themselves
04:29 by following the distress calls of a single troubled whale.
04:49 With multiple complex factors at play, a single definitive cause for such occurrences remains
04:54 elusive.
04:55 One theory blames us.
04:57 Evidence of sonar-causing beaching started gathering in 2000 when a sonar test by the
05:02 US Navy killed 17 whales.
05:19 In some places, the lights went out momentarily.
05:39 Here's what we think is going on.
05:41 It's basically static electricity.
05:43 Charge appears to build up within the Earth's crust, which then gets discharged into the
05:48 air, creating a visible spark.
05:51 It's the same for any accumulation of electrons.
06:00 Particles fly around, bumping and shaking inside of the cloud, and as they hit each
06:03 other, the atoms bounce electrons off of one another and build up electrical charges.
06:09 Regardless, the debate surrounding these occurrences still remains charged, with some researchers
06:14 even questioning their actual existence.
06:17 Number 5.
06:18 Naga Fireballs
06:19 Every year, many travel from far and wide to the Mekong River in Southeast Asia to observe
06:25 a remarkable phenomenon.
06:27 Glowing orbs of light, referred to as Naga Fireballs, are said to rise naturally from
06:31 the water before disappearing high up in the sky.
06:38 These fireballs vary in size from small specks to as large as basketballs, sometimes appearing
06:43 by the thousands each night.
06:45 Mythical legends attribute them to mythical water creatures called Nagas, believed to
06:49 inhabit the river.
06:51 Legend has it that it is the breath of the Naga King, a serpent that resides in the Mekong.
06:56 On the other hand, scientists propose that they could be caused by bioluminescent organisms
07:01 in the water, or the combustion of gases like methane released from the riverbed.
07:05 A precise combination of oxygen, methane, and phosphorus will often produce a bluish
07:09 light, but not an orange as witnessed.
07:12 However, the likelihood of these scenarios causing a spontaneous ignition is minimal.
07:20 Number 4.
07:21 Animal Migration
07:22 Millions of animals migrate from one place to another every year in search of food, better
07:27 weather conditions, and a suitable breeding environment.
07:34 This behavior has been documented in various creatures, from birds and mammals to insects
07:39 and reptiles.
07:40 Scientists worldwide have been intrigued by how these creatures are able to navigate with
07:44 precision and avoid getting lost, while recognizing familiar landmarks and smells could explain
07:50 part of it.
07:51 Decades of research have produced evidence of a bio-compass.
07:55 Animals such as the digger wasp navigate by learning the location of things like trees
08:00 and rocks relative to their home.
08:03 This suggests that some animals possess a certain iron oxide that aids with navigation.
08:08 However, some remain skeptical of this idea.
08:11 As animal migration is complex and happens in a wide range of species, the puzzle to
08:15 fully understand it is far from being solved.
08:19 Number 3.
08:20 Cat's Purr
08:21 We all remember where we were during moments of great historical importance.
08:24 Kennedy's assassination, Charlene's wedding, and now Merlin's purr.
08:31 The purring of a cat is an unmistakable sound for pet lovers, but the how and why behind
08:36 it confounded animal scientists for decades.
08:39 The mechanism of the purr's origin seems to have been figured out.
08:43 Although once thought to be due to blood flow through the heart, it is now widely believed
08:47 that the sound is "purr-duced" by muscles within the feline larynx.
08:51 Cats purr at a frequency between 25 and 150 hertz, and research shows vibrations at these
08:58 speeds can repair bone density and reduce inflammation.
09:03 So, it turns out the sound of their little engine running is actually good for them.
09:08 Despite this, there is still no explanation for what exactly triggers the purr.
09:12 Could it just be happiness and contentment?
09:15 Or does it also express nervousness and fear?
09:18 Scientists are yet to come to an absolute conclusion.
09:20 They purr when they're severely injured, and they purr when they're giving birth.
09:24 So there has to be a survival mechanism.
09:27 Regardless, we can all agree that it is still a "perfect" sound.
09:36 Number 2.
09:37 The heat of the sun's corona.
09:40 Common sense dictates that a heat source should be hotter than the environment surrounding
09:44 it.
09:45 But when it comes to the sun, all logic is apparently thrown out the window.
09:48 While the temperature of the sun's surface sits around 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, that
09:53 of its outer atmosphere, known as the corona, surpasses 2 million degrees - over 200 times
09:59 hotter.
10:00 For more than a half-century, astronomers have tried to figure out what causes the corona
10:04 to be so hot.
10:06 It's one of the most vexing problems in astrophysics.
10:09 The reason behind this remains a baffling mystery.
10:12 Possible theories include the induction of heat from the sun's magnetic field, as well
10:16 as the upward movement of plasma waves from the surface into the corona.
10:20 Yet, none of these mechanisms has been fully accepted as a fireproof explanation for this
10:25 phenomenon.
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10:42 Number 1.
10:43 Dark matter.
10:44 Matter is anything that has mass and can occupy space.
10:48 While some of it can be observed directly, the same cannot be said for dark matter.
11:06 This invisible substance supposedly forms over 80% of the matter in the universe.
11:11 But what exactly is it made up of?
11:13 Despite being invisible, scientists generally agree that dark matter exists due to its gravitational
11:19 effect on many galaxies.
11:21 Scientists believe it makes up 85% of the matter in the universe, and also controls
11:27 the remaining 15% regular matter, like stars, planets, us?
11:35 If they're right, dark matter played a critical role in actually building the universe we
11:42 see today.
11:43 However, as it neither emits light nor interacts with the electromagnetic field, there is no
11:48 way to observe it directly.
11:51 Various theories suggest that it contains elements that haven't been discovered yet,
11:54 such as weakly interacting, massive particles.
11:58 Many experiments are still underway to unravel the mystery, but for now, scientists remain
12:03 in the dark.
12:04 It's ghost matter.
12:05 It doesn't glow, it doesn't reflect light, but it adds to the gravitating mass of objects.
12:11 And if such a clump of material passes through or near our solar system, its gravitational
12:17 force could have a profound effect.
12:20 What other commonly occurring scientific mysteries are out there?
12:23 Let us know in the comments below!
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12:32 [Music - Board Game Boogie by Ryan Henson Creighton]