Hey there, adventure seekers! Before you head out on your next outdoor journey, you need to watch our latest video on hidden natural dangers. If you see these warning signs on a trail, you’ll want to know how to save yourself. From sneaky wildlife to tricky terrain, we’ve got the info you need to stay safe. Click to watch and be prepared for whatever nature throws your way! Animation is created by Bright Side.
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This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
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Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/
Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV
Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz
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Our Social Media:
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en
Stock materials (photos, footages and other):
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https://www.shutterstock.com
https://www.eastnews.ru
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For more videos and articles visit:
http://www.brightside.me
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This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
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FunTranscript
00:00:00Now, if for some reason you ever, you know, decide to wake up a sleeping giant panda or
00:00:06cuddle it, just remember that's a bad idea.
00:00:10Even fearless big cats like snow leopards are wary of bothering pandas in the wild.
00:00:16The ones you see in the zoo might not be that active, but they still have a massive jaw
00:00:21that can deliver a powerful bite.
00:00:23Their huge false thumb lets them get a good grip on their enemies.
00:00:28The most misleading thing about the leopard seal is its mouth, which always appears to
00:00:33be smiling.
00:00:35But they're actually rather aggressive animals and effective lone hunters.
00:00:39They like to play cat and mouse with their food, which includes penguins, fish, squid,
00:00:44and even smaller seals.
00:00:46Not so long ago, a leopard seal even dragged a marine biologist deep underwater.
00:00:51Hey, stop playing with your food!
00:00:55Anteaters feed on insects, citrus fruit, and avocados.
00:00:59Watch out!
00:01:00They have no teeth, poor vision, and bad hearing.
00:01:04Sounds kinda like my Uncle Rudy.
00:01:06They aren't aggressive and stay away from people.
00:01:08But if humans walk on their trails, anteaters can turn fierce and may fight.
00:01:14They get on their hind legs, use their tails for balance, and attack with their claws that
00:01:19are strong enough to hurt a jaguar or a land rover.
00:01:24Many alpacas may seem warm-hearted, but they still have ways of defending themselves.
00:01:30They can spit up to 10 feet, and you don't want that stuff getting in your eyes because
00:01:34it contains stomach acid, along with chewed-up grass.
00:01:38They can bite with their sharp fighting teeth that are at the back of their mouths, and
00:01:42they have soft toes to give enemies a good kick.
00:01:46They can't really do more damage than you might get in a fight with a child, but it's
00:01:50best not to upset them.
00:01:53There are three things that brings out the nasty side of a Tasmanian devil.
00:01:57When there's a predator nearby, when they're competing for a mate, and when they're protecting
00:02:02their meal.
00:02:03Also Bugs Bunny, but that's a cartoon.
00:02:06These guys normally feed on insects, birds, frogs, and fish, and they like scavenging
00:02:11more than hunting.
00:02:12But if you intrude upon their home for any reason, be prepared for a painful bite.
00:02:18Their teeth are strong enough to eat through bones.
00:02:22Elephants are so clever that they understand the feelings of other elephants, and they
00:02:26even try to help each other.
00:02:28They can also take revenge on people who upset them.
00:02:31Elephants sometimes block roads and show up in the villages of people who have been mean
00:02:35to them.
00:02:37Male elephants get especially aggressive when fighting over females.
00:02:41Watch out for those huge feet, they can really do some damage.
00:02:44Better pack your trunk!
00:02:47Pufferfish can inflate to several times their normal size to protect themselves against
00:02:52predators.
00:02:53Hey, my brother-in-law can do that too.
00:02:55Just kidding.
00:02:56Most animals shouldn't try eating them anyways.
00:02:58There's enough poison inside them to finish off 30 people, and there's no antidote.
00:03:04So if it's just you, you'll need to invite some friends along to spread out the poison.
00:03:09Nah, I just made that up.
00:03:13Swans tend to see humans as the biggest danger to their homes and families.
00:03:17Male swans get especially aggressive during the spring nesting season from April to June.
00:03:22When kayakers, rowers, or anglers get too close to their nests, swans start hissing
00:03:28and flapping their wings.
00:03:30If you don't pay attention to these warning signs, the swan might even try to flip your
00:03:34boat over.
00:03:36Dolphins are the only species on the planet, apart from humans, that can take another creature's
00:03:41life for no logical reason.
00:03:44Males sometimes attack female dolphins or even baby ones, and they don't do it for
00:03:49food.
00:03:50If an angry dolphin chases you, you have no chance of out-swimming it.
00:03:54They can move at 22 mph.
00:03:57The top speed of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is only 6 mph, so he can't help you.
00:04:04Slow lorises are the only venomous primates in the world.
00:04:08They carry poison in their elbows.
00:04:11It's transferred to their mouths during grooming to protect their babies.
00:04:14Plus, they scare off predators like pythons and eagle hawks using special markings that
00:04:20show how fearsome they are.
00:04:22If a slow loris bites a person who ends up on its territory or annoys it, the result
00:04:27can be rashes, anaphylactic shock, or, you know, even worse.
00:04:33Despite their massive weight and clumsy bodies, hippos can run much faster than people.
00:04:39And they have much sharper teeth.
00:04:41If you get in their way on their trip to the watering hole, their aggression kicks in.
00:04:46Before they attack you, though, they'll give you some warning signs.
00:04:49If you see a hippo yawn or make a sound like a laugh, it means it's about to get mad.
00:04:55Well, that's rather confusing, isn't it?
00:04:59Blue-ringed octopuses are really tiny, but their venom is a thousand times stronger than
00:05:05cyanide.
00:05:06They normally use it to hunt shrimp, crabs, and small fish.
00:05:10If this creature feels threatened, it'll flash its blue rings as a warning.
00:05:14If you don't pay attention, it may bite you.
00:05:17You might not notice the bite itself, but minutes later, you'll definitely notice
00:05:21the symptoms – nausea, numbness, and even the loss of your senses and motor skills.
00:05:27So pay attention down there!
00:05:30Geographic cone snails are a seriously dangerous critter.
00:05:34They puncture their victims with a tooth that's like a harpoon, and then inject their venom.
00:05:40If a small cone attacks you, it'll just feel like a bee sting.
00:05:44If you're unlucky enough to meet a larger one, though, it could cause numbing, swelling,
00:05:49muscle paralysis, changes to your vision, and even breathing difficulties.
00:05:55Canada geese have been living close to humans for years, but they're still wary of us
00:05:59getting near their homes, especially during the spring mating season.
00:06:04At this time, the male geese can chase and bite people that seem like a threat to their
00:06:08mates, eggs, or babies.
00:06:11If you want to avoid being attacked by this seriously angry bird, the best thing you can
00:06:15do is just slowly back away.
00:06:20Squirrels have a lot of enemies, both in the wild and in cities.
00:06:24Their superpower against all of them is their speed and agility.
00:06:28Most of the time, it's completely safe to go near them.
00:06:31But they can still be unpredictable like any wild animal.
00:06:35They go on biting sprees occasionally.
00:06:37And watch out, they carry infections like rabies.
00:06:40They're more likely to go after your pets or kids, but they can also bite adults.
00:06:45So to play it safe, always walk behind your pets or kids to use them as decoys.
00:06:51Of course I'm kidding.
00:06:53If you ever see a kangaroo get up on its hind legs, back off.
00:06:58This is their way of warning you that they think you're a threat to their females or
00:07:02their food.
00:07:04They are real pros at boxing with each other, and they have really long legs and sharp claws.
00:07:10Kangaroos jump into the air to give extra force to their kicks, which are powerful enough
00:07:14to break bones.
00:07:17A platypus doesn't have teeth, and it mainly eats insects and shellfish.
00:07:22It's one of only two mammals that lay eggs.
00:07:25But these strange things can still do you harm.
00:07:28Male platypuses have sharp spurs hidden on the heels of their hind feet.
00:07:33There's venom in these spurs that's strong enough to take down a dog.
00:07:39Koalas get most of their hydration from eating eucalyptus leaves, and they get all the protection
00:07:44they need from their sharp teeth and claws.
00:07:47When a koala scratches someone that wants to cuddle them a little too hard, they can
00:07:51pass on some unpleasant infections.
00:07:56Raccoons can easily adapt to any environment, including your backyard.
00:08:01They rarely attack humans directly, but can damage your property and make you sick.
00:08:06They'll go anywhere to get some food, from trash cans to bird nests, and this is where
00:08:11they can catch a lot of different infections.
00:08:14Apart from disease, raccoons can give humans nasty wounds that take a long time to heal.
00:08:21When it thinks you're threatening its dam, a beaver will start slapping the water with
00:08:26its tail as a warning sign.
00:08:28If you ignore it, it'll try to use its sharp teeth against you to protect its family.
00:08:33So it's better to just leave it to beaver.
00:08:36Hey, there's a special knife you can use to protect yourself against attack called
00:08:41a beaver cleaver.
00:08:42No, wait, that's an old TV show.
00:08:45Otters spend a lot of their time swimming on their backs, and they don't care about
00:08:49cleaning up after themselves.
00:08:51That's why they leave behind bits of fish that attract insects carrying diseases.
00:08:56Apart from being so messy, they also have powerful teeth that can be used against any
00:09:01unwanted visitor.
00:09:04Cassowaries are the most dangerous birds on the planet.
00:09:07One of these can weigh as much as an adult person, and it has long, powerful legs and
00:09:12sharp claws.
00:09:13They can chase after you at 30 mph.
00:09:16Luckily enough, they try to avoid fights.
00:09:19But if you don't want to be the target of their karate moves, keep a safe distance and
00:09:24don't provoke them.
00:09:26Got that?
00:09:27Good.
00:09:28Ah, the beauty of nature all around you, the fresh air, and days and days of meditative
00:09:36rest far away from civilization ahead of you.
00:09:40But you've been walking for quite some time to get this far, and now it's time to set
00:09:44up camp.
00:09:45The woods around are dense, and there's no suitable place to put up your tent.
00:09:50Then you notice a nice green patch completely devoid of trees and only sprinkled with some
00:09:56low-growing bushes.
00:09:57Well, you go there, smug about your find, and get to work on the tent.
00:10:02The ground is unusually soft and smooth, but that doesn't bother you too much.
00:10:07All the better!
00:10:08The pegs go into the soil like a knife into butter.
00:10:11By the time you're done, it's dark already, so you get inside the tent and crawl into
00:10:17your cozy sleeping bag.
00:10:19You wake up from a creepy feeling that something's not right.
00:10:23You feel… wet?
00:10:25You start wriggling inside your bag, and yes, it's almost completely soaked from below.
00:10:31You rush out of the tent as quickly as you can, and see that it's started to sink into
00:10:36the ground.
00:10:37Turns out, you've set up camp on a swamp!
00:10:42And you've been lucky too!
00:10:43Swamps aren't always obvious.
00:10:45Sometimes you won't even see them until you're knee-deep in muck and trouble.
00:10:50Getting out of there can be tricky as well.
00:10:52The moss and roots create a soft padding that's slowly pulling you under, and when you try
00:10:58to raise your feet, you might end up without your boots.
00:11:02Telling a forest swamp is fairly easy when you know what to look for.
00:11:06If you're in a dense thicket and see a lush, sunlit glade where nothing but moss
00:11:11and an occasional bush grows, chances are high it's a swamp.
00:11:16You can also check it by stepping lightly on this serene ground.
00:11:19If it feels springy, better stay away.
00:11:23One other thing the swamp can be dangerous for is, surprisingly, a forest fire.
00:11:28If you stay too close to a swamp and start a campfire, it might catch on, especially
00:11:34if there's a strong wind.
00:11:36Swamps and marshes are chock-full of tar hidden underneath the layers of water and moss.
00:11:41When it starts to burn, extinguishing it is nearly impossible.
00:11:46Always keep a safe distance from any swamp before starting a campfire.
00:11:51Another common mistake while breaking camp in the wild is not looking up.
00:11:55Let's say you found some solid ground to put up a tent, cleared it from all the nasty cones
00:12:00and stones, and made sure there aren't any anthills close by.
00:12:05You don't want anything to creep inside your sleeping bag at night, do you?
00:12:09The spot you've chosen is perfect, and the tree your tent is leaning to protects you
00:12:14from the wind and rain.
00:12:16You set up for the night, turning off your camping light, and suddenly, your tent is
00:12:21thrashing as if a wild beast has attacked you.
00:12:24Bewildered, you scramble out and see a huge branch has fallen on top of your tent.
00:12:30The worst thing about this is that you would've seen it coming if only you'd looked up before
00:12:35setting up camp.
00:12:37Half-broken and rotten branches are easy to spot, and it's never a good idea to put
00:12:42your tent straight beneath them.
00:12:44Such a thing can break off at any moment, and you'll be lucky if it doesn't tear
00:12:48your tent and harm you.
00:12:52Dozens of tourists make this mistake every year, and often pay dearly for it.
00:12:57Setting up will also help you make sure there are no wasp nests or spider nets above you.
00:13:03These might prove even worse than a branch because wasps don't like to be disturbed,
00:13:08and spiders may turn out to be venomous.
00:13:11Now if you see a beautiful river and decide to break camp on its banks, pay special attention
00:13:17to where exactly you put up your tent as well.
00:13:20If you stay too close to the water, especially in spring or fall, chances are you'll find
00:13:26yourself afloat in the middle of the night.
00:13:29Always check the weather forecast for the day and the night after.
00:13:33If there's a chance of rain, better stay away from any bodies of water, especially
00:13:37rivers.
00:13:38The rain might raise the water level in it and make it burst its banks, drowning your
00:13:43little camp and ruining your vacation.
00:13:46But even if you're far from water, rain could spoil it for you.
00:13:50Say you're once again deep in the forest and tree crowns are protecting you from the
00:13:54weather.
00:13:55Precipitation still gets to the forest floor, but at least it's not as bad as in the open.
00:14:01The next night, when you set up camp in another place, you feel the ground is soft and springing.
00:14:06It's not a swamp though, just the last night's rain has loosened the soil.
00:14:11If you're in such a spot, better move to somewhere solid.
00:14:15Thing is, soft and loose ground might start creeping out from under you at any point.
00:14:21This movement isn't as dangerous as when you're in a swamp, but the pegs of your
00:14:25tent might come loose too, and you'll end up buried underneath a pile of rugs that used
00:14:30to be your tent.
00:14:32And if you decided to set up your camp in a cozy-looking valley, and the rain starts
00:14:37falling when you're already there, well… prepare for a nice floating trip.
00:14:42All the water will naturally go down and into your shelter, eventually finding its way under
00:14:48your tent.
00:14:49No wonder you'll find yourself knee-deep in rainwater when you wake up.
00:14:53Oh, what a great spot for taking a bit of rest after a long walk!
00:14:58It's on a hilltop, so there's no water nearby, the sun shining, and not a single
00:15:03tree to block it out.
00:15:05Sunbathing here is gonna be fabulous!
00:15:07Well, it seems this way for the first few hours.
00:15:10But when you stay here long enough, you'll see the error of your decision.
00:15:15Dark sunlight on your tent can make it hot in a matter of hours due to the materials
00:15:20it's made of.
00:15:21And you'll feel it on your skin as soon as you crawl inside.
00:15:24Let's just say you won't want to stay in there for long until it's night, and
00:15:29the tent's cooled down at least.
00:15:31Same thing with the wind.
00:15:33In an open spot, gusts can reach crazy speeds, and if you haven't been careful while hammering
00:15:38down the pegs, you might say goodbye to your tent sooner than you'd like.
00:15:44It's best to find a spot near a tree that would protect you, both from the sun and the
00:15:48wind.
00:15:49Still, don't get tempted to camp near a lone tree when the weather forecast isn't
00:15:53in your favor.
00:15:55Both sunny and rainy weather are okay, but if there's a serious storm coming, a single-standing
00:16:01tree will serve as a lightning rod.
00:16:04It's not hard to imagine what may come if lightning strikes a tree you're camping
00:16:08under.
00:16:09Hey, you might get a charge out of it!
00:16:12In winter camping, the weather can be even more treacherous.
00:16:16Remember what I said about direct sunlight?
00:16:18Forget it.
00:16:19In winter, it's best to have the sun shining on your tent.
00:16:22The cold might get to you no matter how cool and expensive your tent is, and the winds
00:16:27are generally much more vicious in the cold season.
00:16:31Direct sunlight will help you cope with much of the cold.
00:16:35One of the more common mistakes hikers make is starting a campfire too close to the tent.
00:16:40Again, the material of the tent conducts heat very well, and it's a good thing when it's
00:16:46warm.
00:16:47But it also catches on fire easily.
00:16:49Sometimes, one spark is enough to burn your shelter to cinders.
00:16:53Make sure there's enough room between your tent and the campfire, and never leave your
00:16:58fire unsupervised.
00:17:00When you go to sleep, it's a rule to extinguish the fire so that you don't wake up to a
00:17:05blazing inferno around you.
00:17:08Insects can ruin even the most exciting hike.
00:17:11Mosquitoes, ants, ticks, and other pesky bugs can find their way into your tent wherever
00:17:17you are, so make sure you protect yourself from them.
00:17:21Use skin repellents when you go outside, and put an anti-insect spiral next to the entrance
00:17:26to your tent.
00:17:27Don't put it too close or inside, though.
00:17:30The smell is irritating, and it can also cause a fire.
00:17:34To avoid the best part of mosquitoes, and especially ticks, try to stay away from lakes,
00:17:39ponds, and dense forests where swamps may occur.
00:17:43Skeeters reproduce in still water, so areas around such pools are replete with the winged
00:17:48pests.
00:17:50But they have a hard time flying when there's some wind, so choosing an open spot is your
00:17:55best bet to get rid of them.
00:17:57Don't let them bug you!
00:17:59When lightning flashes across the sky, it releases somewhere around 300 million volts,
00:18:05or the equivalent to power 25 million car batteries.
00:18:09Some say you're more likely to be zapped by lightning in your lifetime than to win the
00:18:13lottery, and statistics seem to prove this urban myth, as each year around 28 US locals
00:18:20do get electrically charged from the sky.
00:18:25The world's infrastructure can be affected by lightning, too.
00:18:29That's because it generally seeks out the tallest structure around, but in certain conditions
00:18:34it can also strike an open field.
00:18:37So scientists came together and invented a laser lightning rod that might help.
00:18:42This unique invention might make lightning strikes a bit more manageable, since it can
00:18:46guard a much larger area than the traditional one, and it's flexible.
00:18:52Classic lightning rods work like magnets for that powerful electrical charge.
00:18:56They're these tall metal devices placed on top of buildings.
00:19:00When a storm approaches, the rod provides an easy path for lightning to follow, preventing
00:19:05it from hitting other parts of the structure.
00:19:08The rod is also connected to the ground with a conductor, like a wire, helping the electrical
00:19:13charge to safely make its way into the earth.
00:19:16This process protects the building, and the humans in it, by directing the electrical
00:19:21energy away.
00:19:23We've been using lightning rods for the last 300 years, courtesy of Benjamin Franklin.
00:19:28But they're not damage-proof.
00:19:30When it comes to safeguarding vast spaces like airports, they can't manage.
00:19:35That's because they can only cover an area proportional to their height.
00:19:43Here's where this new, improved lightning rod can help.
00:19:46When the laser zaps the sky, it leaves behind a trail of super-heated air, called plasma.
00:19:52The same way a sculptor carves out traces in clay, the laser creates channels in the
00:19:57air.
00:19:58These channels then become the lightning's new favorite route, guiding it down to the
00:20:03ground.
00:20:04This new method was tested in the Swiss Alps back in 2021, and the results were promising.
00:20:10These lasers do have their own disadvantages.
00:20:13They aren't always available and need a heads-up.
00:20:16That's because they have to be activated before a bolt hits.
00:20:21If you're a second too late, tough luck.
00:20:24Also, once the laser stops, the air loses its conductivity pretty quickly.
00:20:30This means the laser rod might not have enough power to guide the lightning safely.
00:20:35A potential solution might be monitoring the electric field around a certain area, predicting
00:20:41where lightning might strike.
00:20:43Yet, these new rods still need more testing, and lots of funds.
00:20:51The European Space Agency found another way to make lasers useful, to turn moon dust into
00:20:57roads.
00:20:58It would make our future lunar exploration missions much easier if a laser beam could
00:21:03do the hard jobs, allowing astronauts to drive around the moon.
00:21:08This discovery might also help with another tricky issue, moon dust clinging to everything
00:21:14in sight.
00:21:16Roads on the moon might seem too much of a hustle for now, since we haven't been to
00:21:20our satellites since 1972.
00:21:23But when future space explorers will touch down again, they don't just plan to walk
00:21:27small distances.
00:21:29It'll be nice to have them driving around, so they can explore larger areas.
00:21:34Problem is, that pesky moon dust is very fine, abrasive, and sticky.
00:21:40Back during the Apollo missions, it clogged up equipment, eroded spacesuits, and even
00:21:45caused a lunar rover to overheat.
00:21:48That's why scientists want to zap simulated moon dirt with a laser.
00:21:56This laser-powered project used a 12-kilowatt laser to melt simulated moon dirt into a solid,
00:22:02glassy surface, perfect for moon roads.
00:22:05The plan isn't to send a huge laser on the moon.
00:22:09This device they're testing here on Earth is like a stand-in for the sun, mimicking
00:22:13what lunar sunlight could do.
00:22:16The idea is to eventually concentrate sunlight using a big lens on the moon's surface.
00:22:22Some experiments have been done so far with different laser sizes, finding that a bigger
00:22:27beam made the whole process go smoother.
00:22:30Instead of dealing with tiny molten balls, they got a stable layer of molten moon dirt
00:22:35that's easier to work with.
00:22:38What they got was a glassy, somewhat brittle material that can handle downward forces.
00:22:43And even if it cracks, it's fixable.
00:22:46The laser beam was used to make triangle-shaped road parts that fit together like puzzle pieces,
00:22:52forming solid surfaces across lunar soil.
00:22:56If this goes as planned, we'll have moon roads made of interlocked triangles.
00:23:00This unique type of moon pavement could be the solution for landing pads, too.
00:23:09Lasers can help piece together information on long-lost civilizations, too.
00:23:14Discovering Maya cities has always been difficult for researchers exploring Mexico's Yucatan
00:23:19Peninsula.
00:23:20For years, experts believed no early civilization could have thrived in that harsh environment.
00:23:26But advancements like light-mapping technology and laser scans are showing us this might
00:23:32not be true.
00:23:34LiDAR technology can lend a helping hand for archaeologists, especially in areas that are
00:23:39hard to physically reach.
00:23:42That's because it's like we're equipping computers with a pair of eyes.
00:23:46The whole thing works as a flashlight, sending out small light beams in the form of a pulsated
00:23:51laser.
00:23:53These beams balance off objects like trees and buildings and come back to the flashlight.
00:23:59LiDAR measures how long it takes for the light to return, creating a map of the surroundings.
00:24:04When a self-driving car or robot wants to know where it is, it uses LiDAR to send out
00:24:09these light beams.
00:24:11By figuring out how long they take to come back and where they hit, the car or robot
00:24:17can understand what's around it, making it safer for them to move around through the
00:24:21fog or at nighttime without bumping into things.
00:24:28With this technology, a team uncovered the massive Maya city of Ocumtun.
00:24:34LiDAR technology helped researchers to map the jungle floor, revealing hidden structures.
00:24:39But someone still needed to verify these findings on foot.
00:24:43The journey to Ocumtun wasn't extremely challenging.
00:24:46The region, quite far from the nearest airport, is mostly unexplored, accessible only through
00:24:51old hunting and logging routes.
00:24:54The dense terrain made the trek challenging, taking the team up to two weeks to cover just
00:24:5830 miles.
00:25:00But the effort paid off, revealing monumental structures like a large acropolis and intriguing
00:25:05shapes hinting at a marketplace or cultural center.
00:25:10LiDAR is also used in rovers we'll need to explore other planets.
00:25:14This will allow the robots we send up there to navigate their surroundings without direct
00:25:19human indications.
00:25:21It's also helped us better understand the best location to place solar panels, making
00:25:26it cheaper and faster for us to meet our energy needs.
00:25:33We might also be able to use lasers to predict how a volcano is going to act.
00:25:38These structures are loaded with magma, the molten rock sneaking upwards from the Earth's
00:25:43insides.
00:25:44When a volcano blows its top, a chemical reaction happens, transforming magma into what we call
00:25:49lava.
00:25:50The specialists behind this new use of lasers think of magma as the computer code of volcanoes.
00:25:57It reveals information on how a volcano might pop up.
00:26:01That's because not all eruptions bring lava.
00:26:03And even if they do, there are different lava types, depending on how runny it is.
00:26:10Magma is like a mix of liquid, gas, and crystals that are shaken up inside the volcano.
00:26:16There are many elements at play before a volcanic eruption, so it's hard to study and understand
00:26:21that complex chemistry.
00:26:23To organize things around a bit, scientists hit the cooled magma, the rock matrix, with
00:26:28a laser.
00:26:29Just like the ones you might have encountered if you've ever had eye surgery.
00:26:33It makes the chemical components easier to study.
00:26:37This latest laser eye method was used on samples from a 2021 eruption, which lasted 85 days.
00:26:44It covered over 4 square miles, spewing loads of lava that wrecked over 1,000 homes and
00:26:50displaced over 7,000 people.
00:26:53To prevent such events from happening again, scientists need more data.
00:26:58It's true, earthquakes and ground shifts help specialists predict what a volcano might
00:27:02do.
00:27:03But knowing a bit more about its chemistry can help a bit more.
00:27:09One day, the hand of Ross McPherson, a teenager from Scotland, suddenly turned red and started
00:27:15hurting badly.
00:27:16Soon, a painful blister appeared.
00:27:19It was the size of an orange.
00:27:21This made it hard for Ross to even dress himself.
00:27:24The discomfort was unbearable, and he needed doctors' help to get rid of this nightmare.
00:27:30Turned out, he accidentally brushed his hand against a harmless-looking plant while riding
00:27:35his bike near his home.
00:27:37All this nightmare was caused by one very dangerous plant – the giant hogweed.
00:27:44The giant hogweed is a group of toxic look-alike plants that are known as Britain's most
00:27:50dangerous plant.
00:27:52Surprisingly, this plant is a member of the carrot family.
00:27:56It was originally hanging out in the Caucasus.
00:27:59People really liked it for its impressive height of over 16 feet and pleasant appearance.
00:28:04They started planting it in gardens, and then suddenly, it turned out that the plant was
00:28:09highly toxic.
00:28:11By the 80s, it was officially banned from gardens in England.
00:28:15Giant hogweed hangs out near rivers and canals.
00:28:18Recently, it started popping up in gardens and parks, too.
00:28:22People have spotted it all over the UK.
00:28:25This plant got even more attention during the recent years when everyone started spending
00:28:29more time in their gardens.
00:28:32It looks like a taller, more dangerous cousin of cow parsley or hemlock.
00:28:37It also has long stems and a bunch of white leaves.
00:28:41But its stem is pretty wide with a big, white, umbrella-shaped flower on top.
00:28:46To see the difference, watch out for its leaves.
00:28:49They look sharp and divided, around 6 feet in width.
00:28:53The stems are thick and bristly with stiff white hairs and hollow ridges.
00:28:58You might notice purple blotches on the stems, like hemlock, but this plant grows much taller
00:29:03and has fewer fern leaves.
00:29:05Its flower heads can stretch up to 2 feet!
00:29:09This plant's sap can really hurt you.
00:29:11It contains a chemical called furicoumarin, which makes your skin super sensitive to sunlight.
00:29:17It can also cause a long-term problem called sensitization, which means that even years
00:29:22later, your skin can still react badly to sunlight.
00:29:26So if you get it on you and you go out in the sun, you'll end up with severe burns
00:29:30that blister and take forever to heal.
00:29:33People are often left with scars that stick around for life.
00:29:37And it's not just skin burns you have to worry about.
00:29:40If the sap gets in your eyes, it could even make you go blind!
00:29:44You should be especially careful in summer when it's most active.
00:29:48Remember that you can get affected by it even if you wear clothes or shoes, so just try
00:29:53to stay away from anything suspicious looking.
00:29:57Symptoms can include a rash, itching, and painful blisters.
00:30:01If you realize that you accidentally got hurt by this plant, go to the doctor immediately,
00:30:06especially if you see the blisters.
00:30:09First aid includes washing the area with soap and water and covering it up.
00:30:16There are other very toxic plants that could be hiding in your garden or local area, looking
00:30:21harmless and pretty.
00:30:24Don't be tricked by foxglove's beauty.
00:30:26This plant contains digitoxin, which is used in medicine to stimulate the heart.
00:30:32All parts of the foxglove plant are toxic.
00:30:35If you eat the leaves, you could end up with a stomachache, nausea, vomiting, or worse.
00:30:40In serious cases, it can even mess up with your vision and cause problems with your heart
00:30:44and kidneys.
00:30:46Nightshade is another one of the most poisonous plants.
00:30:49Don't eat it!
00:30:50Just a couple of its berries contain tropane alkaloids, which can be fatal to a person.
00:30:56This plant is a member of the tomato family.
00:30:59It can be found in woodlands, although it's not as common as it used to be.
00:31:03Its family is quite extensive, including tomatoes, potatoes, chilies, aubergines, peppers,
00:31:09and henbane.
00:31:11Despite its scary nature, we can extract an antidote for nerve gas from this plant.
00:31:16So while it's dangerous, it also holds a unique quality with potential medicinal uses.
00:31:23And finally, there's the hemlock water dropwort, also known as poison parsnip.
00:31:29It's a very common plant around rivers and lakes.
00:31:32As you can guess from the name, it's related to hemlock, another toxic plant.
00:31:37Hemlock is a very dangerous plant on its own.
00:31:40It can be fatal if eaten, and it contains 5 different alkaloids that can lead to severe
00:31:46paralysis of the nervous system.
00:31:48What's even worse is that it's often found in the wild around pretty populated areas.
00:31:54These two plants, however, live in different places and have different toxins.
00:31:59Every part of the hemlock water dropwort, including its tubers, stems, and leaves, contains
00:32:04a powerful poison called enanthotoxin.
00:32:07This poison targets the central nervous system and can cause serious convulsions.
00:32:13So both of these plants are not to be messed with.
00:32:17These are just relatively toxic plants, but there are also those that are considered the
00:32:21most dangerous ones in the world.
00:32:26Aconite, also known as monk's hood or devil's helmet, is one of Europe's most poisonous.
00:32:32Just touching it can be harmful because of its potent neurotoxin.
00:32:36Manchineel tree is found in both Americas.
00:32:39This tree's sap can burn your skin.
00:32:41Its leaves and fruit are lethal.
00:32:46Castor bean is native to Africa.
00:32:49This shrub's seeds contain ricin, a toxin that's said to be 6,000 times more poisonous
00:32:54than cyanide.
00:32:56But it also has an upside.
00:32:58Castor oil can be extracted from these seeds.
00:33:02The seeds of Jaquarity bean are used in jewelry, but they contain a toxin called abrin, which
00:33:07is extremely poisonous.
00:33:10So be careful with these accessories.
00:33:13Oleander is a common ornamental plant.
00:33:15However, it contains toxins that make it poisonous.
00:33:19While poisonings are common, luckily, the plant is so bitter that no one wants to eat
00:33:24it in large quantities, so fatal cases are rare.
00:33:29Gympie Gympie is a plant from Australasia, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
00:33:34The plant has a funny name, but its stinging hairs cause extreme discomfort, lasting for
00:33:39months or even years.
00:33:42And finally, the potato plant, though not as toxic as others, can be harmful if eaten.
00:33:49The green parts of the potato plant contain toxins like solanine and chaconine.
00:33:56Getting rid of toxic plants around your garden is crucial, even though it's not legally
00:34:01required.
00:34:02Especially because they could spread in the wild and you could get in trouble with the
00:34:06law for that.
00:34:07Here's what you can do to remove them safely.
00:34:10First, wear protective gear like gloves and face masks.
00:34:14Cover your skin completely and make sure that nothing can touch it.
00:34:18Make sure to dispose of the gear later or wash it immediately very carefully.
00:34:24Be careful not to let toxic plants flower.
00:34:27Try to dispose of them when they're small and pull them out when the soil is wet.
00:34:32For bigger plants, you might need to loosen the roots with a fork.
00:34:35It's best to leave this to professionals if it's a large area.
00:34:39Finally, make sure to dispose of the plant carefully.
00:34:43Don't just throw it anywhere, as it can spread and cause more problems.
00:34:48And stay on your guard in the future, as it can produce a lot of seeds that stick around
00:34:53for a long time.
00:34:55There's no need to panic if you see them in your garden.
00:34:58Just be careful and take action if you find it on your property.
00:35:02If you see them in your area, call the professionals to remove them.
00:35:07Luckily, fatal cases are very rare, and even if you accidentally touch the plant, you should
00:35:13be fine if you go to the doctor as soon as possible.
00:35:17But why are some plants so dangerous?
00:35:20It's all about chemistry and how plants have evolved over time.
00:35:24Plants develop toxins to protect themselves from being eaten by animals.
00:35:28If a plant is slightly more toxic than its neighbors, it has a better chance of surviving
00:35:33because animals will avoid it.
00:35:35Interestingly, most of the plants became dangerous to scare away large ancient animals like woolly
00:35:41mammoths or aurochs, not humans.
00:35:45Because of that, these toxins often aren't fatal.
00:35:48The plants only wanted to make those who ate it feel unwell so animals would stop eating
00:35:53the plant.
00:35:54Now, these large animals are extinct, and nobody touches these guys.
00:35:59Unfortunately, they've already evolved to stay paranoid, so all we can do is stay as
00:36:04far away from them as possible.
00:36:11Hello distinguished guests and welcome to Aquarium Bright.
00:36:15Here you will get to see the most dangerous sea and ocean creatures.
00:36:19But don't let what I said mislead you.
00:36:21It's very well possible for you to come across one of these underwater animals during a walk
00:36:25on the beach.
00:36:27So take a look at them carefully now and you might just avoid a disaster.
00:36:33Is it fish or is it stone?
00:36:36What you're looking at is commonly known as the stonefish.
00:36:39Its fancier names include the doornorn and the sinansia.
00:36:44If you're into diving and observing the underwater, you might already have come across one without
00:36:49noticing.
00:36:50Its appearance makes it almost impossible to distinguish it from a real stone due to
00:36:55its grey coloration and mottled appearance, especially if you're wearing fogged snorkel
00:37:00goggles.
00:37:01So you better pay attention because otherwise the consequences can be unfortunate since
00:37:06stonefish are the most venomous fish known.
00:37:09Although some types of stonefishes are known to live in rivers and most of them are found
00:37:13in coral reefs near the tropical Pacific and Indian oceans.
00:37:18Their needle-like dorsal fin spines stick up when they're disturbed or threatened and
00:37:22inject the poison they contain.
00:37:25The most common reason why stonefish stings occur is swimmers stepping on them without
00:37:30realizing it.
00:37:31However, you don't need to be in the water to get stung.
00:37:34Since they can survive out of the water for up to 24 hours, you'll have to watch where
00:37:38you step when you're at the beach as well.
00:37:41Those who got stung by stonefish describe their experience to be extremely distressing.
00:37:46Their venom can result in infection and in some cases it is known to cause shock and
00:37:51paralysis.
00:37:52It might come as a bit of a shock, but despite its bad reputation, stonefish is edible if
00:37:58it's prepared properly.
00:38:00When the fish is heated, its venom breaks down.
00:38:03And if the dorsal fins, which are the main source of its venom, are removed, raw stonefish
00:38:07is served as part of sashimi too.
00:38:11This creature might look like it came out of a science fiction movie, but it's very
00:38:15much real.
00:38:17Say hello to the blue-ringed octopuses.
00:38:19Don't be deceived by their small size, which can range between 5 to 8 inches including
00:38:24their arms, because they're packed with venom to cause great damage to as many as 26 people
00:38:30within minutes.
00:38:32Just like stonefishes, blue-ringed octopuses are found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans,
00:38:37from Japan to Australia.
00:38:40They typically live on coral reefs and rocky areas of the seafloor.
00:38:44Some may also be found in tide pools, seagrass, and algal beds.
00:38:49Blue-ringed octopuses are not aggressive in nature.
00:38:52When they're not seeking food such as crabs or shrimps, or searching for a mate, they
00:38:57often hide in marine debris, shells, or crevices.
00:39:01It's only if they're provoked, cornered, or handled that they get dangerous to humans.
00:39:06When they're threatened, they turn bright yellow or blue iridescent rings appear all
00:39:10over their body as a warning display towards the potential predators.
00:39:15Their bites usually come unnoticed, so you might not be able to realize you're bitten
00:39:19until it's too late.
00:39:21The venom of a blue-ringed octopus can cause dizziness and loss of senses and motor skills,
00:39:26and ultimately paralysis.
00:39:29So better try to keep your hands to yourself and back away in a hurry if you see one.
00:39:34Nope, it's not a flower bouquet, so don't try to pick and smell one of those pink tube-like
00:39:40things.
00:39:41What's standing before your eyes is a marine animal called a flower urchin.
00:39:46It may look gorgeous, but don't let the looks deceive you.
00:39:49It was named the most dangerous sea urchin in the 2014 Guinness World Records.
00:39:54Flower urchins inhabit the tropical areas of the Indo-West Pacific and are found among
00:39:59coral reefs, rocks, sand, and seagrass depths at depths of 0 to 295 feet.
00:40:07The most noticeable feature of them is their pedicularia, which are claw-shaped defensive
00:40:12organs that are also found in sea stars.
00:40:15What makes flower urchins differ from any other sea urchin is the fact that their pedicularia
00:40:20is, as the name suggests, flower-like, and usually pinkish-white to yellowish-white in
00:40:25color with a central purple dot.
00:40:28Hidden underneath those flowers, they possess short and blunt spines.
00:40:33Although many sea urchins deliver their venom through such spines, flower urchins deliver
00:40:38their venom through their pedicularia, or flowers.
00:40:42If they're undisturbed, the tips of these flowers are usually expanded into round, cup-like
00:40:47shapes.
00:40:48On their surface, they possess tiny sensors with which they can detect threats, and once
00:40:53they contact such threats, these flowers immediately snap shut and start injecting venom.
00:41:00What's weird is that the little claws of the flowers can sometimes break off from their
00:41:04stalks, stick to the point of contact, and continue injecting venom for hours into whoever
00:41:10touched it.
00:41:11Yeesh!
00:41:12Looks like a giant puddle of melted strawberry ice cream, right?
00:41:17You wish!
00:41:18It's a lion's mane jellyfish, which is also called giant jellyfish, arctic red jellyfish,
00:41:24or hairy jelly.
00:41:26They're known to prefer cool water, that's why they can mostly be found in the Arctic,
00:41:31northern Atlantic, and northern Pacific Oceans.
00:41:34But it's possible to spot them around the British Isles or in the Scandinavian waters,
00:41:39too.
00:41:41Lion's mane jellyfish are one of the largest known species of jellyfish.
00:41:45They get their name from their long, flowing hair-like tentacles and can reach lengths
00:41:50up to 10 feet.
00:41:52And although the average bell diameter of a lion's mane jellyfish is around 20 inches,
00:41:57they can sometimes attain a diameter of over 7 feet!
00:42:01The largest lion's mane jellyfish recorded was seen in 1865 off the coast of Massachusetts.
00:42:08It was measured to have tentacles around 125 feet long and a diameter of 7 feet.
00:42:15To help you picture it, this is longer than a blue whale!
00:42:19Lion's mane jellyfish hunt by extending their tentacles outward and creating a trap
00:42:23to catch their food.
00:42:25Since they have around 1,200 stinging tentacles, the fish would have to be extremely lucky
00:42:32to be able to escape them.
00:42:34The sting of a lion's mane jellyfish is usually not life-threatening, but you would
00:42:38still want to avoid swimming into its tentacles because it can be very painful to humans.
00:42:43And if you see one washed up on the beach, better not touch it because it can still deliver
00:42:47a sting long after they've been on the shore.
00:42:50Fun fact, the lion's mane jellyfish appears in the Sherlock Holmes story, The Adventure
00:42:55of the Lion's Mane, as a suspect.
00:42:58But don't worry, we won't give you any spoilers.
00:43:02The last marine animal you're seeing now is a sea snake.
00:43:06And yes, they are different from eels.
00:43:09There are 69 identified species of sea snakes.
00:43:12Most of them can be found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian and Pacific
00:43:17Oceans.
00:43:18And they have been around for millions of years.
00:43:21To make things easier, scientists have separated all different species of sea snakes into two
00:43:27categories, true sea snakes and sea kraits.
00:43:31Whereas true sea snakes spend almost all their time at sea, sea kraits can spend some time
00:43:36on land as well.
00:43:39If you see a snake on the beach, you can tell whether it's a land or sea snake by looking
00:43:43at its tail.
00:43:44If it's paddle-like, then that's a sea snake you got there.
00:43:48But make sure to keep your distance in both cases.
00:43:52All sea snakes need to surface regularly to breathe since they have no gills.
00:43:56That's why you can come across one while swimming.
00:43:59If that happens, you better swim away as fast as you can because most sea snakes have more
00:44:04venom than the average cobra or rattlesnake.
00:44:07However, since they only attack if provoked, bites are quite rare.
00:44:12One more cool fact about sea snakes, they are the only reptiles to give birth in the
00:44:17oceans.
00:44:18The majority of sea snakes keep the eggs within themselves and give birth to nearly fully
00:44:23formed snakes while swimming.
00:44:25That's except for the yellow-lipped sea krait though.
00:44:27They come onto land to lay eggs of their little ones.
00:44:30Remember the stonefish from the beginning of our tour?
00:44:33They're hunted by sea snakes.
00:44:36This spiky tree knows how to shoot, so you better stay away from it.
00:44:41It's called a sandbox tree, and you can find it in Amazonia.
00:44:45Initially, its seeds are formed in the shape of a small pumpkin.
00:44:49As time goes by, they harden and mature.
00:44:53But here comes the fun part.
00:44:55Just as they reach peak maturity, the seeds pop and shoot out at a speed of 150 miles
00:45:00per hour.
00:45:01They can even reach distances of 60 feet.
00:45:04That's what makes it so risky to be in their way during the blast process.
00:45:09Not to mention the seeds are poisonous too.
00:45:12Sure, some trees don't grow completely upright.
00:45:16But a tree that's altogether bent, with its branches even touching the ground, is
00:45:21a sight not to be missed.
00:45:23Such a tree, called the El Arbol de la Sabina, grows in Spain.
00:45:27Its shape depends on the wind, as the tree bends in its direction.
00:45:32As a result, not only does it often have a weird shape, but it can also change it completely
00:45:37during different times of the year.
00:45:39This flexible tree can reach more than 26 feet in height and tends to grow in the most
00:45:43improbable of locations, like on rocks.
00:45:48Now how about a tree that's as old as dinosaurs?
00:45:52Discovered in 1994, the wallami pine tree species can be seen in the Blue Mountains
00:45:57of Sydney, Australia.
00:45:59It dates back to over 200 million years, so it's easy to believe dinosaurs might have
00:46:04even roamed around it.
00:46:06Since these trees are endangered, and only 100 exhibits exist to this day in the wild,
00:46:11the scientists don't feel like disclosing their location.
00:46:15They want to make sure the trees are well-preserved.
00:46:17Also, they're important for science, as studying them may help us uncover new information on
00:46:23the Earth's past.
00:46:24The bark of the tree can teach us many different things, like different temperature periods
00:46:29or exposure to various chemicals.
00:46:32The Tree of Life gets its name because it's able to withstand difficult conditions and
00:46:37actually thrive.
00:46:39Located in the desert outskirts of Bahrain, the Prosopis cineraria has a very deep root
00:46:45system which allows it to survive in the scorching heat.
00:46:48The scientists still can't find out how it manages to get sufficient water.
00:46:53It's so special that it gathers over 50,000 tourists each year.
00:46:59La India Dormida in Panama is a mountainous area that's shaped like the body of a sleeping
00:47:04girl.
00:47:05It's part of a bigger, mysterious region called La Val de Anton, one of the largest inhabited
00:47:11dormant volcanoes in the world.
00:47:13And it has some pretty weird trees too – square ones.
00:47:17Even the rings of these trees, meaning the interior of their trunks, are the same shape,
00:47:21with sharp edges, sometimes even at a perfect 90-degree angle.
00:47:26Researchers have tried to piece together why these trees grow in this particular shape.
00:47:31They even tried taking samples of some of the trees and planting them elsewhere, to
00:47:35see if they retain that shape.
00:47:37It wasn't the case, so it's clear that the odd shape of the trees has something to
00:47:42do with the valley itself.
00:47:44Some people believe that a local farmer might have originally planted the trees in boxes,
00:47:49forcing the trees to grow like that, to reduce lumber waste, since round trees often end
00:47:54up being cut in sharp angled pieces.
00:47:58One of the oldest and biggest trees in the world is found in the Sequoia National Park
00:48:03of the United States.
00:48:04It's called General Sherman and stretches at 275 feet.
00:48:08It's almost as big as the Statue of Liberty.
00:48:12Its circumference is equally as impressive, as near the ground it is around 102 feet around.
00:48:18As for its age, we can only guess it to be between 2,300 and 2,700 years.
00:48:25It's an old tree!
00:48:28There are a lot of beautiful species of trees out there, but none as striking as the rainbow
00:48:33eucalyptus found in the Philippines.
00:48:36It almost looks hand-painted because of its multicolored layers of bark.
00:48:41This tree also shades its layers irregularly, which means it shows a lot of colors at once,
00:48:47from green to blue, then purple to orange, and then finally reaching brown.
00:48:52It's not used for decorating purposes, but rather for paper manufacturing.
00:48:58Located in Namibia is a tree that's also weird in shape and pretty dangerous, the bottle tree.
00:49:04Okay, in terms of shape, it's pretty self-explanatory, with a round trunk that narrows down toward
00:49:09the top.
00:49:10But, the milky sap harvested from the tree is extremely poisonous.
00:49:16Legend has it that local hunters used to dip their arrows in it for added efficiency.
00:49:21It does look really beautiful during bloom season, with flowers that grow in pink and
00:49:25white with a red center.
00:49:27Now, to see a crooked tree every now and then isn't so special.
00:49:32But to see a whole forest of them, you'd have to travel to the Polish town of Grafino.
00:49:38Near it, there is a forest made out of 400 oddly-shaped trees.
00:49:42They've been curved with mechanical intervention.
00:49:45They didn't just grow like that, but their purpose remains a mystery to this day.
00:49:50Some have said it's because the wood from the trees was intended for furniture, or even
00:49:54for the construction of boats.
00:49:56But either way, the forest was eventually abandoned.
00:50:01A silk cotton tree has taken over the ancient Ta Prohm temples of Cambodia, creating a spectacular
00:50:08view.
00:50:09Massive branches of the silk cotton trees were free to grow over the structures for
00:50:13ages, going back as far as the 12th century.
00:50:17The temples have been restored and are accessible to tourists.
00:50:22The dragon's blood tree grows in the Canary Islands of northwest Africa.
00:50:26Locals used to say that once a dragon passes away, it transforms into a tree.
00:50:32Standing at an impressive 50 feet in length, the tree is named like that due to its red
00:50:37sap which can be harvested from the bark.
00:50:40The red substance to this day is used for dyes and in medicine.
00:50:45One of the biggest, oldest, and most impressive trees in the world is the Sunland Baobab tree.
00:50:51It's 72 feet high and has a circumference of 155 feet.
00:50:56It's located in South Africa.
00:50:59What makes it even more spectacular is the fact that it is naturally hollow inside.
00:51:04So, a small lounge was set up inside the tree back in 1933.
00:51:09It initially could support up to 20 individuals, but it can now host up to 60 people.
00:51:14Not to mention, the tree dates back over 6,000 years.
00:51:19The silver birch tree spread across Scandinavia and northeast Europe and found a way to reflect
00:51:24light.
00:51:25Its bark became lighter in color, and during the colder season, when its branches also
00:51:30freeze over, the site is something of a natural winter wonderland.
00:51:34It also developed a partnership with a fungus that connects to its roots and fans out under
00:51:40the forest, gathering up nutrients that trees can't reach.
00:51:44For these services, the tree gives the fungus sugars in return.
00:51:48The birch's companion is dangerous and shouldn't be consumed by people.
00:51:52It's easy to recognize with the classical scarlet-topped, red-sprinkled mushroom head.
00:51:58A natural festival not to be missed is Japan's cherry blossom season.
00:52:03The pinkish-white blossom is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, going hand-in-hand with
00:52:09a local saying called mano no arare, which relatively translates to the fact that everything
00:52:16is temporary, regardless of how perfect or beautiful it is.
00:52:21Should you ever visit Japan, you'll quickly see that the cherry blossom symbol is everywhere,
00:52:26from company logos to even clothing or household items.
00:52:31Yosemite National Park in California once had an amazing tree structure that was turned
00:52:36into a tunnel.
00:52:37It was a Coast Redwood tree, stretching 227 feet tall.
00:52:41It was nicknamed wawona, the Native American word for the hoot of an owl.
00:52:46The tree fell in 1969 because of a heavy snow, but it survived as an ecosystem for animals,
00:52:52plants, and insects.
00:52:54It's now called the Fallen Tunnel Tree.
00:52:57One tree species known as fracapasvvvvv, well, you read it, is the rarest plant on Earth.
00:53:03The Guinness World Record book recorded one single tree of its kind, off the coast of
00:53:08New Zealand.
00:53:09It wasn't always that lonely, but humans brought goats to the island, which nipped
00:53:14at every other member of its family.
00:53:16Ow!
00:53:17Luckily, scientists are looking at ways to plant new specimens.
00:53:23When walking along the riverbank, it's quiet save for the water's peaceful burbling.
00:53:29The hot Georgia sun beats down on your neck.
00:53:32That's when you notice something strange on the ground.
00:53:35Looks like a quarter-sized black coin with a weird pattern on it.
00:53:40You bend over for a closer look.
00:53:42Is it a coin?
00:53:43This thing looks like an ancient seal with a symbol carved in it.
00:53:47It's probably from some long-lost civilization.
00:53:50You could sell it and make a fortune!
00:53:53You crouch down on one knee to pick up your newfound treasure.
00:53:57As soon as your finger touches it, you pull your hand back as fear wells in your gut.
00:54:02It's hairy.
00:54:04You go to pick it up again, digging your nails in the dirt around it to pull it out of the
00:54:08ground.
00:54:09That's when it moves.
00:54:11Your heart jumps in your throat.
00:54:13It's pounding so hard you can feel it in your head.
00:54:16The fear turns to horror when the coin wiggles its way out of the ground.
00:54:21It's no ancient treasure.
00:54:23It's a huge spider!
00:54:25A ravine-trapped ore spider, to be precise.
00:54:28This hard, coin-looking growth on the back of its body serves as a shield.
00:54:33The eight-legged terrors burrow into the ground and plug it like a cork so hungry enemies
00:54:38can't get to them.
00:54:40Or you know, giant confused humans like you.
00:54:43The spider is venomous, but its bite isn't toxic to humans.
00:54:47Whew, lucky you!
00:54:49But I didn't say you wouldn't feel it.
00:54:51Best stay away from those sizable pincer-like fangs.
00:54:55Ow!
00:54:56Well, so much for your riches.
00:54:58Perhaps fortune awaits you in Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
00:55:02You're walking on dried-up ground when you notice a long white stripe up ahead.
00:55:08You get closer.
00:55:09Oh, looks like a super long worm, you think to yourself.
00:55:13But it doesn't move like any worm you've ever seen.
00:55:16That's when you see it has arms.
00:55:19And a head!
00:55:21This pale creature with black beady eyes is a Mexican mole lizard.
00:55:25It lives in the ground where all its dinner of insects and termites hang out.
00:55:30It rarely comes out, so you're pretty lucky to have seen this bizarre reptile.
00:55:36Now you're in a rainforest in northeastern Australia.
00:55:39Ahead, half-hidden among the trees, you notice something large and round.
00:55:45This mysterious figure lying on the ground is covered in black hair.
00:55:50At first, you think it's a bear curled up sleeping.
00:55:53But that wouldn't make any sense.
00:55:55There are no bears down under.
00:55:57You're getting closer when a twig snaps under your foot.
00:56:00The thing hears you and springs to its legs.
00:56:04It turns to you, and you now see this is a bizarre and beautiful bird.
00:56:09That black hair is actually a thick coat of long fine feathers.
00:56:13This formidable fowl has a bright blue head with a large horn on top.
00:56:19It stands on two powerful legs with a dagger-like claw on each foot that can be as long as your
00:56:25hand.
00:56:26Take away those feathers, and you might mistake this thing for a velociraptor.
00:56:30But it's actually a cassowary, the most dangerous bird in the world.
00:56:35It could jump straight over your head if it wanted to, definitely high enough to kick
00:56:39you in the chest.
00:56:40And its blows are strong enough to break bone, not to mention that claw that can cut through
00:56:45anything like butter.
00:56:47This bird was made to hunt and avoid being hunted.
00:56:50Don't even consider running away.
00:56:52Not unless you too can sprint over 30 miles per hour.
00:56:56Diving into that lake over there won't save you either.
00:56:59This bird is an excellent swimmer.
00:57:02Best just to back away slowly and hope it doesn't come after you.
00:57:07Another creature that proves it's best to keep your hands to yourself is the panda ant.
00:57:12The naming is obvious – it's black and white and furry like the beloved bamboo-chewing
00:57:17bear.
00:57:18This furry little bugger lives in the forests of Chile.
00:57:21But don't go to pet this fluffy little ant.
00:57:24What you're looking at is no ant at all – it's a species of wasp.
00:57:29That black and white coloring serves one purpose – to warn others of this insect's powerful
00:57:34sting.
00:57:35And if that doesn't make you back away, the wasp will let out a squeaking sound.
00:57:41It sounds cute to us humans, but it means a painful sting is around the corner.
00:57:47These insects are loners.
00:57:48They don't live in colonies and don't have nests.
00:57:50They're also parasites.
00:57:52A female panda ant lays eggs next to the larvae of another insect.
00:57:58Then the hatched babies use these larvae as food.
00:58:01Surely, you've seen bugs that look like leaves and twigs.
00:58:05But what about a creature that looks like a beautiful orchid?
00:58:09You can find this fragrant flower in the forest or a green field among other plants.
00:58:15Make sure that's a flower you're leaning in toward to smell.
00:58:18If it's not, you risk being bitten by a preying mantis.
00:58:23The orchid mantis is nearly impossible to distinguish among the flowers.
00:58:27It has pink-white coloring with legs and claws that look identical to little petals.
00:58:32It uses its resemblance to the plant to hide from predators and hunt insects that love
00:58:37these flowers.
00:58:39A butterfly or a bee flies up to the flower when one of the petals starts moving.
00:58:44The unsuspecting meal might take it as simply the wind.
00:58:48But then the petal turns into a sharp claw that suddenly grabs the insect.
00:58:54Now imagine you're in the jungles of Costa Rica.
00:58:57You notice a brown snake sitting on a tree branch in front of your face.
00:59:01The snake looks like it's about to strike.
00:59:04You want to run away as far as possible, but notice that this snake is unusually short.
00:59:10And it doesn't lash out at you.
00:59:12You wait, but the snake keeps staring at you.
00:59:15It doesn't even hiss.
00:59:17Lucky for you, it'll never bite because it's not a snake, but a caterpillar.
00:59:23The hawkmoth caterpillar can change the shape of its body to look like a menacing serpent.
00:59:28This easily scares away any hungry foes.
00:59:31The coloring and pattern on the skin imitates a snake's scales and eyes.
00:59:36This insect also knows how to move like a reptile.
00:59:39A master of disguise, this one!
00:59:42Let's get out of the hot jungle and head to Central Europe.
00:59:46You're in the middle of a sunny green meadow.
00:59:49Colorful flowers bloom around, birds sing, and bees buzz by.
00:59:54Among the bees, some are not what they seem.
00:59:57You'd hardly be able to distinguish the imposters.
01:00:00But if you look really closely, you'll see the golden bee fly moving through the air.
01:00:06It looks like a bumblebee, but it's the buzzer's biggest enemy.
01:00:10The golden bee fly sneaks into bee nests and lays eggs there.
01:00:14Its larvae hatch and feed on the bees and flower nectar.
01:00:18The yellow and black coloring allows the intruder to go undetected the whole time.
01:00:24The camouflage also keeps enemies away.
01:00:27Nothing would touch this fly if it thinks it'll get a bumblebee sting.
01:00:31The next spot on your journey is the rainforest in southern Thailand.
01:00:35Now be extra careful and watch your step.
01:00:39Not because the next animal is poisonous or bites, but because you might actually step
01:00:44on it!
01:00:45The leaves from the trees have fallen and turned a gray-brown hue.
01:00:50Among these leaves, it's tough to distinguish the Malaysian horned leaf frog.
01:00:55Its body shape, coloring, and especially those pointy growths coming out above its eyes all
01:01:01allow this amphibian to hide perfectly among the fallen foliage.
01:01:06This frog can sit for hours in one place, waiting for its next meal to come close enough
01:01:11to…
01:01:12Now you're in a garden.
01:01:14You see a beautiful bright flower and a small bird hovering near it.
01:01:19The bird flaps its wings so quickly you can hardly see them.
01:01:22And that long, needle-like beak makes you immediately assume you're looking at a hummingbird.
01:01:28But as soon as you get closer, you realize this is not a bird, but an insect.
01:01:34Fortunately, the hummingbird hawkmoth isn't venomous and doesn't sting.
01:01:38It's just a lovely little creature that decorates the garden with its presence.
01:01:43Many people even grow plants rich in nectar to attract these moths.
01:01:47Hey, that's an idea!
01:01:51Texas is home to some of the oddest, creepiest, and most unusual animals you've ever heard
01:01:56of.
01:01:57It might come as a surprise, but this state is full of creatures you'll hardly see in
01:02:02other places.
01:02:04So let's have a look at the most amazing ones!
01:02:09This truly beautiful, bright blue creature is called the Blue Sea Dragon.
01:02:15Despite such an imposing name, the critter is actually tiny.
01:02:19Usually no bigger than a grape.
01:02:21You may find it on the beach or floating beside you in the water.
01:02:25Now you need to remember one thing.
01:02:28However pretty this little slug may look, never ever touch it!
01:02:33One tourist spotted a few of these pretty dragons on the shore of Mustang Island.
01:02:38He scooped one of the creatures up.
01:02:40He wanted to film it.
01:02:42Luckily, he put it back into the water before it could sting him.
01:02:46Otherwise, it would have ended badly since the Blue Sea Dragon is venomous.
01:02:52Despite their tiny size, their sting can pack a punch.
01:02:56All because of their diet.
01:02:58Their favorite dish is the Portuguese Man o' War, a jellyfish that has enough venom
01:03:02to paralyze small fish and crustaceans.
01:03:06The Blue Dragons first use mucus to neutralize the jellyfish's infamous stinging cells.
01:03:11And then they steal these cells from the Man o' War's tentacles and store and concentrate
01:03:16them within their own tissues.
01:03:19Then they release these stinging cells on contact which makes their own sting more powerful.
01:03:24Even worse than that of the Man o' War itself.
01:03:28These awesome creatures are also extremely sneaky.
01:03:32Even though their appearance is bright to say the least, they're well-known masters
01:03:36of disguise.
01:03:37You see that vibrant blue coloring is actually on their bellies.
01:03:42And when they float on their backs, they simply blend with the water.
01:03:46As for their backs, they're great to camouflage these animals on the seafloor.
01:03:50Now how about a funny fact?
01:03:53A group of tiny dragons floating together is called a Blue Fleet.
01:03:57And another fact, Blue Dragons normally lay a string of around 16 eggs.
01:04:03And it takes them 3 days or so to hatch into larvae.
01:04:08Blue Sea Dragons rarely make it to the shore.
01:04:11They're soft-bodied, so when the animals finally get through the surf zone and are
01:04:14deposited on the shore, they're already broken apart.
01:04:19And still, watch out!
01:04:21Even in this case, the venom in their bodies doesn't dissipate.
01:04:25But of course, Blue Sea Dragons aren't the only unusual animals inhabiting Texas.
01:04:30Have a look at this nightmarish creature, poisonous, slimy, and kinda immortal.
01:04:36Meet the Hammerhead Worm.
01:04:39The worst thing?
01:04:40It might be lurking in your garden while you're watching this video.
01:04:45You can easily recognize this worm by its creepy, spade-shaped head.
01:04:50It doesn't look like any other invertebrate you've ever seen, or any other creature,
01:04:54that is.
01:04:55At first, it was only found in East Texas.
01:04:59But later, researchers spotted these spine-chilling creatures in North, Central, and South Texas.
01:05:06Basically everywhere but the arid areas of West Texas.
01:05:11One of the most terrifying things about this worm might be its length.
01:05:16This creature can grow as long as one foot.
01:05:19Luckily, such giants aren't very common.
01:05:22Most Hammerhead Worms only reach 6 inches in length.
01:05:26You can come across two species of these worms in Texas, and both of them will have a dark
01:05:30stripe down the middle.
01:05:32The larger of these two species munches on earthworms, which is actually a big problem.
01:05:38You might know that earthworms play an important role in keeping the soil rich in minerals
01:05:43and overall healthy.
01:05:46If earthworms disappear, plants in such areas won't be getting the nutrients they need.
01:05:53Even for humans and pets, meeting a Hammerhead Worm isn't the most pleasant experience
01:05:57either.
01:05:59Hammerheads are the only terrestrial invertebrates that secrete a very dangerous neurotoxin,
01:06:04the same as pufferfish produce.
01:06:07Thanks to the sheer size of the human body, touching a Hammerhead Worm won't hurt you
01:06:12too much, but it may still cause your hand to start tingling or even go numb.
01:06:17It's much more dangerous for pets.
01:06:19There have been cases when dogs ate Hammerheads which left them feeling sick for the whole
01:06:24day.
01:06:25Interestingly, these worms are native to Southeast Asia, but they must have mastered the art
01:06:31of hitchhiking since in the early 1900s they were already found in the US.
01:06:39Keep in mind that if you want to get rid of a Hammerhead Worm, which is the best course
01:06:43of action, the worst thing you can do is chop it with a shovel.
01:06:48The thing is, flatworms reproduce by ripping themselves in half, so by cutting it, you
01:06:53actually help the populations of the worms, turning one into two.
01:06:58That's the reason why Hammerheads are sometimes described as immortal, which is a bit of a
01:07:02stretch since these creatures can't survive in vinegar or salt.
01:07:08Now even though you're safe from the Hammerhead Worm in West Texas, it doesn't mean you can't
01:07:12come across another dangerous animal, such as the Land Lobster from Hell.
01:07:19These creatures are also known as Vinegaroons, and they're not real crustaceans, they're
01:07:24arachnids!
01:07:25Huh?
01:07:26Who would've guessed?
01:07:28Anyway, these eight-legged critters have a really nasty bite, but it's not the worst
01:07:33thing about them.
01:07:35Land lobsters, brace yourself, spray vinegar-like 85% acid from their tails.
01:07:42Mostly they do it to protect themselves, but it still sounds like an unfriendly thing to
01:07:46do, right?
01:07:48A Land Lobster can also pinch a finger that's gotten too close with its heavy mouth parts.
01:07:55At the base of their abdomens, Vinegaroons have long whip-like tails.
01:07:59That's why these arachnids are often called Whip Scorpions, even though they're neither
01:08:04related to scorpions nor have stingers.
01:08:07Summer rains lure these arachnids out of their burrows in search of food and love.
01:08:13Luckily, experts claim that Land Lobsters aren't poisonous to humans, but they're very
01:08:18likely to leave a mark with their large pinchers, which they use to capture insects.
01:08:24Vinegaroons can be considered useful since they eat millipedes, crickets, scorpions,
01:08:29and cockroaches.
01:08:31They hunt by sensing the vibrations of their prey with those long front legs of theirs.
01:08:36Since Land Lobsters prefer to come out after dark, you aren't likely to see one in the
01:08:41daylight.
01:08:43But if you stumble upon one, check it out!
01:08:46If it's a female, it may be carrying her hatchlings on her back.
01:08:51Now imagine it's the middle of spring and you're walking among blooming flowers and
01:08:56greenery.
01:08:57Suddenly, you spot something extremely bizarre on the ground.
01:09:02The animal looks cute, fluffy, and soft looking.
01:09:06The desire to touch it is irresistible.
01:09:09Watch out!
01:09:10The sting of the hairy caterpillar can pack a serious punch.
01:09:14This one is called the Pus Moth Caterpillar, or ASP.
01:09:19There are several stinging caterpillar species in Texas.
01:09:22The Buck Moth Caterpillar, Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar, Saddleback Caterpillar, and Eel
01:09:28Moth Caterpillar.
01:09:30And touching any of them can lead to unpleasant consequences.
01:09:34If you had touched that pretty hairy thing in the park, you'd most likely start feeling
01:09:38a burning sensation and develop an itchy rash.
01:09:42In the worst case scenario, you'd even have to go to the emergency room.
01:09:48The main problem is that people react very differently to caterpillar toxins.
01:09:53Some may develop more severe reactions than others.
01:09:56Plus, how bad the consequences are also depends on the thickness of the skin in the affected
01:10:01area.
01:10:03In most cases, the unpleasant sensation and rash go away in a few hours or sometimes days.
01:10:09On the bright side, such caterpillars later turn into moths and butterflies that help
01:10:14pollinate flowers and trees.
01:10:16Getting rid of these critters means doing a massive disservice to the area where you
01:10:20live.
01:10:22Specialists are sure that coming across a stinging caterpillar won't lead to anything
01:10:26bad if you keep in mind the rule of thumb.
01:10:29If a caterpillar looks fuzzy, don't touch it.
01:10:33And the best solution to dealing with such creatures is educating people on what such
01:10:37caterpillars are, what they look like, and why it's dangerous to touch them with unprotected
01:10:44hands.
01:10:47In December 2014, an entire district in Budapest got covered with ice crystals.
01:10:52The trees in the area couldn't handle the pressure from the ice and they started toppling
01:10:56over.
01:10:57It was a spooky occurrence called ice fog.
01:11:00When it happens, the temperature drops significantly, freezing everything around, like Dementors
01:11:05did in the Harry Potter movies, all thanks to a temperature flip-flop.
01:11:11It not only messes with what you can see but also creates ghostly pillars and halos that
01:11:16glow in the dark.
01:11:18Ice fog is made up of tiny ice crystals.
01:11:21When it's below 14 degrees Fahrenheit, water droplets in the air freeze and turn into ice
01:11:27crystals.
01:11:28Until then, they stay liquid unless they find something to freeze onto.
01:11:32Ice fog usually forms in chilly parts of the world like the Arctic or Antarctic.
01:11:37Budapest was a plot twist.
01:11:40Hot moist gases from vehicles and planes can also create ice fog.
01:11:45One plane takes off on a cold day and boom!
01:11:47There's so much ice fog that the next plane can't see a thing.
01:11:51That sometimes happens.
01:11:53It's not the same as diamond dust which is when sparse ice crystals fall from a clear
01:11:58sky.
01:11:59It forms when the humidity is super high, nearly 100%, and the air temperature drops
01:12:05way below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
01:12:08This creates ice crystals in the air and they end up settling on different surfaces.
01:12:12Interestingly, early settlers thought these ice crystals could get into their lungs and
01:12:17cause some trouble.
01:12:19There are many other interesting ice formations such as rabbit ice.
01:12:23It occurs when the air is chilly but the ground is yet to embrace the frosty vibes.
01:12:28The sap inside plant stems expands as it freezes, making the stems crack open.
01:12:34Once it happens, liquid slips out, meets the frosty air, and turns into thin layers of
01:12:39ice, creating beautiful petal or ribbon-like formations.
01:12:47Earthquake lights are another weird and unique phenomenon.
01:12:51When a powerful magnitude 8.1 earthquake hit Mexico in 2017, images of strange green and
01:12:57blue lights in the sky flooded social media.
01:13:01These so-called Mexico earthquake lights added another layer of mystery.
01:13:06Similar to ball lightning, earthquake lights are pretty rare.
01:13:09Fascinating, but tough for scientists to figure out.
01:13:13What makes it tricky is that the instances of luminosity around earthquakes don't all
01:13:18look the same.
01:13:19There are both theories and myths about this thing.
01:13:23The lights can appear in many different shapes, forms, and colors.
01:13:27Digging into history, researchers examined 65 accounts of these lights dating back to
01:13:321600 CE.
01:13:34For instance, on November 12, 1988, people reported a bright purple-pink globe of light
01:13:40along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, just 11 days before a powerful quake.
01:13:47In Pisco, Peru, the lights took the form of bright flashes captured on security cameras
01:13:52before an 8.0 magnitude earthquake in 2007.
01:13:57And before a 2009 earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy, folks saw 4-inch flames of light flickering
01:14:03above a stone street.
01:14:05Yet, there are still debates about whether earthquake lights are real or not.
01:14:10The U.S. Geological Survey is a bit cautious, not sure whether individual reports of unusual
01:14:16lighting around the time and place of an earthquake truly represent earthquake lights.
01:14:24In one study, scientists theorized that these lights were caused by electric charges activated
01:14:30in specific types of rocks during seismic activity, like turning on a battery in Earth's
01:14:35crust.
01:14:36Some rocks, such as basalt and gabbro, have tiny crystal defects.
01:14:40They might release electrical charges into the air.
01:14:44Researchers estimated that the conditions needed for the creation of these lights existed
01:14:48in less than 0.5% of earthquakes worldwide.
01:14:53It could explain their rarity.
01:14:55They also noted that the lights tend to show up more often before or during quakes than
01:15:01afterward.
01:15:02An earlier study suggested that tectonic stress could create a piezoelectric effect where
01:15:08quartz-bearing rocks produce strong electric fields when compressed.
01:15:13Yet, studying earthquake lights is tough because they're unpredictable and short-lived.
01:15:21Time to talk about a sudden ring around the moon or sun.
01:15:26You're walking with a friend and suddenly see this sun halo.
01:15:30It's nature's warning.
01:15:31A snow or rainstorm is coming.
01:15:34These halos form when bazillions of tiny ice crystals and clouds refract sunlight.
01:15:40Resist the temptation to stare at this wonder directly.
01:15:43It can damage your eyes.
01:15:45Grab sunglasses and then admire it for about 40 minutes.
01:15:51Nature sends other early warnings too.
01:15:53If the sea mysteriously recedes, showing coral and fish, a tsunami might be on the way.
01:15:59Watch out for rip currents on the beach.
01:16:01Sharks might be fleeing a storm if they come unusually close.
01:16:06Feeling your hair stand on end and jewelry buzzing?
01:16:09Lightning might strike nearby.
01:16:11Seek shelter.
01:16:12Avalanches, green storms, and lakes near volcanoes are all potential dangers.
01:16:18Cross seas are extremely dangerous.
01:16:20Cave exploration during a full moon might cost you your life.
01:16:24If the ocean turns reddish-brown, avoid swimming.
01:16:27There might be toxic algae in the water.
01:16:30Animals sense disasters too.
01:16:32If they act strangely, pay attention.
01:16:37There's a fascinating blue glow around Matsu Islands on summer nights.
01:16:42It's caused by tiny glowing creatures.
01:16:46Tourists love watching this beautiful spectacle, but there's a downside.
01:16:50It's toxic and getting bigger each year, as revealed by a study.
01:16:55Despite its romantic appearance, this phenomenon is harmful.
01:16:59A team of oceanographers used satellite data to track its growth over 19 years.
01:17:05After analyzing almost a thousand satellite images, they concluded that it was expanding
01:17:10into deeper waters.
01:17:12Unfortunately, this expansion poses a threat to marine life.
01:17:16The bloom of blue tears can poison fish and sea turtles and even affect human health.
01:17:23While dinoflagellates themselves aren't toxic, their food, toxic algae, releases harmful
01:17:29chemicals into the water.
01:17:31This process depletes oxygen, endangering marine animals.
01:17:35The main cause is unclear, but pollution from agriculture down the Yangtze River seems to
01:17:41play a crucial role.
01:17:44Agricultural runoff introduces nutrients that fuel the bloom.
01:17:48During the construction of the Three Gorges Dam project, the bloom's size reduced when
01:17:52the river's flow decreased.
01:17:55After the dam was finished and the river started flowing strongly again, the bloom resumed
01:17:59its growth.
01:18:01The team predicts that blue tears will keep expanding, posing an ongoing threat to marine
01:18:06life and creating more vividly glowing waters.
01:18:12A katabatic wind or drainage wind happens when dense cold air descends from a higher
01:18:17elevation down a slope due to gravity.
01:18:21These winds can be powerful, sometimes reaching hurricane speeds, but rarely.
01:18:26Unlike all downslope winds, katabatic winds like the Bora in the Adriatic or Santa Ana
01:18:31in California originate from cooling air on elevated surfaces like plateaus or mountains.
01:18:38As the air descends, it warms up.
01:18:40Its temperature depends on the source region.
01:18:43In Antarctica, katabatic winds are crucial in shaping wind fields.
01:18:48In regions such as Greenland and Antarctica, these winds can become extremely intense,
01:18:54reaching hurricane force.
01:18:56They contribute to unique phenomena, such as the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica,
01:19:01and are associated with such dangers as willow wasps in the Fugien Archipelago and Alaska.
01:19:10St. Elmo's Fire is a natural phenomenon worth mentioning.
01:19:14It happens during thunderstorms or volcanic eruptions when there's a strong electric
01:19:18field around the area.
01:19:21It creates a bluish or violet glow around such things as ship masts, airplane edges,
01:19:26or sharp objects.
01:19:28This glow is caused by ionized air molecules and is more noticeable in low light conditions.
01:19:34The glow is a form of plasma and it happens when the electric field around an object causes
01:19:39the ionization of air molecules.
01:19:41This can occur during thunderstorms because there are high voltage differences between
01:19:45clouds and the ground.
01:19:48These points make it easier for St. Elmo's Fire to occur because the electric field is
01:19:52more concentrated in those areas.
01:19:55The colors you see, blue or violet, come from the fluorescence of nitrogen and oxygen in
01:20:00Earth's atmosphere, similar to how neon lights work, but with different gases.
01:20:05From ancient Greece to 15th century China, this phenomenon has been seen throughout history.
01:20:14Look at this pretty creature.
01:20:15It looks cute and totally harmless.
01:20:17But you should know that appearances are deceptive, and the blue-ringed octopus is
01:20:21an extremely venomous species of octopus.
01:20:24In fact, they are one of the world's most venomous marine animals.
01:20:28These creatures are found in tide pools and coral reefs.
01:20:31Despite their small size, a mere 5 to 8 inches, they are very dangerous to humans if provoked.
01:20:37Their venom contains a powerful neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin.
01:20:41When the animal feels threatened, its first instinct is to flee.
01:20:45But if the threat persists, for example, if you don't give up the idea of picking the
01:20:49octopus up, it will go into a defensive stance and display its blue rings.
01:20:54If the octopus is cornered and touched, it may bite its attacker, and it can end very,
01:20:58very badly.
01:21:01Tetrodotoxin causes severe consequences and sometimes results in total body paralysis.
01:21:05When the victim is fully aware of the surroundings but unable to move, the victim remains conscious
01:21:10and alert.
01:21:11But because of the paralysis, there is no way of signaling for help or indicating distress.
01:21:16Interestingly, in its chilling mode, the blue-ringed octopus looks brown or even pale.
01:21:22But once it feels endangered, it switches on its psychedelic pattern.
01:21:26Such a response is called aposematic behavior.
01:21:29In simple words, it's when an animal flashes bright colors warning others that, should
01:21:34they take a bite, they won't live to tell the tale.
01:21:37Of course, the blue-ringed octopus isn't the only dangerous animal that looks harmless
01:21:40out there.
01:21:41For example, look at this creature.
01:21:44This animal looks super cute, fluffy and soft-looking.
01:21:48The desire to touch it is irresistible.
01:21:50Watch out!
01:21:52The sting of the hairy caterpillar can pack a serious punch.
01:21:54It's called the Puss Moth Caterpillar, or ASP.
01:21:58Hidden among that luxurious fur, there are venom spines equipped with stinging cells
01:22:01like jellyfish.
01:22:03People react very differently to caterpillar toxins.
01:22:06Some may develop more severe reactions than others.
01:22:09Plus, how bad the consequences are also depends on the thickness of the skin in the affected
01:22:13area.
01:22:15In most cases, the unpleasant sensations and rash go away in a few hours or sometimes days.
01:22:21The next animal on our list is the Poison Dart Frog.
01:22:25There are more than 170 species of these frogs, and funnily enough, not all of them are actually
01:22:30poisonous.
01:22:32Those which are secret, extremely dangerous toxins through their skin.
01:22:36On the bright side, the frogs never use these toxins for hunting or attacking.
01:22:41They only have them for self-defense.
01:22:43Experts aren't sure, but they suppose that the frogs' ability to produce these toxins
01:22:48might come from a diet rich in toxin-containing animals, for example, centipedes or ants.
01:22:53Indigenous peoples in Central and South America have been known to rub their arrows and darts
01:22:58on the frogs in order to give them a poison tip.
01:23:01The main thing you need to keep in mind, if you touch a Poison Dart Frog, seek assistance
01:23:06immediately.
01:23:08Especially if you've come across the Golden Poison Dart Frog, it's the most toxic one.
01:23:13The Flamboyant Cuttlefish is the only known venomous cuttlefish species.
01:23:17This creature has incredibly poisonous muscle tissue, despite its tiny, 2-3 inches at most,
01:23:23frame.
01:23:24Watch out for a dark brown underwater animal with two tentacles and eight arms.
01:23:29It's also likely to have purple and yellow around its arms.
01:23:32Anyway, your best bet is to avoid biting into one of these intriguing creatures, and you'll
01:23:37most likely be safe.
01:23:39Predatory Cone Snails are very slow animals.
01:23:42This is the main reason why they have no means to capture their prey mechanically.
01:23:45I mean, they can't really grasp another animal or bite it.
01:23:49Instead, the Cone Snail has evolved potent venom that helps it survive.
01:23:55Probably the coolest thing about these creatures is that, among almost 1,000 species, there's
01:24:00no overlap in the toxins produced by each of them.
01:24:04Even though Cone Snails don't have fangs, they have a venom-covered harpoon they use
01:24:08to sting their prey.
01:24:10There's a tube-like structure at the end of a venom bulb, and a modified tooth can shoot
01:24:14out of the tube at a mind-boggling speed of 400 miles per hour.
01:24:17So being slowpokes doesn't actually bother Cone Snails.
01:24:21And since the venom is unique to certain species, some of them can deliver a minor sting, while
01:24:26others might cause serious harm to your health.
01:24:28For example, this reef-dwelling little fella unleashes a harpoon-like tooth to sting its
01:24:33prey, and there is no known cure for its venom.
01:24:36When you think of Pufferfish, you probably imagine a bloated-looking creature with impressive
01:24:41360-degree quills.
01:24:43But beneath those funny spikes, there is a vicious creature, and the most dangerous part
01:24:48of this creature is its poison, which is considered to be one of, if not the, most dangerous and
01:24:53potent in the world.
01:24:55The good news is that you won't get poisoned unless you eat the fish.
01:25:00So maybe better stick to the California roll.
01:25:03Now look at this insect and try to never approach it.
01:25:06It's the Japanese Giant Hornet.
01:25:08This monstrously-sized creature, which can grow to be almost 2 inches long, is known
01:25:12to be highly aggressive.
01:25:14Its impressive stinger packs enough venom to make the sting very, and I mean it, painful.
01:25:19Some people don't survive being stung by this insect.
01:25:23Even though the venom isn't the most potent, the large size of the creature makes the dose
01:25:27too big.
01:25:28And if it's not one but several hornets attacking you, well, the consequences are likely to
01:25:33be dramatic.
01:25:34The Giant Hornet isn't necessarily unfriendly toward people or other animals, but it will
01:25:39sting if you provoke it.
01:25:41This truly beautiful bright blue creature is called the Blue Sea Dragon.
01:25:45Despite such an imposing name, the critter is actually tiny, usually no bigger than a
01:25:49grape.
01:25:50You may find it on the beach or floating beside you in the water.
01:25:53Now you need to remember one thing.
01:25:55However pretty this little slug may look, never ever touch it.
01:25:58Despite their tiny size, their sting can pack a punch, all because of their diet.
01:26:03Their favorite dish is the Portuguese Man o' War, a jellyfish that has enough venom
01:26:08to paralyze small fish and crustaceans.
01:26:11The Blue Dragons first use mucus to neutralize the jellyfish's infamous stinging cells, and
01:26:16Then they steal these cells from the Man o' War's tentacles, and store and concentrate
01:26:21them within their own tissues.
01:26:23Then they release these stinging cells on contact, which makes their own sting even
01:26:27more powerful, even worse than that of the Man o' War's itself.
01:26:32These awesome creatures are also extremely sneaky.
01:26:35Even though their appearance is bright, to say the least, they're well-known masters
01:26:39of disguise.
01:26:40You see, that vibrant blue coloring is actually on their bellies.
01:26:45And when they float on their backs, they simply blend with the water.
01:26:49As for their backs, they're grey to camouflage these animals on the sea surface.
01:26:53The Irukandji jellyfish, found in Australia, looks tiny and totally innocent, but appearances
01:26:59are deceitful, and this baby the size of a human thumbnail is actually extremely dangerous.
01:27:06During stinger season, which lasts from November to May, tons of beaches get closed because
01:27:11of these itsy bitsy creatures.
01:27:14What makes the jellyfish particularly dangerous is their miniature size.
01:27:19People simply fail to notice them while swimming.
01:27:22The infamous box jellyfish, named for its cubic body shape, lives in the Indian and
01:27:26Pacific Oceans.
01:27:28Stay away if you spot a creature with a squarish bell and long, dangling tentacles, and even
01:27:32if you only see a single tentacle without the jellyfish attached to it, don't come
01:27:36close or touch it.
01:27:38The box jellyfish can grow up to 10 feet, and each of its tentacles has about 500,000
01:27:43microscopic harpoons to inject venom.
01:27:47Unlike other jellyfish, box jellyfish are hunters.
01:27:50They can latch onto you by wrapping their slender tentacles around your limb or body.
01:27:55With how dangerous their venom is, it won't be a pleasant experience.
01:27:59Something interesting has recently happened in South Dakota.
01:28:02It was all over the internet, so perhaps you already know about it.
01:28:07In July of 2022, the sky in this state suddenly turned green.
01:28:12So what happened there?
01:28:15Was it caused by a human or by nature?
01:28:18Let's find out.
01:28:20Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
01:28:24Shortly after a heavy storm, the sky over South Dakota in the U.S. was still overcast.
01:28:30Locals finally went outside and saw that the sky had an intense dark green hue, and they'd
01:28:35never seen anything like that before.
01:28:38People said that it looked like something straight up from science fiction or even a
01:28:42horror movie.
01:28:44Unsurprisingly, South Dakotans immediately started spreading the news all over social
01:28:50media.
01:28:51People shared their beautiful yet very eerie pictures on Twitter.
01:28:55They showed the sky over the city of Sioux Falls and a few other towns.
01:29:01Even though it may look like something supernatural, in reality, this is not a terrifying phenomenon
01:29:07at all.
01:29:08It's a simple play of the light and the atmosphere.
01:29:11Something like this happens quite rarely and usually means that really bad weather is approaching.
01:29:18And that's also true to what happened in South Dakota.
01:29:21Just before people started sharing photos, a thunderstorm swept through the town of Sioux
01:29:26Falls.
01:29:27This was confirmed by the U.S. Weather Service.
01:29:30This hurricane was terrible.
01:29:31The wind speed was about 100 miles per hour.
01:29:35According to the Buford Scale on wind speeds, this is the fastest and most destructive storm.
01:29:40There are only 12 numbers on this scale, and the maximum wind strength starts at 73 miles
01:29:45per hour.
01:29:48But why isn't this all over the news then?
01:29:50Well, because it's kind of a usual thing for the residents.
01:29:56Thunderstorms occur very often in the United States, especially in the warmer months.
01:30:02One out of ten such thunderstorms can become something serious, like a tornado.
01:30:07This one wasn't an exception.
01:30:09It was the so-called Dorayko storm.
01:30:12Dorayko is very widespread and long-lived.
01:30:17It's actually a combination of a fast-moving group of severe thunderstorms and downpours.
01:30:23People often say that a Dorayko is as strong as a tornado.
01:30:27Still, there's a difference between them.
01:30:30A tornado is a vortex, a rotating column of air.
01:30:33It's usually about 500 feet in diameter, although sometimes its width can reach up to 2.5 miles.
01:30:40I don't envy those who would stumble upon that.
01:30:43But the main point is that they rotate.
01:30:46The wind moves very fast in a circle near some invisible center.
01:30:52A Dorayko is a strong thunderstorm, or a system of strong thunderstorms with straight-line
01:30:58winds.
01:30:59In other words, it doesn't spin.
01:31:01Instead, the Dorayko chooses a point somewhere and simply runs to it, like a very motivated
01:31:08marathon runner.
01:31:11If we compare a Dorayko to an ordinary tornado, the latter has six levels of strength, from
01:31:1740 to 380 miles per hour.
01:31:20So a Dorayko is kind of like a small, average-level 1-2 tornado.
01:31:26Usually its speed is within the range of 73 to 113 miles per hour.
01:31:33And in both cases, they can be accompanied by severe thunderstorms, lightning, and rain.
01:31:38But still, these are different things.
01:31:42A storm becomes a Dorayko if the damaged trail left by it exceeds 240 miles, and if the wind
01:31:49speed is at least 58 miles per hour.
01:31:54It's quite difficult to predict.
01:31:56It can form even on a clear day, when meteorologists don't even anticipate any storms.
01:32:02And then, the winds appear suddenly.
01:32:05It's so surprising that they may even feel explosive.
01:32:08But the National Weather Service tries to warn people at least half an hour or an hour
01:32:13before this happens, so that residents have time to prepare and hide.
01:32:18It wasn't any different this time.
01:32:21The storm swept through almost all of South Dakota, as well as the states of Minnesota
01:32:26and Iowa.
01:32:28The consequences were quite serious.
01:32:30More than 30,000 people were left without electricity.
01:32:33Fortunately, people were fine.
01:32:37That's because the locals are pretty used to Doraykos.
01:32:41However, the green sky is something different.
01:32:45It became a very unusual sight for the locals.
01:32:49Everyone was wondering why it happened.
01:32:51Was it a bad sign or a normal weather phenomenon?
01:32:54Well, to be honest, scientists don't have an exact explanation.
01:33:00But, although there are only assumptions, they sound pretty convincing.
01:33:06A green sky is a very rare phenomenon.
01:33:09Most scientists think that this happens when a powerful storm approaches the area before
01:33:14sunset or sunrise.
01:33:16Then, the sky will turn green in this area.
01:33:21NBC meteorologist Bill Cairns, who once faced a similar event himself, suggests that the
01:33:26green sky appeared because of the huge hail before the storm.
01:33:31First, let's talk about why the sky looks blue, or any other shade, depending on its
01:33:37mood.
01:33:38In short, the sun simultaneously carries all the rays of the color spectrum.
01:33:43It may seem white to us in total, but it actually has all the colors at the same time.
01:33:50However, these color waves all have different lengths.
01:33:54For example, blue rays are shorter than the other ones.
01:33:58They jump away from the air molecules better than the red waves, so they reach us faster.
01:34:05Because of this, on a regular clear day, the sky seems blue.
01:34:11At the same time, red and orange color waves are very long and move slower, so they are
01:34:17usually left behind.
01:34:19When the sun goes below the horizon or rises, the rays' directions change, and these waves
01:34:25reach us better.
01:34:28It all means that even if the sunrises and sunsets seem red and orange to us, in fact,
01:34:34there are still blue and green waves among them, but they have to bounce off something
01:34:39to reach us faster and become stronger than the red rays.
01:34:45Have you guessed what I'm getting at?
01:34:48This is where the water comes into play.
01:34:51Clouds are made up of water droplets.
01:34:53When they become large enough, but don't fall yet, for example, due to strong winds, they
01:34:59affect how the light behaves in the sky.
01:35:03Large heavy storms mostly consist of water and hail, and water reflects blue and green
01:35:09rays best of all.
01:35:11That's exactly the reason why the water in rivers and lakes seems bluish green to us,
01:35:16although in reality, it's transparent.
01:35:19And yeah, algae matter too.
01:35:23So there are a couple of key factors why the sky may turn green.
01:35:28First off, the sun should be at the horizon level.
01:35:32Another factor is that while the storm clouds are approaching, they shouldn't cover the
01:35:36sky completely.
01:35:38There still must be a little room for the sun rays.
01:35:41Then, barely noticeable blue rays jump up to storm clouds.
01:35:45They're repelled by water droplets and hail.
01:35:48Mixing with the red sunset, they turn into a bright green light, and this green light
01:35:54is spreading all over the sky.
01:35:58That's why in most of these cases, when the sky turns green, people can only see it in
01:36:03the evenings.
01:36:04Yeah, it can also happen in the middle of the day.
01:36:07But since the conditions are already quite specific, seeing something like that during
01:36:11the day is even rarer.
01:36:14Still, if you see a green sky, you don't need to panic.
01:36:19It doesn't necessarily mean that a terrible storm is approaching.
01:36:23The chances are high though, but still, it's not a rule.
01:36:27It can be just heavy rain or a heavy hail.
01:36:31In other words, if you see a green sky, then you'd better hide.
01:36:36And hide your car.
01:36:38However, if you were lucky enough to see the stunning sky from the comfort of your own
01:36:42home, it's indeed very exciting.
01:36:45If you get a glimpse of something like that, just know that you had a chance to experience
01:36:49something very rare and special.
01:36:52Some people said it was the most incredible thing they had ever seen.
01:36:57Ah, beautiful!
01:37:00You're walking with your friend and look up at the sky.
01:37:03The sun looks a bit different today.
01:37:05It looks like it has some kind of ring around it.
01:37:07A rainbow type thing.
01:37:09Huh, look at that!
01:37:11Your friend pulls his head up out of his phone.
01:37:14You shouldn't look directly at the…
01:37:16Stop everything!
01:37:17He says.
01:37:18It's a sun halo!
01:37:20We need to find shelter now, unless you have the world's biggest umbrella on you!
01:37:25A sun halo is nature's sign that there's a snow or rainstorm on its way.
01:37:31It's caused by clouds that are made of bazillions of small ice crystals.
01:37:36Sunlight goes through those crystals, which causes the light to split and refract, like
01:37:40when there's a rainbow.
01:37:41Now, don't look at the sun halo directly.
01:37:44It's going to be tempting because it's not something you see every day.
01:37:48Plus, it's really beautiful.
01:37:50But ultraviolet light can burn the exposed tissue of your retina and cause serious damage,
01:37:56so it's not worth it.
01:37:58Grab some sunglasses and you're good to go.
01:38:01This phenomenon lasts around 40 minutes.
01:38:03These clouds are the same ones that can cause a spooky ring around the moon at night sometimes.
01:38:09In June 2020, what the people were looking at was an anvil cloud, a rare storm formation
01:38:15in the sky.
01:38:17Formed when strong air currents carry water vapor upwards, the air expands and spreads
01:38:22out as it hits the bottom of the stratosphere.
01:38:26It pushes the dense cloud into the cool anvil shape you see, and sometimes it even gets
01:38:31to be a mushroom.
01:38:33Anvil clouds produce some of the most dangerous lightning of all storms, one that's called
01:38:38a bolt out of the blue.
01:38:40This lightning strike seems to magically come out of the blue sky, with the storm being
01:38:45many miles away.
01:38:47This type of bolt comes from the top of the anvil and can be 10 times more powerful than
01:38:52a typical lightning strike.
01:38:55People got so frightened after witnessing a giant cloud that they thought something
01:38:59terrible must have happened.
01:39:01The locals had pictures of the large billow on social media before officials could explain
01:39:06what was going on.
01:39:08Authorities managed to calm everyone's fears by informing them it was nothing more than
01:39:12a natural phenomenon, and a beautiful one at that.
01:39:16Before dissipating, these clouds typically stay in one area, regardless of how strong
01:39:20the wind is.
01:39:23If you look off the western coast of France, you'll see the Isle of Rey.
01:39:28Thanks to its beautiful blue waters, clean sandy beaches, and stunning lighthouses, this
01:39:33place is a very popular vacation spot.
01:39:36But perhaps the coolest part about the Isle of Rey is what you see just beyond the shore.
01:39:42Square waves.
01:39:44This strange wave pattern looks like a giant chessboard over the ocean.
01:39:48Many visitors to the island become captivated by these waves and go to high up places like
01:39:53nearby lighthouses to take pictures of this natural phenomenon.
01:39:57They say that when looking down at these square patterns in the water, it's almost as if there's
01:40:02some sort of metal grid underneath it.
01:40:05And while these wave patterns are truly fascinating, the people who choose to enjoy them from afar
01:40:10are doing it right.
01:40:12They know to stay out of the water.
01:40:14To understand how these square waves come to be, it's important to know how waves occur
01:40:20in the first place.
01:40:22Generally, waves can travel many miles over the surface of the water, depending on local
01:40:27winds and weather.
01:40:29And even on days when the weather seems somewhat calm, storms located elsewhere can send in
01:40:34crashing waves that affect the surrounding calm waters.
01:40:38When waves travel onto the shores of distant lands, they're called swells.
01:40:43This is different from a wave that occurs from local wind.
01:40:47When two different swells coming from opposite directions meet, it's known as a cross sea.
01:40:53This is what generates these square waves you see near the Isle of Rey.
01:40:59While these waves are one of the reasons why people flock to this island, they can still
01:41:03expect to enjoy calm, relaxing waters most of the time.
01:41:07The cross sea only occurs during certain times of the year in specific weather.
01:41:12Plus, it's common knowledge around Rey to steer clear of the ocean when these square
01:41:17waves appear, so it's not often that you hear about anyone getting caught in them because
01:41:23most people know better.
01:41:25And since a lot of people on the island are tourists, there are plenty of signs around
01:41:29warning them to get out of the water during this time.
01:41:33However, not everyone gets the memo.
01:41:36There have been a handful of cases where people got caught in the cross sea, but thankfully
01:41:41and luckily, they managed to get out safely.
01:41:46These square waves have become somewhat famous over time given that there's really no other
01:41:50place in the world that boasts a cross sea like this one.
01:41:54In fact, no one has ever spotted square waves anywhere but the Island of Rey.
01:42:00However, there are swells that can be found throughout the oceans in the world, and a
01:42:04cross sea can take place.
01:42:07But if the angle they approach each other at is more shallow, the wave may actually
01:42:11look like it's coming from the same direction, even when it's not.
01:42:16Not to mention, swells can slowly lose momentum as they drip further and further away, so
01:42:21their crest, or the top of the wave, appears more round and less jagged.
01:42:27The Island of Rey's specific wind and weather patterns are literally the perfect storm and
01:42:32create a cross sea that people can clearly recognize.
01:42:37It's 2009 in Italy.
01:42:39A man was hanging out in his kitchen.
01:42:42Then he saw some flickering lights.
01:42:44He knew just what to do.
01:42:46He moved his family to a safe place.
01:42:48A couple of seconds later, a massive earthquake hit the whole region.
01:42:52His family survived thanks to his quick reaction.
01:42:56He knew these flickering lights were actually a sign of an upcoming earthquake.
01:43:01People have been seeing these mysterious lights for ages.
01:43:04Some thought it was some kind of sign coming from space.
01:43:09Scientists never used to take them seriously.
01:43:11But after the invention of photography, more and more evidence of these strange lights
01:43:16appeared.
01:43:17Soon, they realized the connection.
01:43:19The lights appear and, pretty soon, the earthquake hits.
01:43:25After a bit of digging around, they actually found some records of these earthquake lights
01:43:30from hundreds of years ago.
01:43:32There were bluish flames coming out of the ground right before an earthquake.
01:43:37Oh, creepy.
01:43:40The Christmas Island Crab is part of an amazing phenomenon once a year.
01:43:45Their migration period is determined by the phase of the moon and the first rainfall between
01:43:50October and February, although the precise date can't be predicted.
01:43:54Once the crabs have been prompted, they leave their homes amongst the forest and migrate
01:43:59in massive hordes towards the sea.
01:44:02Numbering in millions, a sea of red crabs is observed as they make their journey across
01:44:08the island, creating roadblocks and making their way to the ocean.
01:44:12There, they lay their eggs and then make their trek back, returning to the forest until the
01:44:18next year.
01:44:20There are bridges in the Indian state of Meghalaya that are created entirely of living tree roots.
01:44:27The bridges are made up of tangled thick roots that are strong enough to hold over
01:44:3150 people at a time.
01:44:34The Khasi and Jaintia tribes became masters in the art of growing these insane bridges.
01:44:41They need them to cross the streams below with ease.
01:44:44Some of these root bridges are over 180 years old.
01:44:47To make them, the members of the tribes care for the roots until they grow long enough
01:44:52to reach the opposite bank.
01:44:54It can take as long as 10 to 15 years to grow a bridge.
01:44:58In the process, the roots become tightly entwined with one another.
01:45:03This is how the bridges get so strong, and once a bridge is fully grown, it can last
01:45:08for over 500 years.
01:45:10While some roots decay, new ones are continually growing.
01:45:14That's why the unusual natural constructions last so long.
01:45:19Light pillars are colorful beams of light that either jet up from Earth towards the
01:45:23sky or shine down from the clouds.
01:45:26Usually, they only occur in cold temperatures, as they form when the sunlight gets reflected
01:45:32off ice crystals floating in the air.
01:45:34The higher the crystals are in the air, the taller these bright and colorful pillars become.
01:45:40They're most common at sunrise and sunset.
01:45:44There are hidden caves all over the world that are filled with glowing light.
01:45:49This light comes from hundreds of glowworms that have made a cozy home in the caves.
01:45:54Some of the caves are more than 30 million years old, and most of them can be found in
01:45:58New Zealand and Australia.
01:46:01The worms themselves don't actually glow, but baby worms, called larvae, form silk strings
01:46:07made out of mucus.
01:46:09These strings form nets.
01:46:11It's these nets that can illuminate the entire cave.
01:46:15Their purpose is to attract flies and other tasty insects for the glowworms to munch on.
01:46:22Rainbow trees are 100% a real thing.
01:46:25Hailing from the Philippines and Indonesia, these colorful wonders are called rainbow
01:46:30eucalyptus, or rainbow gum.
01:46:33The rainbow hues are created by the contrast in colors of old and new bark.
01:46:38As the thin surface layers of bark peel away, they reveal newer ones with brighter, more
01:46:43eye-catching colors.
01:46:46The brand new bark is green, then it changes to purple, then red, and finally brown.
01:46:52This is because the trees contain a substance called chlorophyll.
01:46:56It makes the bark green.
01:46:58As each strip of bark ages, it loses chlorophyll and slowly changes its color.
01:47:04Brighter green plants might give us a warning when a volcano is stirring.
01:47:09Turns out, unlike earthquakes, which are super unpredictable, volcanoes can sometimes
01:47:13show early signs.
01:47:15Plants growing around volcanoes look healthier when volcanic activity ramps up, because they
01:47:20thrive on increased carbon dioxide levels, a gas that volcanoes emit during eruptions
01:47:26and through underground magma.
01:47:27They also turn browner when the volcanic activity peaks, likely due to harmful gases and heat
01:47:33harming the vegetation.
01:47:35Scientists use satellites to figure this all out.
01:47:38They analyze satellite data spanning from 1984 to 2022.
01:47:43Future changes might be tracked through satellite imagery as well.
01:47:46This isn't easy to measure directly, especially when volcanoes are tucked away in hard-to-reach,
01:47:52lush areas, such as Taal Volcano in the Philippines and Mount Etna in Italy.
01:47:57This way, plants could give us a heads-up about volcanic eruptions years before they
01:48:02happen.
01:48:03Using this new, weird method, we could save nearby communities by enhancing safety measures,
01:48:08minimizing property damage, and improving evacuation plans.
01:48:13Volcanoes and plants are often tied in mysterious ways.
01:48:16For example, volcanic eruptions in Krakatoa, Indonesia, gave a surprising boost to saguaro
01:48:21cacti in Arizona's Sonora Desert, even though they're thousands of miles away.
01:48:27When the infamous Krakatoa volcano erupted in the 19th century, it sent shockwaves around
01:48:33the world, and suddenly helped nurture a generation of saguaros.
01:48:37These incredible cacti can be up to 40 feet tall as adults, but they start life as tiny
01:48:42seedlings that struggle to survive in the desert's harsh conditions.
01:48:46However, thanks to the cooler and wetter conditions caused by volcanic eruptions like Krakatoa,
01:48:52they can get unbelievable growth spurts.
01:48:55Chillier summers and milder winters that follow such eruptions create perfect conditions for
01:48:59young saguaro, which usually don't make it due to extreme heat and cold.
01:49:04But volcanoes not only influence plants, they're also Earth's jewelry makers.
01:49:10Deep beneath the surface, in the fiery heart of a volcano, conditions are just right to
01:49:14form dazzling gems.
01:49:16When volcanoes erupt, they can bring these treasures up to the surface.
01:49:20One of the most famous gems created by volcanic activity is the diamond.
01:49:25They're usually found in a rare type of volcanic rock called kimberlite, which forms deep within
01:49:30the Earth under extreme pressure and temperature.
01:49:33Millions of years ago, kimberlite eruptions – small but powerful volcanic events – hauled
01:49:38diamonds from deep within the Earth.
01:49:40This created sources for many of today's diamond mines.
01:49:44These eruptions didn't happen just anywhere, but originated from the stable hearts of continents
01:49:49known as cratons.
01:49:51They were bursting forth from as deep as 75 miles underground.
01:49:55Fueled by a mix of carbon dioxide and water, they were like natural rockets, blasting through
01:50:00the Earth to form parrot-shaped channels filled with diamond-laden rocks.
01:50:05Recently, scientists have delved into why these eruptions happen.
01:50:09They suggested that the breakup of ancient supercontinents like Pangaea disrupted the
01:50:14mantle's flow underneath, triggering these spectacular kimberlite eruptions.
01:50:19When a volcano that hosts kimberlite erupts, it can propel these precious stones toward
01:50:24the surface, where we eventually find them.
01:50:26There are other gems that can be found in solidified lava, like peridot, a bright green
01:50:31stone that forms in the molten rock of the upper mantle and is brought to the surface
01:50:35by volcanic activity.
01:50:37There's also obsidian, a shiny glass-like rock that forms when lava cools rapidly.
01:50:43And then there are some insane rocks, like the ones that can hold water in them, even
01:50:48in lava.
01:50:49The deeper we dive in volcanoes, the rarer are the gems we can find.
01:50:53If we dive into the thick layer known as the mantle, we might find olivine, a resilient,
01:50:59pretty green mineral that makes up about half of this layer.
01:51:02It loves high temperatures and happily forms in lava, eventually crystallizing into the
01:51:07igneous rocks we find scattered across the Earth's surface thanks to volcanic eruptions.
01:51:12As olivine cools, it starts to crystallize.
01:51:16Sometimes these crystals are tiny, but other times, they grow large and can be polished
01:51:20into beautiful gemstones used in jewelry or industrial processes like metal casing.
01:51:26But as we venture deeper, about 250 miles down, olivine undergoes a fascinating transformation.
01:51:33Here we encounter the layer that's called the transition zone.
01:51:37In the transition zone, the pressure is intense, and the heat is on the rise.
01:51:42In this place, olivine morphs into exotic materials like wadleycide and ringwoodite.
01:51:47They show a lovely blue-green hue and a glossy sheen.
01:51:51While they're too rare and small for jewelry, they have a unique ability to hold water within
01:51:56their structures, not as droplets, but as hydrogen and oxygen components, making up
01:52:01to 3% of their volume.
01:52:03Later, it turned out that the transition zone is not just a pressure cooker for minerals.
01:52:08It's a giant sponge, holding a vast underground water reservoir.
01:52:13This was a groundbreaking discovery.
01:52:15You get the pun?
01:52:16This hidden water doesn't form an ocean as we know it, but suggests vast amounts of water
01:52:21are stored deep within the Earth.
01:52:24Volcanoes can help us learn more about life not only on our planet, but on others as well.
01:52:29In the fiery heart of Costa Rica's Poas volcano lies Laguna Caliente.
01:52:35This hydrothermal crater lake is among the most brutal environments on Earth.
01:52:39We've got a whole bunch here – scalding temperatures, toxic minerals, and water so
01:52:44acidic it can corrode metal.
01:52:46Despite all that, there's a few tough microorganisms that manage to thrive in these conditions.
01:52:52And this remarkable survival has caught the attention of scientists, because it might
01:52:56just hold clues about life on Mars.
01:53:00Scientists are studying these extreme microbes.
01:53:03Turns out, they've developed a myriad of genetic adaptations to withstand their harsh surroundings.
01:53:08They have genes that help them process everything, from sulfur and iron to carbon and bioplastic
01:53:14granules.
01:53:15All these things could be crucial in environments as challenging as Mars.
01:53:19NASA's Perseverance rover is currently exploring the crater rim of Jezero crater on Mars.
01:53:25Previously, we looked for Martian life signs in places like old streambeds and river deltas.
01:53:30However, the discovery of Laguna Caliente suggests that we should probably look for
01:53:35life in the remnants of ancient Martian hot springs as well.
01:53:39These spots might have once had the right cocktail of heat, water, and energy sources
01:53:44that are thought to be essential for kick-starting biology.
01:53:49Volcanoes can help planets in many ways, but they can also destroy life.
01:53:53Scientists believe that volcanic activity was one of the main reasons for at least three
01:53:57of Earth's five mass extinctions.
01:54:00Take the mass extinction of dinosaurs.
01:54:02We're used to blaming it on the Chicxulub meteorite, but there's a chance it could've
01:54:07been caused by volcanoes.
01:54:09The consequences of the eruptions can be horrifying.
01:54:12Mount Tambora, located on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, erupted in 1815 and was
01:54:18the most powerful eruption ever recorded in history.
01:54:22This massive eruption was so strong it ejected between 8 to 11 cubic miles of material.
01:54:28It was so loud that the sounds of the eruption were heard as far away as Sumatra, over 1,600
01:54:34miles distant.
01:54:36Before its catastrophic eruption, Tambora had been dormant for centuries, and its magma
01:54:41chamber slowly cooled and crystallized.
01:54:44This process built up immense pressure inside the volcano.
01:54:47It was eventually released in a series of terrifying events starting on April 5, 1815.
01:54:54The climax came on April 10, when massive plumes of ash and pumice were thrown into
01:54:58the atmosphere.
01:55:00The aftermath of the eruption was dire.
01:55:02Tsunamis devastated the surrounding area.
01:55:05It's estimated that around 4,600 people passed away immediately from the eruption itself,
01:55:11with ash fallouts affecting air quality and water sources across the region.
01:55:16This event came down in history as the year without a summer.
01:55:20This was due to the vast amount of sulfur dioxide Tambora ejected into the stratosphere.
01:55:25It created a veil of aerosols that reflected sunlight and significantly lowered global
01:55:30temperatures.
01:55:31A similar thing happened to our planet 66 million years ago, during the dinosaur extinction.
01:55:36The sky turned black for months.
01:55:38I mean, I wasn't there, but that's what they say.
01:55:43Ah, you're on the grass, looking up at the blue sky, enjoying some singing birds and
01:55:49catching some rays.
01:55:51You watch different shaped clouds soaring slowly, high up in the air.
01:55:55Suddenly, you hear a powerful loud rumble coming from far away.
01:56:00You get up and notice a gigantic thick cloud ahead.
01:56:04But it's not the size that scares you, it's the shape.
01:56:07The cloud looks like a skull.
01:56:09Don't worry, it doesn't mean anything bad's gonna happen.
01:56:12Anyway, it's not even a cloud.
01:56:15A few years ago, a skull formed out of thick smoke over Mount Vesuvius in Italy.
01:56:21That's the same volcano that erased the ancient city of Pompeii from the face of the Earth.
01:56:26Of course, back then, many people were afraid that the volcano would erupt again.
01:56:31Luckily for everyone, the volcano's still in a deep sleep.
01:56:35It was just a nearby forest fire that caused the famous skull cloud.
01:56:40But the locals weren't so sure.
01:56:42Some thought that the fire and the skull were set on purpose.
01:56:45Wouldn't be the first time.
01:56:49Centralia, Pennsylvania.
01:56:50Population, well, just look around.
01:56:53Looks a little scary.
01:56:55Bare trees, no animals, no people.
01:56:58All the buildings are empty.
01:56:59Roads are all cracked and strewn with gravel.
01:57:02No cars, obviously.
01:57:04Thick smoke everywhere.
01:57:05This town's been burning for more than 50 years.
01:57:09Centralia used to be a mining town.
01:57:11One of its coal mines was abandoned, and locals used it as a dump for their trash.
01:57:16Then, according to most people, the city decided to get rid of the trash in the usual way – by
01:57:22burning it.
01:57:23The plan was a major failure.
01:57:25Hmm, let's see what could have possibly gone wrong here.
01:57:29The trash fire got deep into the mine's tunnels, ignited the coal that's still down
01:57:34there, and has been burning steadily ever since.
01:57:37The level of carbon dioxide shot up, and they had to shut down the other mines nearby for
01:57:42safety.
01:57:43No one could stop the fire, and the underground flames spread beneath the city.
01:57:49The roads began to warm up, the soil went sour, and the streets slowly filled with smoke
01:57:54and smog.
01:57:55In 2017, there were only 5 people living there.
01:58:00Welcome to Abraham Lake in Canada.
01:58:03It's completely frozen.
01:58:04You step onto the transparent ice and look down at what lies beneath.
01:58:09No fish, just some mysterious frozen bubbles.
01:58:13They look like small clouds frozen in ice, or jellyfish who forgot to pack a winter jacket.
01:58:18There are thousands of these little bubbles made up of methane.
01:58:22But don't try to dig a hole in the ice to touch it.
01:58:26Methane is highly flammable.
01:58:27It's created by methane-producing bacteria that eats leaves, grass, insects, and any
01:58:33other organic stuff that gets into the lake.
01:58:36When the methane touches the frozen water, it turns into tens of thousands of frozen
01:58:40little balls.
01:58:42When the ice melts, they burst open and sizzle.
01:58:45If you lit a match over them at just the right moment, the lake would look kind of
01:58:49like an erupting volcano.
01:58:51Similar lakes can be found near some shores of the Arctic Ocean.
01:58:55There, the size of the bubbles can reach several times the size of hot air balloons.
01:59:00Beautiful for sure, but not exactly safe.
01:59:04The next shocking lake is in Indonesia, on the island of Java.
01:59:09You come to a majestic volcano overgrown with grass and trees.
01:59:13The volcano seems to be asleep, but smoke is pouring out of it.
01:59:18You of course climb to the summit.
01:59:19Exhausted, tired, sweaty, you're ready to cool off.
01:59:23Nice work, you made it to the top!
01:59:25You look into the mouth of the volcano.
01:59:28No boiling lava, just a beautiful bright turquoise lake down there.
01:59:33It looks like an oasis.
01:59:35Perfect time for a refreshing dip.
01:59:37You run down and get ready to jump in.
01:59:39But that's not water, that's acid!
01:59:43Sulfurous gases get into the lake from under the volcano.
01:59:47The lake itself is full of metals.
01:59:49When the gases touch them, they form that beautiful turquoise water, I mean acid.
01:59:55Better head back to the nearest village, rest, and come back at night when it's cooling.
02:00:00In the dark, the lake seems to grow.
02:00:03Right above it, you see light-filled exploding little clouds.
02:00:07The sulfurous gases rise out of the lake, combine with the air, and flash bright blue.
02:00:13Still, don't get too close!
02:00:16Up in the sky, underground, volcanoes, lakes?
02:00:21Time to head out to sea!
02:00:22You get on a yacht and sail off.
02:00:25It doesn't matter where, this next one happens all over the world.
02:00:29So the sea is crystal clear and calm, there's no wind in your sails.
02:00:34Everything is so peaceful…
02:00:36Wait, what's that?
02:00:38You hear a loud, loud noise.
02:00:40Two seconds later, a huge wave, way taller than your mast, rises from the calm sea and
02:00:46hits your yacht.
02:00:48The ship manages to stay upright, and the huge wave disappears.
02:00:52You just survived the attack of a rogue wave!
02:00:55Some scientists think it happens when the surface sea current smashes into a strong
02:01:00headwind.
02:01:01Others say it happens when warm and cold currents come up against each other.
02:01:05Another popular theory is wave interference, where small waves team up to form one monster
02:01:11one.
02:01:12Under certain conditions, waves get a sort of superpower.
02:01:16Out of all the waves in the area, there'll be one which sucks the energy out of all the
02:01:21others.
02:01:22When it's full, the wave spits it all out.
02:01:25Maybe that's why the wave's so strong, but only lasts an instant.
02:01:30What about clouds?
02:01:31Scary?
02:01:32Well, they can be.
02:01:33If they're huge thunderclouds, walls of gray and black blocking out the sun, the moon,
02:01:39and the stars.
02:01:40First, you're relaxing in your backyard, then you see thunderclouds, then you get thunderstorms,
02:01:46hail, floods, and even tornadoes.
02:01:49They're easy to spot thanks to their epic appearance.
02:01:52Thick, heavy, and dark.
02:01:55They can even sparkle inside because of lightning.
02:01:58That's one scary-looking cloud.
02:02:00But before you run away, let's see how it forms.
02:02:04Clouds are like roller coasters.
02:02:06Imagine you're a small drop of water, hanging out with your friends in the ocean, waiting
02:02:10in line for the brand-new ride that just opened up.
02:02:13It's time!
02:02:14You strap in.
02:02:15Nothing happens.
02:02:17Then you feel it.
02:02:18The roller coaster starts to go up, up, up!
02:02:21You can see all your droplet friends down there, they're so small!
02:02:25You keep rising, just waiting for the big whoosh.
02:02:29But nothing happens.
02:02:31Then you're so high up that you're in the clouds.
02:02:34It's not so scary up here, and there are loads of your friends.
02:02:38Nice!
02:02:39It's starting to get cold.
02:02:41You look around, it's happening to everyone.
02:02:43You're being turned into beautiful ice crystals, so shiny and pretty.
02:02:48The clouds filling up, getting kind of cramped with all those other water droplets.
02:02:53Still, what a peaceful, enjoyable, wow!
02:02:56The ride kicks back in, and you start to freefall.
02:03:00Slowly at first, then faster and faster, thousands of your fellow drops falling back to Earth,
02:03:06some holding on tight to the handrail, some laughing and waving their hands in the air.
02:03:10Woohoo!
02:03:11And splash!
02:03:12Still, I like the lightning ride better.
02:03:15That's one where they strap you in, you ride up, and then you play bumper cars way
02:03:20up in the clouds.
02:03:21The more times you bump into another water droplet, the more lightning you create.
02:03:26Now, not all lightning happens inside clouds.
02:03:30There's a rare phenomenon called a dirty thunderstorm.
02:03:34The lightning happens above a volcano, the most famous is in Japan.
02:03:38It erupts almost every day and spits black clouds high into the air.
02:03:43So it's super scary volcano clouds, plus lightning!
02:03:48Regular lightning happens during a storm when ice crystals bump into each other.
02:03:53In a dirty thunderstorm, bits of volcanic ash collide, create friction, and spark up
02:03:58the sky.
02:04:00Okay, better finish the journey with something safe and beautiful.
02:04:04No more cloud roller coasters, please.
02:04:07You're in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, one of the driest places on Earth.
02:04:12But this desert has a beautiful secret.
02:04:15Every 3 to 5 years, flowers pop up out of nowhere.
02:04:19It's so famous, it's also called the flowering desert.
02:04:23Seeds lie around in the ground, just waiting for some rain.
02:04:27When the desert gets enough water, about 200 types of flowers sprout up.
02:04:32The yellow sands of the Atacama turn purple, white, green, and pink.
02:04:39When you think of the world's most dangerous bird, as I do sometimes, eagles or vultures
02:04:45may come to your mind.
02:04:47Surprisingly, these awkward cassowaries may cause way more damage than the other more
02:04:52notorious angry birds I first mentioned.
02:04:56The largest cassowary species may be as tall as an average person and weighing as much.
02:05:01These plump birds can't fly, but neither can you.
02:05:04Plus, they run fast, so don't you try to escape from them!
02:05:09They can reach you even in water since they're great swimmers.
02:05:12They can run as fast as 30 mph, so you might need a getaway car if there's a cassowary
02:05:18who's mad at you.
02:05:19But don't worry, their attacks are quite rare anyways.
02:05:24Mute swans are gorgeous, graceful creatures.
02:05:28At least, that's what we all think.
02:05:30But touching one of these 28-pound birds is a bad idea.
02:05:35They have bony spurs in their wings that they use to take enemies out.
02:05:39Their wingspan is about 8 feet, and they can slap you with all of that.
02:05:43And they also bite.
02:05:45Don't ever get too close to one.
02:05:47They regularly go after humans, especially if the bird has younglings nearby.
02:05:53And don't let the name fool you either, they aren't mute.
02:05:56Swans can hiss loudly and even bark.
02:05:59Good warning signs that you're encroaching a bit too close.
02:06:05Magpies have always had weird almost love-hate relationships.
02:06:10These medium-sized birdies can be pretty aggressive at times, but if you treat them well, you'll
02:06:16probably become friends.
02:06:17They can recognize human faces, and they're sure to come back to your balcony if you treat
02:06:22them to something yummy.
02:06:25If you offend a magpie, they're gonna remember that too and bear some grudges.
02:06:29So keep an eye on your eye, pardon the pun.
02:06:35Pelicans are symbols of love, and they say they're ready to sacrifice their own life
02:06:39to protect their offspring.
02:06:41Ah, now it's clear why they can swallow the entire prey without even chewing it or tearing
02:06:46it.
02:06:48You just don't want to go near their nest.
02:06:49Sure, you're not a tiny fish, and pelican beaks are too small for a human being.
02:06:54But you don't want to be bitten now, do you?
02:06:58Okay, this one's gonna frighten you only with its name.
02:07:02A shoebill stork is an impressively large bird, up to 5 feet, just below the average
02:07:08human height.
02:07:10No wonder they can fight a crocodile.
02:07:12Alright, a baby crocodile.
02:07:14But they need only their super-powerful jaw to win in one hit.
02:07:18Still not afraid?
02:07:20Well, they make blood-chilling noises as if you were in some action blockbuster movie.
02:07:28If you think these cowardly ostriches don't pose any danger, you got it wrong.
02:07:33Twice.
02:07:34First, they actually don't shove their heads in the sand, it's an optical illusion.
02:07:38And yeah, how are they even supposed to breathe in the sand?
02:07:42Second, these guys are kinda overprotective parents.
02:07:46So if you ever want to approach their young, these heavyweight beasts who can run as fast
02:07:50as a car within city limits are gonna come for you.
02:07:54Not scared yet?
02:07:55Welp, you should be.
02:07:57Ostriches are the closest living relatives to T. rex, together with chickens.
02:08:04Wadseens look quite harmless, except for their foul smell, but that's another story.
02:08:09But their babies have notorious wings.
02:08:12The chick's flappers have two distinct claws that are multipurpose.
02:08:16First, they are a sort of protection against predators.
02:08:20And second, they help them climb trees in case the baby's out of the nest.
02:08:25Once they grow up, the claws disappear just like milk teeth.
02:08:31Size doesn't matter at times.
02:08:33If you were a hummingbird, you'd have to eat almost 300 pounds of food per day to maintain
02:08:39normal weight with that little bird's metabolism.
02:08:43But the lifespan would be way shorter too, only about 3-5 years.
02:08:50If you dye your hair, you probably have more in common with a bearded vulture than you
02:08:54might think.
02:08:55We're probably the only two species in the world who use dye on purpose.
02:09:01Vultures dye their feathers with red soil to show their dominance over other birds.
02:09:06People?
02:09:07Well, we just like changes.
02:09:11California condors may not be as large as an aircraft, but they're huge anyways.
02:09:17Their wingspan is almost 10 feet.
02:09:18These are potentially dangerous for people, but chances that you ever meet them are slim.
02:09:24There are only about 200 of them left in the U.S.
02:09:29Here you are, looking for something yummy in the fridge, but you just can't see what
02:09:33you really want.
02:09:34If you were a bastion thrust, you'd break wind at the fridge.
02:09:39Sounds gross, but that's apparently the way these birdies look for hiding worms.
02:09:43They give them a gas attack, so the worms get shocked and yippee, they are now an easy
02:09:48target for a bastion thrush.
02:09:51Hold your nose and bon appetit!
02:09:55Okay enough of those funky stories, let's look at the skies.
02:09:58You wouldn't expect a poisonous bird on this list, but alas, I present to you the
02:10:03hooded pittahooie.
02:10:06Scientists found out they were poisonous when they kept experiencing numbness and a burning
02:10:10sensation after handling these birds.
02:10:13There are lots of toxins in their feathers, especially on the underside.
02:10:17The birds don't produce toxins themselves, they probably get them from the beetles they
02:10:21eat.
02:10:23Or how about the spur-winged goose?
02:10:25These guys are notorious for being toxic too.
02:10:28And the toxicity comes from munching on blister beetles.
02:10:33It's safe to touch them, but eating one can lead to irreversible consequences.
02:10:39The toxin remains even after cooking.
02:10:42Another bird you don't want to eat is a common quail.
02:10:46Mix it up with a Japanese quail, which is usually kept as poultry.
02:10:51Common quails can be really poisonous, leading to even such dreadful consequences as kidney
02:10:56failure.
02:10:57It all depends on the certain plants this bird eats.
02:11:00Good news, it's only poisonous during the migration period, but it's yummy and safe
02:11:06outside the migration.
02:11:08If you're not quite sure, it's better to avoid this one on your plate unless you want
02:11:12some muscle soreness.
02:11:14If you spot a cute fluffy snowy owl, you better close your eyes and run.
02:11:20They might look innocent, but in fact, they have razor-sharp talents which they know perfectly
02:11:25how to use.
02:11:27They point them at the most vulnerable parts, like head, eyes, you got it.
02:11:32Do not mess with a snowy owl.
02:11:35One more species you don't want to contact is the little shrike thrush.
02:11:39Say that a few times fast, shrike thrush.
02:11:42Just look at this tiny birdie and its innocent eyes.
02:11:46And don't let them fool you.
02:11:48Remember the way they look and never touch them.
02:11:50They're as poisonous as notorious Central and South American dart frogs.
02:11:55Blue-capped ifrita may be tiny, but it has a toxic mechanism that makes this small birdie
02:12:01invincible.
02:12:02They eat only certain types of beetles that provide this bird with special toxins.
02:12:08And if you touch it, you'll probably get numb as a result of intoxication.
02:12:13It's inedible since the toxins don't disappear even when it's cooked.
02:12:18Golden eagles are the power-lifters in the bird's world.
02:12:21They can carry weights up to 4 pounds.
02:12:24They pick up tortoises and other prey easily.
02:12:27These mighty birds are strong enough to steal a toddler, but they actually never do that.
02:12:33Moreover, in Mongolia, people even use these eagles to hunt wolves.
02:12:39Canada geese have been living close to humans for years.
02:12:42But they're still wary of us getting near their homes, especially in the spring mating
02:12:47season.
02:12:48At this time, the geese can chase and bite people they consider a threat to their eggs,
02:12:52mates, or babies.
02:12:54If you want to avoid being attacked by these seriously angry birds, the best thing you
02:12:59can do is just slowly back away.
02:13:03Romantic seagulls in the sky don't seem to cause many problems.
02:13:07The worst thing they can do is leave you some unwanted droppings.
02:13:11Well, this impression is pretty misleading because these birds are very aggressive.
02:13:17Like all of their kind, they don't attack because they feel like doing so.
02:13:20So the rule is quite simple – just don't touch those birds and stay away from their
02:13:26nests.
02:13:28Oh, and when the time machine is finally invented, be especially careful with the birds from
02:13:33the past.
02:13:34Velociraptors are long past existing, just like the rest of the dinosaurs.
02:13:39They had talons and feathers, so these guys were actual birds and not scaly lizards.
02:13:45By the way, these are the stiletto-sharp talons you should be afraid of.
02:13:50These could cut anything.
02:13:52Beware if you go into the future, too – you never know what's waiting for you over there.
02:13:58Boom!
02:14:01This word isn't nearly enough to illustrate the explosion, the most powerful one you've
02:14:05ever seen.
02:14:06And what's most important, it's a lake that's just blown up.
02:14:10Hey, all you wanted to do is light up some fireworks in this picturesque place.
02:14:14But you must've totally missed the Danger Strictly No Fire warning sign along the way.
02:14:19And now the wall of fuming water is quickly closing in on you!
02:14:24But first, let's rewind to the beginning of the whole thing.
02:14:28You're in Alberta, Canada and have just arrived to Abraham Lake for a hike of your life.
02:14:34The lake is frozen, and the view is awesome.
02:14:37Those bubbles under the ice look like hundreds of frozen jellyfish.
02:14:41In reality, they're made of methane, a toxic and highly flammable gas produced by bacteria
02:14:48living on the bottom of the lake.
02:14:49That's why the sign is there.
02:14:51If you so much as light a match on this ice, it might set the whole thing on fire.
02:14:56Luckily, you've taken note of it on the way here and put away the fireworks you wanted
02:15:01to light up.
02:15:02Another place, another time.
02:15:05Another lake.
02:15:06This one's not frozen.
02:15:08In fact, it probably hasn't seen a winter since the last ice age.
02:15:11We're in Cameroon now, and the place is called Lake Nyos.
02:15:16It looks peaceful, but make no mistake, its orange-brown waters hide a deadly secret.
02:15:22The lake rests atop a highly volatile area, and the fissures in its bottom let out massive
02:15:28amounts of carbon dioxide.
02:15:30When the ground shifts, this gas spills out of the lake and flows miles around it.
02:15:35The concentrations are so high that one breath of it would make you faint, and you'd have
02:15:40zero chance of waking up.
02:15:43You get the picture.
02:15:44But the most sinister thing about it is that the CO2 doesn't have a smell or color, so
02:15:50you wouldn't even see it coming.
02:15:52Local authorities have set up a system of pipes that drains the gas from the lake, making
02:15:56it relatively safe for people and animals in the vicinity.
02:16:01And another toxic lake, Kivu, on the border of Congo and Rwanda, has even been made to
02:16:06provide energy for millions of people thanks to its gases.
02:16:11Nowhere in Africa, the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is also worth a blood-curdling
02:16:16visit.
02:16:17Dubbed the hottest place on Earth, it sure lives up to its name.
02:16:21The ravine is peppered with extremely hot springs, toxic acid ponds, and active volcanoes.
02:16:27The landscape is surreal, to say the least, and it's probably the only inhabited place
02:16:32on Earth where no life can exist.
02:16:35The Afar people live here all year round and gather salt around the springs for trade,
02:16:41while scientists couldn't find any evidence of microbial life in those.
02:16:46Humans are notorious for settling in places most would gladly avoid.
02:16:50Take Mount Tambora in Indonesia.
02:16:53Thousands of people have been living on and around its slopes for centuries until the
02:16:57fateful day in 1815.
02:17:00Tambora is a volcano, and that year it decided to erupt, resulting in a blast that obliterated
02:17:07everything on the island and was heard almost a thousand miles away.
02:17:11It spewed out so much volcanic ash that it fell in sheets on the surrounding isles and
02:17:17caused a year without a summer in the whole Northern Hemisphere.
02:17:21It was the most powerful eruption in the last 10,000 years, and Mount Tambora became as
02:17:26much as 5,000 feet lower after it.
02:17:29But back to our time, there's an island you won't be allowed to visit, but I bet
02:17:34you wouldn't want to anyway.
02:17:36The Snake Island in Brazil is home to thousands of snakes, as its name implies.
02:17:42The moment you step on its soil, you're in grave danger of being bitten by a viper.
02:17:47The island is also the only place you can meet a golden lancehead viper – the encounter
02:17:52of a lifetime, literally.
02:17:54This place is so dangerous that Brazil has banned tourists and any other visitors from
02:17:59it unconditionally.
02:18:00Okay, gotta go!
02:18:03Get your warmest clothes on and don't forget a fur face mask – we're going to Omyakon,
02:18:08Russia.
02:18:09It's a small town in the far north that's often called the coldest place on the planet
02:18:13where people still live.
02:18:15The only place with a lower average temperature is Antarctica, and that's saying something.
02:18:21In the winter, if you so much as forget to put on a sweater, another sweater, another
02:18:25sweater, and a fur coat, you'll get frozen to the bone in mere seconds.
02:18:31Temperatures here drop to the chilling minus 96°F. Fresh fruit turns to chunks of ice
02:18:37in minutes and becomes so hard you could drive nails into wood with an apple here.
02:18:43Before you freeze in place, let's go somewhere no boat will take you – the Skeleton Coast
02:18:48in Namibia.
02:18:49No, really, you can only drive or fly in here because boats and ships won't go near the
02:18:55place.
02:18:56The waters are treacherous, sudden gales toss vessels around, and sharp rocks hiding underwater
02:19:01are all too happy to ram into their hulls.
02:19:05The coast itself stretches for hundreds of miles and is divided into southern and northern
02:19:10parts.
02:19:11Visitors on all-terrain vehicles are allowed freely into the southern part, but only about
02:19:16800 people a year can get to the northern one and only with guided tours.
02:19:21People are known to have been lost in this desert forever, and it's a daunting place
02:19:25to go.
02:19:26It got its name from numerous animal carcasses found here.
02:19:29Still, about 50,000 indigenous people managed to survive in this place along with adapted
02:19:36animals, lizards, hyenas, and even elephants.
02:19:40You'd expect a living destruction machine anywhere but the heart of Europe.
02:19:44Naples, one of the most famous cities in Italy, is built on top of an active supervolcano.
02:19:51In 2018, scientists noticed this monster of a mountain was building up magma in its
02:19:56depths.
02:19:57They say it isn't likely to erupt in the near future, but there's a smaller yet no
02:20:02less dangerous volcano just a few miles off – the infamous Vesuvius.
02:20:08You might remember it for the immolation of the Roman city of Pompeii about 2,000 years
02:20:14ago.
02:20:15You might, but I wasn't around then.
02:20:17This one has been active for a long while, and both citizens and guests of Naples put
02:20:22their lives at stake every single day they spend in town.
02:20:26But hey, while you're there, try the pizza!
02:20:30Northeast of France is also an unwelcoming place.
02:20:33A chain of areas has been dubbed Zone Rouge, or Red Zone, and declared off-limits since
02:20:39the 1920s.
02:20:40If, by some wild chance, you find yourself in one of these places, you'll only see
02:20:46wilted plants and scorched earth, so much in contrast with the lush landscapes of the
02:20:51rest of the country.
02:20:52The soil and air is so polluted here that people are prohibited to enter for fear of
02:20:57choking.
02:20:58And, in any case, nothing can live in the Red Zone at the time.
02:21:03There's an inhabited island in Japan that was once closed for air travel for 8 years.
02:21:09Miyake-jama is basically a volcano on whose slopes people live.
02:21:14It has been erupting roughly every 20 years, and the latest eruption was in 2000.
02:21:19The volcano doesn't normally spill lava, but instead it throws out enormous clouds
02:21:24of toxic sulfuric gases.
02:21:26Hey, don't forget your mask!
02:21:28Speaking of which, at the peak of its activity, residents of the island had to wear gas masks
02:21:34at all times, and even years after the eruption, they took those masks with them just in case.
02:21:40Hey, I can relate!
02:21:42Not far from where we've just been, in Kamchatka region of Russia, there's an incredibly
02:21:47beautiful valley in which you don't want to stay for too long.
02:21:51It's ominously called the Valley of Death, and it sits at the base of another active
02:21:57volcano.
02:21:58When the mountain lets out its fumes – spoiler, quite often – the toxic gases, heavier than
02:22:03air, go down its slopes and right into the valley.
02:22:07Small critters have no chance of survival breathing this stuff, and even larger animals
02:22:11and humans will have trouble getting out unscathed.
02:22:16Another deadly vacation destination is Sahlströmmen Strait in Norway.
02:22:20It looks serene and beautiful, and you can almost feel it inviting you to take a dip
02:22:25and bathe in its waters.
02:22:27Don't do that, though.
02:22:29Every 6 hours, the calm strait turns into a roaring mass dotted with huge and powerful
02:22:35whirlpools.
02:22:36It's all because of a tidal current between two fjords the strait is connecting.
02:22:41Here on a high tide, the rush of water is too massive for the narrow stream, making
02:22:46it a deadly trap for both swimmers and boats.
02:22:51Over in Bolivia, there's a 45 miles long road that only the bravest dare to traverse.
02:22:57Yungas Road goes along the side of a mountain range and is a major attraction for cyclists
02:23:02craving for a thrill.
02:23:04A new passage has been built that bypasses the most dangerous parts of the route, but
02:23:08the original road was very narrow, with the abyss and no guardrails to speak of on one
02:23:14side and a steep slope on the other.
02:23:17Frequent landslides, fog, and rains made cycling here extremely dangerous and unpredictable.
02:23:22Which, of course, never stopped adrenaline seekers from all over the world to come here
02:23:27for a bike ride like no other.
02:23:30Finally, if you like hot springs, you might also love a visit to Boiling Lake in Dominica.
02:23:38Located in a national park, it's a cavity filled with constantly boiling water from
02:23:43the rivers in the vicinity.
02:23:44It's kept hot by the extremely hot springs of toxic gas, and the fumes above the surface
02:23:50are also toxic.
02:23:52The lake attracts tourists, but getting too close to it might prove really dangerous.
02:23:56It's known to burst, flooding the surrounding area with clouds of gas.
02:24:03Why wouldn't you want to wade into this cool pond on a piping hot summer day?
02:24:08You dip into the refreshing water and enjoy the breeze.
02:24:12Everything's perfect!
02:24:14Until a dark shadow drifts by under the surface.
02:24:18You think it must be a leaf based on its size, so you don't pay it any mind.
02:24:23Until it bites you right on your big toe!
02:24:27After running out of the water, you realize you've been the subject of a giant water bug
02:24:32strike.
02:24:33You've had the unfortunate chance to meet a toe-biter, or sometimes called an alligator
02:24:39tick.
02:24:40You'll survive this monster's bite, but it will be unpleasant.
02:24:44Because giant water bugs are found worldwide in freshwater habitats, their bites are more
02:24:49common than any of us would like.
02:24:51Be on the lookout next time, here's what you need to know to spot them.
02:24:56The giant water bug grows to be more than 4 inches long.
02:25:00According to Guinness World Records, that makes it the largest aquatic insect on Earth.
02:25:05A nip from one of them is said to be some of the most painful injuries a human can suffer
02:25:10from bugs.
02:25:12Although they can be found around the world, they are especially common in North America.
02:25:17They blend into the landscape.
02:25:19Their dark brown body mimics the leaves of the wetlands.
02:25:22No wonder you didn't spot it.
02:25:25They're predatory by nature, usually after small fish, tadpoles, and other insects.
02:25:32But they've also been known to take down bigger prey, like snakes and even turtles.
02:25:37Good thing you're much bigger than a turtle.
02:25:39In some species, female toe-biters lay their eggs on the male's back.
02:25:44He then carries them wherever he goes.
02:25:47As sweet as that sounds, the sight of a male toe-biter carrying his eggs is unfortunately
02:25:53super unpleasant and will send shivers down your spine.
02:25:59And what's worse, even though they're called water bugs, they can fly.
02:26:04So don't just watch out below, because they can come from the sky.
02:26:09As you catch your breath on the shore, something lands on your shoulder.
02:26:12Quick, swat it away!
02:26:14It's a bot fly!
02:26:16Bot flies are vicious tiny insects that lay their eggs in mosquitoes, injecting those
02:26:22eggs into humans.
02:26:23Your warm body temperature creates the perfect incubation environment.
02:26:28When they hatch, they start their lives with the grueling task of eating their way out.
02:26:33Lovely.
02:26:35You're most likely to find them in Central and South America, but it's not implausible
02:26:39for you to have an unlikely encounter with these small creatures in Florida as well.
02:26:45The name hammerhead worm calls to mind nothing good.
02:26:49That sounds like an impossible cross between a shark and an earthworm.
02:26:53Looking at one, that's not far off.
02:26:56Multiple sightings of this strange creature were reported across Georgia.
02:27:00They live up to their name, with a distinct crescent moon-shaped head.
02:27:05Well, what appears to be their head, their mouth is halfway down their bodies.
02:27:10Their appearance is off-putting for a reason.
02:27:13These babies are poisonous.
02:27:15They produce tetrodotoxin, the same as pufferfish.
02:27:19Scientists aren't yet sure how it uses the toxin, but the best bet is that it's a tool
02:27:24to catch its prey, other worms.
02:27:27We also don't know how much of it would hurt a human, but experts say to stay away no matter
02:27:32what.
02:27:33Especially don't harm it, because it has the spectacular ability to reform itself out of
02:27:38cut sections of its body, like the myth of the hydra.
02:27:43Side note, someone with a great sense of humor nicknamed these grubs, lanchovies, which
02:27:49sound much less scary than hammerhead worm.
02:27:52The giant silkworm caterpillar looks as intimidating as it should.
02:27:57Its potent venom is no joke.
02:27:59The larvae are sheathed in tiny spear-like bristles, which release a highly poisonous
02:28:04anticoagulant toxin.
02:28:07So getting pricked by one of these isn't ideal.
02:28:10They make it even worse by gathering in bunches, so it's common to accidentally brush up against
02:28:16multiple caterpillars at the same time.
02:28:19Most people who are stung don't feel it.
02:28:21Huh, that's good, right?
02:28:23Well, no.
02:28:25It means they have no idea what's going on when symptoms appear.
02:28:28Plus, there's no visible mark left where they've been stung.
02:28:32One of the strangest things about this caterpillar is that it's super tiny compared to the damage
02:28:37it can cause, usually around 2 inches.
02:28:41They're commonly found in the rainforests of South America, including in Uruguay, Argentina,
02:28:46and Brazil.
02:28:48But plot twist, this creepy-crawly doesn't just come in one form.
02:28:52The caterpillar is only in the first stage of its life.
02:28:55Yeah, that's what it looked like as a baby.
02:28:58Once it reaches adulthood, it takes on an entirely different shape as the giant silkworm
02:29:03moth.
02:29:05But don't be fooled into thinking it's harmless now because it's lost its vicious spikes.
02:29:10It's still venomous, and now it can fly!
02:29:14You can take comfort in knowing that it only lives for a few weeks in this form, though,
02:29:18because once it metamorphoses, it no longer has a mouth to eat with.
02:29:23The Australian funnel-web spider toxin can take out an adult human in about 15 minutes.
02:29:29That's why it's widely considered the world's most dangerous spider.
02:29:33While all funnel-web spiders are no darlings, this specific species takes the cake.
02:29:39They're relatively large and aggressive, with rear-facing fangs capable of piercing through
02:29:44your fingernails.
02:29:45The males often wander into human-populated areas in search of mates, and are much more
02:29:50likely to cause harm.
02:29:52They make their burrows in cool, sheltered areas, such as under rocks and inside rotting
02:29:58logs.
02:29:59Worst of all, they're commonly found in shrubs and rock groups in suburban districts.
02:30:04If you're not from Australia, you can feel relief since they're exclusively native there.
02:30:09If you are from Australia, pay close attention to your surroundings, and if you see one of
02:30:14these, stay far, far away.
02:30:17A word of good news, an anti-venom was developed in 1981.
02:30:21Still, it's best to steer clear.
02:30:24Down on the bottom of the ocean in tropical areas, you might spot a beautifully patterned
02:30:29shell like this one.
02:30:31They come in all colors and sizes, and look like tiny pottery vases made by little underwater
02:30:36potters.
02:30:37If you're like me, your instinct might be to reach out and pick it up and take it home
02:30:42as a souvenir.
02:30:43That's the last thing you ever want to do.
02:30:46This isn't just any old shell, it's the home of a cone snail.
02:30:51If that name doesn't strike fear into your heart yet, it will soon.
02:30:56Like most snails, the cone snail is slow, but it makes up for it with calculated moments
02:31:02of dangerous swiftness.
02:31:04They're predatory, seeking out other snails, fish, and marine worms.
02:31:09They sense potential food nearby using their nose and deploy a sharp needle-like proboscis
02:31:15to spear their prey.
02:31:16The harpoon-like beak is strong enough to penetrate fabric, even reinforced diving gloves.
02:31:22If you're a human, and I sure hope you are, you're not the cone snail's ideal meal.
02:31:28That doesn't stop it from stinging people that get too close.
02:31:31If it does sting you, you probably won't feel it because the venom that is injected in that
02:31:36instant is laced with a natural pain reliever.
02:31:39The lack of pain is actually what makes this snail so dangerous.
02:31:43Without knowing what's hit you, you may not register the sting symptoms until it's too
02:31:47late.
02:31:48So, if you see a pretty shell, stay safe by leaving it be.
02:31:53This minuscule bombardier beetle has a unique talent.
02:31:56When threatened, it can shoot boiling hot poisonous acid from its backside.
02:32:02It uses the stinky chemical spray to ward off predators and lash out against other insects.
02:32:08And it works well.
02:32:09Sometimes it even saves their lives after they've been swallowed.
02:32:13Frogs will often spit them back up once they taste their less-than-pleasant flavor.
02:32:18You might find one in many different ecosystems, from deserts to grasslands to thick forests.
02:32:24They're so versatile that they're found on every continent, except Antarctica.
02:32:29You've probably never noticed one before, because they're so tiny, only about the size
02:32:34of a fingernail.
02:32:35Incredibly, a potent spray can come from such a little bug.
02:32:39It can be because of an elaborate internal structure of chambers and reservoirs that
02:32:44combine two chemical compounds, hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide.
02:32:49They're stored separately in reservoirs inside the beetle's abdomen.
02:32:53They pass through valves and meet in a central chamber to mix with an enzyme that kick-starts
02:32:58the reaction.
02:32:59Gases created in the reaction rapidly expand and produce massive amounts of heat.
02:33:05Whatever you do, you don't want to get on these little guys' wrong side.
02:33:10You might think that zombies only exist in the movies, but the threat could be much more
02:33:15real if you're a cicada.
02:33:17A fungus called Massospora has a unique goal that few other mushrooms share.
02:33:23It hitches a ride inside the bodies of the singing cicadas, overtaking the bug's minds
02:33:28and turning them into real-life zombies.
02:33:31Affected cicadas act very unnaturally, with their only goal being to spread more of the
02:33:36fungus to other cicadas.
02:33:39The scariest part is that the insects stay fully functional the entire time, showing
02:33:44no sign that they've been taken over, besides their strange behavior, until it's too late.
02:33:51While they may not be a threat to humans, there's still something very unsettling about
02:33:55knowing that the buzzing bugs in the trees might be the creatures of scary movies.
02:34:01In January 2022, a volcano eruption happened in the Tonga Islands that forever changed
02:34:08the way we understand GPS signals.
02:34:11This volcano caused a massive disturbance, sending out a colossal mix of gas and debris
02:34:17in the air.
02:34:19It generated a shockwave that traveled across the entire atmosphere, reaching all the way
02:34:24to Alaska, and launched a tsunami over nearby islands.
02:34:29Over northern Australia, it crafted a weird plasma bubble in the upper atmosphere, which
02:34:34disrupted GPS systems for hours.
02:34:38People that happened to be under this bubble and in need of precise GPS, waited for ages
02:34:43before their device could receive precious information again.
02:34:48The exact place where these disturbances occurred is called the ionosphere.
02:34:53It's the place where our atmosphere meets outer space, and looks like this buzzing layer
02:34:58where heat from the sun turns gases into electrically charged particles.
02:35:02It can also be seriously unpredictable, changing depending on the weather, and thinning out
02:35:08when the sun's rays are less powerful.
02:35:11Because it's electrically charged, the ionosphere helps us with our communication needs.
02:35:16It houses many satellites, including the International Space Station.
02:35:21Here's how changes in the ionosphere can interact with GPS signals.
02:35:26Let's say you're playing detective with your friends and need to find them using a special radar.
02:35:31This radar sends out invisible waves through the ionosphere to locate your buddies.
02:35:36If everything is normal, you'll find their precise location in no time.
02:35:42Should those waves go through a place where the ionosphere particles are a bit messed up,
02:35:47the waves might slow down, get scattered, or change direction, confusing your radar.
02:35:54In the same way, when GPS signals travel through a damaged ionosphere, they can malfunction.
02:36:00Scientists have developed a way to fix this, like special sensors to anticipate changes
02:36:05in the atmosphere.
02:36:08The ionosphere is also sensitive to rockets being launched from Earth, not just storms
02:36:13and volcanoes.
02:36:15At first, astronomers believed these red patches they were noticing in the sky were similar
02:36:20to the northern lights found in Sweden, Finland, or Canada.
02:36:25But they soon figured out there were gaps in the ionosphere.
02:36:29Beautiful to look at, yes, but experts are worried that these crimson areas might be
02:36:34causing communication and astronomy problems that we've yet to discover.
02:36:39Since scientists don't know all the effects of these holes on our environment, it's best
02:36:44to steer clear if you see a red hole in the sky, just to be safe.
02:36:49But at least they seal up within 10 to 20 minutes.
02:36:52Mars has its own eerie set of lights happening in the atmosphere, and you'd think since
02:36:57it's the red planet, these lights would also be red.
02:37:00Should you ever land on its surface, surprise!
02:37:04At times, the sky turns to a green glow.
02:37:07This unexpected hue could be very important for future Mars trips, since it can help specialists
02:37:13better understand the Martian atmosphere.
02:37:17Or what's left of it.
02:37:18That's because at some point in its history, Mars switched from being a warm and wet world
02:37:24to the cold, dry plains we know today.
02:37:28How is Mars slowly losing even what's left of its atmosphere?
02:37:32One popular theory is that Mars' weak gravity, combined with the fact that it doesn't have
02:37:37a strong magnetic field, lets the atmosphere escape into space.
02:37:42This vulnerability comes from the solar wind, a constant flow of particles from the sun.
02:37:49The sun's push over millions of years may have thinned out the atmosphere, grabbing
02:37:53the lighter parts.
02:37:55Some scientists suggest another possibility.
02:37:58A colossal impact by another object might have swiped Mars' atmosphere away.
02:38:04Studying this greenish glow is key to understanding what's going on on the Martian atmosphere,
02:38:09a place satellites can't directly explore.
02:38:12Since we plan to visit this neighboring planet in the following decades, scientists intend
02:38:17to develop the perfect spacecraft.
02:38:20Knowing its atmospheric density helps us build machines tough enough to handle Martian drag,
02:38:26and we can design parachutes that gracefully descend to the Martian surface.
02:38:32See these amazing purples and greens lighting up the sky?
02:38:35It's not your typical aurora.
02:38:37It's Steve!
02:38:39First discovered by regular people, not scientists, some years back.
02:38:43We now know it's the aurora's more elusive cousin.
02:38:47Steve is short for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, and was caught on camera
02:38:52back in 2018 by a bunch of amateur aurora chasers in Canada.
02:38:58They then brought it to the attention of NASA scientists.
02:39:02Here's how this is different from the aurora, starting with the appearance.
02:39:06Steve is more of a magenta streak, while the aurora is usually made out of green ribbons.
02:39:13Auroras happen when particles from the sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field
02:39:17and atmosphere, causing gases to emit light.
02:39:21Steve is thought to be a separate optical phenomenon that sometimes appears alongside
02:39:27auroras.
02:39:28While the exact mechanism behind it is still being studied, scientists believe it is linked
02:39:33with charged particles in the ionosphere that also interact with the Earth's magnetic
02:39:38field.
02:39:40Now that we know where to look, Steve might not be as rare.
02:39:44If you're planning to catch a glimpse of it, you'll need to travel to places where
02:39:47auroras usually happen, like Canada, Alaska, Northern Europe, New Zealand, and Australia.
02:39:56That's because it's never visible on its own.
02:39:59It's powered up when the aurora is extra bright during geomagnetic storms.
02:40:05Auroras can also happen on the sun, too.
02:40:08These luxurious lights happen somewhere around 25,000 miles above a sunspot, a dark magnetic
02:40:15patch on the sun's surface.
02:40:18Astronomers have only recently discovered our own sun is capable of generating these
02:40:22lights.
02:40:24So far, they've only spotted aurora-like signals from faraway stars.
02:40:29Here on Earth, the aurora can last anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, maybe even a couple
02:40:34of hours if you're lucky.
02:40:37On the surface of the sun, though, this phenomenon is a week-long display of intricate light.
02:40:44Strange lights in the sky can also happen before an earthquake hits.
02:40:48Mexico had its share in 2017, lighting up the internet with pictures of weird celestial
02:40:53shades before a massive magnitude 8.1 earthquake.
02:40:58Some voices in the scientific community wonder if this light phenomenon is indeed connected
02:41:03to earthquakes at all.
02:41:05Others have this theory that such lights are caused by the release of ionized oxygen from
02:41:09the breaking of certain rocks.
02:41:12A photographer from Finland captured these shots of a circular rainbow display in the
02:41:17sky and wondered what might be causing it.
02:41:21It's something pretty ordinary – pollen!
02:41:24These colorful rings are called pollen coronas, and they happen when sunlight hits the pollen
02:41:28in the air at a certain angle.
02:41:31You can easily tell if you're looking at pollen coronas if they're accompanied by
02:41:35star-like sparkles.
02:41:37Those are individual pollen grains, and they come in many sizes.
02:41:41The process is very simple.
02:41:43Sunlight hits the pollen and scatters into different colors.
02:41:47Some colors get blocked or crash into each other, creating a pattern known as diffraction.
02:41:53The pollen in these images is from pine trees, and under a microscope, they look like tiny
02:41:58Mickey Mouses.
02:42:00Those ears are actually air pockets that help them float in the wind.
02:42:05The air sacs all line up in the same direction, creating the elliptical shape of the rings.
02:42:11For these coronas to show up, pollen levels need to be very high.
02:42:16An astronaut up on the International Space Station once snapped this picture of our planet,
02:42:21showing these two weird blue patches of light in our atmosphere.
02:42:25They might seem related to each other, but these lights are two different natural phenomenon
02:42:30that just happened to be captured at the same time.
02:42:33The first one down at the bottom is a massive lightning strike that zapped somewhere in
02:42:38the Gulf of Thailand.
02:42:40Lightning is usually pretty hard to spot from way up there because of clouds, but this time
02:42:44it struck between them, firing up the walls around it like a luminous ring.
02:42:49The second blue blob up in the top right happened because of the moon.
02:42:54The way our natural satellite lines up with the space station lets the sunlight it reflects
02:43:00shoot straight through Earth's atmosphere.
02:43:03This turns it into a bright light with a fuzzy halo.
02:43:07It happens because some of the moonlight bounces off tiny particles in our atmosphere, making
02:43:12the moon look blue in this picture.
02:43:14That orange halo curving along Earth's edge is just the atmosphere.
02:43:19You're walking down the beach toward the water, but something feels different today.
02:43:26The water is bright green, and your nose gets filled with a recognizable pungent stench
02:43:31of rotting eggs.
02:43:32Should you probably come closer to check this unusual phenomenon?
02:43:37Stop right now until it's too late!
02:43:40What you see is called a harmful algal bloom, also called algae bloom, and approaching it
02:43:45is a very bad idea.
02:43:48This bloom contains algae that can produce dangerous toxic gases.
02:43:52That's what makes previously popular touristy places deserted and outright treacherous.
02:43:58You can come to a sea or lake beach and spot something that looks like blue-green foam
02:44:02floating on or just beneath the surface of the water.
02:44:05Or it may resemble streaks of bright green paint.
02:44:08Some blooms, called red tides, can color the water brown or red.
02:44:13Anyway, once you notice something like that, try to stay away, keep in check that curiosity
02:44:18of yours, and don't go exploring.
02:44:20When algae decompose, pockets of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas are trapped under the crust.
02:44:27If you unknowingly step on such a pocket, you'll set the gas free and can accidentally
02:44:32inhale it.
02:44:33It's enough to say that this is likely to end tragically.
02:44:37On some beaches, bulldozers pile up the algae into dump trucks and bring it to special centers.
02:44:43There, workers dry the seaweed and get rid of it.
02:44:46But sometimes, these centers have to be temporarily closed.
02:44:50Algae mixed with sand and mud smells so awful that local people can't sleep at night because
02:44:55of the stench.
02:44:57There are three types of dangerous algae that can gather into harmful algal blooms.
02:45:02Cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, and diatoms.
02:45:06All of them are made up of minuscule floating life forms that use sunlight to create their
02:45:10own food.
02:45:12The blue-green algal blooms are caused by cyanobacteria.
02:45:15They produce dangerous toxins that destroy nerve tissue.
02:45:18It can get so bad that water treatment plants might be unable to get rid of the toxin.
02:45:24Then, local people are recommended not to use tap water.
02:45:29Dinoflagellates and one diatom species are responsible for creating red tides.
02:45:34They occur mostly in ocean bays.
02:45:36For a red algal bloom to form, the water has to be warm, salty, and rich in nutrients.
02:45:42Such blooms release a huge amount of different toxins.
02:45:45In Texas, red tides used to happen once in a decade.
02:45:49Now they occur every three years.
02:45:51In Florida, red algal blooms appear every year.
02:45:56Long skinny diatoms can also produce toxic substances harmful to people.
02:46:00Even worse, if some shellfish, like razor clams, eat a lot of this plankton, they become
02:46:05toxic too.
02:46:06That's why cooking them for dinner can lead to a disaster.
02:46:10It's one of the reasons why marine waters are usually monitored.
02:46:13If toxin levels become too high, beaches get closed for shellfish harvesting.
02:46:20Harmful algal blooms can last for several days to a couple of months.
02:46:23They rid the water of oxygen, causing marine life to disappear.
02:46:27It gets even worse when microbes start to decompose the algae at the end of the bloom.
02:46:33They consume even more oxygen in the process, and no fish can survive it.
02:46:37This creates huge areas of water almost totally devoid of oxygen and any kind of plant or
02:46:43animal life.
02:46:45Harmful algal blooms appear in the regions with too many nutrients in the water.
02:46:49And the most common of these nutrients comes from agriculture and other industries.
02:46:54Plus, winter monsoons have become warmer and now carry more moisture.
02:46:59This allows algae to gather in huge blooms.
02:47:02Some of them get so gigantic that the thick green swirls can be seen from space.
02:47:07Not all algal blooms are harmful, though.
02:47:10Some of them just add a terrible taste to the water, change its color, or produce revolting
02:47:15smells.
02:47:16Unfortunately, you won't be able to tell toxic algae from totally harmless kinds judging
02:47:21only by their appearance.
02:47:23Algae aren't the only organisms that look deceitfully harmless.
02:47:27Here are other marine inhabitants you should never, ever touch.
02:47:31The arukinji jellyfish, found in Australia, looks tiny and totally innocent.
02:47:36But appearances are deceitful.
02:47:38And this baby, the size of a human thumbnail, is actually lethal.
02:47:43During stinger season, which lasts from November to May, tons of beaches get closed because
02:47:48of these itsy-bitsy creatures.
02:47:50What makes the jellyfish particularly dangerous is their miniature size.
02:47:54You will simply fail to notice one while swimming.
02:47:57Oops.
02:47:59The blue-ringed octopus looks not just harmless, it's breathtakingly beautiful.
02:48:04But don't let the looks fool you.
02:48:06You wouldn't want to disturb this relatively small 8-inch long creature.
02:48:10It carries enough venom to bring down 26 adults within mere minutes.
02:48:15And once the animal feels threatened, well, you can probably guess the outcome.
02:48:19At the same time, when left alone, the octopus is absolutely docile.
02:48:25The infamous box jellyfish, named for its cubic body shape, lives in the Indian and
02:48:30Pacific Oceans.
02:48:31Stay clear from a creature with a squarish bell and long, dangling tentacles.
02:48:36And even if you see only a single tentacle, without the jellyfish attached to it, don't
02:48:41come close or touch it.
02:48:43The box jellyfish can grow up to 10 feet, and each of its tentacles has about 500,000
02:48:48microscopic harpoons to inject venom.
02:48:52Unlike other jellyfish, box jellyfish are hunters.
02:48:55They can latch on to you by wrapping their slender tentacles around your limb or body.
02:48:59With how dangerous their venom is, it won't be a pleasant experience.
02:49:05The crown-of-thorns starfish got its name because of the venomous spines covering its
02:49:09entire body.
02:49:11The second largest starfish in the world, it can grow up to 20 inches across.
02:49:15They feed on corals, and they eat a lot.
02:49:18Just one hungry starfish can finish off more than 100 square feet of corals within a year.
02:49:24The creatures also tend to have loads of babies.
02:49:27They produce more than 500 million eggs at a time.
02:49:30Really, an overachiever!
02:49:33The fairly small, blue-spotted ribbon-tailed ray mostly lives in the tropical Indian and
02:49:38Western Pacific Oceans, near coral reefs.
02:49:41No more than 14 inches across, the creature has a striking color pattern.
02:49:46It's yellow with electric blue spots on its body and several blue stripes on its tail.
02:49:52But however pretty this animal is, keep in mind that it's also dangerous.
02:49:57It can injure you with venomous tail spines.
02:50:01You can come across lionfish in the South Pacific Ocean and in the Caribbean Sea.
02:50:05Despite what most people think, it's okay to cook these fish.
02:50:09These creatures present real danger when they are alive.
02:50:12You can get accidentally stung by their needle-sharp fins that contain venom.
02:50:18If you're an enthusiastic shell collector, you should know the cone snail by sight.
02:50:23About 4 inches long, the snail looks cute and innocent.
02:50:26But this look is deceitful, especially if you're dealing with a tropical species.
02:50:31Imagine finding a pretty shell and picking it up.
02:50:34You aren't afraid – your diving gloves seem to offer perfect protection.
02:50:38But cone snails have tiny needle-like protrusions they can deploy from their mouths, and those
02:50:44are full of lethal neurotoxins.
02:50:46These harpoons can easily get through your diving suit's fabric.
02:50:50But the worst thing is that the venom contains painkillers.
02:50:53You won't even know you've been stung!
02:50:56The flower urchin got to the Guinness Book of Records as the most dangerous sea urchin
02:51:01on the planet.
02:51:02These creatures live in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.
02:51:05And while a flower urchin may look like something you'd love to see in your aquarium, never
02:51:10ever touch it.
02:51:12Flower urchins have enough venom to make your holiday extremely unpleasant.
02:51:16Or short.
02:51:18The reef stonefish, the world's most venomous fish, knows how to camouflage.
02:51:23Oh goody!
02:51:24It can blend into the surroundings so well, you won't even notice it even if you're
02:51:29paying attention.
02:51:30This makes it all too easy to step on the fish.
02:51:33Once the creature feels threatened, like when you're accidentally trying to crush it, it
02:51:37extends the venomous spines growing along its back.
02:51:41The more pressure, the more venom the fish produces.
02:51:44The creature remains dangerous even taken out of the water.
02:51:49The Indonesian needlefish isn't venomous, doesn't have sharp teeth, and will most
02:51:53likely stay as far away from you as possible.
02:51:56The danger lies in the fish's body shape.
02:51:59After all, it wasn't called the needle for nothing.
02:52:02Needlefish swim near the surface.
02:52:04In case of danger, they launch themselves out of the water, and their speed can reach
02:52:0837 miles per hour.
02:52:10Their long, sharp jaws turn the fish into flying spears.
02:52:16The striped surgeonfish got its name because of the spines growing near the base of its
02:52:20tail.
02:52:21When the fish feels in danger, it moves the tail and reveals these scalpel-shaped spines.
02:52:27If you don't hurry to move away, you can get several nasty cuts.
02:52:30Keep in mind that some species are also venomous.
02:52:33Hey, have a nice day at the beach, y'all!
02:52:38Although the Da Vinci Code might not hold the same level of mystery as the Da Vinci
02:52:43Code, deciphering it can offer crucial protection against potential burglaries.
02:52:48This code consists of a series of cryptic notes and alerts that burglars use to communicate
02:52:54with each other, warning their accomplices about the risks and challenges they may face
02:52:58when targeting a specific property.
02:53:01By understanding and decoding the Da Vinci Code, we common people can effectively safeguard
02:53:06our homes and belongings against intruders, ensuring enhanced security and peace of mind.
02:53:13Look here!
02:53:14A cute garden gnome!
02:53:15Welp, if it doesn't belong to you and you didn't place it in your garden yourself,
02:53:19it's the Da Vinci Code!
02:53:21Police are warning about a concerning trend involving the placement of Christmas gnomes
02:53:25in gardens.
02:53:27These are not some gifts, and they aren't placed by mistake, as these gnomes may be
02:53:31used as a signal by potential burglars to determine if a home is vacant.
02:53:36So you gotta always remain vigilant and take steps to secure your property.
02:53:42Some authorities report that a band of serial burglars in Fairfax County, Virginia have
02:53:46been breaking into homes using bouquets of flowers and spray paint.
02:53:51Apparently, a lady would show up at the door with flowers, but if no one answered, she'd
02:53:55head back to the car.
02:53:57Then, two guys would bust in and steal stuff like jewelry and cash.
02:54:02They have been trying to stay incognito by interfering and covering up home security
02:54:07cameras.
02:54:08Thieves are drawing secret symbols in the street to communicate with other criminals
02:54:12about potential targets.
02:54:15These symbols can indicate whether a home is affluent, has already been robbed, or does
02:54:19not contain valuable items.
02:54:21Alarmingly, they can also signify if there is a vulnerable woman living in the house
02:54:27or if the occupant is easily frightened or gullible.
02:54:31Law enforcement officers have deciphered the meanings behind several of these symbols.
02:54:36For example, an X suggests the home is a good target, while an X enclosed within a circle
02:54:42indicates there is nothing worth stealing inside.
02:54:45A capital D with a line through it signifies that breaking into the house is too risky,
02:54:51while five circles in the form of a star indicate a wealthy property.
02:54:56Additional symbols can reveal if a home is equipped with an alarm system or has been
02:55:00previously burglarized.
02:55:03Those signs aren't the only things you have to keep an eye out for.
02:55:06Watch out for unfamiliar solicitors who may seem out of place or suspicious when knocking
02:55:11on your door.
02:55:12If they're unable to provide proper identification or a valid reason for being there, it's best
02:55:18to proceed with vigilance.
02:55:21Be cautious of anyone claiming to be from a utility company but unable to provide a
02:55:26legitimate ID.
02:55:27They may have ulterior motives for wanting access to your home.
02:55:33It is important to remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings, especially when it comes
02:55:37to individuals who may be lingering around your residence.
02:55:41Keep a watchful eye out for anyone who appears to be loitering near your home, jotting down
02:55:46suspicious notes, or simply watching your property with a keen interest.
02:55:51This behavior could be a red flag that someone is monitoring your movements and activities,
02:55:56potentially in search of weaknesses or vulnerabilities in your home security.
02:56:01Make sure to report any suspicious behavior to the authorities and take necessary precautions
02:56:06to protect yourself and your property from potential threats.
02:56:10Also, be wary of individuals pretending to be survey takers or conducting market research.
02:56:17While some surveys may be genuine, scammers could use this as a way to gather information
02:56:22about your home security and routines.
02:56:25Keep an eye out for charity groups who may seem more interested in your home than your
02:56:29beliefs or donations.
02:56:31This could be a telltale sign of a potential scam.
02:56:34Also, look out for any unidentified vehicles in your neighborhood as they may be scouting
02:56:39for potential targets.
02:56:41If you find your mailbox jammed with unwanted leaflets or flyers, it could be a sign that
02:56:46someone is keeping a close eye on your home or trying to gather information.
02:56:52Burglars may try to create a fake accident to trick you into leaving your home.
02:56:56Be cautious and don't fall for that.
02:56:59If you're in doubt, always call 911.
02:57:02Additionally, be wary of strange phone calls where the caller remains silent.
02:57:07If you receive repeated calls like this, it could be a signal that your home is being
02:57:11targeted by burglars who want to see if you're there.
02:57:15Finding a pizza flyer or a newspaper under your welcome mat might also indicate that
02:57:19your home is being scoped out.
02:57:22If these items are left overnight, it could suggest to potential intruders that the house
02:57:26is empty.
02:57:27Be sure to remove them as soon as you return home.
02:57:31Formerly one of the most highly sought-after criminals in the country, Adrian Pritchard
02:57:35is now determined to assist individuals in avoiding the break-ins he once carried out.
02:57:41Pritchard spent a decade engaged in criminal activities, committing hundreds of burglaries
02:57:46that started when he was just a kid.
02:57:48Over 20 years since his last release from prison, Pritchard, who is now in his 50s,
02:57:53wants to share his insights on preventing crimes like the ones he used to perpetrate.
02:57:59Pritchard and his partners would conduct surveillance during the day and break into properties at
02:58:03night employing various techniques to navigate through homes and businesses undetected.
02:58:08Moreover, he would sometimes engage in spiteful acts.
02:58:13For example, he could leave a total mess in a victim's house as a statement of defiance.
02:58:18Today, Pritchard resides in Hawks Bay with his three daughters and is committing to helping
02:58:23others avoid falling victim to burglary.
02:58:26Drawing from his past experiences, he offers valuable advice on safeguarding homes, such
02:58:32as investing in surveillance cameras, keeping objects away from windows, and avoiding common
02:58:37hiding spots for spare keys.
02:58:40Additionally, Pritchard emphasizes the importance of deadbolts, maintaining clear letterboxes,
02:58:45and utilizing barbed wire for added security measures.
02:58:50Through his efforts to educate property owners, he strives to prevent individuals from experiencing
02:58:55the same violations he once inflicted on others.
02:59:00Returning home to a fresh and organized house after a vacation is always a relief, but it's
02:59:05important to remember that a completely spotless house can signal to potential burglars that
02:59:10no one is home.
02:59:12Try leaving a few things out like an ironing board with a pile of clothes that need to
02:59:16be pressed to make it seem like you've just stepped out for a moment, rather than being
02:59:20away for an extended period.
02:59:23Also, you should never ever post about your holiday on social media, and it's recommended
02:59:29not to write your travel dates on visible calendars as it can give criminals a timeline
02:59:33to work with.
02:59:36To give the impression that someone is still at home while you're away, you can ask your
02:59:40friend to park their car in your driveway, or leave the radio on loud.
02:59:44It would also be great if you could ask someone to close and open your curtains or blinds
02:59:49to maintain the appearance of occupancy.
02:59:52Additionally, make sure to remove any obvious signs of your absence, such as envelopes labeled
02:59:58holiday money, and ask a friend to rearrange things in your house periodically.
03:00:03It's extremely important to look after the homes of friends or neighbors who may be unable
03:00:08to do so themselves due to hospitalization or moving to residential care.
03:00:14Simple tasks like mowing the lawn, moving the mail, and even putting out your own rubbish
03:00:19can help deter potential burglars by giving the impression that someone is still around.
03:00:24Updating the appearance of the home, such as replacing faded curtains or tidying up
03:00:28the front garden, can also help prevent break-ins.
03:00:31Now, should you notice any of these warning signs or feel suspicious about door-to-door
03:00:37activity, it's important to contact the authorities for assistance.
03:00:42Always prioritize your safety and home security by staying vigilant and taking appropriate
03:00:47precautions.
03:00:48Remember, while these signs may not always indicate criminal activity, they should prompt
03:00:53you to take necessary action.