Over time, many mysteries have plagued our world. From the danger of the Bermuda Triangle to the face on Mars, there’s a lot to wonder about on our planet and the solar system. It may seem like some of those questions would never get answers but don’t think too fast. As it turns out, there are many intriguing mysteries few people know were actually cracked, and we have the answers.
To learn about the biggest mysteries and to find solutions, 24/7 Tempo used many sources, including EarthSky.org, Live Science, and the National Park Foundation, among others. We used that information to cover each central mystery and the answer that’s been discovered through science and research. So, buckle up and get ready to have your mind blown.
The Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle
The Mystery: A legend that’s still shared to this day is the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil’s Triangle. That is an area of water that’s between Bermuda, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
That patch of the North Atlantic Ocean has been spoken about since the 1950s. The belief was that when ships entered the Bermuda Triangle, they would disappear without a trace for no reason whatsoever. There have been many theories over the years. They include everything from inter-dimensional vortices to alien invaders who hovered over the area, taking ships as they came into view. The Bermuda Triangle has become so famous that it’s been the subject of movies and TV shows over the years.
There are believed to be dozens of ships and aircraft lost in the Bermuda Triangle over the years, including:
- The disappearance of the Piper PA-23 aircraft in 2005.
- The SS Marine Sulphur Queen lost 39 crewmen in 1963.
- The sinking of the SS El Faro in 2015.
The Answer: The fact is that there are no aliens or science fiction at work in the Bermuda Triangle. During a comprehensive study in 1975, librarian Lawrence David Kusche looked into many of the occurrences leading up to that time. He discovered that there were reasonable answers to all of them. In most cases, it was bad weather or explainable accidents, like equipment failure, that were to blame. As an added fact, it turns out that ships disappear in the Bermuda Triangle as often as they do anywhere else. So there’s really nothing to it. While it’s fun to think that a certain part of the earth may be haunted, there is no scientific proof to show that to be the case.
What Happened to the Mayans?
The Mystery: The famous Mayan civilization was around as early as 1500 B.C. and it continued until around 900 A.D., and during that time, this culture thrived. They practiced agriculture, settled villages, and grew their population to upwards of 50,000 people. However, although they had created a complex civilization, they seemingly left it overnight and disappeared into the Central American jungle. Historians have long wondered why the Mayans would leave when they had everything set up so well. Some of the theories were that there could have been a conquest from unknown people to a UFO holocaust, and everything in between.
The Answer: In 2012, a theory was confirmed, and it certainly was not as exciting as everyone hoped. The solution was that their civilization collapsed because of a lack of resources. It was an environmental issue. The Mayans had chopped down too many trees, which made it harder for the land to absorb solar radiation, and the result was scarce rainfall. After a crippling drought, the Mayans left their cities to find a better place to live. They didn’t technically disappear but instead scattered around into smaller communities. It’s a lesson that may be carried over to today and teaches us about the delicacy of the planet.
Where Did the Stonehenge Stones Come from?
The Mystery: Another one of the intriguing mysteries few people know were actually cracked is the existence of Stonehenge. Travel to England, and you’ll find this incredible rock structure that was built somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago. The rocks are constructed in a post-and-lintel formation with horizontal and vertical elements. Stonehenge is one of the most famous structures on the globe. It’s also been featured in many films, including “National Lampoon’s European Vacation.”
Stonehenge is a major tourist attraction, and for many years, people have wondered how the stones got there. There have been many wild ideas over the years, including that aliens put them there as a reference point, like on a map. Other long-standing beliefs were that it was a place for healing people, that it was a giant crystal ball, and even that giants built it many years ago.
The Answer: This mystery was actually solved many years ago. At least part way. While there is still some debate about exactly why Stonehenge exists, there is an answer as to who built it and where the rocks came from, and it wasn’t giants. For many years, researchers believed that the rocks came from north Wilshire in southwest England. In 2019, scientists examined a sample of one of the larger rocks and discovered that many of the rocks likely came from people who lived in the West Woods in Wiltshire. How the builders got them to where they stand today is still uncertain, but most experts believe they were transported on sleds or rollers.
How Were the Pyramids Built?
The Mystery: Many of the famous pyramids in Egypt have been around since at least 2589 B.C. Back then, there weren’t any real machines or knowledge of modern engineering techniques that we have today, so many experts have been scratching their heads about how the pyramids were built. It’s a common agreement that neither wheels nor animals were used during the construction. The lack of answers made many people believe that the pyramids must have been constructed by aliens that used anti-gravity technology to lift the heavy blocks. That was the best they could come up with, especially since many of the rocks likely weighed at least 2.5 tons.
The Answer: The solution for how the rocks were moved was actually deceivingly simple. According to recent research and study, it was determined that the rocks of the pyramids were first placed onto wooden sleds using levers. Then, they were pulled up ramps made out of sand. Pushing anything on sand can be very difficult. So, to make it easier, the builders poured water on the sand. Doing so smoothed it out and eliminated sand piles so the sleds could be easily moved. After that, it took pure willpower. It likely took a long time to build each pyramid, but the result is spectacular.
Why Is There a Face on Mars?
The Mystery: Back in 1976, the Viking 1 spacecraft took pictures of Mars while up in space. The craft took many pictures, and one of them was particularly intriguing for folks on Earth, and it has continued to be a mystery for years to come. The picture was what appeared to be a face between the Bamberg Crater and Arandas Crater on the part of Mars called the Cydonia region. It really looks like a face on the planet’s surface, and experts scratched their heads trying to find its origins. Many people believed that it was put there by extraterrestrials.
The Answer: As it turns out, the face was not made by aliens. Actually, it’s not a face at all. Instead, it’s just an elevated spot on the planet’s surface and is, in fact, an optical illusion. Depending on the angle at which it’s viewed and how well-lit the image appears, at times, you may think you see a face, and sometimes you’ll see nothing at all.
How do Sailing Stones Move?
The Racetrack Playa, or The Racetrack, is a scenic dry lake feature with sailing stones that inscribe linear racetrack imprints. It is located above the northwestern side of Death Valley, in Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, California, U.S.
The Mystery: If you spend a lot of time in Death Valley, you may notice what others have seen over time, and it’s that many of the rocks there, some of which are over 700 pounds, seem to move on their own. The rocks move and leave a trail behind them. However, there are no footprints or tire tracks that suggest that the rocks are moved by human beings. Like the other mysteries few people know were actually cracked, there are many theories about how the rocks move, including mysterious forces to dust devils and more. However, nothing really seemed to make a lot of sense.
The Answer: The solution to sailing stones was finally discovered in 2014. Two researchers vowed to find the answer, so they started watching the stones and the local phenomenon in 2011. For two years, they watched and took notes. They discovered that during the winter, the dry lakebed where the rocks sit sometimes fills with water due to rainfall. At night, it freezes and creates a thin sheet of ice. When the sun comes out, the ice often breaks into pieces. Then, the wind blows them across the ice with the rocks sitting on top. When the ice fully melts, the rock stops moving. This movement is only a few inches per second, so it’s often unnoticed unless you’re paying attention.
What Caused the Tunguska Explosion in 1908?
The Mystery: On June 30, 1908, an incredible explosion occurred in Siberia near the Tunguska River. The explosion was so massive that it completely flattened 2,000 square kilometers of forest (that’s an area larger than London). It also caused about 80,000,000 trees to fall and face away from the area of the blast. The explosion was so loud that it was heard over 600 miles away. The damage was so severe that it was comparable to 12 megatons of TNT. The only problem was that no TNT or explosives were used. The incident occurred out of nowhere. For decades, many false theories have floated around, from a UFO explosion to a black hole passing near Earth.
The Answer: After much research, it was determined that the explosion was likely caused by a 220-million-pound asteroid that came into Earth’s atmosphere. Before it could hit the planet, the meteorite exploded, making it the largest “impact” in recorded history. Even though it didn’t hit Earth, the explosion created an immense shockwave that created incredible heat and the force necessary to flatten the area. Since the meteorite did not hit the planet, it did not leave a crater.
8. Did a UFO Crash in Roswell in 1947?
The Mystery: One of the most talked about mysteries in modern history is the question of what crash landed in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. Was it a UFO? If it was, why wouldn’t the government tell the American people about the incident? If it wasn’t aliens, why didn’t the government tell us what it was? It’s a debate that continues to rage on until this day. It’s also a permanent fixture in pop culture and movies.
The Answer: While it may seem like a government cover-up, the answer is that it wasn’t a UFO that crashed that day. Instead, it was a high-altitude balloon that was used by the American government to monitor atomic tests that the Soviet Union was completing. The real reason for the crash wasn’t disclosed because the American government didn’t want to disclose what they were really doing, so they left the answer vague and let conspiracy theorists go wild to keep the secret. (Read about the most unbelievable conspiracy theories.)