10 Surprising Things Science Can’t Explain
In the vast realm of scientific exploration, there exist phenomena that continue to defy our understanding, perplexing even the most brilliant minds. These enigmatic occurrences challenge the very foundations of our knowledge, leaving scientists in awe and curiosity. While we do have science to thank for a better understanding of the world around us, there are some mysteries science can’t untangle. Scientists continue to dive deep into trying to discover the secrets of the vast universe, but there are still many things science can’t explain.
From unexplained celestial phenomena to puzzling anomalies within the natural world, there are astonishing phenomena that elude rational explanations. These captivating mysteries invite us to delve deeper into the frontiers of science, sparking a relentless quest for answers, and reminding us that there is still much to be discovered and comprehended in the intricate tapestry of the universe. Join us as we embark on an expedition through the realm of perplexing phenomena, where science’s unanswered questions beckon us to explore the depths of the unknown.
10 Surprising Things Science Can’t Explain
1. What Was Before the Big Bang?
Roughly 13 billion years ago, the universe was a tiny dot full of gases. The gases in the small space began heating up, causing the dot to expand and explode, creating the universe. Better known as the Big Bang, millions of years later, stars began appearing in the sky, followed by the solar system. In other words, it was the beginning of the universe. It took years to uncover the Big Bang Theory, which gave scientists greater insight into the expansive universe.
One question scientists have yet to explain is where did that tiny dot of a universe come from? They still hadn’t determined what the universe was before the dot appeared. Some believe it was a smaller dot, but that doesn’t explain how it formed in the first place.
2. What Is the Universe Made Of?
The universe is so vast that the human mind can’t comprehend it. To the average person, it consists of stars, moons, planets, and the Sun. That only accounts for a tiny fraction of the universe. Scientists now believe that most of the universe consists of dark matter. After the Big Bang, it took millions of years before stars appeared.
Before that moment, the universe was nothing but dark matter and dark energy. Since it’s impossible to see, touch, feel, or study dark matter, it remains a hypothetical idea. Despite the centuries astronomers and scientists have spent studying dark matter, it remains an unsolved mystery that appears neverending. The universe and dark matter continue to expand and baffle scientists.
3. What Is Gravity?
Since Issac Newton’s groundbreaking work on gravity, scientists all agree that it exists. It interacts with mass and energy, determining the motion of the planets, galaxies, stars, and light. It also gives weight to objects on Earth as the Moon’s gravitational pull causes the tides. Regardless, much of gravity is still a mystery to scientists. Out of the four forces binding the universe – gravity, strong, weak, and electromagnetic – gravity is actually the weakest force.
Despite all the research, scientists are unsure why gravity is the weakest. Gravity is a central part of life, even if humans don’t think about it all that much. All of the other forces have a particle that helps control each one, except for gravity. That said scientists believe it does contain a particle known as a graviton, they have just yet to understand what it does and how it works.
4. What Causes Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease causing dementia. Memory loss is one of the early signs of the disease. Despite making up a large portion of dementia cases, much of Alzheimer’s is still a mystery. It’s one of the most poorly understood diseases. There’s also no cure for Alzheimer’s, which takes a toll physically, psychologically, and economically on not only the person diagnosed with the disease but their entire family.
The leading theory behind the disease suggests the cause is a build-up of amyloid protein, creating brain plaque. Unfortunately, the medicine that clears up the plaque has no impact overall on Alzheimer’s. Many scientists suggest they need to broaden the scope of the research to consider other possible causes and cures.
5. The Bermuda Triangle
Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, the mythical Bermuda Triangle loosely covers the region around Bermuda, San Juan, and Miami. Since the 1950s, theories have emerged that the area has a supernatural element responsible for many ships and aircraft that disappeared in the triangle. Almost immediately, several authors and scientists challenged the claim.
Statistically, the region has roughly the same number of disappearances as other parts of the ocean. Nonetheless, scientists can’t explain the reason for the disappearances. They argue that the myth of the Bermuda Triangle is the work of mystery writers. Many ships and aircraft that disappeared in the area were never seen again, with no wreckage or bodies appearing in the ocean.
See more about - 120 Mind Blowing Facts You Won’t Believe Are True
6. How Do Cats Purr?
Cats are one of the most popular domesticated animals in North America. They’re adorable little pets with cute faces, sassiness, and a distinctive purr. However, a cat’s purr is one of life’s great mysteries. Scientists have spent their entire careers trying to uncover the puzzle. Most people assume cats purr when happy, but that’s not true. They also purr to indicate fear, manage pain, and soothe their souls.
Scientists still haven’t discovered the causes of their purring. One theory proposes that cats have a neural oscillator in their brain, which may be related to their nervous system, causing the purr. Another theory suggests cats have a process where blood runs through the thorax. Scientists continue to work around the clock to uncover the mystery of a cat’s purr.
7. What Is in the Twilight Zone?
While outer space is a great mystery, scientists still haven’t uncovered the secrets of the sea. Like space, the ocean is vast, deep, and dark, especially once it drops to around the 200 to 1000-meter mark where light no longer reaches.
Better known as the twilight zone, the area is pitch black and only gets darker. There’s no way of truly knowing what lives in the twilight zone. Scientists admit a large portion of fish and other creatures live in the abyss but due to the darkness, climate conditions, and water pressure, scientists can’t explore all of the area, meaning they are still unsure of what truly lives in the deep.
8. Why Don’t Blue Whales Get Cancer?
Cancer is a deadly disease resulting from cells causing uncontrolled growth. Humans and animals across the globe die from cancer every day. Evidence suggests that some animals have more cells than humans but have lower cancer rates. In the case of blue whales, their cancer rate is the lowest, but they have the highest number of cells. It’s been suggested that every 80-year-old whale should have cancer due to their number of cells, but for some reason, they don’t. Scientists dubbed this phenomenon “Peto’s paradox.”
The paradox throws a monkey wrench into all the data and research regarding higher cells and cancer rates. That leaves only a few options for scientists. First, their data and analysis of the correlation between cells and cancer rates are incorrect. The other option proposes that blue whales have a way of fighting back against cancer, although that just adds to the mystery.
9. What Happened To Venus?
Scientists consider Venus the Earth’s sibling. Venus is the third brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon. It’s the second closest planet to the Sun and isn’t far from Earth. It’s also the hottest planet in the solar system, reaching 900 degrees Fahrenheit. Venus is one hot mess consisting of large volcanoes and flowing lava. Clouds of sulfuric acid hang over the sky and the atmosphere is made up of carbon dioxide. Scientists suspect Venus was once like present-day Earth with flowing rivers and massive oceans.
At one point, Venus went from a utopia of flowing rivers to a scene from Stranger Things. One theory suggests a series of volcanic eruptions or the Sun scorching the planet turned Venus into a wasteland. Those are all educated guesses as scientists are still investigating the mystery of Venus.
10. What Age We Can Live Until?
Your first birthday is always a big deal, even if you can’t remember it, and is followed by other milestones every five or ten years. Despite all the technology, scientists don’t know the oldest a person can live until. There isn’t hard evidence that states there’s a specific limit, meaning research is ongoing.
The oldest person to live was a French woman, Jeanne Louise Calment, who was 122 years old at the time of her death. That doesn’t mean that 122 is the cut-off. There’s a chance a person could live to see the age of 150. At this point, there’s no way for scientists to know.
See more about - 50 Beard Facts - What Science And History Has To Say About Beards