5 Unexplainable Mysteries Explained by Science
TLDRThis SciShow episode, sponsored by Skillshare, explores six fascinating scientific mysteries that have been solved. The Kentucky Meat Shower, a historical event where meat rained from the sky, was found to be the result of vultures vomiting their meal. Easter Island's moai statues were shown to have had their heavy hats placed using a technique called parbuckling. Earthquake lights, once attributed to UFOs, are now understood to be caused by electrical activity in rocks. The movement of Death Valley's Sailing Stones was explained by ice panels moving in shallow water. The mysterious Bloop sound was identified as an icequake, and will-o'-the-wisps are likely caused by spontaneous combustion of certain gases in swamps. The episode emphasizes the joy of scientific exploration over speculation and highlights Skillshare's classes, including Storytelling 101, which can help anyone improve their narrative skills.
Takeaways
- 🌍 The Kentucky Meat Shower, a historical event where meat rained from the sky, was eventually explained by scientists as the result of vultures vomiting meat they had eaten.
- 🗿 The moai statues of Easter Island were topped with massive 'hats' that were moved using a technique called parbuckling, which involved rolling the hats as cylinders and then hoisting them into place.
- 🌌 Earthquake lights, often seen before or during earthquakes, are likely caused by electrical activity in rocks, particularly volcanic ones, which can release electric charge under stress.
- 🏜 The Sailing Stones of Death Valley move due to a combination of ice and wind. The ice forms a floating sheet on a shallow lake bed, which the wind can then push, moving the stones.
- 🌊 The mysterious 'Bloop' sound recorded in the ocean was later identified as likely coming from an icequake, where a large chunk of ice breaks off from a glacier.
- 🔥 Will-o'-the-wisps, mysterious lights seen in swamps, are thought to be caused by spontaneous combustion of certain gases, such as methane and phosphine compounds, reacting with atmospheric oxygen.
- 🧬 The meat from the Kentucky Meat Shower was identified as a mix of animal lung tissue, muscle, and cartilage, which was traced back to vultures by a chemistry professor.
- 🏞️ The Rapa Nui people of Easter Island were able to move the heavy moai 'hats' by carving them into cylinders for easier transportation and then using a ramp and team effort to place them.
- 🌉 The formation of earthquake lights is a rare event, only occurring in a small percentage of earthquakes and under very specific geological conditions.
- ❄️ The movement of the Sailing Stones was observed using GPS sensors, which led to the discovery that they move when the lake bed is covered with a shallow layer of water that can freeze into floating ice panels.
- 🎓 The study of unexplained phenomena not only helps us understand the world better but also fuels scientific curiosity and the advancement of knowledge.
Q & A
What is the name of the event where it rained meat in Bath County, Kentucky in March 1876?
-The event is called the Kentucky Meat Shower.
What was the initial hypothesis for the cause of the Kentucky Meat Shower?
-The initial hypothesis was that the meat rain was caused by a kind of bacteria called nostoc.
What did scientists discover the meat from the Kentucky Meat Shower actually was?
-Scientists discovered that the meat was a mixture of animal lung tissue, muscle, and cartilage.
What was L.D. Kastenbine's theory on the cause of the Kentucky Meat Shower?
-L.D. Kastenbine theorized that the meat shower was caused by synchronized projectile vomiting from vultures.
What is the term used for the lights sometimes seen in the sky before or during earthquakes?
-The lights are called earthquake lights.
What is the most likely explanation for earthquake lights, according to a 2014 paper published in Seismological Research Letters?
-The most likely explanation for earthquake lights is electrical activity in certain types of rocks, especially volcanic ones.
What is the phenomenon where rocks in Death Valley appear to move by themselves called?
-The phenomenon is called the Sailing Stones.
What method did researchers use to solve the mystery of the Sailing Stones in Death Valley?
-Researchers used GPS sensors attached to the stones and observed their movement over time.
What is the term for the loud sound recorded in the ocean in 1997, which was initially thought to be possibly biological?
-The sound is called the Bloop.
What was the eventual scientific explanation for the Bloop sound?
-The Bloop was likely caused by an icequake, where a massive chunk of ice cracks off a glacier.
What is the likely explanation for will-o'-the-wisps, the blue-ish lights seen drifting over marshes or swamps?
-Will-o'-the-wisps are likely caused by spontaneous combustion of certain mixtures of gas reacting with atmospheric oxygen.
What is the name of the Skillshare class that teaches storytelling, as mentioned in the script?
-The class is called Storytelling 101.
What is the offer provided by Skillshare for SciShow viewers?
-Skillshare is offering SciShow viewers two months of unlimited access to every class for free.
Outlines
🌍 Easter Island Statues and Kentucky Meat Shower
This paragraph introduces the topic of the video, which is about the explanation of various mysteries solved by scientists. It starts with a sponsorship acknowledgment and moves on to discuss the fascination with unexplained phenomena and the joy of exploring the world. The video promises to cover six such mysteries, beginning with the Kentucky Meat Shower, an event in 1876 where meat rained from the sky, and the Easter Island statues, including the discovery of how the Rapa Nui people managed to place heavy hats on the moai statues.
🌟 Earthquake Lights and Sailing Stones of Death Valley
This segment delves into the phenomena of earthquake lights, which are mysterious lights seen before and during earthquakes, and the Sailing Stones of Death Valley, which move on their own. The lights were once attributed to UFOs or magnetic field disruptions but were later explained by electrical activity in rocks, particularly volcanic ones. The Sailing Stones' movement was a mystery until researchers used GPS sensors and observed the stones moving when the lake bed was covered with a thin layer of water that froze at night and was pushed by wind in the morning.
🌊 The Bloop and Will-o'-the-Wisps: Solved Mysteries
The final paragraph covers the explanations for the Bloop, a mysterious sound from the ocean, and will-o'-the-wisps, eerie lights seen in swamps. The Bloop was determined to be an icequake, the sound of a massive ice chunk breaking off a glacier. Will-o'-the-wisps, once thought to be spirits, are now believed to be caused by the spontaneous combustion of certain gases, like methane and phosphine compounds, which can ignite in the presence of oxygen. The paragraph concludes by celebrating the curiosity of scientists and the storytelling aspect of their work, and it promotes Skillshare classes, including one on storytelling by author Daniel José Older.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡SciShow
💡Kentucky Meat Shower
💡Moai
💡Earthquake Lights
💡Sailing Stones
💡The Bloop
💡Will-o'-the-Wisp
💡Parbuckling
💡Spontaneous Combustion
💡Skillshare
💡Storytelling
Highlights
The Kentucky Meat Shower, a historical event where it rained meat, was explained by scientists as synchronized projectile vomiting by vultures.
Easter Island's moai statues were found to have been adorned with heavy hats, a mystery solved by the Rapa Nui's use of parbuckling technique.
Earthquake lights, witnessed before and during earthquakes, are likely caused by electrical activity in certain rocks, particularly volcanic ones.
The Sailing Stones of Death Valley were discovered to move due to specific conditions involving ice and wind on the lake bed.
The mysterious Bloop sound from the ocean was identified as likely an icequake, where a large chunk of ice breaks off from a glacier.
Will-o'-the-wisps, eerie lights seen in swamps, are thought to be caused by spontaneous combustion of certain gases, like methane and phosphine compounds.
The meat that fell during the Kentucky Meat Shower was identified as a mix of animal lung tissue, muscle, and cartilage.
Vultures' eating habits and their tendency to vomit large meals when disturbed explained the variety and size of the meat pieces in the shower.
The Rapa Nui people likely carved the moai hats from cylindrical stones that were rolled to the statues using simple machines.
3D modeling and calculations about rock weight and ancient Polynesian strength were used to understand how the moai hats were placed.
Electric charge release from stressed rocks can lead to the phenomenon of earthquake lights due to chemical bonds breaking.
The Sailing Stones' movement was observed using GPS sensors, revealing they move when ice forms on the lake bed and is pushed by wind.
The Bloop was initially thought to be a biological phenomenon, but later research suggested it was an icequake based on similar sounds.
Will-o'-the-wisps are likely a result of swamp gas, such as methane and phosphine, igniting or creating a glowing cloud when exposed to air.
Skillshare is offering two months of unlimited access to every class for free to SciShow viewers, including a class on storytelling.
Skillshare has a vast array of classes on diverse topics such as art, music, cooking, and technology, in addition to storytelling.
Transcripts
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