Incomprehensible and Unexplainable Subjects Iceberg

Introduction

• Humans have evolved from cavemen to advanced species exploring the cosmos.
• Despite advancements in knowledge and skills, some concepts remain beyond our comprehension.
• The presenter is not a scientist and will summarize unexplainable subjects.

Homing Pigeons

• Homing pigeons can return to their base from far distances (e.g., from Germany to England).
• Average speed: over 60 MPH.
• Longest recorded journey: released in France, returned to Saigon, Vietnam (7200 km in 24 days).
• Three main theories on navigation:
  • True Navigation: using landmarks; doesn’t explain long distances.
  • Magnetic Orientation: using the Earth's magnetic field; lacks a map.
  • Olfactory Navigation: using scent to navigate; still under investigation.

Spontaneous Combustion

• Outbreak of fire without external heat.
• Human spontaneous combustion (SHC) has been recorded 200 times in 300 years.
• Common factors: alcohol consumption, older age, limited mobility.
• Theories:
  • Ketosis: body produces acetone (flammable).
  • Wick Effect: body fat melts into clothing, acting like a candle.

The Great Sheep Panic of 1888

• Tens of thousands of sheep panicked simultaneously in Oxfordshire, England.
• Theories for panic:
  • Thunder and lightning.
  • Unidentified large dark cloud.
  • Possible meteoric blast or earthquake.

Assassin Star

• A star that unexpectedly dims and then brightens again (similar to Tabby’s star).
• Possible theories:
  • Consuming planets.
  • Alien megastructures (Dyson sphere).

Ashen Light of Venus

• Theorized glow on the dark side of Venus witnessed since the 17th century.
• Various theories for its existence, including atmospheric phenomena.

The Plague of Athens

• Outbreak in 430 BCE, killing 25-33% of the population.
• Symptoms described by Thucydides; causes remain unclear.
• Possible theories include:
  • Biological warfare.
  • Poisoned water supply.

The Henwell Incident

• 1980 incident where hundreds of children collapsed at an event in Nottinghamshire.
• Initial ruling: mass hysteria; later theories included gas poisoning.

Naga Fireballs

• Glowing orbs rising from the Mekong River, believed to be supernatural.
• Theories: swamp gas, phosphine, plasma orbs.

Sleep

• The reason humans need sleep is still not fully understood.
• Theories include energy conservation, inactivity during night, restorative functions, and brain plasticity.

The Placebo Effect

• Improvement in health after taking a placebo.
• Controversial studies show that the placebo effect can be as strong as morphine.

Fairy Circles

• Barren circles in Africa and Australia surrounded by grass.
• Theories about their formation include termite activity and grass competition.

Impossible Colors

• Colors that humans cannot perceive or comprehend.
• Categories include hyper colors and opposite colors.

Sky Quakes

• Loud booms from the sky with no apparent cause, reported globally.

Cold Fusion

• Theoretical nuclear reaction at room temperature; controversial and subject to skepticism.

The Black Stain of Caracas

• Mysterious black goo on roads in Venezuela causing accidents and deaths.

The Birthday Effect

• Statistical phenomenon suggesting individuals are more likely to die near their birthday.

96% of the Universe

• Humans only understand 4% of the universe; dark matter and dark energy account for the rest.

Gravity

• Ongoing debate on whether our understanding of gravity is incorrect; proposals for new models exist.

The Fourth Dimension

• Humans can only comprehend three dimensions plus time; higher dimensions are conceptual.

Life and Death

• Difficult to define life; certain species (e.g., Blanding’s turtle) show potential for biological immortality.

Nothing

• The concept of "nothing" is paradoxical; the universe consists mostly of empty space.

Comprehension

• Einstein's quote on the incomprehensibility of the world reflects human limitations in understanding complex concepts.