MYSTERIES THAT GOT SOLVED EVENTUALLY

THE FATE OF MARTIN BORMANN

The highest ranking Nazi official that wasn’t accounted for after

World War II was thought to have gone into hiding somewhere in

South America and sightings had been reported for years. In 1999,

however, his body was found in an unmarked grave near the bunker

where Hitler committed suicide.

FISH FARTS

In the 80s the Swedish navy discovered underwater sounds that many

suspected to be Russian submarines. Turns out they were nothing more

than fish farts. The Swedes subsequently won an Ig Nobel prize.

TUTANKHAMUN'S TOMB

Another Troy-esque type discovery, the tomb of Tutankhamen was

the stuff of legend until its discovery in 1922.

THE BLOOP

When the NOAA discovered a strange sound in the South Pacific in

1997 scientists at first were unsure of its origin and many thought it to

be a very loud animal. Most have now agreed, however, that it was

the result of an ice quake.

WHY CORALS PULSATE

For a long time scientists couldn’t figure out why corals keep pulsating.

The movement didn’t seem to have any inherent advantages.

Recently, however, they discovered that the movement keeps oxygen

levels low in the surrounding water which attracts the algae

that the corals feed on.

THE FUNGUS THAT CAUSED THE IRISH POTATO FAMINE

For a long time scientist couldn’t figure out what strain of fungus led to

such devastation in Ireland nearly 200 years ago. They recently discovered

the strain but it has been long extinct.

THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE CORE OF THE EARTH SPINS

For many years scientists couldn’t figure out how the Earth’s solid inner

core spins one way and the liquid outer core spins the other.

Scientists at Leeds University recently found that the answer lies in a

simple “equal and opposite” reaction based around Earth’s magnetic fields.

WHETHER OR NOT WOMEN BLUSH IN THE DARK

This may sound really dumb, but even Charles Darwin jumped on board

with this one. If it is dark you can’t tell if she’s blushing and as soon

as you turn on the lights, it is no longer dark. Fortunately, German

researchers finally used heat sensitive cameras to put the issue to rest.