We still don’t know

An immortal jellyfish? 10 spooky and unanswered questions about the sea

Some people are scared of the ocean. Can you blame them? Though waters cover 70% of our planet, scientists are still scratching their heads about certain unanswered questions. How long can blue whales actually live? What substance makes some waters glow eerily white at night? And what’s with the self-rejuvenating, immortal jellyfish? These are some of the mysteries we’ll explore in this article!

Found abandoned in 1872 with sails set, cargo intact, and dinner still on the table, the Mary Celeste is the poster child for maritime enigmas. The whole crew vanished without a trace and was never heard of again.

Mutiny? Rogue wave? Alcohol fumes? Giant squid? No theory fully fits. It's a fascinating tale that has been the subject of documentaries, theatre plays, novels, and movies.

For centuries, sailors have reported seeing entire portions of the ocean surface glowing white at night, like a ghostly reflection.

An explanation could be massive blooms of bioluminescent bacteria, but no one knows how they coordinate light across such huge distances or why the phenomenon lasts for hours. Even with satellite detections, it remains one of the ocean’s eeriest light shows.

Tales of a giant squid have been alive for centuries, but it was only in 2004 that humanity was able to photograph this fabled creature. In that year, a Japanese team captured a live one on camera in its natural habitat and finally proved that the creature behind centuries of sea-monster legends was very real.

And yet, we still know shockingly little about its life cycle, breeding habits, or how something that big stays so well hidden.

You’d think the largest creature ever to exist would be the easiest to study. Nope. We still struggle to track migration patterns, understand their communication system, or explain the full recovery timeline after they were nearly hunted to extinction.

Turritopsis dohrnii cheats death by reverting its adult cells back to a juvenile state when stressed. It’s like if a human under pressure suddenly turned back into a toddler.

This regeneration process is wildly complex and not fully understood, and scientists hope that cracking its secret might reveal insights into aging itself.

The stretch between Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico has inspired endless theories. Unexplained disappearances, bizarre compass behavior, and strange weather patterns have contributed to building the legend.

Scientific explanations abound, from methane hydrates to violent storms, but the Triangle’s mythic aura refuses to die.

The Challenger Deep, the trench’s lowest point, plunges almost 7 miles. Only a handful of people have ever explored its bottom, including filmmaker James Cameron in 2012.

What lives down there? What geological processes unfold under such pressure? Every new expedition reveals creatures that look like they belong in fever dreams.

Off the coast of Japan lies a submerged stone structure with terraces, pillars, and sharp geometries that seem carved… Unless they were shaped by strange phenomena of nature.

Some believe it’s the remains of an ancient city, sunken after an earthquake; others argue it’s purely geological. Today, it’s a riddle lying quietly under turquoise waters.

In 1918, a massive US Navy collier vanished without a distress call while crossing the Caribbean. More than 300 people disappeared with it, the single largest non-combat loss of life in U.S. Navy history.

No wreckage has ever been found. Storm? Structural failure? Something stranger? The sea has kept its mouth shut.

This line gets repeated a lot because it’s shockingly true. With sonar mapping still incomplete and most of the ocean floor left untouched by human eyes, researchers say we’ve charted only about a quarter of it in detail.

Mars, by contrast, has been mapped in full thanks to satellites. The ultimate plot twist is that we might understand another planet better than our own.

GREATEST STYLE HITS

You Probably Wore These: 10 Decade-Defining Fashion Trends!

Image: Nik Korba

We know that keeping pace with the speed of fashion's evolution can be challenging. However, in the wide range of trends that emerged across the decades, some stood out, leaving a mark and defining an era.

Quoting Heraclitus' wisdom, we can think of fashion as the water of a river: it's ever-changing. And while there will always be comebacks, trends never return quite the same, but with a twist that transforms each of them into something unique.

From the popular miniskirts to the different styles of jeans, let's venture on a journey through fashion history, recalling 10 iconic trends that undoubtedly found a place in our closets. We bet you've worn some of these at one point!

Image: Tessa Simpson

Although they emerged among military pilots and aviators in the first decade of the 20th century, it wasn't until the defiant 1950s that leather jackets elevated to fashion icon status.

Worn primarily as a statement of style and rebellion, especially among young men, leather jackets became the ultimate symbol of cool. And that was, in part, thanks to iconic bad boys of the silver screen, such as Marlon Brando in "The Wild One" (1953), and music legends like the one and only Elvis Presley.

To this day, our closets still shelter this kind of jacket that resists the passage of time and defies the whims of fleeting fashions.

Image: National Archives and Records Administration

Originally appearing in ancient times as a type of military headgear, pillbox hats made a modern comeback in the 1930s. They gained widespread popularity among European royals, becoming a symbol of elegance and style.

But it wasn't until the early 1960s that pillbox hats captured worldwide attention. This was thanks to the admired First Lady Jackie Kennedy and her impeccable fashion sense.

Jackie made these hats her staple. And, you know, her influence cut deep, since every woman wanted to imitate her, leading to a widespread fashion frenzy across America.

Image: Anton Mislawsky

The miniskirt has undoubtedly revolutionized the fashion world. Emerging in the early 1960s, this garment quickly became an icon of style, particularly reaching its peak in the UK by the mid-decade. While some manifestations of above-the-knee skirts had appeared throughout history, it was the visionary work of British fashion designer Mary Quant that catapulted the mini into the mainstream.

Since its popularization over 60 years ago, the miniskirt has proven its indisputable power, constantly reinventing itself with each resurgence.

Image: Annie Spratt

While bell bottoms or flared pants may be familiar to most of us, the story behind the conception of these garments dives deep into the world of sailors, an origin that few know about.

At the very beginning of the 19th century, sailors boasted distinctive pants that flared from the knee, ending in the iconic bell-bottom shape we know today.

However, it wasn't until the late 1960s and early 1970s, with the rise of the hippie and counterculture movements, that bell bottoms experienced a major revival. This time around, they reached a wider audience, adapting to a variety of styles and becoming an unmistakable symbol of the era, transcending all ages and genders!

Image: April Laugh

Spandex jumped into the spotlight during the fitness frenzy of the late 1970s and early 1980s. From tights and shorts to bodysuits, spandex abounded not only in gyms but also on the streets and nightclubs.

As with other famous trends, superstars helped drive the spandex boom. Icons like Jane Fonda and Blondie’s vocalist Debbie Harry, are a clear example. But the one that most contributed to its popularity and definitely solidified her reign as the queen of spandex was the unforgettable Olivia Newton-John in the music video for "Physical" and the classic movie "Grease" (1978).

Image: Dancewear Central

Who could forget Jennifer Beals' final audition scene in Flashdance? It is etched in our memories, right? But it wasn't just her awesome dance moves that captivated an entire generation; her outfit made quite the impression too.

The leggings and that voluminous hairstyle were undeniably gorgeous, but it was those famous leg warmers that truly stole the show.

They were originally crafted to protect dancers' legs and ankles against potential injuries. But thanks to movies like "Fame" (1980) and "Flashdance" (1983), coupled with the influence of Jane Fonda's workout videos, leg warmers became an omnipresent fashion statement. Young people everywhere adopted them; what a feeling!

Image: Divazus Fabric Store

Plaid has always been around, from its emergence in Scotland many years ago to the present day. However, it experienced a couple of notorious peaks during the tumultuous 20th century worth pointing out.

In the late 1970s, Daisy from "The Dukes of Hazzard" famously tied a plaid shirt above her waist, sparking a fashion trend that fascinated an entire generation.

Then, during the wild 1990s, plaid was back in the spotlight. Far from its monarchy-related origins, the plaid flannel shirt became a symbol of the grunge movement, worn by members and fans of bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana.

But the real boom came with the movie "Clueless" (1995), which catapulted the plaid suit to worldwide fame.

Image: Mark J Sebastian

Nowadays, many women have declared tight low-rise jeans fully extinct, but by the late 1990s and early 2000s, this type of pants dominated the fashion scene everywhere.

Also known as low-cut jeans, they epitomized the era. While men sported wide and loose low-rise pants, often revealing glimpses of their underwear, women opted for tighter-fitting styles that hugged their lower hips, often paired with crop tops that exposed their belly buttons.

Madonna, the Spice Girls, and Britney Spears (who still prefers them) were among its greatest exponents. Just take a look at red carpet shows of that era; you'll spot this type of jeans everywhere!

Image: Erriko Boccia

Also originating hundreds of years ago, platform shoes have had their share of ups and downs throughout history.

However, platforms are mostly associated with one of their most famous moments: the 1970s. Worn by both women and men, platform sandals and boots were the epitome of cool, and the higher the platform, the better.

Maybe you remember one of their more recent revivals. Around 2010, young women began embracing platforms again, as they seemed more comfortable than high heels for a long night out. This time, the trend didn't quite reach men, who cleverly stuck with sneakers for all their looks.

Image: Brooke Cagle

While already familiar to all 1970s and 1980s fashionistas, the oversize style has made a comeback in recent years, once again captivating young people.

These days, it seems like almost every garment is part of this trend. T-shirts, shirts, pants, jackets, blazers, and even dresses can all be worn a few sizes larger for that cool, relaxed look. The key lies in how you combine them.

According to fashion specialists, the current era is defined by a shift away from tight-fitting garments in favor of comfort, all while maintaining a strong sense of style.