They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and this is definitely true when it comes to the world of science. Here are 10 of the most bizarre science stories that we covered this past year:
GMO mosquito experiment goes horribly wrong: Insects adapt and overcome, transforming into super 'mutant' mosquitoes that could cause mass death across South America
In trying to eradicate disease-spreading natural mosquitoes, scientists unleashed genetically modified ones that ended up not performing as claimed. Not only were these GMO mosquitoes fertile – the world was told they would be sterile – but they also spawned the creation of "super mutant" mosquitoes that were stronger and more resilient than the original ones, making them an even worse public health threat.
Archaeologists uncover a dark chapter in Ancient Egyptian history: 60 Mummies found with evidence of GRUESOME deaths
If you've ever visited the pyramids in Egypt, you probably saw at least one mummy. But did you know that it was discovered this past year that some mummies aren't merely the remains of royalty who died natural deaths, but rather the remains of violence victims, some of whom were brutally murdered?
Is Earth on the verge of undergoing a magnetic pole shift? Scientists say SOON
There's a lot of talk these days about a planetary upending in the form of a magnetic pole shift, which some scientists now admit is a very real possibility. As the North Pole veers further away from Canada in the direction of Siberia, major changes could be upon us. It's only a matter of when this dramatic shift finally occurs.
What planet is Earth's closest neighbor? Hint: It's not Venus
Some public schools are apparently teaching children that Venus is the closest planet to earth, when the true closest planet is actually Mercury. This writer always remembers it being Mercury, but apparently they're meddling with the science textbooks in some schools to deceive impressionable youth into believing a lie – what else is new?
It's easy to hide in plain sight: New research finds that simple disguises fool most people
Many people these days are so enthralled with their phones and other electronic devices that they don't even notice what's right in front of them, including a friend or family member wearing a disguise. Believe it or not, researchers found that simple disguises are enough to fool pretty much anyone into believing that a person is someone other than whom he or she actually is.
Bangladeshi woman gives birth to a baby and twins, all within a span of 1 month
It hardly seems possible, but a woman from Bangladesh gave birth to a child just one month after birthing twins. Because of a rare condition she has known as uterus didelphys, meaning two uteruses instead of one, this woman was able to bear three children during two separate pregnancies that overlapped for eight out of their nine respective months.
CLAIM: Young people are growing 'bony spike' on their skulls, according to scientists
The skeletal shape of the human frame could be changing, as increasingly more youth are supposedly being born with "bony spikes" along the backs of their skulls. According to Australian researchers, the cause could be today's electronic culture in which more and more humans are staring down at their computers and phones all day long, which is altering the shapes and expressions of of their spinal columns.
Why does this 8-inch tarantula and her tiny frog sidekick live together?
Believe it or not, animals oftentimes get along better with each other than humans do, as demonstrated by an eight-inch tarantula that was observed this past year living together with a small frog. The South American spider apparently took in the frog to help protect her and her eggs from predators, revealing that love can sometimes manifest in the unlikeliest of places.
How did they discover that? Researcher says platypus venom can help the pancreas produce insulin
In an unusual discovery of 2019, Australian researchers learned that the venom of the platypus could hold the key to correcting diabetes in humans. As it turns out, platypus venom contains a metabolic hormone known as glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, that stimulates the human pancreas to generate more insulin – all without the need for pharmaceutical drug interventions!
NASA spacecraft finds a 'snowman' in outer space
Just in time for Christmas (well, not really since this report is about a year old), scientists from NASA identified a mysterious space rock that very closely resembled Frosty the Snowman. The discovery actually occurred right after Christmas 2018, as the New Horizons spacecraft whizzed by the snowman-like asteroid on New Year's Day.
Dubbed "Ultima Thule," the object was initially believed to be a pair of objects, but it was later determined to be a single object that rotates on its axis while facing the earth. Scientists believe that Ultima Thule could provide details about the birth of our solar system.
For more related news about strange observances and phenomena, be sure to check out Twisted.news.
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