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Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Why the Bermuda Triangle is not special after all
For decades the Bermuda Triangle has been a tidy label for messy events. Ships vanish. Planes go silent. Stories grow legs. Yet when you strip away the lore, a simpler picture emerges. Busy waters, sharp weather, and human error explain far more than sea monsters ever could. That is the argument Australian science communicator Karl Kruszelnicki has pushed for years and it aligns with what NOAA and the US Coast Guard have long said. The numbers are not spooky. They are ordinary for a crowded patch of ocean. The triangle without the myth Look at the map first. The area between Florida, Bermuda, and the Greater Antilles is one of the most travelled marine and aviation corridors on Earth. More traffic means more incidents by simple probability. Kruszelnicki's point is blunt. On a percentage basis, disappearances are no higher here than anywhere with similar traffic, The Independent reported. Lloyd's of London reached the same view decades ago, and insurers are not sentimental about risk. Then there is the weather. The Gulf Stream can flip from calm to rough in minutes. Storm lines build fast, visibility dives, and smaller craft get caught out. Navigation is harder than a straight line on a sunny chart suggests. The Caribbean's many islands create complex routes, and pilots and captains still make mistakes under pressure. NOAA adds another wrinkle from older navigation. Magnetic quirks in this region can nudge compasses toward true north instead of magnetic north. It is not a portal to another realm. It is a recipe for wayfinding errors in the wrong moment. Also read Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Famous cases fed the legend. Flight 19 in 1945 remains the headline example, five Navy Avengers lost on a training run in poor weather with mounting confusion on the radio. Culture turned that into a mystery. Investigators saw the more mundane pattern of deteriorating conditions and compounding mistakes. This is how myths persist. The wild version is better for TV. The dull version fits the evidence. The agencies closest to sea and air safety are clear. The US Navy and the US Coast Guard reject supernatural explanations. Nature and human fallibility, together, outpace the most elaborate theories. NOAA's position has not shifted in years. Kruszelnicki's framing is the same. Traffic volume, fast weather, and human factors explain the record without special pleading. If you still like a good yarn, the Triangle will always deliver. If you want to know why things really happen out there, follow the probabilities, the forecasts, and the logs. It is less romantic than Atlantis, but it is how crews plan routes, how insurers price risk, and how families get answers they can live with.
News18
19 hours ago
- Science
- News18
Bermuda Triangle: The World's Lamest Anti-Climax
Last Updated: The Bermuda Triangle mystery is solved: harsh weather, human error, and magnetic anomalies explain disappearances. No supernatural forces are involved The Bermuda Triangle has long baffled the world, swallowing ships and aircraft that pass through or above its waters. This infamous stretch of ocean is bordered by Florida, Bermuda, and the Greater Antilles. Similarly, Australia's Bass Strait in the Tasman Sea is also linked to supernatural legends, believed to claim ships and planes. Globally, over 50 ships and 20 planes have disappeared in these mysterious regions. Popular theories have ranged from sea monsters and alien abductions to the lost city of Atlantis as explanations for these vanishings. However, scientific investigations have now demystified these events. Australian scientist Dr Karl Kruszelnicki attributes the disappearances primarily to severe weather and human error. Experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United States Coast Guard support this view. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) stated in 2010: 'There is no evidence that ships and planes disappear mysteriously in the Bermuda Triangle more frequently than in other large ocean areas." What Really Happens? Since 2017, Dr Kruszelnicki has emphasised that these incidents occur at normal rates due to the heavy traffic and challenging navigation in the area. Lloyd's of London, the global insurance market, has held this perspective since the 1970s. NOAA further explains that environmental factors such as sudden weather changes caused by the Gulf Stream, a complex maze of Caribbean islands, and rare magnetic anomalies affecting compasses account for most disappearances. The Most Famous Incident: Flight 19 One of the most renowned cases is the disappearance of US Flight 19 in 1945 where five US Navy bombers were lost over the Bermuda Triangle. Theories suggest bad weather, navigational errors, or both as likely causes. Despite scientific explanations, conspiracy theories persist, fuelled by books, TV shows, and films that find sea monsters and lost civilisations more thrilling than meteorology and statistics. The Bass Strait Triangle Mysteries The Bass Strait Triangle, the treacherous waters between mainland Australia and Tasmania, also harbours a dark history of unexplained disappearances. The most infamous case is that of 20-year-old pilot Frederick Valentich in 1978. While flying a Cessna 182L from Moorabbin, Victoria, to King Island, Valentich reported seeing a 'strange, metallic object" above him before radio contact was lost, and he was never found. Other Notable Disappearances In 1973, the cargo ship MV Blythe Star vanished suddenly. Some crew survived, and parts of the ship were recovered, but its disappearance added to the region's eerie reputation. The 1797 disappearance of the ship Sloop Eliza while salvaging wreckage from Sydney Cove remains unexplained. Between 1838 and 1840, at least seven ships bound for Melbourne went missing, with wreckage found for only three. In 1858, the British warship HMS Sappho, carrying over 100 people, disappeared without substantial wreckage. The coal ship SS Federal vanished in 1901; its wreck was only discovered in 2019. The German cargo ship SS Ferdinand Fischer disappeared without trace in 1906. In 1920, the schooner Amelia J disappeared, followed by the loss of the barkentine Southern Cross and a military aircraft searching for it. In 1934, the De Havilland Express plane Miss Hobart vanished shortly after takeoff. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Mystery of Bermuda Triangle, where 50 ships or 20 planes have disappeared, solved!
Synopsis While the Bermuda Triangle's mysteries are often attributed to the supernatural, the Bass Strait Triangle presents its own series of unexplained disappearances. From the 18th century to the present day, ships, planes, and people have vanished in this treacherous stretch of water between Australia and Tasmania. Despite theories, experts often cite natural hazards and volatile weather as the primary causes. TIL Creatives AI-generated image for representative purpose For decades, tales of the Bermuda Triangle—a region roughly bounded by Florida, Bermuda, and the Greater Antilles—have fueled stories of supernatural forces swallowing ships and planes. More than 50 vessels and 20 aircraft have vanished there in the past century, sparking theories about sea monsters, alien abductions, and the lost city of Atlantis. But now an Australian scientist may have solved that puzzle. According to AOL, Australian scientist Karl Kruszelnicki says the real explanation is far less mysterious: statistics, bad weather, and human error. His theory is backed by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Lloyd's of London, and the U.S. Coast Guard. 'There is no evidence that mysterious disappearances occur with any greater frequency in the Bermuda Triangle than in any other large, well-traveled area of the ocean,' NOAA stated in 2010. Kruszelnicki has been making the same case since 2017, noting that the sheer volume of traffic—combined with tricky navigation—means incidents happen at a normal rate on a percentage basis. Lloyd's of London has held this view since the 1970s. NOAA adds that environmental factors explain most cases: the Gulf Stream's sudden weather shifts, the maze of Caribbean islands complicating navigation, and rare magnetic anomalies that can confuse compasses. Even high-profile disappearances, like the 1945 loss of Flight 19—five U.S. Navy bombers—can be attributed to poor weather, navigational mistakes, or both. Still, conspiracy theories endure in books, TV shows, and films—because sea monsters and lost civilizations make for better entertainment than math and Bass Strait Triangle, a stretch of treacherous water between mainland Australia and Tasmania, has a long history of strange vanishings. The most famous is the 1978 disappearance of 20-year-old pilot Frederick Valentich. Flying a Cessna 182L from Moorabbin, Victoria, to King Island, Valentich reported a 'strange, metallic object' hovering above him before losing radio contact. Neither he nor his plane was ever years earlier, in 1973, the freighter MV Blythe Star vanished without warning. While some crew survived a harrowing ordeal and fragments of the ship were later found, the mystery surrounding its disappearance only deepened the Strait's eerie notable incidents include:1797 – The Sloop ElizaVanished while salvaging cargo from the wrecked Sydney Cove in the Furneaux Group—the first recorded disappearance in the Strait.1838–1840 – A String of Lost VesselsAt least seven ships bound for Melbourne disappeared with all hands; wreckage from only three was ever found.1858 – HMS SapphoA British warship carrying over 100 crew disappeared without leaving identifiable wreckage.1901 – SS FederalLost while carrying coal; its wreck was only discovered in 2019.1906 – SS Ferdinand FischerA German cargo vessel vanished without trace.1920 – Twin DisappearancesThe schooner Amelia J went missing on 10 September. While searching for her, the barquentine Southern Cross and a military aircraft also disappeared. Only Southern Cross wreckage was recovered.1934 – Miss Hobart AirlinerA De Havilland Express vanished soon after entering service; only small debris washed ashore.1935 – Loina CrashAnother Holyman airliner crashed near Flinders Island. All five aboard were lost, and no bodies recovered.1940s – WWII Aircraft LossesSeveral RAAF Bristol Beaufort bombers disappeared during training, likely due to inexperience and risky low-altitude flying.1972 – Brenda Hean & Max PriceThe pair vanished in a Tiger Moth while on an environmental protest flight from Tasmania to Canberra. Sabotage was suspected but unproven.1979 – Yacht CharlestonDisappeared en route to join the Sydney–Hobart Yacht Race, leaving no the legends, experts often point to natural hazards—swiftly changing wind patterns near Flinders and King Islands, shallow waters, and volatile weather—as the likely causes behind many of these Latest CaseOn August 7, 2025, 72-year-old Gregory Vaughan and 66-year-old Kim Worner vanished after taking off from George Town, Tasmania, in a light sport aircraft bound for Hillston, New South Wales. The plane never arrived. Police have found no evidence of foul play but face the same unpredictable weather that has plagued countless search efforts in the Bass Strait.
