Latest news with #KarlKruszelnicki
News18
an hour 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.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A Scientist Says He's Solved the Bermuda Triangle, Just Like That
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: An Australian scientist says probabilities are the leading cause of the Bermuda Triangle disappearances. And he's not the only one. Add in suspect weather, and iffy plane and boat piloting, and Karl Kruszelnicki believes there's no reason to believe in the Bermuda Triangle phenomenon. While the conspiracy of the Bermuda Triangle has existed for decades, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and Lloyd's of London has long championed the same ideas. Pick any one of the more than 50 ships or 20 planes that have disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle in the last century. Each one has a story without an ending, leading to a litany of conspiracy theories about the disappearances in the area, marked roughly by Florida, Bermuda, and the Greater Antilles. Australian scientist Karl Kruszelnicki doesn't subscribe to the Bermuda Triangle's supernatural reputation. Neither does the United States' own National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). Both have been saying for years that there's really no Bermuda Triangle mystery. In fact, the loss and disappearance of ships and planes is a mere fact of probabilities. '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 wrote in 2010. And since 2017, Kruszelnicki has been saying the same thing. He told The Independent that the transparent volume of traffic—in a tricky area to navigate, no less—shows 'the number [of ships and planes] that go missing in the Bermuda Triangle is the same as anywhere in the world on a percentage basis.' He says that both Lloyd's of London and the U.S. Coast Guard support that idea. In fact, as The Independent notes, Lloyd's of London has had this same theory since the 1970s. NOAA says environmental considerations can explain away most of the Bermuda Triangle disappearances, highlighting the Gulf Stream's tendency towards violent changes in weather, the number of islands in the Caribbean Sea offering a complicated navigation adventure, and evidence that suggests the Bermuda Triangle may cause a magnetic compass to point to true north instead of magnetic north, causing for confusion in wayfinding. 'The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard contend that there are no supernatural explanations for disasters at sea,' NOAA says. 'Their experience suggests that the combined forces of nature and human fallibility outdo even the most incredulous science fiction.' Kruszelnicki has routinely garnered public attention for espousing these very thoughts on the Bermuda Triangle, first in 2017 and then again in 2022 before resurfacing once more in 2023. Throughout it all, he's stuck to the same idea: the numbers don't lie. Even with some high-profile disappearances—such as Flight 19, a group of five U.S. Navy TBM Avenger torpedo bombers lost in 1945—pushing the theory into popular culture, Kruszelnicki points out that every instance contains a degree of poor weather or likely human error (or both, as in the case of Flight 19) as the true culprit. But culture clings to Bermuda Triangle conspiracy theories. The concepts of sea monsters, aliens, and even the entirety of Atlantis dropping to the ocean floor—those are fodder for books, television, and movies. It sure does sound more exciting than poor weather and mathematical probabilities, anyway, even if the 'boring' story holds more water. Get the Issue Get the Issue Get the Issue Get the Issue Get the Issue Get the Issue Get the IssueGet the Issue Get the Issue You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Economic Times
a day ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Karl Kruszelnicki: The Australian scientist who unraveled the Bermuda Triangle myth
The Bermuda Triangle, known for purported mysterious disappearances of ships and aircraft, though investigations attribute these to natural phenomena and human error. Karl Kruszelnicki, a prominent Australian scientist, has gained widespread attention for demystifying one of the most enduring and sensational legends in modern maritime folklore - the Bermuda Triangle. Known popularly as the "Devil's Triangle," this patch of the Atlantic Ocean, roughly bounded by Florida, Bermuda, and the Greater Antilles, has long been associated with the mysterious disappearance of ships and aircraft, fueling endless theories involving sea monsters, aliens, and even the lost city of Atlantis. Yet Kruszelnicki firmly dispels these myths, offering a grounded, science-based explanation that aligns with expert agencies and decades of statistical data. Who is Karl Kruszelnicki Karl Kruszelnicki, widely known as "Dr Karl," is a highly respected scientist, author, and popular science communicator born in 1948 in Helsingborg, Sweden. He holds degrees in mathematics, physics, biomedical engineering, medicine, and surgery, and he has also studied astrophysics, computer science, and began his career working as a physicist designing testing machines for steel used in major infrastructure projects but resigned after ethical conflicts. Over the years, he has worked in diverse roles including car mechanic, roadie for famous musicians, filmmaker, biomedical engineer, taxi driver, and medical doctor, notably serving as a pediatrician before transitioning mostly into science communication. He is well-known for his engaging and accessible science commentary on Australian radio, television, and podcasts, particularly on ABC's Triple J, where his weekly science talk show draws hundreds of thousands of listeners. Dr Karl has authored 48 books, covering a wide range of scientific topics in a fun and understandable manner. Since around 2017, Kruszelnicki has consistently articulated his perspective: the incidents attributed to the Bermuda Triangle are not anomalous but simply the result of probabilities, navigational challenges, natural hazards, and human error. He states emphatically that 'the number of ships and planes that go missing in the Bermuda Triangle is the same as anywhere in the world on a percentage basis,' a claim backed by organizations like the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the renowned insurance market Lloyd's of London, whose risk assessments have debunked the idea of supernatural causation since the 1970s. Kruszelnicki's argument is informed by the fact that the Bermuda Triangle is one of the world's busiest shipping and flight corridors. The heavy volume of traffic combined with the region's navigational hazards helps to explain the proportionate number of accidents. The waters around Bermuda are dotted with reefs and shallow areas where more than 300 shipwrecks have been documented, many caused by collisions with these underwater features. The area's location near the Gulf Stream—a powerful and sometimes violently unstable current—also subjects vessels and aircraft to sudden and extreme weather changes, including tropical storms and hurricanes, especially during the June-November hurricane season. Such environmental factors significantly increase the risks of accidents. Kruszelnicki also highlights the errors of human operators as a critical factor. A famous example is Flight 19, a group of five U.S. Navy TBM Avenger torpedo bombers that vanished during a 1945 training mission. Kruszelnicki points out that the flight was led by a navigator who had previously demonstrated poor navigational skills and did not follow established protocols once lost at sea. As a result, the group flew further into the open ocean until running out of fuel and disappearing. This incident, often cited as emblematic of the Bermuda Triangle's mystery, in fact underscores how human fallibility and natural conditions combine to produce tragedy. Throughout numerous public appearances and media engagements—most recently in 2023—Kruszelnicki has maintained that no mysterious forces or conspiracies are necessary to explain the disappearances. The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard also support this view, emphasizing that terrestrial factors and human mistakes far outstrip any paranormal theories. He remarks that while supernatural ideas are culturally appealing and have fueled books, movies, and TV shows, the reality is far more mundane but no less sum, Karl Kruszelnicki stands as a leading figure in bringing modern science to bear on a legendary maritime myth. Through careful analysis and engagement with expert data, he has helped to reframe the Bermuda Triangle not as a zone of supernatural peril, but as a region where ordinary risks multiply in a complex natural and human environment.
Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
Karl Kruszelnicki: The Australian scientist who unraveled the Bermuda Triangle myth
Karl Kruszelnicki , a prominent Australian scientist, has gained widespread attention for demystifying one of the most enduring and sensational legends in modern maritime folklore - the Bermuda Triangle . Known popularly as the "Devil's Triangle," this patch of the Atlantic Ocean, roughly bounded by Florida, Bermuda, and the Greater Antilles, has long been associated with the mysterious disappearance of ships and aircraft, fueling endless theories involving sea monsters, aliens , and even the lost city of Atlantis. Yet Kruszelnicki firmly dispels these myths, offering a grounded, science-based explanation that aligns with expert agencies and decades of statistical data. 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He holds degrees in mathematics, physics, biomedical engineering, medicine, and surgery, and he has also studied astrophysics, computer science, and philosophy. He began his career working as a physicist designing testing machines for steel used in major infrastructure projects but resigned after ethical conflicts. Over the years, he has worked in diverse roles including car mechanic, roadie for famous musicians, filmmaker, biomedical engineer, taxi driver, and medical doctor, notably serving as a pediatrician before transitioning mostly into science communication. Live Events He is well-known for his engaging and accessible science commentary on Australian radio, television, and podcasts, particularly on ABC's Triple J, where his weekly science talk show draws hundreds of thousands of listeners. Dr Karl has authored 48 books, covering a wide range of scientific topics in a fun and understandable manner. Since around 2017, Kruszelnicki has consistently articulated his perspective: the incidents attributed to the Bermuda Triangle are not anomalous but simply the result of probabilities, navigational challenges, natural hazards, and human error. He states emphatically that 'the number of ships and planes that go missing in the Bermuda Triangle is the same as anywhere in the world on a percentage basis,' a claim backed by organizations like the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the renowned insurance market Lloyd's of London, whose risk assessments have debunked the idea of supernatural causation since the 1970s. Kruszelnicki's argument is informed by the fact that the Bermuda Triangle is one of the world's busiest shipping and flight corridors. The heavy volume of traffic combined with the region's navigational hazards helps to explain the proportionate number of accidents. The waters around Bermuda are dotted with reefs and shallow areas where more than 300 shipwrecks have been documented, many caused by collisions with these underwater features. The area's location near the Gulf Stream—a powerful and sometimes violently unstable current—also subjects vessels and aircraft to sudden and extreme weather changes, including tropical storms and hurricanes, especially during the June-November hurricane season. Such environmental factors significantly increase the risks of accidents. Kruszelnicki also highlights the errors of human operators as a critical factor. A famous example is Flight 19 , a group of five U.S. Navy TBM Avenger torpedo bombers that vanished during a 1945 training mission. Kruszelnicki points out that the flight was led by a navigator who had previously demonstrated poor navigational skills and did not follow established protocols once lost at sea. As a result, the group flew further into the open ocean until running out of fuel and disappearing. This incident, often cited as emblematic of the Bermuda Triangle's mystery, in fact underscores how human fallibility and natural conditions combine to produce tragedy. Throughout numerous public appearances and media engagements—most recently in 2023—Kruszelnicki has maintained that no mysterious forces or conspiracies are necessary to explain the disappearances. The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard also support this view, emphasizing that terrestrial factors and human mistakes far outstrip any paranormal theories. He remarks that while supernatural ideas are culturally appealing and have fueled books, movies, and TV shows, the reality is far more mundane but no less tragic. In sum, Karl Kruszelnicki stands as a leading figure in bringing modern science to bear on a legendary maritime myth. Through careful analysis and engagement with expert data, he has helped to reframe the Bermuda Triangle not as a zone of supernatural peril, but as a region where ordinary risks multiply in a complex natural and human environment.
Economic Times
a day 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.
