Several decades have passed since the disappearances of ships and planes at the Bermuda Triangle were first reported by Edward Van Winkle Jones. Since then, people have come up with some bizarre explanations, including alien activity, supernatural forces and even the lost city of Atlantis. Also known as the Devil’s Triangle, the area roughly lies between Bermuda, Miami and Puerto Rico.
Although the myth of the Bermuda Triangle was debunked back in the 1970s, it remains one of the most mysterious places in the entire world. As part of a new research, a team of Norwegian scientists has attempted to explain the many alleged disappearances in the region. The term “Bermuda Triangle” was coined by Vincent Gaddis in 1964. He was, however, not the first to write on the topic. The origins of the legend can be traced back to an Associated Press article published in 1950.
Following that, several theories were put forward, with some blaming aliens and supernatural forces for the disappearances of planes and ships. Author Larry Kushe in his 1975 book, The Bermuda Triangle Mystery: Solved, somewhat thwarted the mass hysteria by exposing the inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the accounts of Gaddis and other writers. In a recent research, a group of scientists from the Arctic University of Norway has provided a more logical explanation, pertaining to methane explosions underwater.
The researchers came up with this theory, while examining the craters present on the floor of the Barents Sea. Measuring over half a mile in width and up to 150 feet in depth, these giant craters were likely created as a result of methane gas explosion. Such occurrences, according to the team, could easily damage ships and planes travelling in the area. As the scientists point out, methane gas leaking from the oil deposits underneath the ocean bed could lead to massive explosions that in turn end up dragging ships down to the depths of the ocean.
While the theory currently awaits verification, the team is gearing up to present their research to the European Geosciences Union next month.
Via: Business Insider