There is very good reason for all of humanity to have a healthy curiosity relating to near-death experiences. Death is the one experience we are all guaranteed to ultimately share. The field of science has therefore made numerous attempts to explain the near-death phenomena that so many people have independently described.

10The Temporoparietal Junction May Be Responsible For Out-Of-Body Experiences

Among the more common elements of near-death experiences is the distinct feeling of an individual having left their worldly body. Those who have had an “out-of-body” experience often report floating above themselves while being able to see their body and the people surrounding them. There have even been a few reports in which those who have had an out-of-body experience can identify objects and events occurring during times in which they were considered clinically dead, but there have also been studies demonstrating that this all could be due to damage in the temporoparietal junction of the brain.

The temporoparietal junction is responsible for assembling the data collected by the body’s senses and organs to form the perception of an individual’s body. When this part of the brain is damaged, it is possible that this results in the “out-of-body” experience that so many people have reported.

Though the experience may appear to be incredibly vivid and real, scientific studies have been able to reproduce this phenomenon without bringing the subject close to death, simply by electrically stimulating the temporoparietal junction of the brain.

9Excess Carbon Dioxide May Create The Tunnel And White Light

Nearly every individual who has had a near-death experience discusses the existence of a bright, white light and a tunnel that seems to lead to the afterlife. The white light seems to take on an otherworldly quality and is often accompanied by an overwhelming sense of peacefulness and welcoming.

A 2010 study of patients who had heart attacks revealed that there may be a correlation between this type of near-death experience and the level of CO₂ in the blood. Out of the 52 cardiac patients studied, 11 reported a near-death experience. The levels of CO₂ in the blood of those 11 patients were significantly higher than the patients who did not report having a near-death experience.

The feeling among researchers is that the excess CO₂ in the bloodstream can have a significant effect on vision, which leads to patients seeing the tunnel and the bright light.

8Lack Of Oxygen To The Brain Causes Hallucinations

Many near-death experiences include the presence of long-dead friends and relatives appearing and perhaps even guiding the individual as they pass from the world of the living to the afterlife. Memories from every part of life are recalled in rapid succession, and there is an overwhelming sense of comfort, yet it appears that scientific research has provided an explanation for this phenomenon as well.

While excess CO₂ has an effect on vision during a near-death experience, a lack of oxygen to the brain also plays a contributing role. It is well known that oxygen deprivation can lead to hallucinations and may even contribute to the feeling of euphoria that is often reported. While the sample size available to researchers is limited, studies have indicated that individuals who reported a near-death experience during cardiac arrest also had lower levels of oxygen.

Researchers believe that oxygen deprivation could well result in people “seeing their lives flash before their eyes” or being transported to a place where they are surrounded by friends and relatives who have long since passed on. This remains just a theory, however, as the other available research seems to indicate that multiple factors contribute to the near-death experience, which include the aforementioned CO₂ levels as well. It makes sense in this regard that near-death experiences are commonly reported by those resuscitated following a heart attack, as a heart attack occurs when blood is blocked from reaching the brain.

7Endorphins Are Released When The Brain Is Under Extreme Stress

It has been a long-held theory that much of what is felt during a near-death experience can be somewhat attributed to the release of endorphins and other chemicals by the brain due to extreme stress. While the idea that the entirety of a near-death experience could be attributed to endorphins has been somewhat dispelled, it could easily explain why so many individuals who have had a near-death experience feel no fear or anxiety over reaching life’s apparent terminus.

The release of these morphine-like chemicals during times of extreme stress was proposed by neuropsychologist Daniel Carr as an overarching explanation for near-death experiences, but it appears that it better explains the calm sensations and the lack of pain or worry during situations in which the body could be under extreme duress. So while you’d expect that in the stages approaching death, there would be “incredible pain and terror, the [near-death experience] surprises us with pleasure, calm, and peace,” a phenomenon believed to be the result of chemicals released by the brain.

6Brain Activity Spikes In The Moments Before Death

Heightened sensory perception is common in the near-death experience, and a recent study seems to indicate that these feelings of extrasensory perception may be caused by a significant spike in brain activity in the moments just before death. The study was conducted on rats and used a small sample size, so some in the scientific community have dismissed the results, but lead researcher Jimo Borjigin believes that it demonstrates the biological basis for the near-death experience.

The study relied on the implantation of electrodes into the brains of the rats so that researchers could study the levels of brain activity at the time of death. The results showed that the rats experienced what the researchers termed as “hyperconsciousness,” which aligns with the heightened senses many individuals associate with a near-death experience. According to Borjigin, “We found continued and heightened activity. Measurable conscious activity is much higher after the heart stops—within the first 30 seconds.”

5Veridical Perception May Be Confused With Anesthesia Awareness

Veridical perception (the out-of-body experience) may be rooted in a cause other than the aforementioned damage to the temporoparietal junction. Many out-of-body experiences may be nothing more than anesthesia awareness. Though awareness while under anesthesia is thankfully quite uncommon (about one in every 1,000 people experience it), it is possible that those who believe that they have had a near-death experience are simply constructing false memories through this awareness.

This may be the underlying reason that Pam Reynolds, whose near-death experience is often referenced, was able to recall so many details of an operation that involved inducing “hypothermic cardiac arrest,” rendering her effectively dead for several minutes. Reynolds was able to describe the shape of the saw used to cut open her skull and even recognized that the doctors were listening to the song “Hotel California” during the operation.

Reynolds’s near-death account seems like very powerful evidence of a near-death experience that includes veridical perception, but everything she recalled occurred while she was alive but under anesthesia. So while Reynolds may have thought she had a near-death experience, skeptics believe that this was more likely one of the rare cases in which a patient experienced anesthesia awareness.

4Altered Or Distorted Sense Of Time Plays A Significant Role

Dr. Eben Alexander, a neurosurgeon, wrote a book detailing his personal experience with near-death, which happened while he was comatose due to a bout with meningitis. According to Alexander’s own account, the near-death experience was several days in length and must have occurred while his cerebral cortex was shut down due to the coma, a fact that is paradoxical since many of the sensory details he experienced are typically rooted in the cerebral cortex. This led to his assertion that there was no material cause for his experience at all.

While the personal account of a neurosurgeon’s near-death experience led to many sensational headlines (Newsweek’s cover read “Heaven Is Real: A Doctor’s Experience of the Afterlife”), Dr. Oliver Sacks, himself a professor of neurology at NYU School of Medicine, offered a very simple explanation for Dr. Alexander’s account.

According to Sacks, “A hallucinatory journey to the bright light and beyond, a full-blown NDE, can occur in 20 or 30 seconds, even though it seems to last much longer. Subjectively, during such a crisis, the very concept of time may seem variable or meaningless. The one most plausible hypothesis in Dr. Alexander’s case, then, is that his NDE occurred not during his coma, but as he was surfacing from the coma and his cortex was returning to full function. It is curious that he does not allow this obvious and natural explanation but instead insists on a supernatural one.”

3Hallucinations And Actual Perceptions Use The Same Brain Systems

Those who have gone through a near-death experience quite frequently recall that everything seemed very real—in some cases, more real than anything they had ever experienced before. While many are resolute that what they perceived was most certainly not a simple hallucination, there is a very good reason why discerning between what is real and what is hallucinated is incredibly difficult.

According to Dr. Oliver Sacks, an individual who has had a near-death experience may believe it real simply because it seemed to be real, and with good reason: “The fundamental reason that hallucinations—whatever their cause or modality—seem so real is that they deploy the very same systems in the brain that actual perceptions do. When one hallucinates voices, the auditory pathways are activated; when one hallucinates a face, the fusiform face area, normally used to perceive and identify faces in the environment, is stimulated.”

2Near-Death Experiences May Be Caused By Epileptic Activity In The Temporal Lobes

While ecstatic seizures are quite rare and occur in just a small sample of the population affected by temporal lobe epilepsy, a spike in epileptic activity in the temporal lobe may be responsible for the visions of God or of heaven that so many see during a near-death experience. A study devised by Orrin Devinsky enabled him and other researchers to “perform clinical and video EEG monitoring in patients as they are having ecstatic-religious seizures, and thus to observe the precise coinciding of their ‘theophanies’ with seizure activity in temporal lobe foci (nearly always these are right-sided).”

Historical figures that include Fyodor Dostoevsky and Joan of Arc are believed to have been influenced by temporal lobe epilepsy, which included feelings of ecstasy and the presence of something otherworldly. It may indeed be the case that those who have had a near-death experience may have had similar epileptic activity in the temporal lobes.

Dostoevsky once said the following of his ecstatic seizures: “I would feel the most complete harmony in myself and in the whole world, and this feeling was so strong and sweet that for a few seconds of such bliss I would give 10 or more years of my life, even my whole life perhaps.” Dostoevsky’s description sounds quite similar to those made in accounts of near-death experiences, lending even more credence to the theory that epileptic activity in the temporal lobe may play a significant role.

1Neurology And Religion Are Not Necessarily Contradictory

While there have been countless studies done on near-death experiences, researchers have not necessarily disproved the totality of the experience as the simple result of normal neurological function. There is the famous case of “Maria,” an individual whose near-death experience involved veridical perception during cardiac arrest. After being resuscitated, she told a social worker that she had gone outside the hospital and seen a tennis shoe on the ledge of a window on the third floor. The social worker not only found the shoe but also recognized that there was no other way for her to have known all of the details she had relayed.

Another famous near-death experience is that of Dr. Tony Cicoria, who was struck by lightning in 1994. A few weeks after the lightning strike, Dr. Cicoria, who possesses a doctorate in neuroscience, suddenly felt overcome with a desire to learn to play and write music. He was changed by the experience, and according to his own account, “saw no contradiction between religion and neurology—if God works on a man, or in a man, He would do so via the nervous system, via parts of the brain specialized, or potentially specializable, for spiritual feeling and belief.”

J. Francis Wolfe is a freelance writer and a noted dreamer of dreams. When he’s not writing, he is most likely waiting for “just one more wave,” or quietly reading under a shady tree.

An arch, by definition, is a curved structure or formation that supports the weight of a bridge, wall, or mass above it. Sounds dull, but don’t be fooled. They are, in fact, true marvels of our world. Found in nature since the earth was formed, created by wind and natural forces, they later became valued by humans who were inspired by nature to build strong arch-shaped structures.

Now, we see arches everywhere on our travels and in our lives—some so discreet that you hardly notice them but others so impressive, they will take your breath away. Arches, both made by man and by nature, truly deserve our attention!

Here is a list of 10 travel experiences featuring awe-inspiring arches.

Related: 10 Curious Facts Involving Canyons And Mountains

10 Delicate Arch National Park, Utah

There is no shortage of arches to be seen in Delicate Arch National Park, Utah. It is the location of the world’s densest concentration of arches, with over 2,000 of them located throughout the park. Many of them are made out of the stunning, red-hued rocks of the region and have been slowly sculpted by millions of years of weather erosion.

Amazingly, the arches are prevalent throughout the park due to the sandstone being strong enough to hold their weight. Yet they are soft enough to be easily eroded by water, wind, and gravity because of the entrenched river systems that carve their way through the bedrock in the region. These factors produce ideal conditions for the creation of arches which have existed for a vast period of time, but in terms of the earth’s geological timeline, only for a blink of an eye

One of the most recognized arches in Delicate Arch National Park is its namesake arch—Delicate Arch. At 16 meters (52 feet), this tall freestanding arch has been given the nicknames “Cowboy Chaps” and “Old Maid’s Bloomers.” It was first called “Delicate” in a 1934 article by the Arches National Monument Scientific Expedition, which described it as “the most delicately chiseled arch in the entire area.”^[1]

9 The Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri

Love it or hate it, The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, is an iconic, one-of-a-kind arch.

The impressive stainless steel landmark takes its name—Gateway Arch—from the important role St. Louis played as the “Gateway to the West” during the westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century. Representing a doorway to the western part of the country, it’s the tallest monument in the country, measuring a stunning 192 meters (630 feet) tall and equal in its width. You can even take a thrilling—and claustrophobic—four-minute tram ride to the viewing platform at the top of the arch, which offers views of the city and surrounding rivers and parks.

Crazy stunt people seem to be drawn to the Gateway Arch—people have tried climbing up the arch, jumping off it, and parachuting onto it. And it never ends well for them, as they usually end up dead or in prison.^[2]

8 Colossal Iceberg Arches

To see a majestic iceberg on its final path just before melting into the sea is one of nature’s most spectacular sights. And if that iceberg takes on the shape of an arch—you will have hit the glacial jackpot.

An iceberg is a compact slab of 10,000 years of packed snow and ice that breaks off ice-cap glaciers in the extreme north or south of the planet. From the time it breaks off, it begins its seaward journey. These glacier chunks come in many shapes and sizes, forming blocks or wedges, but to see one of these colossal, floating icebergs in the form of an arch is a magnificent sight. These arches are formed when the blocks of floating ice are exposed to wind and seawater, melting away the inner parts and leaving the remaining outer edges of the iceberg to create an amazing bridge-like shape.

For the best chances of seeing an ice arch, make spring travel plans to Argentina or Patagonia, Chile, in the south or Greenland, Iceland, or Alaska in the north. Or head over to Iceberg Alley in Newfoundland and Labrador, where anywhere from 400 to 800 icebergs float by every year in the springtime. While you are there, try a beer made with “bergie bits“—that is, beer made from pure iceberg (glacier) water.^[3]

7 The Eerie Arches of Convento Do Carmo, Lisbon, Portugal

A massive 9-point magnitude earthquake hit Lisbon, Portugal, on November 1, 1755, leaving as many as 50,000 people dead and most of the city in ruins. The roof and nave of the Convento do Carmo, a 13th-century gothic cathedral, also collapsed on parishioners who were gathered for a mass celebrating All Saints Day. However, the eerie skeleton of the cathedral’s arches remained.

The ruins of the Convento do Carmo and its open-to-the-sky wishbone-shaped arches still, even today, serve as a memorial and museum of the devastating series of events caused by the earthquake of 1755.

The eye-catching arches make for a photographer’s dream, casting dramatic light and shadows on the ruins of the cathedral. However, what most impresses is how the arches still hold steadfast after centuries of time and devastating natural disasters—a true testament to the strength and durability of the arch in building construction.^[4]

6 Percé Rock, Quebec

In 1603, French explorer Samuel de Champlain made a note in his diary about Percé Rock, describing a very large, steep rock and its notable hole through which boats may pass at high tide. (Link 14) Translated from the French word “percé,” which means pierced or perforated, the giant rock formation is one of the world’s largest natural arches located in water amid the vast, rocky landscapes of the Gaspé Peninsula in Northeastern Québec.

Located just off the coast from its namesake town, Percé, the colossal rock formation and the 15-meter-tall (49-foot) arch make for a dramatic sight. The monolith, made up of limestone and shale, had another arch that collapsed in 1845, leaving a large, upright pillar now known as L’Obélisque.

During certain times of the year, at low tide, adventurous people can reach Percé Rock by foot via a sandbar. It’s also possible to get up close to the arch by boat, and it makes for an impressive backdrop during whale-watching excursions.^[5]

5 The Taj Mahal, Agra, India

While often looked at as the sum of its parts, the Taj Mahal, an immense and extravagant mausoleum in the Indian city of Agra, is a building that truly showcases the epic beauty of the arch.

The mausoleum, commissioned in 1632 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to honor his beloved wife, was built with geometric principles and symmetry in mind using a pointed arch within a rectangle as a primary shape. They applied this arch shape throughout the building, using pointed arches as recessed portals and for the shape of the windows and doorways.

Because of the ability of the arches to bend light and create dimension and depth in its shadows, the Taj Mahal appears to constantly change its color throughout the day and at different times of the year. At sunrise, the building seems to take on a soft pink hue; at noon, it’s a brilliant white. It takes on a copper-like color when the sun sets, and at night, it looks translucent blue. Sometimes, special tickets are sold to watch the full moon and even eclipses.

It is said that 20,000 stone carvers, masons, and artists were employed to build and perfect every detail of the Taj Mahal. It’s almost a guarantee that every one of them was knowledgeable about the importance and beauty of the arch.^[6]

4 Es Pontas, Mallorca, Spain

When champion rock climber Chris Sharma, known to be one of the greatest in his sport, free-climbed the Es Pontas, it brought much attention to the majestic rock arch and its dramatic setting in the southeastern part of Mallorca, Spain.

Meaning “big bridge” in Catalan, the arch is a popular spot for rock climbing aficionados and adventure travelers. For those looking to stick to a safe spot just looking at the impressive rock arch, a lookout can be reached via a craggy, steep trail that opens up to great views of the arch and the Mediterranean sea surrounding it. Stick around for sunset, and the arch at Es Pontas makes for a particularly dramatic sight.^[7]

3 Arch of Constantine

There are many impressive triumphal arches around the world—such as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Wellington Arch in London. However, none of them compares to the Arch of Constantine in Rome.

An icon of Roman history and architecture, the Arch of Constantine is set in an impressive location in the heart of Ancient Rome between the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Built in AD 315, it is the largest of the surviving Roman triumphal arches. It commemorates Roman Emperor Constantine’s victory over the reigning Emperor Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in Rome. Made of gray and white Proconnesian marble, the massive monument stands 21 meters (69 feet) tall and 25 meters (85 feet) wide. It actually consists of three separate arches—one large center arch and one on either side of it.

The arch features grand Corinthian columns, friezes depicting military battles, medallions representing scenes of sacrifice and hunting, and even an inscription stating that the Roman Senate dedicates this arch to Constantine. Roman armies would return to lavish parades celebrating their victories in battle and would march under the Arch of Constantine as part of their celebratory path. Today, people cannot walk under the arch due to the protective fencing, but to see the monumental arch up close is to marvel at one of the great wonders of ancient Rome.^[8]

2# Pont d’Arc

On sunny summer days, people flock to the Pont d’Arc in the south of France for a leisure day of picnicking, swimming, and canoeing. The arch, translated to Bridge of the Arch, is an impressive limestone structure that was carved into the landscape by the force of the Ardèche River over 400,000 years ago.

It seems that modern-day people weren’t the only ones drawn to the fascinating arch. In caves near the arch, speleologists—someone who studies caves—found one of the greatest paleolithic sanctuaries ever discovered. They believe the caves were used for ceremonial purposes by the Aurignacians, who made cave paintings there over 36,000 years ago.

The Pont d’Arc measures 54 meters (177 feet) high and 60 meters (197 feet) wide and serves as a dramatic gateway to the Ardèche Canyon region. The natural arch makes for a beautiful backdrop to a leisure-filled day in one of the most beautiful locations in France.^[9]

1 Tianmen Arch

Tianmen, which translates to Heaven’s Gate, is located in the mountainous region of Northwestern China and is the highest naturally formed arch in the world, sitting at 5,000 ft above sea level.

The jaw-dropping arch was formed in 263 AD when a natural cave system collapsed, leaving a gaping hole—a natural arch—in its place. To access the monumental landmark, visitors must climb up 999 stairs, representing the number nine, which in Chinese numerology represents eternity and good fortune.

In 2011, stuntman Jeb Corliss launched himself from a helicopter and through the narrow arch, which measures only 30 meters (100 feet) in width. After his first attempt failed, his second jump was successful and broadcast on China’s TV networks to much fanfare.^[10]

Most people enjoy vacations at the beach, where they can laze in the sun with a cocktail or two. Maybe, they choose to take a cruise or explore some of the trails in a national park. But for adrenaline junkies, a simple Airbnb vacation probably won’t be enough to fill the need for adventure. Adrenaline junkies often find themselves in extraordinary places doing the craziest things and making incredible memories. They crave activities that make them feel afraid, excited, and emotionally charged.

So, what can you do to feel like an adrenaline junkie? If you love creativity, are impulsive and curious, have the urge to pursue challenges, are flexible to change, and love spontaneity, these activities might be for you! Here are ten experiences to make you feel like an adrenaline junkie that aren’t too over the top.

10 Scuba Diving

The environment underwater is rich in animals, plants, and minerals. Scuba diving allows you to dive underwater using gear to breathe. But, first, you have to choose the destination you prefer for scuba diving, ranging from tropical seas to caves to cold water locations across the globe.

Scuba divers get to explore a world where very few get the opportunity. Adrenaline junkies enjoy entering this realm full of mystery and discovery. While it may take time to train and certify in scuba diving, the benefits outweigh the price and length of training.

Top Spots for Scuba Diving

• Galapagos Islands, Ecuador: These scuba diving sites are rich in marine life, consist of large types of species, and volcanic areas. During the cold season, there are spectacular sites of penguins diving in the water. Here, you can also see the out-kicker rock, angelfish, iguanas, and sea lions.
• Raja Ampat, Indonesia: The site is full of mind-blowing diversity. You can see manta rays and dive between islands in The Passage.
• Dumaguete, Philippines: Home to huge schools of fish, manta rays, whale sharks, pristine coral reefs, and lush coral gardens.
• The Red Sea, Indian Ocean: The best time to enjoy scuba diving is springtime when the waters are warm. During autumn, you can view the manta rays in Sudan and sharks swimming in the Egyptian and Sudanese waters. Locations to scuba dive are Sharm El Sheik and Ras Mohammed National Park.

9 Zorbing

A zorb is a large, inflatable ball. This may not be popular with most people, but for this activity, you will climb inside the zorb and then roll down a slope or a body of water. After releasing the zorb on a slope or hill, you will find yourself screaming, shrieking, and yelling at the top of your lungs. Rides typically last about a minute.

• Harness zorbing: You are strapped to a harness inside the zorb.
• Aqua or hydro zorbing: There is water inside the zorb so that you can slide around on the inside.
• Zorb football: Only your head and torso fit inside the zorb, so you can move your legs and run around.

Top Spots for Zorbing

• Ikawa X-park in Miyoshi, Japan
• Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Canada
• Outdoor Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
• Rotorua, New Zealand
• Zorbinganlange, Germany

8 Surfing

Surfing is a must for adrenaline junkies—there’s nothing quite like feeling the wind on your face as you ride a wave. Surfing requires you to ride on top of the wave while lying or standing on a board. The best times to surf are in the early mornings and early evenings. Several surfing activities include windsurfing, kite surfing, skim boarding, wakeboarding, and wave surfing.

Wave surfing activity involves a lot of swimming and paddling while you drag your board in and out of the water. It might take years of practice to surf like a pro, while beginners require patience and a good teacher. Wave surfing involves a lot of upper body work, as you must lift yourself to a standing position on the board when a wave arrives.

Kite surfing/windsurfing will require you to use wind power with a large kite to ride across the water or sky.

Wakeboarding is an exciting activity requiring you to ride on a short board as you hold onto a rope attached to a boat.

Top Spots for Surfing

• The coast of Oaxaca in Mexico
• Tamarindo Beach in Costa Rica
• Weligama, Sri Lanka
• Imsouane, Morocco
• Supertubos Beach in Peniche, Portugal
• Raglan, New Zealand
• Bregenz Hechtweg, Austria
• Pantai Batu Mejan (Echo Beach) in Bali
• North Shore in Oahu, Hawaii

7 Coasteering

Coasteering will require you to explore stretches of rocky coastlines to feel like you are part of the coastline. You can go coasteering all year round, though if you go in the winter, you’ll need a wetsuit.

Coasteering activities include walking, climbing on the rocks, jumping off rocks into the sea, and swimming through gullies. Helmets and life jackets need to be used to ensure your safety.

Top Spots for Coasteering

• Crest, Greece
• Gower, Wales
• The Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
• Isla Plana, Spain
• Canary Islands, Spain

6 Sandboarding

Sandboarding is a sport you practice on the sand dunes. You can sandboard in the desert or at the beach, depending on your experience and ability. Sandboarding in the desert is more demanding due to the high and steep desert dunes, while beach sandboarding is less demanding and requires a board similar to a snowboard but with a thicker base.

You’ll also want to ensure you bring shoes, a helmet, a mouth scarf, and goggles for protection.

Top Spots for Sandboarding

• Huacachina Desert in Peru
• The Sahara Desert in Egypt
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Oregon’s Pacific Coast, USA
• New South Wales, Australia
• Te Paki Sand Dunes in New Zealand

5 Skiing and Snowboarding

These sports are exhilarating! Like surfing, they combine speed with balance, using snow rather than water. The feeling of weightlessness and flying through the air can be addicting. While it can take a little work to master, these sports are worth the effort to learn.

There are different styles to switch things up and make skiing and snowboarding more fun and exhilarating! Skiing styles include military, freestyle, alpine, and nordic. Snowboarding styles include free carve, freeriding, dry slope, jibbing, rail riding, and freestyle. Shake things up if you’ve already conquered the bunny slopes by trying an off-trail or backcountry adventure. Or what about nighttime skiing? That’s sure to get the heart pumping.

Top Spots for Snowboarding and Skiing

• Lake Louise Ski Resort in Canada
• Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado
• Sun Valley, Idaho
• Verbier, Switzerland
• Breckenridge, Colorado

4 Shark Cage Diving

Cue the Jaws music! Shark cage diving is when you go underwater in a special floating cage built with strong metals that will allow you to encounter the ocean’s fearsome and finest sharks up close.

To add to the thrill of being in shark-infested waters, cages are placed in waters that have been chummed to attract sharks.

If you find the cage diving a bit too much, you can instead choose to swim with a more gentle species—the whale shark. As these creatures can grow to nearly 40 feet (12 meters), it can still be a one-of-a-kind experience. For this one, you can travel to Isla Mujeres in Mexico.

Top Spots for Shark Cage Diving

• Tiger Beach in the Bahamas
• Port Lincoln, Australia
• Mossel Bay and Gansbaai in South Africa
• Bluff, New Zealand
• Isla Guadalupe, Mexico

3 White Water Rafting

White water rafting is a popular and exciting water sport you must try! You move down a river with strong currents using an inflatable raft and oars for navigating the waters. This activity is great for team building and family bonding in the outdoors.

Gear required for this activity includes a life vest, the raft, emergency supplies, a hat, a safety whistle, gloves, a swimsuit, and extra clothes. Many choose to travel with a guide to ensure their safety.

Top Spots for White Water Rafting

• Upper Seti River in Nepal
• Jacques-Cartier River in Canada
• Tena, Maca and Puyo in Ecuador
• The Rio Futaleufu in Chile
• Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

2 Bungee Jumping

Bungee jumping is when you jump headfirst from a tall structure with the support of an elastic cord attached to your feet. The tall structure can be a helicopter, bridge, crane, or building. Bungee jumping is for all ages.

When bungee jumping, you use a harness and bungee cord to ensure you’re safe. All you have to do is enjoy. However, it can be dangerous for overweight people, pregnant women, and people with blood pressure issues. The most appropriate time of the year to enjoy bungee jumping is during the summer season.

Top Spots for Bungee Jumping

• Europa Bridge in Austria
• Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa
• Macau Tower in China
• Victoria Falls Bridge in Zimbabwe
• Verzasca Dam in Switzerland

1 Tandem Skydiving

If you are adventurous and want to experience jumping from a moving plane, this is the sport for you. Tandem skydiving does not require training, and first-timers will need a professional skydiving instructor. Tandem skydiving has no age limit except in the United States, where the age limit is 18 years. However, it would be best if you were flexible and in good health. You must wear light clothes such as tennis shoes, a t-shirt, and shorts. Make sure your hair is tied back and out of the way!

In tandem skydiving, you jump from approximately 13,100 feet (4,000 meters) in altitude from an aircraft, helicopter, or airplane with a parachute on your back. You last 40 seconds to a minute in the open air before reaching the ground, but you live to enjoy the moment.

Top Spots for Tandem Skydiving

• Oahu, Hawaii
• Grand Rush Adventures in Swakopmund, Namibia
• Swiss Alps in Switzerland
• Santa Barbara, California
• Taupo, New Zealand

The human body is a big, meaty sack of wonder. All day long, things are happening inside of yourself that you’re never aware of. Synapses fire in your brain, nerves send signals through your muscles, your heart and lungs and stomach and spleen are all doing what they do, all without any input from you. 

A lot of the things you can experience in a day you may take for granted, but it turns out there’s some pretty weird science behind even the most mundane experiences. You just never realize it. Like these ten things, 

10. Your Brain Releases Chemicals to Make You Hangry

Ever find yourself feeling a little hangry? It’s not just a goofy made up word, it’s a real thing! It’s a grumpy, angry feeling you get when you’re hungry. But why would being hungry make anyone angry? It’s all chemicals, man. As much as 25% of all of your energy is used by your brain. So when you’re running low on nutrients, your brain reacts like a spoiled child. It will induce a stress response to make you feed it. 

Your brain will release cortisol and adrenaline to help balance your blood sugar and, for some of us, cortisol causes aggression. So your brain just wants a sandwich and now you want to punch someone to get it. It’s science. 

9. Your Voice Sounds Weird on Tape for Physical and Psychological Reasons

Hate the sound of your voice on tape but not in your own head? You’re not alone. The phenomenon is called “voice confrontation” and it stems in part from the way your skull vibrates and changes the way your own voice sounds compared to the voices of everyone else you hear. It will sound deeper in your head thanks to how bones conduct the sound to your ear. But there’s more afoot!

Research in the 1960s concluded there was a psychological aspect to the hatred of your own voice. These “extra-linguistic cues” are hard to perceive when you’re speaking, but a recording makes them more apparent – things like how stressed you sound, if you’re indecisive or angry. Basically, it’s things you were not aware of, or not trying to project through speech, that came out anyway and now you’re confronted with them and they make you uncomfortable. 

8. Floaters Are Caused by Vitreous Fluid Changes and Collagen Threads

Any time you see tiny, moving objects in your field of vision that aren’t really there, those are floaters. They can happen when you rub your eyes, when you get knocked on the noggin, or for no noticeable reason at all. 

The inside of your eye is filled with vitreous fluid. Sometimes there are pockets of thinner liquid in thicker gel and the border between the two can be perceived as a floater. But you may also be seeing collagen fibers. As you age, these become thicker and denser, and that makes them more visible from time to time. These fibers can also clump together and get large enough to become visible. It’s actually the shadows cast by them that you perceive as floaters. Normally they are harmless, but if they become a constant presence, you’ll want to visit the eye doctor. 

7. Long Drives Make You Tired Because Your Body is Constantly Reacting to Vibrations

Ever gone on one of those really long, cross-country road trips and, after being behind the wheel for ten hours, you’re just absolutely exhausted? Of course you are, you were driving for ten hours. You know… sitting still in one spot, lightly pushing pedals and gently moving a wheel in your hands now and then. It’s exhausting. But why? What makes sitting and doing next to nothing so tiring?

The phenomenon sometimes called travel fatigue is a real thing. Sitting for long periods actually stresses out your veins. Blood pools in your legs so you may start swelling. This can cause muscle soreness and can even lead to deep vein thrombosis. 

In addition, the natural vibrations of a car in motion start to make you tired within just 15 minutes of taking the wheel. Your body must constantly adjust to bumps and shifts so your muscles never actually get a rest. Even though you’re not straining them deeply, they’re always being used, and that wears you down. 

6. One Nostril Gets Congested at a Time Because of a Nasal Cycle 

Allergies and things like colds make you feel terrible and one of the worst side effects is when you get congested. But you may have noticed the unusual predicament of being congested in just one nostril at a time. And it may even shift from nostril to nostril. So what gives?

Turns out, your nose is not an equal opportunity body part. Even when breathing normally, one nostril is doing most of the work. It will switch back and forth during the day, but one is always doing more than the other, thanks to your autonomic nervous system.

This nasal cycle keeps your nose from drying out and getting damaged. A cold or allergies will cause nasal blood vessels to dilate and then greater mucus production, which will leave that one nostril feeling clogged while the other takes over. 

5. Your Brain Wakes You Up Before Your Alarm Because Your Internal Clock Knew The Alarm was Coming 

If you have ever found yourself waking up only to stare at your alarm clock five minutes before it’s set to go off, you know how absolutely frustrating that can be. The only thing worse is that it seems to keep happening. It’s far too late to go back to sleep and you just don’t want to get up because you feel like you’ve been robbed of five minutes. And there’s a reason it keeps happening.

No doubt you’ve heard of your body’s internal clock before. Sometimes it goes by the flashier name of circadian rhythm. This sort of regulates your sense of time in regards to how and when you get things done. Part of that is when you feel tired and when you feel awake.  There are plenty of external factors that can shake this feeling of tiredness or wakefulness up, ranging from how much work you did that day making you feel exhuatsed to what you ate or drank giving you energy boosts and so on. But, in general, your body is set to a routine.

Because your circadian rhythm likes to maintain a routine, it works best when you stick to that routine. Stick To the same routine long enough and it can even start predicting when you’re supposed to wake up, which is what is happening when you keep waking just before you alarm. Your body’s own sense of time is aware of how long you’re supposed to be sleeping and just jumped the gun on you a little. It starts producing the proteins necessary to get you feeling up and active because it knows you’re going to need them. 

In fact, the protein eases you into wakefulness in part because it’s trying to avoid that jarring alarm which wakes you suddenly. This way, raising your blood pressure, temperature and cortisol levels, you can wake up gently rather than with a scream from a morning DJ.

4. You Think You Look Better in a Mirror Than in Photos Because of Lighting and Angles

Chances are you know someone who says they hate photos of themselves, or maybe you feel that way yourself. But you rarely hear those same people make similar remarks about their reflections. If you were to compare your reflection to a photo taken at the same time, you’d likely prefer the reflection, and there is a reason.

Existing in your head as you do, you almost never see the you that everyone else sees. The mirror you is a reverse you. Your perception of yourself is mostly built on this. So when you see a photo, it’s you but arranged in the reverse of how you’re used to seeing yourself and your mind doesn’t like that. It will also appear at angles we can’t see in a mirror because of how our eyes work in our heads when we see ourselves. Eyes front means you always have yourself at the best angle, even when you turn your head. So a selfie will give you unflattering angles you never knew existed. 

Apart from the angles, the lighting isn’t able to change the way it will when your eyes adjust to a mirror image in a photo, either. In short, your eyes give you the best angle and best lighting automatically all the time, but photos capture a weird moment we aren’t used to. 

3. Alcohol Burns Because it Alters Heat Receptors in Your Mouth

Do you remember the first time you did a shot of whisky? Or maybe vodka? That searing burn in your mouth and down your throat as you wondered why the hell people do this to themselves? And then, depending on your personal feelings regarding getting sauced, you either never drank again or did it until you barely noticed the burn? We’re not here to debate your feelings on drinking, but we are focused on what you feel when you drink, namely that burn. Ever wondered exactly why alcohol burns?

Weirdly enough, alcohol and spicy peppers work on your brain in very similar ways. Neither is hot to the touch, but your brain perceives heat in your mouth and throat when you consume them. That’s thanks to something called a vanilloid receptor. When these receptors in your mouth come into contact with alcohol, it lowers their tolerance for heat. Normally your mouth will burn because you ate something hot and they perceive things around 42 C or 107 F as hot. But ethanol lowers that tolerance right down to around 34 C or 93F. This is a problem because your body temperature is 98.6 F or 37 C.

Since your heat receptors are now set off by your own body, wherever the alcohol touches is going to feel like fire because your brain is now convinced you’re drinking fire. Once the booze is gone, things balance out again. 

2. Tattoos Stay in Your Skin Because Macrophages Eat the Ink Over and Over

Around 30% of Americans have tattoos. But what is it that keeps the ink under your skin for all time once it’s in there? For years, the popular thinking was that tattoos are applied to the dermis, so it’s below the skin that constantly regenerates. That’s not actually true, though. The truth is all about your immune response and something called macrophages.

The tattoo does hit your dermis and your immune system immediately recognizes a wound. Cells called macrophages go to the wound and absorb the ink. Basically, they are eating it to try to make it go away. But the macrophages die and are replaced by new macrophages that eat the old ones, keeping the ink locked in place despite the fact they’re trying to clean it all away. 

1. We May See Faces in Patterns For Evolutionary Survival Reasons

The human mind is wired to see faces everywhere. From an IKEA bathroom to Brussels sprouts. It’s not because some people are cranks, it’s because of pareidolia. We do it all the time when we see patterns, arranging them into familiar shapes in our minds. 

In one study, 34% of participants who were shown gray static-like patterns managed to find a face in it. Brain imaging showed that the frontal and occipital regions, which deal with planning and memory. were activated.. It’s been theorized that this, followed by the activation of the right fusiform face area, which is activated when we see real faces, works together because we’re expecting to see something like a face. 

One theory about why this happens has an evolutionary component. We are hard wired to see faces. Society works because humans help each other, but we also fear enemies. Recognizing faces, good or bad, kept us alive as a species. So our brains need to recognize them, even if sometimes we mess up.