When it comes to the top 10 worst dating experiences, love can quickly turn into a series of bizarre, cringe‑worthy moments that leave you questioning humanity.

Why These Are the Top 10 Worst Dating Disasters

From clogged toilets to fatal kisses, each tale below showcases how a simple meetup can spiral into a nightmarish saga. Buckle up, because these stories are as outrageous as they are unforgettable.

10 Next Time, Use A Plunger

Liam Smith thought his Bristol evening was shaping up perfectly. He had matched with a girl on Tinder, enjoyed a nice dinner together, and then decided to keep the momentum going back at his flat with a bottle of wine and a Netflix binge.

Mid‑movie, his date announced she needed a quick minute in the bathroom and promptly proceeded to take a dump. When she tried to flush, the toilet refused to cooperate, leaving her mortified and desperate not to ruin the mood with a floating mess.

In a panic, she seized the offending waste and attempted to hurl it out the window. Unfortunately, the window was a sealed double‑pane unit, so the poo simply rolled down the inner pane and framed itself like an unwanted portrait.

Desperate to retrieve the evidence, she reached into the gap between the panes, only to become stuck. The fire department was summoned, dismantled the window, and finally freed her. When asked if he’d consider a second date, Smith dead‑panned, “We’ve already cleared the toughest hurdle first.”

9 The Kiss Of Death

Romance inside a prison’s guest area is a complicated affair, especially when guards loom nearby. Anthony Powell, a life‑sentence inmate for killing his mother‑in‑law, met his new girlfriend Melissa Ann Blair through a mutual contact named Brandy Pokovich.

Melissa, who specialized in dating convicts via social media, visited Powell at Oregon State Penitentiary. Their goodbye seal was a passionate kiss that seemed straight out of a thriller.

Unbeknownst to the guards, Melissa slipped seven tiny meth‑filled balloons into Anthony’s mouth, planning for him to later retrieve them from the bathroom toilet. The balloons, however, ruptured inside his stomach, delivering a lethal dose.

Powell died from an overdose, and the court held both parties responsible, sentencing Melissa to two years behind bars plus mandatory drug and mental‑health treatment.

8 Mismatched

Darlene Daggett, a high‑ranking executive at QVC, struggled to find time for romance after four children and a divorce. She turned to Los Angeles‑based matchmaker Amber Kelleher‑Andrews, who charges $150,000 for access to a curated database of vetted singles.

Daggett paid the hefty fee and embarked on a string of disastrous dates. One suitor confessed he was still married, yet his terminally ill wife forced him to wait for her death before moving on.

Another encounter involved a New York judge fresh from a scandal for sleeping with an attorney; he collapsed from heart complications during their first meeting. A third date was with a married man who, after being rejected, began stalking her and later stole $10 million from an unrelated party.

The final blow came when an Australian entrepreneur whisked her away to Costa Rica and Panama, only to ghost her with the excuse, “I need to go dark,” claiming he was an Interpol spy. Daggett eventually sued Andrews for a full refund of her $150,000 investment.

7 I Am Groot?

Brandon Vezmar’s first date with a Bumble match took place during a 3‑D showing of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Unfortunately, his date spent the entire film glued to her phone, texting nonstop.

When Vezmar politely asked her to stop, she ignored him. He warned that if she needed to use her phone, she should step out into the lobby or risk being escorted out, prompting her to abandon the date entirely and leave him stranded.

Vezmar responded by filing a small‑claims suit for $17.31 – the exact cost of his ticket – claiming the texting was his biggest pet peeve. He told reporters, “It was like the date from hell.”

The woman later countered, saying Vezmar’s odd behavior made her uncomfortable, that she had to reply to a friend’s crisis, and that she kept her phone low to avoid bothering anyone. She also claimed he began contacting her family for the money, prompting her to seek a restraining order.

6 Absolutely No Chill

Lindy Lou Layman, a classic Texas beauty and court reporter, landed a date with successful attorney Anthony Buzbee. Their first evening took a wild turn when Layman became heavily intoxicated at Buzbee’s mansion.

In a fit of unexplained rage, she drenched Buzbee’s priceless artworks – sloshing red wine over an original Andy Warhol, ripping a Renoir and a Monet from the walls, and flinging two sculptures across the room.

Buzbee ordered an Uber to get her out, but instead of leaving, Layman hid in a hidden room, forcing Buzbee to call the police. He later estimated the damage at roughly $300,000. The motive behind her fury remains a mystery, though Buzbee’s close ties to Donald Trump and a 2016 fundraiser at his $14 million home have been noted.

5 Material Girl

Chris Thompson, a YouTube creator behind the series Tinder Terrors, recounted a bizarre encounter with a woman in her forties. After a dinner at a fancy restaurant, the woman arrived at her mansion in a luxury vehicle, where a maid greeted them at the door.

The night progressed with heavy drinking, and soon they were upstairs. Just as intimacy seemed imminent, the woman pressed a button, prompting the maid to appear with a condom in hand.

She then popped Ecstasy, retreated to a closet, emerged dressed like Madonna, and proceeded to whip Chris’s naked body with her long ponytail. Terrified, he called off the encounter and summoned a Lyft to get home.

The next morning, Chris discovered a first‑class ticket to New York tucked to his windshield with a note saying, “See you soon.” He never boarded.

4 Wait For It

Yevgeniy Vasilievich Bayraktar was born in Odessa, Ukraine. At nine, his mother married a much older Texan she’d met online, prompting the family’s move to the United States.

She persuaded her new husband to fund her nursing education, only to divorce him shortly after she graduated, relocating to the Hamptons and securing a nursing job. She then married two more affluent, older New York men, leaving Yevgeniy to shuffle between homes and witness his mother’s pattern of exploiting wealthy spouses.

As an adult, he spent less than a year in the Air Force before being discharged. At 26, he traveled to Osaka, Japan, and met a woman named Saki Kondo on Tinder.

One month later, while leaving his rented apartment, police stopped him. When they opened his suitcase, Kondo’s severed head rolled out, confirming the worst‑case scenario.

3 Too Much Too Soon

Peter Kraus, the runner‑up from the 2018 season of The Bachelor, recounted his most mortifying first‑date story during an interview. He had met a woman in Chicago who arrived visibly intoxicated.

Attempting to salvage the evening, Kraus discovered they both loved football, hoping common ground would ease the tension. Instead, the woman proudly confessed that during college football games she would deliberately pee her pants to avoid the long lines at portable toilets, letting the stream run down her legs.

The revelation was enough to end any chance of a second date, leaving Kraus to wonder how many other candidates might have hidden such odd habits.

2 A Twisted Tinder Trap

In December 2017, 18‑year‑old Mikayla Norris struggled to find friends and romance after skipping college. She turned to Tinder and matched with Kareem McCoy Lee, arranging a date.

When Norris never returned home, her loved ones grew alarmed. The following day, her lifeless body was discovered on a road. Investigators learned that Lee had killed her, then returned to his car and shot himself.

Social‑media sleuths uncovered Lee’s threatening Facebook posts about harming his ex‑girlfriend, suggesting he intended to use a Tinder victim as a means to reach his former partner’s house.

The tragic encounter appears to have been a botched attempt, with Lee regretting his actions enough to end his own life shortly after.

1 You’ve Got Mail

Back in 2002, when email was still a novelty, Jacqueline Kim composed a lengthy office memo dissecting her weekend date with Casey O’Brien. She graded his attire, vehicle, haircut, and manners, elevating his score from a “B” to an “A” after noting his BMW, boat, and wine‑tasting excursion.

Kim also boasted about her own drunken antics, awarding herself an “A+” and declaring herself a “BABE” who had the upper hand.

Confident in her assessment, she demanded that Casey cut his hair and buy her gifts before any further commitment, even offering to set up friends with his single, day‑trading associates.

The memo, however, didn’t stay confined to her inbox. It spread throughout the office, went viral online, and eventually reached Casey himself. By then, they’d already gone on a second date, but after reading the email, he decided never to call her again.

When I look back on my three‑year stint as a casino security officer, the phrase 10 bizarre memorable moments springs to mind like a neon sign flashing in a dim hallway. We were the visible deterrent—unarmed, unassuming, and constantly reminded that our primary job was to look the part, not to fight. The guests were king, the floor was a stage, and sometimes the drama that unfolded was stranger than any slot machine jackpot. Below are the ten most unforgettable episodes that still make me shudder whenever I walk past a parking garage.

10 Bizarre Memorable: Forgotten Car Doors

During a routine bicycle patrol of the three‑level parking structure, I spotted a vehicle that looked as if it had been raided by a crew of professional thieves. All four doors were yawning wide, the interior exposed, and not a soul in sight. I lingered, radioed dispatch, and was told to stay put while they tried to locate the owner. Minutes later, a voice crackled back: “Close and lock the doors, please.” Turns out a hurried gambler had simply forgotten to shut his car before sprinting to the tables. It’s a rare sight to see someone so eager for a hand of blackjack that they abandon basic vehicle security.

9 Muddy Flat‑Tire Fiasco: The Pickup Predicament

One rainy August evening, the casino’s overflow lot—essentially a muddy field—became the backdrop for a lesson in hospitality gone wrong. A guest approached me, distressed about a flat on her pickup. Dispatch’s reply was blunt: “Change it for her.” The spare sat beneath the truck’s bed, meaning I had to crawl underneath, belly‑first, in waist‑deep mud, then haul the spare out, swap the tire, and repeat the whole process. By the time the job was done, I looked like a swamp monster, yet the driver hopped in, thanked no one, and drove off. Later, my supervisor scolded me for the filthy uniform, oblivious to the fact that the mud was a direct result of the guest’s own negligence.

8 Elderly Handicapped Parking Showdown

Casinos attract a steady stream of senior patrons, many of whom rely on handicapped parking. One afternoon, an irate elderly gentleman marched straight to me after exiting the garage. He snarled, “Your handicapped spaces are all full.” I tried to explain the lot’s capacity, only to hear him protest, “I can’t believe I have to walk that far! That’s why I have a handicap pass!” He turned on his heel and stalked back to the garage, muttering curses. The encounter highlighted how a simple parking shortage can become a theatrical showdown when pride and inconvenience collide.

7 Restroom Stall Rendezvous: A Surprise Investigation

While this tale didn’t involve me directly, a colleague on a different shift experienced a scene straight out of a sitcom. A radio call reported a disturbance in the lobby restroom. Upon arrival, he found two gentlemen locked inside a single stall, apparently engaged in an intimate encounter. When he knocked, they claimed innocence, but the muffled sounds gave them away. The officer warned them that their behavior was disrupting other guests and suggested they either relocate or book a room. Faced with a potential police call, they chose the latter, exiting the stall with their dignity—somewhat intact.

6 Slot Machine Superstition: The ‘Little Man’ Request

Superstitions run rampant on the gaming floor. One woman, clutching a handful of quarters, grabbed my arm and demanded I “tell the machine to let me win.” I explained there was no hidden button or magical “little man” inside the slot that could be persuaded. She retorted, “I know there’s a little man, and he won’t pay because I’m black!” She insisted the machine owed her money, even after a technician opened the slot to prove there was no person inside. Her fervor was a stark reminder that belief can outweigh logic when the lights are flashing and the reels are spinning.

5 Pool Skinny‑Dipping Standoff: The $5 Tape Threat

Not every casino guest follows the dress code. A group of hotel patrons decided to skinny‑dip in the pool. Dispatch spotted them on camera and sent an officer to intervene. While the two men promptly dressed, three women refused to leave the water. The officer radioed back, “They won’t get out while I’m here.” Dispatch then instructed him to tell the women that a copy of the surveillance footage would cost $5 per copy. The price tag was enough to convince them to clamber out, fully clothed, and the pool returned to its usual, clothed state.

4 The Pissing Bandit: A Seat‑Soiling Serial

Among the casino’s regulars was a well‑heeled woman in her forties, affectionately dubbed “The Pissing Bandit.” She would sit at a slot machine, relieve herself onto the seat, then shuffle to the next machine, repeating the act until she had soiled at least six seats. Because she was a high‑roller, security was prohibited from confronting her directly. Housekeeping would discreetly replace the contaminated cushions after each session, preserving her anonymity while maintaining a sanitary floor.

3 Panhandler’s Mantra: ‘I’m f***ed up!’

One night, while patrolling the garage, I encountered an inebriated man soliciting money from guests. I politely asked him to move along. His response was a relentless, “I’m f***ed up!” I repeated my request, only to be met with the same refrain, over and over, each time punctuated by his slurred protest. After several attempts to de‑escalate, I radioed dispatch. The repeated mantra finally caught their attention, and police arrived to escort the man to a safe resting place. The encounter underscored how a simple phrase can become a barrier to communication.

2 Vagrant’s Urine Attack on the Golf Cart

During a cold evening, I was stationed in a golf‑cart‑style security vehicle—our beloved “Flintstone‑mobile.” While I was scanning the lot, a vagrant approached the rear of the cart and began urinating on it. When I asked him to stop, he claimed, “I had to go, man!” I reminded him of the restrooms inside the casino, but he replied, “They won’t let me in, I’ve been 86ed.” The bizarre exchange left me drenched and bewildered, a reminder that even the most mundane patrol can turn into a splash zone.

1 Traffic‑Control Urine Stream: The Bathroom‑Bound Driver

Our busiest Friday night placed me in the middle of a hectic intersection, directing valet traffic. A frustrated driver demanded to use the restroom. I explained the line would be cleared shortly, but she insisted on abandoning her vehicle. When I warned that her car would be towed, she refused, choosing instead to sit in the driver’s seat with her legs out. Suddenly, a steady stream of urine began to trickle from beneath her dress, dribbling onto the pavement. Dispatch confirmed they had seen the incident on camera but could do nothing. I called it in, and the scene ended with a bewildered officer watching a woman urinate while traffic swirled around her.

These ten episodes illustrate why I swore never to return to casino security. From forgotten car doors to spontaneous urination, the floor is a stage for the absurd, the hilarious, and the downright bizarre. If you ever wander into a gaming palace, keep an eye out—you never know which of these 10 bizarre memorable moments might be playing out right before your eyes.

Looking for the top 10 unique adventures across Latin America? A few years back I compiled a roundup of fascinating holiday spots in the region. In today’s shaky economy, globetrotters from the U.S., Europe or Australia are hunting down budget‑friendly getaways. The selections below promise unforgettable moments, cultural quirks, and memorable flavors without draining your wallet.

NOTE: The stark wealth gap that exists throughout much of Latin America has unfortunately created pockets of heightened crime in certain areas. I’m an American traveler who never encountered any trouble, but it’s wise to exercise common sense, stay informed about neighborhoods to avoid, and plan responsibly before heading abroad.

11 Carnaval

Few sights capture Brazil’s reputation quite like its legendary Carnaval. Rooted in ancient pagan rites that later merged with Christian traditions, the festival marks a raucous celebration before the solemnity of Lent. Salvador, with its pastel‑hued colonial streets and pronounced African heritage, stages the world’s largest Carnaval. Every February, the city erupts in a kaleidoscope of parades, thumping Reggae, Samba, and Reggaetón beats, and flamboyant costumes that seem to leap off the streets. Think of it as a Brazilian‑style Mardi Gras, drawing roughly two million revelers who flood the avenues. The sensory overload can be intense, but for those who can keep up, it becomes a lifelong memory etched in color, sound, and pure joy.

10 Chinatown

Surprise! The oldest Chinatown in the Western Hemisphere isn’t tucked away in San Francisco or New York – it lives in Panama City’s historic San Felipe district. Roughly one‑fifth of Panama’s populace claims Chinese ancestry, making the quarter a vibrant blend of cultures. Known locally as Barrio Chino, the enclave brims with aromatic spice stalls, neon‑lit alleys, and an eclectic mix of Chinese‑Panamanian eateries. While it may not rival the size of Asian districts elsewhere, its off‑beat charm, bustling markets, and flavorful street food make it a must‑see during a Panama City stay.

9 The Chocolate Coast

If chocolate makes your heart flutter, a Venezuelan cacao plantation is the ultimate pilgrimage. Venezuela boasts some of the world’s finest chocolate, a reputation earned over centuries. Indigenous peoples first discovered cacao near the Orinoco and Amazon basins, and Spanish missionaries later introduced the bean to the Caribbean coast in the 1500s. Skip the turmoil of Caracas and head to the sun‑kissed Paria Peninsula, where lush plantations dot the landscape. Several working farms open their doors to visitors, offering tours, on‑site lodging, and, of course, the most decadent chocolate you’ll ever taste.

8 The New Medellin

When Medellín first entered the global consciousness, it was synonymous with cartel violence and the infamous Pablo Escobar. In 1991 alone, the city recorded over 6,000 murders. Today, however, Medellín has reinvented itself into a safe, cosmopolitan hub nestled between towering mountains. Home to several universities, the city attracts youthful travelers eager for a lively bar scene and night‑time pub crawls. The modern Metrocable links hillside barrios to the bustling downtown, delivering panoramic vistas. History buffs will appreciate the Museo de Antioquia, which showcases works by the flamboyant native artist Fernando Botero.

7 The Wine Country

Chile may host the planet’s driest desert, yet its river valleys blossom with vineyards that produce world‑class wines. The central region, especially the Valle del Maipo, enjoys a climate ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Just a short drive from Santiago, the valley’s estates welcome tourists for guided tours, tastings, and even on‑site accommodations—though the latter can be pricey. Still, many visitors deem the experience worth every peso. Its central location also serves as a launchpad for exploring additional Chilean wine regions.

6 Afro‑Ecuadorean Experience

Ecuador’s compact size belies its diversity: a swift flight can take you from the humid Amazon lowlands, over the towering Andes, to the untouched Pacific coastline. Nestled on the northern shore lies Esmeraldas, a city often bypassed even by locals who gravitate toward beach towns like Atacames. Yet Esmeraldas pulses with the rhythm of the nation’s Afro‑Ecuadorian community. Its streets echo with West African‑inspired poetry and dance, offering an intense cultural immersion. Friendly residents may even invite you into their homes for a cold beer and a steaming bowl of “tapao,” a hearty dish that blends Afro‑Caribbean flavors with Ecuadorian tradition.

5 On the Trail of Che Guevara

Before his iconic image adorned the backs of countless t‑shirts, Ernesto “Che” Guevara sparked revolutions across Latin America. His guerrilla campaign culminated in Bolivia, where he met his demise in 1967. Today, travelers can trace his final footsteps across this breathtaking nation. Begin in Santa Cruz, the low‑lying city Che passed en route to La Paz. Then venture to Samaipata, a mountain town where his fighters once assaulted a military outpost. Finally, reach La Higuera, the remote village where he was captured. Here you can explore the canyon where the Bolivian army cornered him, the schoolhouse where he succumbed to his wounds, and the modest hospital that housed his body. Whether you admire or critique his legacy, the journey offers a compelling window into Bolivia’s rugged terrain.

4 Sojourn in Coffee Country

A two‑hour drive north of Managua lands you in Estelí, a high‑altitude town once a hotbed of guerrilla activity during the Sandinista revolution. Though politically engaged, the town’s serene mountain setting feels worlds apart from its turbulent past. Expect no Wi‑Fi, ATMs, or chain hotels—just pristine air, modest coffee farms, and a chance to unplug. The region yields some of the globe’s finest beans, and several small plantations offer affordable stays or volunteer opportunities. Rustic cabins, horse‑back rides, and hammock‑filled mountain hikes provide a perfect escape for coffee lovers seeking authenticity.

3 Looking for Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway once roamed the cobblestone streets of Old Havana for over two decades, and his legacy still lingers in the city’s veins. His former room at the historic Hotel Ambos Mundos remains frozen in time, complete with the writer’s typewriter. Just a short stroll away lies La Floridita, the bar Hemingway dubbed a “den of wild and motley drinkers,” famous for its daiquiris. A brief drive takes you to his former countryside residence, Finca Vigía, now a museum preserving his personal artifacts and beloved pets. No Hemingway‑tour is complete without spending a tranquil afternoon fishing in the nearby waters, just as the author once did.

2 Mexican Foodcation

Mexico’s culinary tapestry stretches far beyond the cheesy, red‑sauce dishes most tourists encounter abroad. Embark on a foodie pilgrimage through the Valle Central, starting in Mexico City—arguably North America’s premier gastronomy capital. Here you’ll find Michelin‑starred eateries alongside street‑corner stalls serving legendary tacos al pastor. Next, head to historic Puebla, famed for its complex mole sauces, “chiles en nogada,” and Arabic‑inspired “tacos árabes.” Conclude your journey in Veracruz, a bustling port city where Afro‑Caribbean influences shape succulent shellfish dishes, all set against a backdrop of colonial architecture and inviting beaches.

1 Tango School

Even if you lack two‑left‑foot confidence, Buenos Aires and its tango culture are impossible to ignore. The dance originated among the city’s immigrant working class—Italian, French, and Spanish laborers—and has evolved into a national treasure. Visitors can enroll in lessons at numerous milongas, where locals gather after midnight to sway to live orchestras. Before you hit the dance floor, indulge in a hearty Argentine steak to fuel your night. Class fees vary based on instructor reputation, but the experience of moving in sync with passionate Argentines is priceless.

Whether you’re chasing chocolate, coffee, history, or rhythm, these ten (plus one) standout experiences showcase Latin America’s rich tapestry without draining your wallet. Pack your bags, bring an open mind, and let the continent’s vibrant spirit guide your adventure.

Delve into 10 scientific explanations that explore why near‑death experiences feel so vivid, drawing on neuroscience, physiology, and psychology.

10 Scientific Explanations: An Overview

10 The 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.

9 Excess 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.

8 Lack 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.

7 Endorphins 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.

6 Brain 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.”

5 Veridical 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.

4 Altered 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.”

3 Hallucinations 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.”

2 Near‑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.

1 Neurology 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.