If you see square waves in the sea that form a chessboard grid, you need to get out of the water immediately. Here's why.
Some strange things can happen in the water when the weather gets wild or as a result of currents.
These include a terrifying fog ‘tsunami’ that really does look like the real thing; bizarre waterspouts that form on lakes, rivers, and at sea, and powerful whirlpools that can drag objects into its surface, according to the National Ocean Service (NOAA).
Another scary occurrence that can take place in the ocean is the formation of square waves.
Linda Blair was injured onset of The Exorcist
Like you would expect, these basically look like a chessboard on the surface of the water - but they’re anything but fun and games.
In fact, they’re actually insanely deadly, according to the European Space Agency (ESA), whose records claim a large portion of shipping accidents occurred in cross seas between 1995 and 1999.
Square waves can be very dangerous (Razvan Fiat)
These grid waves can reach up to 10 feet tall and can cause ships to experience navigational problems.
Oceanographers believe that these square waves - also known as cross waves - are made by weather patterns forcing the water to form a wave from different angles.
While they do make for a remarkable sight, this checkerboard pattern can spell disaster for swimmers, surfers and even boats.
Surfer Today says that the waves are also often associated with strong and localised rip tides.
So if you are doing some backstroke and suddenly find yourself swimming amongst squares, it’s recommended you get out of the water ASAP because they pose a serious threat.
Mathew Giachetti, of the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), previously told Islands.com: "If caught in a square wave, the most important thing to do is get out of the water immediately, as they are extremely dangerous.
If you're caught swimming in square waves, stay calm and try and float on your back (YouTube/Razvan Fiat)
"Stay calm, try to float on your back, and swim parallel to the shore to escape the wave's force. Then carefully make your way back to land as soon as possible; if you can't reach the shore quickly, signal for help."
Cross waves were recently seen on the Aegean Sea, off the coast of Turkey. They have also been spotted in the South Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans, as well as off the island of Île de Ré.
The coastal spot, situated near La Rochelle, is 30km wide, and is a popular spot for tourists wanting to catch the quadrangular waves in action.
Many people head to the Phare des Baleines (Whale Lighthouse) on the island for the best view—just stay out of the water, please?
Featured Image Credit: Wikipedia/Michel Griffon
Topics: Science, Weather, Travel
Ella Scott
Updated 20:21 9 Aug 2024 GMT+1Published 19:17 9 Aug 2024 GMT+1
'First ever' footage shows terrifying reality of what a hurricane looks likes while out at sea
Scientists sent the drone into the ocean to collect data about the hurricane
The 'first ever' footage inside a hurricane at sea has been released - and it looks terrifying.
Scientists took a drone mounted on top of a robotic surfboard and essentially placed it straight in the eye of the storm.
Except the storm was actually a huge hurricane, known as Hurricane Sam.
The drone revealed footage inside the hurricane (Saildrone)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains that a hurricane is a 'rotating storm system of clouds and thunderstorms that forms over warm tropical or subtropical waters'.
In the footage, the drone - which was shot by the NOAA as well as Saildrone - can be seen sailing the seas during the hurricane.
The drone, named the Saildrone Explorer SD 1045, endures 120mph winds as well as 50ft waves during the extreme weather event in the Atlantic Ocean.
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Hurricane Sam occurred in 2021 and was a Category 4 - aka the second highest on the scale.
The NOAA said in a statement: "The Saildrone Explorer SD 1045 was directed into the midst of Hurricane Sam, a category 4 hurricane, which is currently on a path that fortunately will miss the U.S. east coast. SD1045 is battling 50 foot waves and winds of over 120 mph to collect critical scientific data and, in the process, is giving us a completely new view of one of earth’s most destructive forces."
The drone worked by using its 'hurricane wing' to operate in extreme weather conditions.
It then collects real-time observations to help scientists understand just how destructive hurricanes can be and how they grow.
A hurricane in the West Indies (Getty Stock Photo)
“Using data collected by saildrones, we expect to improve forecast models that predict rapid intensification of hurricanes,” said NOAA scientist, Greg Foltz. “Rapid intensification, when hurricane winds strengthen in a matter of hours, is a serious threat to coastal communities. New data from saildrones and other uncrewed systems that NOAA is using will help us better predict the forces that drive hurricanes and be able to warn communities earlier.”
Meanwhile, Saildrone founder and CEO Richard Jenkins added: “Saildrone is going where no research vessel has ever ventured, sailing right into the eye of the hurricane, gathering data that will transform our understanding of these powerful storms.
“After conquering the Arctic and Southern Ocean, hurricanes were the last frontier for Saildrone survivability. We are proud to have engineered a vehicle capable of operating in the most extreme weather conditions on earth.”
Featured Image Credit: Saildrone
Topics: News, Weather, Environment
Lucy Devine
Published 17:13 23 Feb 2025 GMT
Pilot causes debate after explaining one thing you should do if you have a window seat on a flight
But who does the window 'belong' to?
It’s that time of year when everyone starts banging on about ‘needing a holiday’ and showing off that they’ve already got there’s booked.
With the weather so grim at the moment, plenty of us are simply wanting to fly away and get out of the UK.
You might even be already dreaming of your routine when it comes to just getting on a plane; putting on your neck pillow, laying out your snacks, setting up a film to watch and perhaps getting ready to pull down the window shade.
But that’s where the disagreements may come in, as a pilot has caused a debate after explaining the one thing you should do if you’re in the coveted window seat on a flight.
Are you a shade up or shade down passenger? (Getty Stock)
Captain Steve is an airline pilot and shares various bits of trivia and advice on TikTok.
And one clip sees him discuss ‘shade etiquette’ as he says when you first sit down you might start pondering if you’re keeping it open or closed.
“But the other passengers come, and they sit in those other two seats next to you, and they don't really have a say in where the shade goes, really, because you're kind of the owner of the shade,” he says.
“So do you reach out to them and say, ‘Would you like the shade up or down?’ I always do.”
Steve reckons it’s a ‘courtesy’ to your fellow passengers that, once you’re up in the air, you ask if they want ‘shade up or shade down’.
It can be a little annoying if they've closed it and you wanted a look out. (Getty Stock)
He points out that once you’re up in the air and you fall asleep, there’s ‘nothing worse’ than the window seat passenger being asleep, while you’re ‘trying to fight the sun that’s coming in’.
But while the pilot believes the window seat passenger should be asking before opening or closing the window shade, some users in the comments disagree.
“I pay for the window, I use the window,” one wrote.
Another added: “Nope. I own the shade. I sit by the window so I can sightsee.”
@captainsteeeve Shade Etiquette: How to Handle Window Seat Conflicts Navigating shade etiquette on flights can be tricky! Discover how to respectfully address shade preferences with fellow passengers and ensure everyone enjoys their travel experience, even in the sunlight. Join Captain Steve as he shares his best tips! #ShadeEtiquette #TravelTips #FlyingSmart #AirplaneAdvice #PassengerPoliteness #WindowSeat #FlightComfort #TravelHacks #FlyingExperience #CaptainSteve ♬ original sound - CaptainSteeeve
As a third said: “I pay for the window seat, it’s MY window.”
Others also wrote: “You do realise that some passengers book the window seat just to keep the shade closed during the entire flight.”
Some also added that they book the window seat because looking outside it their ‘favourite part’ of flying, so the last thing they want is being asked to close it.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock
Topics: Travel, TikTok, Plane Etiquette
Jess Battison
Published 18:18 28 Feb 2025 GMT
Terrifying simulation shows what happens after going on euthanasia rollercoaster that 'kills anyone who rides it'
The chilling outcome of the euthanasia rollercoaster is shown in this simulation
A horrifying simulation of the so-called 'euthanasia rollercoaster' has resurfaced again, 15 years after the idea was first developed.
While it may not be an option in real life, there is a simulation you can watch online that shows you how the experience would go.
Spoiler: It's not fun.
Lithuanian engineer Julijonas Urbonas is the brains behind the hypothetical project and has previously said that it provides a 'humane' form of voluntary death that is more 'ritualistic'.
The rollercoaster would hypothetically 'kill' all of those onboard, as Urbonas said it would 'with elegance and euphoria - take the life of a human being'.
Basically, the rider is subjected to a number of consecutive loops, getting smaller and smaller, which maintain a maximum force, leading to their passing.
Other people have made simulations of the proposed coaster, but none of them may show the ride as effectively as this one, which was uploaded to YouTube back in 2015.
The subject in the fictional video describes the experience to the viewer, saying that after the drop you would reach a terminal velocity of 220mph, inflicting 10Gs of force.
For reference, Formula 1 cars can reach the 6G mark and the Apollo 16 shuttle only reached 7.19Gs of force upon re-entry to Earth's atmosphere.
"Do you know what that does to the human body?" the video asks, before revealing: "Prolonged cerebral hypoxia - pure Euphoria as the brain is starved of oxygen, then seven inversion Loops truly put the nail in it just as an insurance policy."
The hypothetical rollercoaster kills the rider by depriving their brain of oxygen (YouTube/H POSITIVE)
At the end of the ride, we can see the man being carried out by a worker, with his body limp and lifeless, as the rollercoaster fulfilled its morbid purpose.
The science behind it all is quite scary, with the method of death essentially your brain not getting enough blood as it would rush to lower parts of the body.
In a TikTok video by @ridesnslides, the effects are further explained: "The first thing that you would notice is your vision greying out which would then gradually turn to tunnel vision.
"From there, you would begin experiencing a blackout and ultimately you would eventually lose consciousness and die."
The project, which was awarded the Public Prize of New Technological Art of Update 2013, has become a 'unique media phenomenon' since it was unveiled in 2010.
According to Urbonas' website: "Riding the coaster's track, the rider is subjected to a series of intensive motion elements that induce various unique experiences: from euphoria to thrill, and from tunnel vision to loss of consciousness, and, eventually, death."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/H POSITIVE
Topics: Technology, Science, Viral
Joshua Nair
Published 10:04 29 Oct 2024 GMT
Terrifying footage shows huge waves that left one dead and 100 injured on cruise heading to UK
Passengers described holding on 'for dear life' during the storm
Terrifying footage filmed by a passenger has revealed what it was like to be onboard the Spirit of Discovery cruise ship during the storm that killed one person.
Last November, the cruise ship was rocked by a violent storm while passing through the Bay of Biscay en-route back to the UK, being battered by force 11 winds and waves as high as 30ft.
The cruiseliner was battered by a storm last November (Horacio Villalobos/Corbis via Getty Images)
What happened onboard the Spirit of Discovery cruise last November?
An interim report has now been released regarding the incident, confirming that over 100 people where injured during the storm. Eight of these passengers were taken to hospital upon the ship's arrival back in Portsmouth two days later, and one unnamed person later passed away from their injuries.
The report - which is being conducted by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) with support from the cruise ship's parent company Saga - found the ship lost 'propulsion' at around 12:30 GMT on 4 November, which caused it to sway 'violently'.
"The propulsion issues, storm force conditions, and vessel motions continued until the following morning when Spirit of Discovery was able to continue its passage," the report read.
Passengers recalled 'holding on for dear life' during the storm (Richard Reynolds)
"During this period, over 100 passengers were injured. Eight of the seriously injured passengers were taken directly to hospital on arrival at Portsmouth, England, one of whom later died from their injuries."
Various accounts from passengers onboard began to circulate during and after the incident, with images and videos showing the ship in a state of disarray due to smashed glass and upturned tables.
In a terrifying clip captured by passenger Alan Grisedale, you can see some of the huge waves battering the ship's exterior. Grisedale added to the BBC that he had been filming the situation when his wife was knocked over by the movement.
A crew member can be heard saying 'Code Alpha' over the speaker system, which is a term for a medical emergency onboard a cruise ship.
Meanwhile another terrified passenger recalled being told to 'remain seated or lie down' as the swayed violently.
"It was quite frightening," she continued. "I'm not somebody who frightens easily... it was quite dramatic," 75-year-old Jan Bendall said.
"We were lucky - we're quite able-bodied, but I think some of the older people and people in their own cabins were quite worried."
A spokesperson for Saga has since shared condolences with the family of the deceased passenger in a statement, adding that everyone onboard was offered a full refund.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with the family of our guest who died following the storm in the Bay of Biscay last year. We are continuing to work with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, supporting their investigation," they said.
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