Current Date: 08 Oct, 2025
{{entry.title}}

The Mystery of the Darvaza Gas Crater: A 50-Year Inferno

Scientists lit a hole filled with natural gas on Fire in 1971, expecting it would burn only for few days. The hole has been burning for the past 48 years & is called "The Door To Hell".

A hole 230 feet wide that has been burning for more than 50 years is located close to the 350-person village of Darvaza in Turkmenistan’s scorching, vast Karakum desert. The fiery glow from the crater, known to the locals as “The Gates of Hell,” can be seen for miles around, despite the crater’s official name being the Darvaza gas crater.

When a Soviet drilling rig unintentionally punched into a large subterranean natural gas cavern in 1971, the ground collapsed and the drilling rig itself fell in, leaving the Gates of Hell crater. A pocket of gas had been punctured, and toxic fumes were leaking out at a frightening rate.

The Soviets decided to light the hole on fire in order to prevent a possible environmental disaster, believing that the fire would go out in a few weeks. The flaming pit is still active decades later. It is thought that somewhere down there, on the other side of the “Gates of Hell,” is still the Soviet drilling rig.

Amazingly, people travel into the desert to see the crater in all its blazing glory despite the site’s ominous name and constant flames. Wild camping in the surrounding desert is becoming more and more popular.

However, the burning crater might not have a clear destiny. President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov gave the Turkmenistan government instructions to start looking into ways to put out the fire in January 2022.

Similar Stories
How Sleep Cycles Affect Cognitive Function and Memory Retention

How Sleep Cycles Affect Cognitive Function and Memory Retention

Sleep is not just rest—it's an active process where our brain cycles through stages that shape cognition, memory, and overall mental performance. Different sleep phases, from deep slow-wave sleep to REM dreaming, play unique roles in consolidating memories, boosting attention, and refreshing brain networks. Explore how sleep cycles work and why they are essential to learning and sharp thinking.

Mystery of 300-year-old mummified mermaid is being probed

Mystery of 300-year-old mummified mermaid is being probed

There is a 300-year-old mummified mermaid with 30 centimetres tall and features a human-like head, two hands with what appear to be fingernails, and its lower body that look like a fish tail. The “mermaid mummy” is being probed by Japanese scientists in an attempt to unravel the mystery of its existence.

Man gave his stem cell fund to a disabled boy

Man gave his stem cell fund to a disabled boy

Dan Black, who was paralyzed in a bike accident, spent four years raising 20,000 for a stem cell treatment that could let him walk again. However, after learning about a five-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, he donated the funds for the boy's medical treatment in order to enable him to take his first steps.

Earthquakes: Can Animals Really Predict Them?

Earthquakes: Can Animals Really Predict Them?

In 1975, when officials in the Chinese city of Haicheng were alarmed by odd and anxious behaviors of dogs and other animals. These observations led them to order 90,000 residents to evacuate the city. Only a few hours later a 7.3 magnitude earthquake destroyed nearly 90% of the city’s buildings.

The Giant Mirrors Brought Sunlight to Rjukan

The Giant Mirrors Brought Sunlight to Rjukan

Due to the steep mountains that surround it, the town of Rjukan, Norway, doesn't receive any natural sunlight from September to March. They placed large mirrors in the town square to reflect light. The mirror follows the path of the sun and moves every 10 seconds to create a 600m squared light pool.

The World’s First Seismograph: How Ancient China Detected Earthquakes 1,800 Years Ago

The World’s First Seismograph: How Ancient China Detected Earthquakes 1,800 Years Ago

Over 1,800 years ago, long before modern technology, the ancient Chinese astronomer and inventor Zhang Heng created the world’s first seismograph in 132 AD. This ingenious bronze device could detect distant earthquakes by releasing small balls from dragons’ mouths into toads’ mouths—each indicating a different compass direction. Its historic detection of an earthquake 400 miles away astonished the imperial court and transformed the way societies understood and responded to seismic events.

What makes bananas radioactive?

What makes bananas radioactive?

Yes, It is true that bananas contain radioactive substances. But the same can be said for spinach, potatoes, oranges, Brazil nuts, kitten litter, granite counter tops, even the air you breathe! Radioactivity is unavoidable and all around us. So, what exactly is it?

The Science Behind Pigeons in Cancer Detection and What It Means for Medicine

The Science Behind Pigeons in Cancer Detection and What It Means for Medicine

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered that pigeons can be trained to distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous tissues in medical images with accuracy rivaling that of human experts. This surprising capability opens new avenues for understanding visual perception and has potential implications for improving diagnostic tools in medicine. Here is the fascinating science behind pigeons’ ability to spot cancer and what it signifies for the future of medical imaging.