5.1.4 Research Paper

Introduction

The great mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, sometimes referred to as the Devil’s Triangle–the section of ocean in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean whose borders stretch from Bermuda, Miami, and Puerto Rico, forming a triangle-like shape–has intrigued society for over a century. But what is so mysterious about a section of the ocean that seems like any other? It is the vast number of ships, planes, and people that have “vanished” on this sea. Reports of flying spheres of light and magnetic anomalies have been reported by Christopher Columbus himself; tales of sea monsters, aliens, and more have been told by sailors since the age of exploration to help bring forth this mystery. Pseudoscientific theories on the various “oddities” of the Triangle have arisen over time, including sea monsters like the Kraken, alien abductions, time/space warps, and Atlantis. Scientific claims such as rogue waves, the Gulf Stream, heavy ship traffic, hexagonal clouds, and more have also been used as theories to explain the mysteries of the Devil’s Triangle. This begs the question, which theories are more credible and why?

Sea monsters, aliens, and Atlantis are a lot more exciting than heavy ship traffic or the Gulf Stream, however, is there any real evidence to back these claims? Unfortunately, most of these claims are built on anecdotal evidence and stories passed down, which are unreliable most of the time. If a detective is doing a murder investigation, they would start by looking first at the crime scene and then speaking to any eyewitnesses. If there is not a lot of physical evidence, eyewitness accounts are a great place to start. However, if a suspect is brought to court, they cannot be prosecuted based on the eyewitness account alone; there must be a sufficient amount of physical evidence to prosecute them of the crime. It is the same with evaluating a theory. While the pseudoscientific theories are based almost entirely on eyewitness accounts, the scientific theories are built on evidence found in oceanography, seamanship, and meteorology. It is for this reason that scientific theories are more credible than their pseudoscientific counterparts.

Background

As mentioned previously, the Bermuda Triangle is notorious for having many mysterious events that have occurred, and, unsurprisingly, this has inspired many theories to form in order to explain the mystery. Each theory takes a shot to try to uncover what is so significant about the sea between Bermuda, Miami, and Puerto Rico. Christopher Columbus has one of the earliest accounts of the oddities in the Devil’s Triangle. He journaled that when sailing the Bermuda Triangle, his compass malfunctioned and a strange orb of light fell into the ocean: this is where the mystery began (Robinson, n.d.). The second mystery on record is the disappearance of the Mary Celeste in 1872. The ship was an oil tanker with thirty-nine souls on board. After nineteen days of searching, the only debris from the ship found were life jackets and other survival equipment (Blumberg, 2007). In 1918, a similar event occurred with the American Warship the USS Cyclops. After departing from Barbados for Baltimore, the ship was never seen or heard from again. No distress call was ever sent out by the ship, adding to the mystery (Frost, 2019). Flight 19 is another well-known mystery from the Bermuda Triangle. It refers to the “disappearance” of five Avenger planes that departed Wednesday, December 5, 1945, at around two o’clock P.M. Two hours later distress calls would be heard over the radio. The planes were flying directly above the Bermuda Triangle, and the conditions were very dangerous. The last call from the planes came at around seven o’clock P.M. when the planes had only an hour’s amount of fuel left, and nothing was heard from them again. No wreckage, no people, and no evidence was left behind to point to what happened (Wilkes, 1987, pgs. 1A-2A). More recently, in 1970, Bruce Gernon reported an intriguing event that took place during his flight directly over the Bermuda Triangle. He claimed he encountered a large tunnel of clouds that spun counterclockwise. He alleged that he was in the tunnel for up to two hours or so and arrived in Miami thirty to sixty minutes early (“Electrical Fog,” n.d.). Other disappearances and oddities have occurred in the Bermuda Triangle as well.

 It is estimated that over fifty ships and twenty airplanes have disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle, which is not that out of the ordinary, especially when considering the sea’s harsh environments combined with the heavy ship/air traffic that occurs in the area (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2021). The Bermuda Triangle is notorious for its storms and intense ocean conditions which form because of the diffraction heat patterns (Njau, 1995). The conditions of these storms have been proven to create water spouts, rogue waves (ginormous outlying waves that have been found to go up to one hundred feet tall by satellites), and hexagonal clouds (thunderstorm clouds that can produce “air bombs” or micro blasts that bursts air up to 150 mph) (“What is a Microburst?,” n.d.). Along with these conditions, the area of the Bermuda Triangle includes a gulf stream that is incredibly strong and the Sargasso Sea which is a free-floating “rainforest” of seaweed that can physically stop ships from moving when there is a lack of airflow (Coddington, 2018, pgs. 26-29). Given this information, it is understandable how ships and airplanes could go down and be carried away in this ferocious sea.

Rough weather and ocean conditions, however, are not satisfactory answers for everyone. There are those who believe in the theories aforementioned, namely, Atlantis, sea monsters, UFOs/aliens, and wormholes. In this research paper, a select few of the collective theories will be examined further in order to find the credibility of each. To go about checking each individual theory’s accuracy, the examples will be paired with different applicable disciplinary lenses in order to determine whether the theory is scientific or pseudo-theory promotion. Below we have listed seven examples of Bermuda Triangle mysteries for reference:

Table 5.1

Pseudo-Theory and Scientific Theory Comparisons

One of the popular theories associated with the Bermuda Triangle is that sea monsters are rampant in these waters. These supposed monsters include creatures such as the Kraken, sirens, and other large monstrosities allegedly roaming the deep. A popular disappearance often associated with sea monsters is the USS Cyclops which was a freighter during World War One. The mysterious disappearance of this large ship left many people baffled as to what could be the cause. It is theorized that sea monsters are responsible for the lack of shipwreck remains, but the mystery has slowly been pieced together since the disappearance. In order to find an explanation for this strange incident, we have examined various discoveries made by oceanographers in hopes of coming to a scientifically sound conclusion. According to our research, the most likely explanation is that the ship encountered a rough storm, sank, and the pieces of the wreckage were carried away from the storm by the powerful Gulf Stream, creating the illusion of a disappearance (Frost, 2019).

Sea monsters are also said to have the ability to raise massive waves that could swallow ships. But science once again has untangled the mystery of these monsters of the depths. Rogue waves were once thought to be mythological, but after further research, it was found that they are quite real and can reach up to 100 feet in height and cause severe damage to ships of all sizes (“Bermuda Triangle,” 2019). “British researchers used lab and computer models to simulate the effects of rogue waves more than 100 feet tall on ships as part of an investigation into the Bermuda Triangle. Ships that were sufficiently long could get caught suspended between two wave peaks with nothing supporting them from below and snap in half” (Scharping, 2021). These lab tests are meant to simulate wave conditions that can be found in the Bermuda Triangle due to its naturally dangerous location. Being in the western portion of the North Atlantic puts this section of the ocean in the direct path of many hurricanes and other large storm cells that form over the warm, tropic water. Another major flaw of the sea monster theory is that many of the creatures are of mythological origin and have no indisputable evidence to prove their existence. Many people who believe these theories to be true are exhibiting an appeal to ignorance logical fallacy (Lavin, 2020, 98-99).

The legend of Atlantis has also been used to explain both sea monsters and Bermuda Triangle mysteries. It is said that some sea monsters such as the Kraken emerge from Atlantis and rise to the surface to attack sailors or low-altitude aircraft. This belief of Atlantis being the cause of some disappearances is primarily used by believers in the lost city to push their dying idea. This myth has been proven to be incorrect time and time again by oceanographers and historians, using scans of the ocean floor where the city allegedly sank as well as the historical implications that Plato came up with the story as a metaphor for ancient Greek society (Gill, 2021). The argument for Atlantis is similar to that of the sea monsters in that it has no physical proof to support its claims. The Atlantis theory lacks depth, and, ironically, remains a very “surface-level” argument. Typically, cherry-picking is used to formulate a case in favor of Atlantis (Lavin, 2020, 103-105).

Another working theory that circulates the Bermuda Triangle is that the area is a hotspot for UFOs, aliens, and paranormal activity. The alleged sightings of UFOs date back to Christopher Columbus and the Age of Exploration. Columbus recorded in a journal how he had seen a large bright orb fall from the sky into the ocean (Robinson, n.d.). There have also been disappearances that were blamed on these alien encounters. Some say the famous Flight 19 had an encounter with aliens. But when taking a closer look, there is evidence of other possible reasons behind these strange occurrences. An explanation for Columbus’ famous tale would be the obvious solution of a small asteroid lighting up upon entry into Earth’s atmosphere and crashing into the ocean at a distance. These asteroids are known to make brilliant light as they enter the atmosphere, and this would probably be an unknown phenomenon for him and his crew. For Flight 19, it was revealed in later years after the crash that Flight 19 was a training flight, and human error and a bad storm caused the pilots to lose control and crash their aircraft: “Where the planes went down there was no moon; it was the proverbial dark and stormy night; the winds were high and seas were turbulent; and all was blackness…while there were other contributing factors, the principal cause for the loss of Flight 19 was an error by Charles Taylor” (Wilkes, 1987, 2A). The theory of extraterrestrial life and/or UFOs shows traits of a red herring fallacy in how it brings different arguments into question rather than further examining the known facts (Lavin, 2020, 89-91). There is a lack of depth or breadth in the entire theory, and there is no indisputable evidence supporting the theory of extraterrestrial life.

Another theory about the Bermuda Triangle is that of spontaneous wormholes appearing and possibly transporting people and vehicles to a different dimension, place, or even time. One of the more popular cases of this supposedly occurring is Bruce Gernon’s experience, where he encountered a tunnel of clouds that “transported” him to his destination ahead of schedule. This incident occurred in the early 70s, and since then the idea of wormholes has been popularized. It’s become clear after further research that electronic fog is most likely the culprit of this event. Electronic fog can cause devices to malfunction, and this was something that Gernon reported in the aircraft. Electronic fog can also cause low visibility and it is likely that the tunnel that formed was because of the aerodynamics of the aircraft and he perceived it as a tunnel (“Electrical Fog,” n.d.). Wormholes lack the necessary data, information, and evidence to be considered a functioning theory even in space, let alone in the Atlantic Ocean (Jones, 2021). The result of all these facts is a very weak argument in favor of wormholes, one that is based on mere speculation rather than compelling evidence. 

The last theory (of sorts) to bring up after examining all these fallacious theories and their scientific counterparts is that there may be no mystery at all. This is a point that may sometimes be overlooked in a situation so dramatized by conspiracy. But the down-to-earth fact is that this is a highly trafficked area with the perfect weather conditions to create dangerous traveling conditions. Additionally, human error cannot be overlooked (Serpette, 2021). For example, in the case of Flight 19, evidence strongly indicates that Charles Taylor, the pilot of the doomed plane, made irresponsible choices that led to his and the crew’s demise (Wilkes, 1987, 1A-3A). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from the U.S. Department of Commerce contends that “The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard contend that there are no supernatural explanations for disasters at sea.  Their experience suggests that the combined forces of nature and human fallibility outdo even the most incredulous science fiction” (“What is the Bermuda Triangle?,” 2010). It should not come as a surprise that an area more highly trafficked would report higher levels of incidents, especially when taking into consideration the dangerous conditions of that area and the unpreventable err of people.

Conclusion

The ocean is much like space, in that there is little that scientists know about both places. But while the information available might be comparatively little to, say, land masses on Earth, discoveries that scientists have made up until this point allow them to understand both areas in a general sense, helping them explain different phenomena at times. For example, scientists know the patterns in which the planets rotate around each other and the sun, information that they can then use to explain the pattern of the seasons. In order to make these derivations, however, scientists are required to have sufficient evidence to support their theories. Just like extraterrestrial life in space has no concrete evidence to back it, the pseudo-theories surrounding the Bermuda Triangle simply can’t stand in the face of the standards of science and critical thinking. Contrary to what pseudo-theory-promoters might say, it is not science’s job to prove why something doesn’t exist, but only to show how it does.

After examining all of the evidence supporting and refuting the different theories around the Devil’s Triangle, it almost seems as though the people who believe in the pseudo-theories on this topic must either be blatantly ignoring the science available or simply unaware of the information on the science. In his journal article about the discrepancies uncovered in the reports of a Bermuda Triangle “expert,” Michael Dennet concludes his criticisms by quoting another investigative author, who said, “The less a writer knows about his subject, the better equipped he is to write a mystery about it. Ignorance of the subject is, in fact, a major technique in writing about the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle and other subjects in the so-called paranormal,” (1981, pgs. 50-51). It seems that the best way for one to be a pseudo-theory promoter in the case of the Bermuda Triangle is to simply be ignorant of the science available.

After looking closer into these different theories and the science that either debunks or supports each, we can solidify our argument. The overall purpose of our argument is to see which theories have validity after being scrutinized under a scientific lens. The theories such as wormholes, aliens, Atlantis, or sea monsters that attempt to explain the mysteries surrounding the Bermuda Triangle are simply pseudo-theory promotion and not scientific in nature. Though these theories are long-standing arguments, their credibility is nearly negligible. Not only do the various theories lack evidence, but the supporters of these claims use arguments that are littered with logical fallacies that damage the very structure of the argument and taint any attempt at credibility. It seems that critical thinking in today’s world is on the decline. In the words of one author:

“We are living, it is often said, in a time that is characterized by the rise of irrational beliefs and the disregard of scientific knowledge. However, our time is also characterized by the praise—at least in words—of critical thinking against unreflective gullibility. It is doubtless necessary to take various factors into account in order to explain this apparent paradox… the emphasis of cognitive autonomy both by philosophy and by the divulgation of critical thinking turns out to be harmful in two respects. On the one hand, the praise of cognitive autonomy may cause the rejection of scientific knowledge that contradicts our personal experience. This is perhaps most clearly seen in the case of those who believe in pseudo-therapies. On the other hand, the emphasis on autonomous reflection contributes to the formation of a false confidence in biased reasoning.” (Gascon, 2020)

It can’t be understated how crucial it is to critical thinking to be sure to put research before anecdotal, and furthermore, critical thinkers must be steady in remaining unbiased and not developing a false confidence. If all people could manage to be critical thinkers that followed these guidelines, then most likely, pseudo-theory promotion (such as that with the Bermuda Triangle) might not be so rampant, or at least not quite as successful in its deception. After examining the Bermuda Triangle’s many conspiratorial theories, as well as the ones well-grounded in science, the logical conclusion seems to be for the mystery of the Devil’s Triangle to be compartmentalized as a mist confusing the waters of the issue, and the scientific theories, act as a gust of wind which can clear the fog over the misty, murky waters.