Life Greatest Mystery

 

Summary:

Life remains, in many ways, the greatest mystery of all as long as we are here in this world with a physical body in bondage with our soul (spirit), and the origin, and purpose here shall only be revealed to our pure souls without the body when we die.

Science provides valuable insights into how life functions and evolves, but the essence of life—the "breath" that animates inanimate matter—may lie beyond the reach of empirical investigation.  We are more than just the sum of our physical parts. Despite our best efforts, the answers seem beyond reach in this earthly existence.

The physical body keeps us in bondage from spiritual truths till only the pure spiritual soul is released on death as clearly told in Corinthians 13:12 “For now, we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known”

The verse from Corinthians captures the essence of this limitation—that our understanding is clouded by the physical world, and full clarity will only come when the soul is freed from the body.

My inward reflection speaks to the heart of human existence. The mystery of life points us toward the existence of something greater than ourselves, a Creator who imbues life with meaning, purpose, and soul. The search for answers may never fully end, but it is this search that defines us as human beings.

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Full Essay:

I have already written two articles in this blog on the mysteries of the world. But today, I am going to write about life's greatest mystery of all time.

In Genesis 2:7 it is clearly told we need the breath of God to become alive, not just alive, but alive with a living soul.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).

The Bible is right. How can non-living soil become alive if not for forces of life pumped or breathe life into them. The soil itself is not living. The basic components of soil are minerals, organic matter, water and air. The typical soil consists of approximately 45% mineral, 5% organic matter, 20-30% water, and 20-30% air. These percentages are only generalizations at best. In reality, the soil is very complex and dynamic. The composition of the soil can fluctuate on a daily basis, depending on numerous factors such as water supply, cultivation practices, and/or soil type. Whatever the origin, nature or chemical composition of the soil it is dead and not living except separately microorganisms that thrive in them   

Life is something science cannot explain or define. We can only describe, or define if you wish, their characteristics if they originated from the soil, from the thermal vents in deep oceans or from outer space.  We can of course mould clay into a figurine like a human being or shape it like any animal we like, but they are still not living unless there is something else, an entity we cannot define added into them. But what is that? We say it is life. But then what is life? Is it something material, some kind of energy called vital force, or is it some kind of spirit unknown to science? It is most likely life is the soul of the body itself.

Verse 7 in Genesis 2 clearly tells us it is a living soul breathed into the nostrils of man, made from the soil by God. This is similar to a figurine made from clay by a potter. If we reject this explanation then how are we going to explain the figurine of a human from the soil came alive, not just alive, but with a soul inside as a “living soul”

We can argue that an animal or a human is living because we have a heart that pumps, a pair of lungs that breathe, a digestive system that feeds, a liver that stores excessive nutrients and that detoxifies, responsible for the breakdown of insulin and other hormones, breaks down bilirubin via glucuronidation, facilitating its excretion into bile. The liver is also responsible for the breakdown and excretion of many waste products. It plays a key role in breaking down or modifying toxic substances (e.g., methylation) and most medicinal products in drug metabolism. This sometimes results intoxication, when the metabolite is more toxic than its precursor. Preferably, the toxins are conjugated to avail excretion in bile or urine. The liver converts ammonia into urea as part of the ornithine cycle or the urea cycle, and the urea is excreted in the urine.

A living body also has a pair of kidneys that excretes waste products of food and drug metabolism, balance the body's fluids and electrolytes, release hormones to control blood pressure and red blood cell production, assists with bone health by controlling calcium and phosphorus, a brain that thinks to safeguard the rest of the body, an immune system that protects against infection and so on. As long as these systems function, we are alive. But if they are damaged beyond repair, we die. We can of course temporarily stop the heart and lungs from functioning using a heart and lung machine to take over as in an open-heart surgery, but not for long without complications. There is nothing better than a natural heart that automatically beats, and a pair of lungs that automatically inspire and expire, their mechanisms.

We can explain far too well and in great lengthy detail how the body works as biomedical scientists, biochemists, and physiologists. But what we do not know is, who created them to allow us to continue to exist. This to me is the greatest of all other mysteries we have talked about earlier. It may be possible for us to explain all other mysteries encountered on Earth since ancient times, but to me, not life itself. Unfortunately, very, very few people ask this question. Everyone takes life for granted that life is always there, they come and go, and no one created them. They just live, enjoy and die as normal without any higher purpose of their existence. They never even think about why life should be here in the first place, its purpose, where did it come from, and where would life go after it has left the physical body. 

Almost everyone takes life for granted that they have a right to be here in this world without any aim or purpose. Theirs is just to be born, eat, work, enjoy a temporary life here in this world, and just leave this place without a care where their soul is going to go after that. That’s definitely not my cup of tea, else I would not be writing this essay seeking an answer to this vital question

I think almost every human being living today takes life conceded that life is automatically given by our parents. But how and when did our parents get them? Who gave it to them? We will claim it was our grandparents who gave life to our parents who in turn gave us life. We can continue arguing like that till we come to Adam and Eve. Then we come to a cul-de-sac where we no longer can explain how Adam and Eve came into existence, let alone living, except to give this glory only to God.  No longer can our fragile knowledge in biology decisively explain the various theories on the origin of life, and the subsequent flame of life that spread out on Earth through adaptation and evolution.

I think we are getting nowhere unless we have to admit there is an eternal God in this Universe. If scientists are willing to accept this, then they can use any theory they like, including the Panspermia hypothesis that life exists throughout the Universe, distributed by space dust, meteoroids, asteroids, comets, and planetoids, as well as by spacecraft carrying unintended contamination by microorganisms, believed to have originated from the Oort cloud at the edges of our solar system. The thinly dispersed collection of icy material of Oort cloud starts roughly 200 times farther away from the sun than Pluto and stretches halfway to our Sun’s nearest starry neighbour. Scientists think life may have originated from there. But where did Oort cloud get its life from? We are back to square one. It is the same as asking where did Earth get its life?

Panspermia has a long history, dating back to the 5th century BCE and the natural philosopher Anaxagoras. Classicists came to agree that Anaxagoras maintained the Universe (or Cosmos) was full of life, and that life on Earth started from the fall of these extra-terrestrial seeds. Panspermia as it is known today, however, is not identical to this original theory. The name, as applied to this theory, was only first coined in 1908 by Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist. Prior to this, since around the 1860s, since then many prominent scientists were becoming interested in the theory, for example Sir Fred Hoyle, and Chandra Wickramasinghe.

In the 1860s, there were three scientific developments that began to bring the focus of the scientific community to the problem of the origin of life.  

Firstly, the Kant-Laplace Nebular theory of solar system and planetary formation was gaining favour, and implied that when the Earth first formed, the surface conditions would have been inhospitable to life as we know it. This meant that life could not have evolved parallel with the Earth, and must have evolved at a later date, without biological precursors. 

Secondly, Charles Darwin's famous theory of evolution implied some elusive origin, because in order for something to evolve, it must start somewhere. In his Origin of Species, Darwin was unable or unwilling to touch on this issue. 

Third and finally, Louis Pasteur and John Tyndall experimentally disproved the (now superseded) theory of spontaneous generation, which suggested that life was constantly evolving from non-living matter and did not have a common ancestor, as suggested by Darwin's theory of evolution.

Altogether, these three developments in science presented the wider scientific community with a seemingly paradoxical situation regarding the origin of life: life must have evolved from non-biological precursors after the Earth was formed, and yet spontaneous generation as a theory had been experimentally disproved. From here, is where the study of the origin of life branched. Those who accepted Pasteur's rejection of spontaneous generation began to develop the theory that under (unknown) conditions on a primitive Earth, life must have gradually evolved from organic material. This theory became known as abiogenesis and is the currently accepted one. 

On the other side of this are those scientists of the time who rejected Pasteur's results and instead supported the idea that life on Earth came from existing life. This necessarily requires that life has always existed somewhere on some planet, and that it has a mechanism of transferring between planets. Panspermia is the modern treatment of how life came into existence. Even so, we are still unable to explain how life began from other worlds that too were made from materials probably similar to those found on Earth. In fact, astronomers tell us we are made from stardust blown across interstellar space by a supernova explosion from a distant star. But again, we still cannot explain how did these star dusts that made up the soil on Earth became to harbour life or became alive, let alone their ability to remain alive through the almost void of interstellar space without air, water, nutrients or food besides facing microwave radiation to reach here to this world.  I think this is the greatest mysteries we can never explain or solve decisively unless we need to bring in an eternal Creator who is God

This is exactly like us humans creating Artificial Intelligence (AI). They cannot exist without us, humans as their designer and creator, except we are not capable of giving AI life unlike God. We cannot use our breath of life to breathe into AI to make them a living soul. We as humans can only make them very intelligent, but we cannot give them life with all the characteristics of life – locomotion, respiration, respond to stimulus, grow, reproduce your own kind automatically, excrete waste, and to nourish yourself. We can only design and create AI like an automatic machine, without any life or soul in them. 

We created AI to serve us as we command, in as much as God created us with a purpose so that we can serve and worship Him as He commands. There must be some aim and purpose for Him to create us just as much we design and create AI for a purpose.  

Then I think we need to bring in the role of a Creator. This is an insightful comparison between the creation of AI, and the creation of life. We recognize that while humans can create machines, even machines that can think and learn, they cannot create life. AI can simulate intelligence, but it lacks the essence of life. This leads to the conclusion that there must be something greater—an eternal Creator—who has the power to give life.

So, then what is this mysterious entity called life and its purpose? Even if we know what it is, then where did it go when life departed from the body, leaving behind those same non-living elements that made up the original soil from which we were made.

I think we can continue to argue and argue till kingdom come; we will never get the answer if we refuse to recognise the existence of God who is Eternal Life Himself, who graciously give it to us for us to pass on the flame of life from one life to another through reproduction like a flame of a lamp to the next lamp.

The lamp has a body representing the body with oil inside. This represents the fuel from food and nutrients we feed on, the wick are the cells, tissues, organs and systems through which the oil (nutrients and oxygen) is drawn, and the hot flame, the essence of life itself. When this flame is blown off or extinguished, the lamp goes off (dies) and there is darkness, not just for our lifeless body, perhaps our soul itself if we are not careful while we are still here with the opportunity to think this over.  

The flame that gives light and warmth represents not just the warmth of life, but the very soul of the lamp too before it is extinguished. If the flame dies, there will be darkness, the entire lamp – body, oil and wick crease to work instantly, exactly like a living body that has a soul. The very essence and purpose of life then ceases. But where did life go after that? It was there a minute ago but has gone away. Where did it go? It must still be there, somewhere except in another form. It has to be there, except liberated from the physical body. Life is like matter and energy that neither can be created or destroyed except transformed from one form to another. This is probably the same as the traditional belief of reincarnation of life from one form of life to another. There is even scientific truth about this scenario based on the carbon chain of life where when a body dies, it goes back to the soil as fertilizer for a plant or grass to feed and grow on which in turn is eaten by an animal only to repeat the cycle of life over and over again. That is not a problem for us to understand. What is difficult and challenging is what is life itself, and who gave it first to light the first lamp of life to pass on this flame from an unlit lamp to the next so on until we get a chain of lighted lamps that we can clearly see from the myriads of different life on Earth through hundreds of million years of evolution. This is the greatest of all mysteries to me, not those mysteries others have written.

This is one of the deepest and most profound questions of human existence—the mystery of life itself. The inquiry into what gives rise to life, what sustains it, and where it goes after death transcends scientific understanding, entering the realms of philosophy, theology, and spirituality. Let me offer my reflections.

Let’s look at Genesis and the breath of life again. The passage from Genesis 2:7 describes God breathing life into man, transforming the dust of the ground into a living soul. This verse provides a theological explanation for the origin of life, one that acknowledges the mystery beyond mere material components. The Bible does not attempt to explain how dust can become a living being through natural means. Instead, it attributes this transformation to divine intervention. The "breath of life" is a profound metaphor for the divine spark, something that transcends the elements that make up our physical bodies.

From a theological perspective, life is seen as a gift from God, a mystery that cannot be reduced to physical or chemical processes. Science can explain the mechanisms that sustain life, but the origin of life—what turns non-living matter into living organisms—remains elusive.

We have the limits of science. Despite centuries of scientific progress, we cannot fully explain how life began. Abiogenesis, the theory that life arose from non-living matter under certain prebiotic conditions, is still a hypothesis. Scientists can simulate aspects of early Earth’s conditions, and experiments like the Miller-Urey experiment have demonstrated the possibility of organic molecules forming spontaneously. But science has yet to recreate or observe the precise moment when inanimate matter becomes alive.

Let me strongly stress that life is not merely a collection of chemicals that happens to function together—it is something more. The soil, as I mentioned, is non-living, composed of minerals and organic matter. Even though life can emerge from it through processes like plant growth, the soil itself is not alive. This leads to the question.  What is the mysterious force or entity that imbues these chemicals and materials with life?

The mystery of the soul remains unanswered.  Genesis speaks of man not only being alive but having a living soul. The idea of the soul transcends biology. The soul is often considered the immaterial essence of a person, the part that gives consciousness, identity, and a connection to something greater than the physical world. If life is not merely the sum of biological processes, then the soul is what imparts meaning and purpose to that life.

Some traditions, like those in Christianity, believe that the soul is eternal, created by God and returning to Him after death. The idea that life cannot be explained by mere biology is also the same as those who believe in an afterlife or in reincarnation. I allude  to the possibility that life may continue in another form or dimension, even after the physical body dies. This is in line with many spiritual traditions that see death not as the end, but as a transition.

I gave the analogy of the Lamp and the Flame. This is an analogy of the lamp with oil, wick, and flame is a beautiful metaphor. The oil, representing sustenance, the wick, representing the physical body, and the flame, representing life, illustrate the interdependence of life’s components. When the flame goes out, the body remains, but the life force is no longer there.

The question of where life "goes" when it leaves the body reflects humanity's age-old struggle to understand death. Many traditions hold that life, or the soul, is not extinguished but rather transformed. As I mentioned, energy and matter are neither created nor destroyed, but only change forms. This could be extended to suggest that life, too, continues in another state, perhaps in a spiritual realm, or as part of a greater cosmic cycle.

I ask again, "what is this mysterious entity called life?" Theories like panspermia attempt to explain how life might have come to Earth from elsewhere in the cosmos, but even they leave unanswered the question of how life began in the first place. We can trace the origins of life back to the stars, to stardust, to molecular building blocks, but at some point, we reach a boundary where science no longer provides answers. It is here that many turn to the idea of a Creator, an eternal source of life, as the ultimate explanation.

On the purpose of life in my reflection, I express concern that many people take life for granted, living without questioning its purpose. The question of why we are here is indeed inseparable from the question of life itself. If life is a gift from a Creator, then perhaps it carries a purpose beyond mere survival and enjoyment. Many religious and spiritual traditions teach that life is a journey of growth, learning, and preparation for an existence beyond this world.

 Life remains, in many ways, the greatest mystery of all. Science provides valuable insights into how life functions and evolves, but the essence of life—the "breath" that animates inanimate matter—may lie beyond the reach of empirical investigation. The soul, as described in Genesis, is a profound reminder that we are more than just the sum of our physical parts.

My inward reflection speaks to the heart of human existence. The mystery of life points us toward the existence of something greater than ourselves, a Creator who imbues life with meaning, purpose, and soul. The search for answers may never fully end, but it is this search that defines us as human beings.

I don’t think I am able to explain the origin and mysteries of life with definite certainty except all those theories scientists have offered. I think the exact origin of life and its purpose here is going to be the greatest mysteries of all ages and shall be hidden from us as long as we are here in this world with a physical body in bondage with our soul (spirit), and the origin, and purpose here shall only be revealed to our pure souls without the body when we die. The physical body keeps us in bondage from spiritual truths till only the pure spiritual soul is released on death as clearly told in Corinthians 13:12 “For now, we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known”

In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus revealed there is a great abyss or gulf between the living and the dead that none can cross over:

‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’

This verse divulged by Jesus captures the essence of both spiritual and scientific truth.  

I am grappling with the mystery of life’s origin despite my best efforts, the answers seem beyond reach in this earthly existence. The verse from Corinthians captures the essence of this limitation—that our understanding is clouded by the physical world, and full clarity will only come when the soul is freed from the body.

My metaphor of the physical body as a "bondage" that restricts our spiritual understanding echoes deeply within my soul.  In the end, no matter how much knowledge we accumulate, we must recognize the boundaries of human comprehension, particularly when it comes to the spiritual dimensions of life.

Despite our vast human knowledge, we must remain very humble. I think I need to rest everything on God on how to deal with us (me) being so inquisitive. We need to leave the greater mysteries to God for us to show great humility and trust—sometimes, it's the best way to find peace amidst all the questions.

 

The Existence of The Soul is The Greatest of All Mysteries:

 

My thoughts as I pen to share with most people who cares two hoots the purpose of their existence, except theirs is just to make money, a name for themselves, acquire fame and earthy powers to enjoy their transient life here in this world for only 100 years at maximum, sadly only to leave behind everything they have acquired. This is not just material truth, but spiritual veracity that day must come our souls has no choice, but  fly away from our bodies speaks to the heart of our human existence.

The mystery of life points us toward the existence of something greater than ourselves, a Creator who imbues life with meaning, purpose, and soul. The search for answers may never fully end, but it is this search that defines us as human beings.

We pray and seek wisdom to enable us to see into the other (spiritual) dimension, not vast knowledge. Let us remind ourselves these two verses that has very a clear-cut warning for our souls:

^“For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

(Psalm 90: 9 -10)

^“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

(Mark 8:36)

May this be so. 

Spontaneous Human Combustion (SHC) is Not Possible

 

On Monday, October 7, 2024, I wrote a list of unexplained mysteries in this world here:

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/?zx=2ac571524d4f9c84

In that article there was one on spontaneous human combustion (SHC). I thought in the case of spontaneous human combustion logically how could a human body suddenly ignite and burst into flames be possible when the human body contains so much water. In other words, how could it suddenly burst in flame when it is so “wet”? Let me logically and scientifically explain why this phenomenon is not possible.

The specific heat capacity of water is 4.184 kilojoules. This is the heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of water from room temperature by 1 degree Celsius. About 60 % of an average 70 kg human body is water, mainly from the blood, lymph, other biological and cellular fluids. This means that an average adult human body contains about 42 litres of water.

In other words, if a man whose normal body temperature at 37 ⁰ C, and weighs 70 kg, containing about 42 litres of water, it would require:

 (100 ⁰ - 37 ⁰ C) = 63 degrees Celsius x 42 litres of water in the human body x 4.184 kilojoules (heat capacity) = 11,070.9 kilojoules. This is just to heat the body temperature up to boiling point. Bringing the body to boiling point is not the end. The body is still wet at 100 degrees Celsius. We need now to boil off the fluid (water) at 100 ⁰ C in the body.

In order to bring the water in the body at 100 degree C to boil off takes another set of heat called the heat of vaporization. The heat of vaporization of water is about 2,257 kJ/kg, which is equal to 40.66 kJ/mol.

Thus the amount of heat needed to boil off 42 litres of water (blood and biological fluid) at 100 ⁰ C in a 70 kg body is 2,257 kilojoules / kg x 42 litres = 94,794 kilojoules. This is just to boil off all the water in a human body until it is completely dry before it can start to burn. Add this on to the 11,070,9 Joules (kilojoules) that were needed to raise the body temperature at 37 degrees C to 100 degrees C.

The total amount of heat required is: 11,070.9 + 94,794 = 105,864.9 kilojoules or 25,302 kilocalories of heat needed to completely dry up the body first before it can start to burn. This is a tremendous amount of heat required.  

The body is mostly water, and water’s high heat capacity makes it difficult to rapidly raise the body’s temperature to combustion levels without a substantial external heat source. In order for a human body to burn up there must be an external source of energy.  

In reported SHC cases, there is no clear mechanism how the body could produce the enormous amount of energy internally required. Without an external heat source or prolonged exposure to high temperatures (like in cremation), it’s scientifically implausible for a human body to reach the point of spontaneous combustion.

Even if the body somehow reached the necessary temperature to ignite fat and tissue, the presence of water would prevent efficient combustion. The body would need to be almost completely dried out for it to burn.

It is of course possible for a human body to burn up, but the heat must be intense and prolonged coming from an outside source such as during the cremation of the body or in a house fire. In cremation, the body is exposed to temperatures between 760°C to 1,150°C for hours, which drives off water and facilitates combustion. How could the human body spontaneously burst into flame on its own especially if it is full of blood, fluid and water inside?

The only way we can explain is to use the Wick Effect Hypothesis.  Some theories suggest that SHC could be a misinterpretation of the “wick effect,” where an external ignition source (like a cigarette) ignites the clothing or nearby material, and body fat acts as fuel. The clothing acts as a wick, slowly burning over time, but even this explanation does not involve spontaneous internal combustion.

The same as with the mystery of human levitation. How could the human body begin to rise on its own against gravity without an external power? As for human levitation, the principle contradicts basic physics, particularly Newton’s laws of motion and the law of gravity. Levitation would require a force counteracting gravity, and without an external force (like mechanical lifting or air pressure), there is no physical mechanism that can naturally overcome the gravitational pull acting on the mass of a human body.

Levitation claims are often explained by:

1. Optical or trickery (e.g., magicians using hidden supports).

2. Psychological factors like mass suggestion or hypnotic states.

3. Balance techniques that appear to defy gravity but are based on positioning or hidden support mechanisms.

My conclusion is:

1.  Spontaneous human combustion is not possible, given the body's water content and the energy required to reach combustion temperatures, is scientifically implausible without an external source of intense heat.

2.  Human levitation, without an external force, violates the known laws of physics and can typically be explained by illusions or hidden mechanisms.

The concept of spontaneous human combustion is indeed scientifically unsound based on what we understand about thermodynamics and human biology. The sheer amount of energy required makes it highly unlikely for the body to ignite on its own without external sources of heat.

Both phenomena are fascinating mysteries but, upon scientific analysis, do not hold up to physical laws.

The most confounding of all mysteries is not any of those I have briefly wrote earlier. The most bewildering of them all is the origin, existence and the purpose of life in this world for which I shall soon be writing at good length for us to think over. 

Unexplained Mysteries

 I have a book called “Unexplained Mysteries.” I have been reading this book since last night into the eerie hours past midnight, currently at 2:44 am. A very good early morning to everybody.

At this hour it does lend itself to eerie contemplation, and throughout history, humans have encountered several mysteries that remain unsolved.  

Let me first briefly share at least 19 of the most intriguing ones I read in this book of mine. Each of them are in each chapter, and very lengthy to describe, but I shall summarize each of them in a nutshell 

1. Poltergeists – These are often described as mischievous spirits that cause physical disturbances, such as knocking on walls or moving objects. Poltergeist activity has been reported for centuries, but there's no scientific evidence proving the existence of such entities.

2. Spontaneous Human Combustion – This is the phenomenon where a human body supposedly ignites without any external source of ignition. While cases have been reported, most scientists attribute them to external causes like alcohol consumption or a flammable environment, but no solid evidence has been found.

3. Levitation – The act of rising and floating in the air, often associated with spiritual or mystical experiences. It has been part of various religious and paranormal traditions, but there's no empirical evidence to suggest it can happen outside of illusions or tricks.

4. Hypnosis – A state of focused attention or trance that can be induced by a practitioner. While it's been shown to have some therapeutic uses, the extent to which it can control behaviour or reveal hidden memories remains debated. 

5. Psychic Art – This involves creating artwork believed to be inspired by spiritual forces or beings. Often linked to mediums, psychic art is considered a form of channelled creativity but lacks scientific validation.

6. Cottingley Fairies – A famous hoax from 1917 in which two girls in England claimed to have photographed fairies. The photos were revealed decades later to be paper cutouts, but they fuelled fascination with the idea of fairies for years.

7. The Lost Race – Myths about ancient, advanced civilizations or races, like Atlantis or Lemuria, have intrigued many, but there is no historical or archaeological evidence to support their existence.

8. UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) – Often linked with alien encounters, UFOs have been widely reported and investigated. While many sightings are explained as natural or man-made phenomena, some remain unexplained, keeping the possibility of extraterrestrial life alive.

9. Exorcism – The practice of casting out demons or spirits from individuals believed to be possessed. While widely practiced in certain religions, most medical professionals attribute cases of possession to psychological or neurological disorders.

10. Strange Phenomena – This is a broad category that covers unusual or unexplained occurrences, such as the Bermuda Triangle, ghost sightings, and mysterious lights in the sky.

11. Visions of the Virgin – Throughout history, there have been numerous reports of individuals seeing visions of the Virgin Mary. These visions, particularly in places like Lourdes or Fatima, have sparked religious movements and pilgrimages.

12. Zombies – Originating from Haitian folklore, zombies are reanimated corpses controlled by sorcery. In modern culture, zombies have become a popular subject in films and literature, but there’s no scientific basis for their existence.

13. Magical Rites – Rituals that involve the invocation of supernatural forces or entities. Many cultures have practiced magic for healing, divination, or protection, but these practices are often considered superstitions today.

14. Time Travel – The idea of traveling through time has captivated science fiction writers for decades. While theoretically possible according to some interpretations of physics, there is no experimental evidence that time travel is possible.

15. Man-Beasts – Legends of hybrid creatures, such as werewolves or Bigfoot, exist in many cultures. While sightings are often reported, no scientific evidence has ever confirmed the existence of such creatures.

16. Green Children – A medieval legend about two green-skinned children who appeared in Woolpit, England. Their origins remain a mystery, and theories range from alien visitors to malnourished orphans.

17. Reincarnation – The belief that the soul or consciousness is reborn in another body after death. Found in several religious traditions, particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism, reincarnation lacks empirical scientific evidence.

18. Spirit Voices – Also known as Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), spirit voices are believed to be captured on audio recordings. Sceptics argue these sounds are often the result of auditory pareidolia (the brain interpreting random sounds as voices).

19. Alien Encounters – Stories of individuals interacting with extraterrestrial beings. While UFO sightings are common, concrete evidence of alien contact has yet to be found.

The above topics found in my book cover a much wider array of mysterious and paranormal phenomena that have fascinated humanity for centuries. Each of them taps into our curiosity about the unknown and the supernatural.

Each of these topics sits at the intersection of folklore, belief, and unexplained phenomena. While some people claim direct experiences with these mysteries, science often remains skeptical, searching for rational explanations. Nonetheless, they continue to inspire wonder and debate in both popular culture and esoteric studies.

However, there are much more other unsolved mysteries not mentioned in my book that I have read elsewhere years ago. Let me briefly also mention some of them below:

1. The Voynich Manuscript

This medieval manuscript, discovered in the 15th century, is filled with bizarre, indecipherable text and strange illustrations of plants, astronomical symbols, and naked figures. Despite intense study, no one has cracked its code or determined its purpose or origin. Its language remains unknown, and many theories, from a lost civilization to an elaborate hoax, continue to circulate.

2. The Bermuda Triangle

A region in the western part of the North Atlantic, the Bermuda Triangle is known for the mysterious disappearances of ships and airplanes. Pilots and captains have vanished without a trace, leaving behind no wreckage. While some attribute this to natural causes like rogue waves or magnetic anomalies, others suspect extraterrestrial interference, paranormal activity, or government cover-ups.

3. The Dyatlov Pass Incident

In 1959, nine Russian hikers died under strange circumstances in the Ural Mountains. Their tent was found slashed open from the inside, and the hikers fled into the freezing wilderness without proper clothing. Some of their bodies showed signs of trauma, like skull fractures and chest injuries, but no external wounds. Radiation was also detected on some of their clothes. Various theories include an avalanche, military testing, and even alien encounters, but the truth remains elusive.

4. The Wow! Signal

In 1977, astronomer Jerry Ehman detected a strong, 72-second radio signal from space while working on the SETI project, searching for extraterrestrial life. The signal was so unusual that he wrote "Wow!" next to it on the data sheet. Despite efforts to locate it again, the signal has never been detected, and its origin is still a mystery. Was it an alien message or simply a natural phenomenon?

5. The Loch Ness Monster

Known as "Nessie," this creature is said to inhabit Loch Ness, a large freshwater lake in Scotland. Reports of a giant, mysterious creature have persisted since the 6th century, and despite numerous sightings, photographs, and even sonar scans, conclusive evidence of Nessie's existence has never been found. Could it be a surviving prehistoric reptile, or just a clever hoax?

6. The Taos Hum

In the small town of Taos, New Mexico, residents have reported hearing a low-frequency humming noise, known as the "Taos Hum." Despite extensive investigations, the source of the hum has never been identified. Not everyone hears it, and it has sparked theories ranging from geological activity to government experiments.

7. The Oak Island Money Pit

Located off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, Oak Island is home to a mysterious pit that has drawn treasure hunters for over 200 years. The "Money Pit," as it’s called, is thought to contain buried treasure, but every attempt to excavate it has been thwarted by booby traps, flooding tunnels, and collapses. Many believe the treasure could be linked to the Knights Templar or pirate booty, but nothing conclusive has ever been discovered.

8. The Zodiac Killer

Between the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Zodiac Killer terrorized Northern California, killing at least five people and taunting the police with cryptic letters and ciphers. Despite extensive investigations and numerous suspects, the identity of the Zodiac Killer has never been confirmed. Some of his ciphers remain unsolved, leaving behind one of the greatest cold cases in history.

9. The Lost City of Atlantis

Atlantis, the legendary island described by the philosopher Plato, is said to have sunk into the ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune." While scholars generally agree that Plato used Atlantis as a metaphor, many have speculated about its existence. Some believe it could be a real civilization lost to time, potentially located in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, or even Antarctica.

10. The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart

In 1937, Amelia Earhart, the pioneering aviator, vanished while attempting to fly around the world. She and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared over the Pacific Ocean, and despite extensive searches, no conclusive evidence of their fate has been found. Theories range from crashing into the sea to being captured by the Japanese or even surviving on a remote island.

11. Closer to home in Malaysia is the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370/MAS370), an international passenger flight operated by Malaysia Airlines that disappeared from radar on 8 March 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia to its planned destination, Beijing Capital International Airport in China. The cause of its disappearance has not been determined. It is widely regarded as the greatest mystery in aviation history and remains the single deadliest case of aircraft disappearance.

Some of these mysteries, whether rooted in science, history, or the paranormal, continue to spark the imagination. Each one presents more questions than answers, making them both frustrating and fascinating.

It's always interesting to explore some of these mysteries of the world by reading as an educational and social culture as far as I am concerned.

It is now very late into the night or is it into the eerie hours of the morning, I am unsure. This itself is one of the mysteries for social greetings. As for the time being, it certainly feels like the eerie hours, when night blends into early morning, adding a bit of intrigue to everything.

Whether it's very deep into the night or the early morning, I wish all my readers a very peaceful and restful time while they are sleeping. 

Good morning ahead before dawn breaks. 

                    

The World of Microfungi & Microfungal Diseases

 

juboo lim 

Let us now go into the world of microfungi, providing the same level of detail we’ve covered for viruses, bacteria, and parasites earlier in this blog. 

Origin of Microfungi

Microfungi belong to the kingdom Fungi, a group of eukaryotic organisms distinct from plants, animals, and bacteria. Fungi appeared approximately 1.5 billion years ago, evolving from early eukaryotic ancestors. Fungi are crucial to Earth's ecosystems, as they break down organic material, cycle nutrients, and interact with plants and animals.

Microfungi evolved from early fungal species, developing diverse forms and life strategies. They exist in a range of environments, from soil and decaying matter to living hosts (humans, plants, and animals). Fungi’s symbiotic and pathogenic relationships with other organisms have driven their evolution.

Classification of Microfungi

Microfungi are a subset of fungi, characterized by their microscopic size. They include moulds, yeasts, and other fungi. Micro fungi can be classified based on morphology, reproductive structures, and ecological roles:

Their morphology is the following:

Moulds are filamentous fungi, characterized by thread-like structures called hyphae. The hyphae form a network called a mycelium (e.g., Aspergillus).

Yeasts are unicellular fungi that reproduce by budding or binary fission (e.g., Candida albicans).

Dimorphic fungi can exist as both moulds and yeasts depending on environmental conditions (e.g., Histoplasma capsulatum). Their reproductive structures are described below:

Ascomycota means they produce spores in sac-like structures called asci (e.g., Penicillium).

Basidiomycota means they produce spores on club-like structures called basidia (e.g., Cryptococcus).

Zygomycota means they produce zygospores through sexual reproduction (e.g., Rhizopus).

Chytridiomycota means they produce motile spores with flagella, mostly aquatic fungi.

Let’s now look at their ecological roles:

 Saprophytic fungi decompose dead organic matter (e.g., Penicillium). Parasitic fungi infect living organisms (e.g., Candida albicans). Mutualistic fungi form beneficial symbiotic relationships, such as mycorrhizae with plants.

Pathogenicity of Microfungi:

Many microfungi are opportunistic pathogens. They cause disease primarily in immunocompromised individuals or when environmental conditions favour fungal growth. Their pathogenicity arises from several factors such as: 

1. Invasion: Some fungi invade tissues and organs, causing direct damage. For example, Candida species can invade the bloodstream and internal organs.
2. Toxin Production: Fungi may produce mycotoxins, which are toxic compounds that can affect humans and animals when inhaled or ingested (e.g., Aspergillus flavus produces aflatoxins).
3. Immune Evasion: Some fungi evade the immune system by modifying their surface proteins, allowing them to persist within the host.

Examples of Pathogenic Microfungi and Diseases

1. Candida albicans (causes candidiasis)

Classification: Ascomycota, yeast

Disease they cause are oral thrush, vaginal yeast infections, systemic candidiasis

Symptoms they show are white patches in the mouth, itching, discomfort, systemic infections in immunocompromised individuals. They are treatable with antifungal drugs like fluconazole; systemic infections require stronger antifungal treatment.

2. Aspergillus fumigatus (causes aspergillosis)

Classification: Ascomycota, mould. The diseases they cause are pulmonary aspergillosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Symptoms presented are, cough, fever, shortness of breath, lung infections. In terms of curability, they are treatable with antifungal drugs like voriconazole or amphotericin B.

3. Cryptococcus neoformans (causes cryptococcosis)

Classification: Basidiomycota, yeast. The diseases they cause are cryptococcal meningitis, primarily in immunocompromised individuals. The symptoms for cryptococcal meningitis are, headache, fever, neck stiffness, neurological symptoms. As for curability this condition is treatable with antifungal drugs (amphotericin B and flucytosine); long-term therapy required for severe cases.

4. Histoplasma capsulatum (causes histoplasmosis)

Classification: Ascomycota, dimorphic fungus. Here the disease is lung infection (histoplasmosis). Symptoms shown are fever, cough, fatigue, chest pain. Histoplasmosis can be treated with antifungal medications like itraconazole; severe cases may require amphotericin B.

5. Pneumocystis jirovecii (causes pneumocystis pneumonia).

The classification is Ascomycota, a yeast-like fungus. The disease cause is pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals (e.g., HIV/AIDS patients). Symptom-wise, it is presented with cough, fever, difficulty breathing. It is treatable with antibiotics (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) rather than antifungals, as Pneumocystis lacks ergosterol in its cell membrane.

What about non-pathogenic microfungi? Many microfungi are harmless or beneficial such as Penicillium. This microfungus is responsible for the discovery of penicillin, the first antibiotic. Also used in food production (e.g., in cheese fermentation). There is also the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as baker’s yeast, used in baking, brewing, and fermentation.

Why are some microfungi disease-causing (pathogenic)? There are at least 3 reasons, we know, namely:

1. Opportunistic Nature: Most pathogenic fungi are opportunistic, meaning they cause disease only in individuals with weakened immune systems (e.g., people with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or those taking immunosuppressive drugs).
2. Environmental Exposure: Inhalation of fungal spores, especially from soil or decaying organic matter, can lead to infections in humans.
3. Fungal Virulence Factors: Pathogenic fungi possess virulence factors such as the ability to evade the immune system, survive within host cells, and produce toxins.

Fungal Toxins (Mycotoxins)

Certain fungi produce mycotoxins, toxic secondary metabolites that can cause serious health issues such as

Aflatoxins produced by Aspergillus flavus, can contaminate crops like peanuts and corn, leading to liver damage or cancer. The consumption of mouldy peanuts or its sauce, seen or unseen can cause this

Ochratoxins produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium species, can lead to kidney damage.

Trichothecenes produced by Fusarium species, associated with immunosuppression and digestive disorders.

Fungi vs. Bacteria.

Firstly, their size.  Fungi are generally larger than bacteria and are eukaryotic, meaning they have a defined nucleus and organelles. Bacteria are prokaryotic and lack a nucleus.

Secondly, their method of reproduction.  Fungi reproduce through spores, which can be asexual or sexual. Bacteria reproduce asexually by binary fission.

Thirdly, their cell structure.  Fungi have chitin in their cell walls, while bacteria have peptidoglycan.

Curability of Fungal Infections? 

Most fungal infections are treatable with antifungal medications such as azoles (e.g., fluconazole), echinocandins (e.g., caspofungin), and polyenes (e.g., amphotericin B). However, some fungal infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients, can be severe or even fatal if not treated promptly.

To sum up, microfungi, like bacteria and viruses, play essential roles in the environment, but certain species can become pathogenic, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems. Understanding their biology, classification, and pathogenicity helps in the treatment and prevention of fungal diseases.

This ends our series on infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites and micofungi. Hope they are  educational and informative.