We often think of aliens as something from another planet — bizarre, unexplainable, and beyond comprehension. But what if some of the strangest, most otherworldly things are already here, on Earth?
From glowing oceans to creatures that regenerate themselves, here are 11 things that exist on our planet that seem like they belong in a sci-fi movie.
1. Bioluminescent Bays 🌊✨
In places like Mosquito Bay in Puerto Rico and Toyama Bay in Japan, the ocean glows at night with an eerie, blue light.
This is caused by bioluminescent plankton, which emit light when disturbed. The effect? Waves that light up like electricity every time they move.
It feels like swimming in stardust.
2. Tardigrades — The Immortal Micro-Animal 🐛🧊🔥
Also known as “water bears,” tardigrades are microscopic creatures that can:
- Survive extreme radiation,
- Go without food or water for decades,
- Withstand temperatures from near absolute zero to boiling.
They’ve even survived outer space.
Scientists consider them one of the most indestructible lifeforms on Earth — and they look like tiny alien slugs under a microscope.
3. The Door to Hell in Turkmenistan 🔥🌋
In the Karakum Desert, there’s a massive burning crater that’s been on fire since 1971.
Nicknamed the “Door to Hell,” it was created when a Soviet drilling rig collapsed into an underground cavern full of gas. To prevent poisonous fumes, they set it on fire.
They thought it would burn for a few weeks. It’s been burning for over 50 years.
4. Venus Flytraps — Plants That Eat Meat 🪰🌿
Native to the southeastern United States, the Venus flytrap is a carnivorous plant that snaps shut when triggered by its prey — usually flies or spiders.
It digests them with enzymes, absorbing nutrients over days.
Watching it move is unsettling — it behaves more like an animal than a plant.
5. Lake Natron — The Petrifying Lake 🪶🪨
Located in Tanzania, Lake Natron has such high salinity and alkalinity that it can mummify animals.
Birds that accidentally land in the lake often die and are preserved in a statuesque state. The lake turns red at times, giving it an even more alien appearance.
It’s beautiful — and terrifying.
6. The Living Rocks of Chile 🪨🧠
Known as Pyura chilensis, these sea creatures look exactly like rocks — until you cut them open.
Inside, they bleed a dark red fluid, have no brain or eyes, and filter nutrients from seawater.
Locals in Chile sometimes eat them raw. Scientists still debate where they fit on the evolutionary tree.
7. Lightning That Strikes the Same Spot 250+ Times Per Hour ⚡⚡
Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela holds the world record for the most consistent lightning storms — with flashes occurring over 260 nights per year, sometimes up to 280 strikes per hour.
The sky constantly lights up in purple and white bursts, creating an atmosphere that feels like another dimension.
8. The Axolotl — A Regenerating Salamander 🦎♻️
The axolotl never really grows up — it retains its juvenile features for life (a condition called neoteny).
But more impressively, it can regrow entire limbs, spinal tissue, even parts of its brain.
Scientists are studying axolotls in hopes of unlocking human regenerative medicine.
Plus, they look like tiny dragons with external gills.
9. Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees 🌈🌳
These surreal trees grow in Southeast Asia and have multicolored bark that naturally peels in strips — revealing bright green, blue, orange, and purple underneath.
They look like someone painted them with watercolors. But it’s all 100% natural.
Standing next to one feels like stepping into a fantasy forest.
10. Underwater Brine Pools 🌊💀
Deep on the ocean floor, there are lakes within the ocean — called brine pools. They’re so salty and dense that they don’t mix with the surrounding seawater.
They even have shorelines and waves — and are deadly to most marine life that enters them.
Exploring one with a submarine looks like discovering an alien sea.
11. The Blood Falls of Antarctica 🩸🧊
A glacier in Antarctica appears to be bleeding — releasing a stream of red water from deep beneath the ice.
This isn’t blood, of course — it’s iron-rich brine oxidizing as it hits the surface.
Still, the image of bright red water pouring from pure white ice is otherworldly — and slightly haunting.
Earth Is More Alien Than We Think
You don’t need to leave the planet to experience the bizarre, the beautiful, and the seemingly impossible. Nature has created wonders that rival anything in science fiction — all hidden in plain sight.
So the next time you look up at the stars and wonder what else is out there, remember: some of the strangest places in the universe are already here on Earth.