A startling scientific discovery beneath the Atlantic Ocean has sent conspiracy theorists into a frenzy, with wild claims about the lost city of Atlantis, alien bases, and secret portals resurfacing online.
The Geological Discovery That Lit the Fuse
Geologists revealed they had found a vast, unusual rock structure deep under Bermuda, measuring a staggering 12.4 miles (20 kilometres) thick. Using seismic studies, researchers from Carnegie Science, led by seismologist Dr William Frazer, discovered that seismic waves from distant earthquakes were being deflected by this lower-density rock. This explains why Bermuda sits on a raised area of ocean crust known as an 'oceanic swell'.
Dr Frazer told the Daily Mail that this makes Bermuda geologically unique. 'Typically these types of swells, like Hawaii or Iceland, are associated with active volcanism,' he said. 'Bermuda is strange because there is evidence from rocks at the surface that suggest it has stayed relatively stagnant.'
The Internet's Wild Theories Take Flight
Despite the clear natural explanation, the announcement acted as a catalyst for a flood of speculative and fantastical theories on social media platform X. The Bermuda Triangle, a region long infamous for unproven tales of disappearing ships and planes, was immediately at the centre of the storm.
One user declared the find was evidence that 'the city of Atlantis' had not vanished without a trace, while another stated flatly: 'The Bermuda triangle is the gate to Atlantis.' Others looked further afield, with one asking: 'Is that where all the aliens live that take all the planes and humans that fly over to study them?'
The theories grew even more elaborate. Some suggested the rock slab was a 'portal to hell' or housed a 'mothership'. Remarkably, the discovery was even woven into the flat Earth conspiracy, with proponents claiming it was the secret landing zone for NASA rockets that never actually go to space.
Psychology of a Conspiracy: Why the Triangle Endures
Psychologists explain that this intense reaction is a predictable part of how some people process unfamiliar or complex information. Dr Daniel Jolley, a conspiracy theory expert from the University of Nottingham, told the Daily Mail that the Bermuda Triangle is a 'perfect recipe' for this style of thinking.
'It taps directly into core psychological needs,' Dr Jolley explained. 'When events feel random or chaotic, people want to feel that someone or something is in control. Even a malevolent force is more comforting than randomness.' He added that believing in such theories offers a sense of identity and belonging to a group that 'knows the truth'.
Professor Karen Douglas from the University of Kent noted the role of social media, telling the Daily Mail: 'It is easy to find and share conspiracy theories on social media. People who are interested in conspiracy theories can find them almost immediately, and they can spread rapidly.'
A New, Unexpected Conspiracy Emerges
In a twist highlighting how conspiracy theories merge, many online commentators bizarrely linked the geological announcement to the imminent release of court documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Some claimed the 'Epstein files' were so damaging that authorities were using a 30-year-old mystery as a distraction.
One commenter wrote: 'Bringing up 30 year old conspiracies. How bad are the Epstein files.' Another joked: 'Bermuda Triangle must be hiding the Epstein files.'
Dr Jolley says this habit of connecting unrelated events is common. 'Conspiracy beliefs tend to merge into a broader worldview. When someone adopts a lens that says, "elites lie" or "official accounts are fake," unrelated theories suddenly feel coherent,' he said.
While the science behind the seismic discovery is clear, the episode demonstrates the enduring power of the Bermuda Triangle myth and the rapid, often illogical, pathways through which modern conspiracy theories are born and spread online.
