Serious question, did anyone else think the 'Viking sunstone' thing was total nonsense?

I always figured it was just a cool myth, but then I read a paper from the University of Rennes where they actually tested a piece of Icelandic spar crystal on a cloudy day. The thing totally works as a navigational aid, which is wild. Has anyone else had an artifact theory they were totally wrong about?

3 comments

3 Comments

river95214d ago

Remember when I called that a dumb story for years? Yeah, I'm eating my words now.

cameronp4714d ago

Look at old weather rocks, the ones in a little wooden house. People said they were just junk, but the idea is the same. What other simple things did our grandparents use that actually worked, @river952? Like using a pine cone to tell if it's humid, or watching how animals act before a storm. Makes me want to go check all the old farmer's almanac tips.

ward.kim14d ago

Yeah, I get that feeling. I was right there with you calling it a fantasy for the longest time. Seeing actual tests with the crystal change its light on a cloudy day was a real eye opener. Makes you wonder what other old stories might have a real trick to them.