The Most Bizarre Science Stories of 2024

Every year, scientists make important discoveries that reveal the world to be far weirder than we give it credit for. From strange biological quirks causing demonic hallucinations to sci-fi scenarios like brains controlling robots and full head transplants, here are the weirdest science stories of 2024.

Sticking a human brain into a robot body is a quintessential “mad scientist” move, and that’s exactly what Chinese scientists plan to do in the near future. The MetaBOC project aims to grow brain cells in the lab, wire them into electronic chips, and train them to operate humanoid robot bodies. The team believes these brain chips are on the verge of learning to control robot bodies, starting with simulations and then real-world tests.

Perhaps the results of these experiments will make their way onto the list of the weirdest science stories of 2025.

Imagine waking up one morning to find that everyone’s face appears demonically distorted, with elongated eyes, pointed ears, and a menacing grin. This rare neurological condition, known as prosopometamorphopsia (PMO), was highlighted in a unique case study this year.

Only about 75 cases of PMO have been described, making it difficult to understand exactly how patients see the world. One patient had a peculiar variation of the condition, experiencing demonic distortions in real-world faces but not on screens.

Researchers at Dartmouth used this unique situation to create a type of police sketch. The patient described a person’s face in front of them, and the researchers digitally altered photos until the patient confirmed that they resembled the distorted face before them.

The results, as seen above, are quite eerie, especially considering that the condition can suddenly appear overnight and persist for a lifetime.

In August, scientists conducted an experiment where they got fruit flies drunk. But this wasn’t just for fun—it was to study the neurological differences between social and solitary drinking.

The study involved exposing flies to ethanol vapor either in groups or individually and then observing their behavior and brain activity. The intoxicated flies in the social setting exhibited more hyperactivity and larger dopamine spikes compared to the isolated flies.

This study shed light on why drinking with friends can lead to a more enjoyable experience compared to drinking alone, which often results in a less pleasurable outcome.

2024 was the year that the UFO enthusiasts took center stage in the study of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), as they’ve been newly branded. The US Department of Defense’s latest report outlined 757 new incidents of strange sightings in the sky.

Many cases were closed due to mundane explanations, but 21 cases remain intriguing, with “anomalous characteristics and/or behaviors” that warrant further investigation, such as a near collision with a commercial airliner.

In a separate study, researchers at the University of Utah studied the geography of approximately 98,000 reported UAP sightings to identify common clusters. Unsurprisingly, sightings were more common in areas with clear sky views and proximity to aircraft-dense regions.

While no concrete evidence of extraterrestrial activity has been found, the reports suggest that something unusual is happening.