Walking in Circles

Close your eyes and make an effort to walk straight the next time you're in a field. It's harder to do than you may think, as you'll discover. Some research carried out over decades actually imply that it might perhaps be impossible. Blindfolded individuals frequently find themselves walking in circles despite believing they are moving straight ahead.

Sometimes the blindfold is not even necessary. In a study conducted in 2010, the walkers were given the opportunity to see, but were still unable to walk in a straight line on an overcast day. It appears that in order to maintain a straight line, people require an external focus point (such as the Sun, a mountain, or a towering building).

Scientists don't fully understand why this is the case; they do have some theories. Years ago, they believed that this would be the result of an imbalanced limb, where one leg might be longer or stronger than the other, resulting in an asymmetrical gait. The 2010 study ruled that out, and the authors now speculate that the culprit may be the vestibular system, which controls our balance, being intrinsically flawed. Ordinarily, the brain would use external markers for recalibration to fix these minor faults, but when they vanish, we find ourselves going in circles.