After kayaking in dense fog, AAAS member and Harvard physics professor John Edward Huth realized how out of touch many people are with their surroundings. He began researching how people navigated the world without cell phones. He learned about ancient practices using stars and wind patterns that helped navigators circumnavigate the globe. Now he is sharing what he learned with the world through his book The Lost Art of Finding Our Way.

In the book, Huth examines how a number of ancient cultures traveled around the world. And encourages today's readers to get out and try different techniques themselves. The book can serve as an opportunity to test observation skills and appreciate your surroundings, as well as learn about how people traveled the world before the invention of GPS and Google Maps.

In this passage, Huth explains his inspiration for the book and reads a section of the introduction. He also reads a passage on the mysterious "underwater lighting" that has so far eluded scientists in both what learning what causes it and why the mysterious lights point towards land.