There Are Seven People With 'Real-Life Superpowers' That Scientists Can't Explain

When most of us hear the word “superpower,” we think of flying, living forever, or shooting lasers from our eyes. But there are real people walking around today who appear to have abilities that feel just as extraordinary in everyday life.

Step aside, Superman and Iron Man. A surprising group of ordinary-looking folks has earned attention for feats that make them seem like they stepped out of a comic book.

These seven people each demonstrate a unique skill that is so unusual it might knock your socks off, especially once you see how consistently they have shown it.

Their talents are so far outside the norm that scientists still struggle to pin down exactly how they work. In many cases, there is no single tidy answer.

There are a few possible factors at play. Genetics could be involved. Years of strict practice might matter. Sometimes it may come down to a rare stroke of luck—or a mix of all three.

Whatever the cause, these people have demonstrated skills that are hard to place on a chart and even harder to trace back to a clear origin.

What we can say for sure is that these abilities look like something you would expect to see only in a movie, not in a neighborhood or on a city street.

Wim Hof

Wim Hof—better known as “The Iceman”—can endure extreme cold for long stretches that would send most people running for a warm blanket.

Back in 2000, the Dutch athlete set a Guinness World Record for the farthest swim under ice, and he also claimed a record for the longest time in full-body contact with ice.

That second feat lasted an astounding one hour, 53 minutes, and two seconds. Many of us hesitate to take a cold shower, but he sat in ice nearly two hours. The current record now belongs to Valerjan Romanovski, who managed three hours and 28 seconds.

Wim Hof isn't fazed by cold weather Tristar Media/Getty Images

Hof’s ability is not just about toughness. At 66, he also appears less likely to get sick after long exposure to cold compared with typical people.

In 2011, Dr. Peter Pickkers reported that, through what he described as Hof’s meditation technique, certain inflammatory cells were suppressed by roughly one-third to one-half compared to control subjects.

Natasha Demkina

Natasha Demkina’s reported talent is entirely different from resisting the cold.

The 38-year-old Russian claims she can see inside the human body and point out problems with organs or tissues, almost like a living scanner.

The claim earned her the nickname “the girl with X-ray eyes,” and it has followed her into television studios and research labs.

Natasha Demkina has become known as the 'girl with X-ray eyes' Facebook/Natasha Demkina - the girl with X-RAY EYES

Her ability has been tested on several occasions. In January 2004, she went on the UK daytime show This Morning and identified the source of a sore ankle.

That same year, researchers evaluated her and said she matched four out of seven medical diagnoses. The result sparked debate.

Some scientists argued that four out of seven could be explained by chance, which left plenty of doubt about whether the skill is real or simply a lucky streak.

There were also concerns when she misidentified supposed issues for This Morning’s Chris Steele, including problems related to the kidneys, pancreas, and stomach, which added more skepticism to the discussion.

Daniel Browning Smith

Over the years, Daniel Browning Smith has been called “the most flexible man on the planet” and “Rubberboy,” and the nicknames are well earned.

That's got to hurt Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The 46-year-old American contortionist has racked up seven Guinness World Records thanks to his jaw-dropping flexibility and control.

In his case, doctors do have an explanation. He has a genetic condition called hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which affects connective tissue and can increase joint mobility.

That condition helps explain why his joints move so freely and how he performs such extreme bends and twists.

But the same condition can come with serious trade-offs. For many people, it may cause chronic joint pain, thin stretchy skin, and even complications with internal organs.

Stephen Wiltshire

British architectural artist Stephen Wiltshire, 51, is famous for an extraordinary photographic memory applied to buildings and cityscapes.

He can take in the view of a skyline in one pass and then draw the entire scene with astonishing accuracy, down to small details most people would miss.

Diagnosed with autism at age three, Wiltshire is often described as having savant syndrome, where a person who is neurodivergent or has a disability develops exceptional skill in a specific area.

Stephen Wiltshire is a 'savant' Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Ben Underwood

As a child, Ben Underwood was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a cancer that cost him both eyes.

At seven years old, he began clicking his tongue to create sound and said he could “see” the world like a dolphin, using echoes to map his surroundings.

Human echolocation is possible with practice, but Underwood was considered especially skilled, navigating spaces and identifying objects with impressive precision.

Ben Underwood claimed he could 'see' the world like a dolphin YouTube/Preservation of Media - Documentaries

Tragically, Underwood passed away at just 16 in 2009 when his cancer returned, leaving behind a story that continues to inspire people who are learning echolocation today.

Thai Ngoc

Vietnamese farmer Thai Ngoc says he has not slept at all since 1973, which would be more than five decades without a night’s rest.

Now believed to be in his 80s, he has said he mostly just feels a little “grumpy” despite claiming to have gone so long without any sleep, according to Giao Duc Thoi Dai.

Some people suffer from conditions that prevent sleep and can be fatal, yet Ngoc maintains that he has managed to function for years without dozing off, even briefly.

Vietnamese farmer Ngoc Thai apparently never sleeps YouTube/Cuộc Sống Miền Trung

That said, his case has not been thoroughly studied by researchers. Without a careful medical evaluation, it is difficult to know how he might stay awake for so long—or whether short, unnoticed rest periods happen.

Prahlad Jani

Prahlad Jani—also known as Mataji and Chunriwala Majaji—was a breatharian monk from India who lived from 1929 to 2020.

He claimed he could live without food or water and said he was sustained by the Hindu goddess Amba, a belief that drew global attention and intense debate.

Two separate tests were conducted, one in 2003 for 10 days and another in 2010 for 15 days. Observers reported that he did not eat, drink, or use the bathroom during those periods.

Prahlad Jani had a 'superpower' SAM PANTHAKY / Stringer/ Getty Stock

Even so, some medical professionals remained skeptical. They pointed out that going without food or water for days under observation is not the same as doing so for years, and they called for more rigorous studies.