Every Boy or Girl Scout has heard that people who are lost in the woods walk in circles. Did you know that theory had never been tested – until recently? Researchers at the Max Plank Institute in Germany finally studied the phenomenon, and here’s what they found. We got this from the science website Eureka-Lert.org.

• It’s true! We really do walk in circles when we’re lost, and it doesn’t matter where we are. The scientists used GPS trackers to follow volunteers as they walked in both a desert and a forest. Even though some of the volunteers were certain they’d traveled in a straight line, everyone got turned around - unless they had a point of reference, like a mountain in the distance or the position of the sun.
• The scientists tested the theory that we walk in circles because one leg is stronger than the other. The idea behind this one is simple: We naturally lean in the direction of the dominant leg. When the researchers blindfolded volunteers and tracked their movements, they found this wasn’t true. Everyone walked in circles, but not in a consistent direction. The scientists believe that we double back on ourselves because without visual cues, our sense of direction is influenced by things like sounds and temperature.
  
  

So, what does all this mean?  Well, if you’re lost and you decide to find your way out, focus on a point in the distance. In a wooded area, line up a series of trees. In an open area, you’ll have to use the sun as a guide if you can’t get a fixed reference point. Remember this: If you’re in a large area like a desert or national forest, all the experts say your best bet is to stay put and wait for someone to find you.