Have you ever had the strange impression that you’ve been through something before, even though you know it’s happening for the first time? This sensation is referred to as déjà vu, a French phrase that means “already seen.” While it can be baffling, déjà vu is a frequent phenomenon. Almost everyone has it at least once in their lives. But what precisely is déjà vu, and how can science explain this puzzling phenomenon? Understanding Déjà Vu Déjà vu is a transient, often unsettling feeling that what you’re experiencing now has happened before. It can happen in daily situations like walking down the street, having a discussion, or visiting a new…