Top 50 Mysterious Events That Can't Be Explained

#50: Roman Dodecahedrons

Various Locations

Normally, archaeological discoveries help us understand those who came before us. However, there are some that create more questions than answers. For centuries, bizarre, twelve-sided metallic objects have been uncovered throughout Europe. Experts have dated them back to ancient times. Beyond that, little about them has been confirmed. With no distinctive markings or signs of use, their purpose and apparent widespread popularity is still debated. Some have theorized they were used in battle, while others have suggested they were made for regular work, like knitting and farming. Some even speculate they were another version of the cup-and-ball game. With the most recent being found in 2023, there’s no telling how many more are waiting to be revealed— or when their secrets will finally be unlocked.

#49: The Antikythera Mechanism

Antikythera, Greece

It may seem that advanced technology is limited to modern times. Yet, a revelation made in 1901 could disprove that entirely. The Antikythera Mechanism dates back to the Hellenistic period, and has intricate components that suggest it could be the oldest-surviving computer in history. What exactly it computed is still unknown. Some have surmised that it was used in astronomical tracking. Yet, there are others who’ve pointed out its potential utility in counting days between athletic competitions. Besides its function, many are stumped as to how something so complex was built. It implies that those living in Ancient Greece understood technology far more than we once thought. Should that be true, it could unravel everything we once understood about mechanics and the past itself.

#48: Spontaneous Human Combustion

Various Locations

It's a fate so extreme that it seems it could only occur in movies. Yet, there have been several real, tragic cases of supposed spontaneous human combustion that suggest it may not be so fictitious after all. It’s an unexplainable phenomenon where a person catches flame seemingly out of nowhere, often only leaving behind partial remains. Despite hundreds of cases, it’s unclear how it occurs— or if it exists at all. Some believe the fires started internally and were exacerbated by factors like stress and blood alcohol levels, while others attribute them to paranormal activity. Many scientists disagree entirely, and claim they were caused by unidentified outside sources. Though it seems improbable, the known cases are so bizarre that it can’t be ruled out entirely.

#47: The Utah Monolith

Utah, United States of America

Not every unexplainable discovery is ancient in nature. There are some that were made more recently, and have created just as many questions as their older counterparts. In 2020, a prism made entirely of metal was found within a sandstone canyon in Utah. Despite being nearly ten feet tall, it’d gone unnoticed for four years. To this day, no one knows who built it or why. It was automatically assumed to be an art piece, but no one has ever come forward to claim the work. Just after it’d been revealed, it was removed by an environmentalist group worried about its impact on the area. They’ve since gifted it to the Bureau of Land Management, where the mystery may finally be solved.

#46: The Yonaguni Monument

Okinawa, Japan

Many have heard tales of cities that sank underwater, such as Atlantis. Though those are fictional, there’s a real deep-sea structure that some believe could prove their existence. Since its discovery in 1986, the Yonaguni Monument has been the source of heated debate. With immense rock formations that appear to take on the shape of buildings and stairs, it’s easy to see how one could think they’re man-made. Marine geologist Masaaki Kimura insists upon this, even stating that he identified specific buildings. Other experts disagree, and instead posit that it had formed naturally and been moved into position by underwater earthquakes. Though the cards are stacked against Kimura, no hard proof has been presented by either side— meaning there’s a chance he could be right.

#45: The Nazca Lines

Nazca Desert, Peru

There have been several discoveries to reveal the complexities of ancient cultures, but some add to their mystique. From the ground, the Nazca lines don’t seem like much. See them from above, however, and you see the intricate line work taking on the shape of everything from plants to mammals. It’s unclear why they were created to be viewed in such a way. One of the most infamous theories is that they were landing spots for alien spacecraft. Some even claim they were made by extraterrestrial visitors themselves. Historians have suggested that they marked irrigation sites. Others still have posited that they relate to cosmology, whether it was to observe or recreate constellations. The ideas are unending, and to this day, none have been confirmed.

#44: The Isdal Woman

Isdalen, Norway

On a seemingly normal chilly day in 1970, a family made a discovery that has continued to perplex people for decades. They’d come across the charred remains of a woman. Any identifying features had been burned away, and the possessions she’d left behind left no clues. The mystery of the Isdal Woman doesn’t end with her body being found. Days later, they came across her luggage. Amongst the items was currency from various countries and eight passports with fake names. These findings have led to a prevailing theory that she was a spy whose work may have gone awry. More details have been uncovered in recent years, but none that have confirmed who she was or why she suffered such a tragic fate.

#43: The Death of Elisa Lam

California, United States of America

When she traveled to California in 2013, no one could’ve suspected that she would never return. In February of that year, Elisa Lam’s body was found in a water tank at the hotel she’d been staying in. This alone created questions, including how she accessed the tanks. A video published days later ignited new interest. It showed Lam standing in the elevator and appearing to look for someone— or something— in the hallway outside, even stepping outside to do so. Several theories were brought to light, from her being pursued to her suffering an episode of psychosis. The clip being edited prior to release only added to the speculation. Both it and whether her death was self-inflicted or not are still discussed today.

#42: MV Joyita

South Pacific Ocean

There have been many mysterious shipwrecks throughout history. Few are as peculiar as the fate of the MV Joyita. It was relined with cork in 1948, leaving it unsinkable. In 1955, it set sail on its final voyage. What was supposed to be a short trip ended with the ship and everyone aboard going missing. Five weeks later, it was found drifting 600 miles from its route. No one was aboard, but everything had been removed, suggesting they’d departed despite the hull being intact. Historians still don’t understand why. Their theories range from mutiny to insurance fraud, but none have been proven. As of 2012, they’re still considered missing— and both they and their reasons seem to have been lost to the depths for good.

#41: Lost Colony of Greenland

Greenland

History has proven that few things are truly constant, even communities that appear to be thriving. After establishing themselves in Greenland in 986, the arriving Norse citizens formed a successful colony that remained intact for half a millennia. It was then that those living in the area seemingly vanished, leaving to those who discovered it afterwards to speculate they’d been slain by a conqueror. Centuries later, little is still understood about their sudden disappearance from the area. Various theories have been presented, ranging from strife with the Indigenous population to natural factors like the Little Ice Age and the black plague forcing them to leave for their own safety. Nothing has been confirmed as the ultimate cause, leaving their fate a question that remains unsolved.

#40: The Watcher of Westfield, New Jersey

New Jersey, United States of America

A suburban neighborhood is the last place you might expect a mystery. Yet, in 2014, the Broaddus family was subjected to unwanted attention from an anonymous person simply known as the Watcher of Westfield, New Jersey. They received several letters once they bought it, warning them that their family had been watching the house for generations and mentioning details about the buyers’ children. The messages became more unhinged, leaving the Broaddus’ too terrified to complete their move there. It eventually became so threatening that they re-sold the house without ever having lived a day inside of it. To this day, the Watcher has never been identified despite an investigation being conducted— but the people who moved in afterwards have seemingly escaped the same fate.

#39: Disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa

Michigan, United States of America

Throughout the mid-20th century, he rose through the ranks of the Teamsters union and became one of its most influential figures. That power resulted in him making powerful enemies, resulting in his sudden disappearance in 1975. An investigation was carried out, but he was never seen again. The details— including who did it and where his body was disposed of— remain unsolved decades later. Many have been accused or taken credit for the crime, but nothing has been confirmed. As for his final resting place, there are rumors of it being everywhere from the Giants Stadium in New Jersey to beneath a driveway in suburban Detroit. What happened has become one of America’s best kept secrets, and it seems it may never be revealed.

#38: The Hinterkaifeck Murders

Bavaria, Germany

Taking another person’s life is awful enough. Living beside them afterwards is even more unsettling. That was the fate suffered by the Gruber family in 1922, in an event now referred to as Hinterkaifeck. Days beforehand, tracks from the woods to the farm had appeared, and the family had heard sounds coming from their attic. By then, it was already too late. On March 31st, they were all slain by an intruder. Their bodies were found days later, along with evidence that their murderer had lived there for some time before fleeing. Suspects were named, but with no motive and a shaky timeline, no one was convicted. The farm was razed shortly afterward, and with it went any potential clues that may have solved it.

#37: Voynich Manuscript

Unknown

There are several historical texts that still haven’t been fully translated. Few are as bizarre and unreadable as the Voynich Manuscript. It consists of eye-catching illustrations and text written in both Latin and an unidentified language. The latter in particular has made it impossible to parse, leaving the exact contents up to interpretation. Why it was created and who wrote it is still debated. However, the true mystery lies between its pages, with some theorizing it was written in code and some guessing it was written in a tongue invented by the author themselves. Though several people have claimed to decipher it, they were found to be fraudulent— meaning the secrets held by it still aren’t understood today.

#36: The Roswell Incident

New Mexico, United States of America

Could one of the most infamous American incidents have some truth to it? Depending who you ask about the Roswell Incident, that answer would be yes. In 1947, New Mexico was rocked when an unidentified flying object crashed to the ground and was destroyed on impact. It was initially reported to be a flying disk, which was quickly redacted by the military and re-identified as a weather balloon. The conspiracy theories skyrocketed immediately afterward, and they only became worse decades later after former officer Jesse Marcel claimed it had been of extraterrestrial origin. That cemented the slim theory in some people’s minds. Many of the documents pertaining to the case are still classified, but the legacy it’s created still lives on today.

#35: Disappearance of Frederick Valentich

Bass Strait

Black box recordings don’t get much more unsettling than this. In 1978, an aspiring pilot who’d taken an unauthorized flight went missing without a trace. Frederick Valentich had reportedly been an ardent believer in alien life, making his disappearance all the more chilling. He’d been flying over the Bass Strait when he reported a faulty engine and another aircraft flying above him. It sounded normal— until he added that the other craft wasn’t a plane. That was the last thing he said before a horrifying noise was heard, cutting him off permanently. Some assumed he’d been abducted, while detractors claim that he’d become disoriented and even flew upside down before crashing. His body and craft have never been discovered, leaving his fate up to imagination.

#34: Disappearance of Flight 19

Bermuda Triangle

Solo pilots aren’t the only ones in danger of going missing mid-flight. Even those flying in a group are left to the whims of the world around them, sometimes resulting in tragedy. During a standard training flight in 1945, Lieutenant Charles C. Taylor and the trainees he’d been with got lost while traveling over Florida. He remained in sparse contact with air control, reporting that if one of them lost enough fuel, they would all go down with it. Afterwards, communication was lost for good, and a search was immediately launched. They found evidence of an explosion, but no bodies or aircraft were nearby. Since that fateful night, their final resting place remains a mystery that no one has been able to solve.

#33: Escape from Alcatraz

San Francisco, United States of America

You’d think a prison placed on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean would be enough to deter escape attempts. However, the call for freedom was too tempting for Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin, leading them to flee Alcatraz in 1962. Once they cleared the walls of the prison and the fences surrounding it, they used a hastily-built raft and sailed away. What happened to them afterwards remains legend. Some believe they drowned immediately, while those more optimistic think they successfully reached an island nearby. Neither they nor their remains have been found, though a letter reportedly written by John Anglin claimed they all survived the escape. The source isn’t certain however, leaving their fates up to interpretation.

#32: The Disappearance of the Sodder Children

West Virginia, United States of America

The resilience of a grieving family can’t be understated. When a fire claimed the home of the Sodder family in 1945, they had no idea that their troubles were only just beginning. That night, only the parents and four children had survived, and authorities determined the others had perished. However, Jennie Sodder questioned that theory, and soon began to speculate that they had simply disappeared. They publicized their search, putting up billboards and offering rewards in exchange for helpful information. By the 1960s, no answers had been found, but they did receive a letter with a photo of a man claiming to be their son. Their efforts have continued into the 21st century, but not even the Internet has been powerful enough to find them.

#31: Tunguska Event

Yeniseysk Governorate, Russia

One morning in June of 1908, anyone living near Yeniseyek Governorate was awoken not by the sound of birds, but with a massive explosion. The immediate effects were harsh, with several trees toppling over and three people reportedly passing away. Despite how large it was, there was no impact site upon investigation. This was later credited to a smaller asteroid that had combusted while in the air. Though it may seem resolved, there are still some who have opposing ideas. One suggests that the blast came from within the Earth rather than above it, which would also explain the lack of a crater. With there being no way to know the exact events leading up to the blast, the exact cause may never be found.

#30: Overtoun Bridge

West Dunbartonshire, Scotland

Dog lovers may want to brace themselves. Upon first glance, there isn’t anything outwardly unsettling about Overtoun Bridge. Yet the Scottish structure has been the cause of several beloved pets’ demise. In the 1950s, dogs began leaping off the side for seemingly no reason. One moment, they would be walking obediently with their owners, and the next, they would be gone. This would even occur in well-behaved canines. One dog specialist theorized that the scent of mink urine in the area could be driving them to jump. However, the presence of mink in the area is questioned. To this day, the phenomena remains unsolved, so if you have to take your pooch across, we recommend keeping them on a tighter leash than usual.

#29: Crooked Forest

West Pomerania, Poland

Trees are fairly standard beings, with most growing from roots belowground. Yet, the Crooked Forest in Poland appears to deviate from that norm entirely. Around 1930, a new grove of pines was added. Rather than stand straight up, they curved at the base, appearing to sit atop the dirt. Researchers are fairly certain human interaction was the cause, but why this shape was desired or how it was achieved still evades them. One of the leading theories is that they were grown that way to make carpentry easier, but even that has remained unproven. The forest is available to visit, giving people from all over the world a chance to puzzle over the anomaly for themselves.

#28: Paracas Candelabra

Paracas Peninsula, Peru

Archaeologists are used to having to come up with explanations for the things they find, but not everything comes with a set background. Some finds are simply too bizarre to understand easily, such as the Paracas Candelabra in Peru. Coming in at over six hundred feet tall, the odd, candelabra-shaped geoglyph has no established meaning or explanation for its existence. The only clue offering any sort of information was a collection of pottery found nearby, allowing experts to date the landmark as far back as 200 BCE. How or why the civilization at the time went about constructing has remained elusive – making this one of the longest unsolved mysteries in human history.

#27: Patomskiy Crater

Patom Highlands, Russia

Despite the huge size of the Patomskiy Crater, how it came to be has eluded even the brightest experts. Located in a thicket of dense forestation, the formation stands at well over 500 feet tall, causing it to stick out like a sore thumb amongst the trees. Many of the current estimates are based on some level of scientific reasoning, from past volcanic activity to the landing spot of a fallen meteorite. A conference was even held in 2010 in order to find out the truth, and even that collection of impressive thinkers couldn’t come to a definitive conclusion. Now it serves as verification that some answers may just always be outside our reach.

#26: Oak Island Money Pit

Nova Scotia, Canada

An island in Nova Scotia offers adventurers the chance to go on a real life treasure hunt themselves – if they dare. For centuries, people have tried locating the supposed riches buried on Oak Island. What they’re looking for has never been confirmed, with rumors ranging from the Holy Grail to pirate’s gold. Those who’ve attempted to find it have never succeeded, thanks to things like sinkholes and a deadly curse – that is claimed to have taken the lives of several men. With no verifiable evidence, some have wondered if the treasure even exists, or if it's simply just a hole. If it’s the latter, it’ll have been the biggest goose chase in history – but for now, the mystery lives on.

#25: The Lost Colony of Roanoke

North Carolina, United States of America

There are some occurrences we’ve only begun to question recently – but some have been puzzled over for centuries. The establishment of Roanoke was meant to be a symbol of new life in America. When John White returned to the colony from a supply run in 1590, he could’ve never anticipated what would await him: nothing. Over 100 people disappeared, leaving behind no sign of life other than a cryptic message. There have been countless theories, both optimistic and pessimistic. Some believe the colonists were able to start anew amongst neighboring tribes, while others are adamant they were killed. There’s even speculation that they left in order to make the founder look bad. With no answer in sight, it remains one of the country’s oldest enigmas.

#24: Hessdalen Lights

Hessdalen Valley, Norway

Reports of strange lights are nothing new. For years, people have used them as evidence of the existence of aliens – as is the case with these which have appeared in Norway. They were first observed during the 1930s, and have varied in both color and speed. This has made their origin hard to pin down, leading to observers creating ideas of their own. Besides the usual claims of extraterrestrial beings, some scientists have posited more logical explanations, such as the explosion of airborne particles or the result of electricity coming from quartz in the nearby valley. Despite decades of research, no definitive conclusions have been made – meaning there’s a chance they could be proof of other intelligent life beyond our atmosphere.

#23: Plain of Jars

Xiangkhoang Plateau, Laos

Some phenomena are unexplainable due to human activities. The Plain of Jars is one of the planet’s most elusive areas – but not for a lack of interest. It consists of thousands of stone receptacles, with some dating back to 660 BCE. Originally, it was believed that a lost civilization of giants placed them there. More recently, it’s believed that they were used in ancient burials. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to truly verify, as it was targeted by United States forces during the Laotian Civil War. Over 250 million bombs were dropped, but 80 million never went off and remain active today. This makes it difficult to examine many areas of the Plain of Jars to find answers.

#22: Lead Masks Case

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Even the most dedicated true crime fans will be stumped by this event. With no known killer, motive, or even a cause of death, it’s no wonder why the 1966 lead mask case immediately went cold. The two victims were discovered side-by-side, clad in suits and lead eye masks, alongside a set of bizarre instructions. It didn’t help that authorities waited weeks to perform an autopsy, leaving the organs too decomposed to properly study. While murder was the immediate assumption, the lack of struggle has led to more unique hypotheses – such as the pair attempting to communicate with aliens and accidentally dying. Whether it was by their own hand or someone else’s, the details of their fate remain sought after to this day.

#21: Mary Celeste

Nova Scotia

Ships going missing or even being destroyed at sea is nothing new. However, the vessel being discovered with no sign of the crew is another story entirely. The Mary Celeste was last seen leaving a port in November of 1872, with nothing appearing to be amiss. Just a month later, another ship came upon it – and found that everyone aboard had vanished. There were signs of previous struggles, including ripped sails and a missing lifeboat– but no signs of current life. There were several personal items left alone, indicating they hadn’t been targeted by thieves. The remaining guesses range from insurance fraud to attacks from a giant squid. Unfortunately, false evidence has been published over the years, making the truth all the more unreachable.

#20: The Hector Cloud

The Northern Territory of Australia experiences a very bizarre phenomenon every year between September and March. Around 3:00 every afternoon, a huge thundercloud forms near the Tiwi Islands. The cloud has been named Hector by the locals, or more colloquially, Hector the Convector. This cloud was once used by pilots and sailors, and it’s now the subject of intense meteorological study. We understand that it’s caused by sea breezes interacting with the topography of the islands, but much about the cloud is still unknown. Perhaps future research will unveil more details about ol’ Hector the Convector.

#19: Green Children of Woolpit

Suffolk, England

With no hard proof, some events end up sounding more like fiction. The mysterious case of two green-skinned children arriving in a small English town sounds like pure fantasy, but according to some records, it was an actual occurrence that stumped people even back then. They’d arrived randomly, spoke another language, and ate nothing but raw beans. They slowly lost their vibrant pigment, and one even learned English. However, even that wasn’t enough to learn the truth of their origins. While the most accepted explanation is that they were sick Flemish citizens, there isn’t enough evidence – leading to fringe theories that they came from an unknown civilization. Regardless, it remains one of the most bizarre instances in history – if it ever even happened at all.

#18: The Kentucky Meat Shower

This sounds disgusting, and trust us, it is. Around 11:00 am on March 3, 1876, small pieces of gristly meat began raining over Bath County, Kentucky. Some people believed that it was divine intervention. Other people actually tasted it to see what kind of meat it was. Samples of the meat were sent to the Newark Scientific Association, which concluded that it was lung tissue. The people who didn’t blame God attributed the event to vultures, who are prone to vomit their food when escaping from predators. It’s likely that a kettle of vultures got spooked, took flight, and puked partially chewed meat all over the county. But no one really knows for sure.

#17: The Flannan Isles Lighthouse Mystery

Found off the west coast of Scotland is the Flannan Isles Lighthouse, which saw a very creepy disappearance in December of 1900. A passing steamer called Archtor noticed that the light wasn’t on, and they reported this to the Northern Lighthouse Board. A relief vessel went to the island and found the three lighthouse keepers missing. They also saw extensive damage indicating that a strong storm had passed through the area. The initial investigation revealed that the men had been swept off the island by a giant swell. This has remained the primary explanation, but the case is still being extensively researched and different theories are continuously put forward.

#16: The Body of Xin Zhui

In 1968, diggers were working in the Chinese city of Changsha when they stumbled upon the tomb of Xin Zhui. She was a noblewoman who died in either 169 or 168 BCE. What makes this find so startling is the remarkable condition of Xin Zhui’s mummy. Her muscles, skin, hair, and organs were very well preserved, and she even had a small amount of blood still inside her veins. Experts believe that the deep underground setting and coffin type ensured the preservation of the body, but some questions still remain. For example, they don’t know why this particular body was so well preserved when not many others have been found under similar circumstances.

#15: The Pollock Sisters

If there’s one convincing case of reincarnation, it’s the Pollock sisters. The Pollocks were walking to church when they were struck by a car and killed in May of 1957. Their parents moved on, and Florence Pollock gave birth to identical twin girls seventeen months later. The parents immediately noticed similarities to their deceased daughters, like identical scars and birthmarks. The girls also shared eerily similar personality traits and interests. And despite moving away from the area at nine months old, they both knew their way around when they returned for a visit four years later. Some see this as a genuine case of reincarnation. Others believe that it’s mere coincidence inflated by grieving parents desperate to make connections. What about you?

#14: The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart

There’s a very good chance that Amelia Earhart crashed into the ocean. However, no one can make a definitive claim, as nothing has been proven either way. Earhart was an incredibly famous pilot in her day, being the first female to cross the Atlantic and writing numerous books. Earhart was attempting to fly around the globe in 1937 when she disappeared near Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean. Most people believe that she simply ran out of fuel and crashed, but no evidence of her plane has ever been found. Another popular theory suggests that Earhart crashed near or landed on Gardner Island in Kiribati, but again, there’s no hard evidence to suggest this. For now, all we have is speculation.

#13: Circleville Letters

In 1977, residents of Circleville, Ohio began receiving threatening and harassing anonymous letters. The letters had very distinctive handwriting, and contained accusations of embezzlement, affairs, and even murders. Ron Gillispie died under mysterious circumstances after receiving a phone call and announcing that he was going to confront the writer. His wife was nearly killed by a gun in a booby trap attached to a sign. It turned out that Paul Freshour, Ron’s brother-in-law, bought the gun, and his handwriting was deemed to match the letters. Yet during his time in prison, people in town continued receiving them - even while Freshour was in solitary confinement. If Freshour was the writer, he wasn’t working alone. We’re “writing this off” as an unsolved mystery.

#12: Havana Syndrome

Since 2016, U.S. officials and military personnel have been experiencing strange symptoms. These include pain, ringing in the ears, as well as difficulty with cognitive processes. Named for the location it was initially reported, the embassy in Havana, Cuba, Havana syndrome has since been reported at US bases and embassies in various countries. While some of those suffering from it have existing head injuries that could explain the symptoms, not all of them do. Proposed explanations have included a psychogenic illness, the sound of crickets, or even a microwave weapon. While the CIA has concluded that most cases were probably not caused by a foreign power, two dozen cases remain unexplained. Accidental or targeted, Havana syndrome is yet to be fully understood.

#11: Max Headroom Hijackings

On November 22nd in 1987, the broadcast of two Chicago TV stations was interrupted. Both interruptions featured an unidentified man dressed as the British A.I. character, Max Headroom. The masked man disparaged the local station he was interrupting, made several pop culture references, and got spanked with a flyswatter. The heavily distorted audio, rotating background, and masked man gave the hijackings an eerie, almost David Lynchian feel. The hijackers couldn’t be identified, nor did they come forward after the statute of limitations on their crime expired. These broadcasts seem destined to remain as mystifying as their contents.

#10: Salish Sea Feet

Since 2007, residents of Washington, USA and British Columbia, Canada, have found some rather morbid jetsam washed up on their beaches – detached human feet. Most of them were found still inside shoes. Foul play has been ruled out, as most of the identified victims were involved in accidents or took their own lives. It’s been speculated that the feet detached as the bodies decayed, and that the air pockets and buoyant foam in sneakers floated them to the surface. But it still seems extremely odd that there have been so many, and all around the same area.

#9: The Hum

This is kind of like the Havana Syndrome, only far more widespread and involving people not related to the American government. Reports of a general humming or rumbling noise have been made all across the world, including Windsor, Ontario and Taos, New Mexico, both of which have their own specially-named hums. While this sounds enormously irritating, help has been rare to non-existent. No one knows what’s causing the humming, with different areas reporting their own possible causes. For example, the Windsor Hum reportedly ended in 2020 when the blast furnaces of a local plant were deactivated. Others have blamed the likes of tinnitus, animals, and jet streams.

#8: Dancing Plague

The medieval period was a scary time, full of misery and poverty. These issues may have led to the dancing plague. The curious mania affected Europe throughout much of this period, spanning from the 14th to 17th centuries. People would take to the streets and dance until they hurt themselves or collapsed from exhaustion. Sometimes good-intentioned musicians would accompany the dancers, believing that their sounds would cure the affliction. It was the best that anyone could do, because no one knew how to treat it. Even to this day, the incident is poorly understood. Some attribute it to the general stress of living in medieval Europe, others to ergot poisoning and religious cults.

#7: Black Dahlia

Los Angeles, California

The solutions to some crimes that have been investigated for decades, such as the murder of Elizabeth Short, are still just as elusive as they were when they first began. The aspiring actress who became known as the Black Dahlia met her brutal fate in 1947, and since then, authorities haven’t come any closer to finding the killer. Besides the untrue details about Short herself that circulated throughout the media, over 500 people have confessed – some of whom were born after the crime took place. Celebrities and normal people alike have been named as potential perpetrators, with each lead eventually ending in a dead end. Despite the lack of results, many still are interested in finally giving her justice.

#6: Tromp Family Breakdown

No, Tromp! With an “O!” In 2016, Mark and Jacoba Tromp took their three adult children on an impromptu road trip hundreds of miles north, leaving their house unlocked. Mark seemed convinced that people were out to get them and forbade phones. Their son Mitchell brought one anyway, but it was later thrown out the car window. He left, not understanding his parents’ paranoia. Later, the daughters left too, stealing a car before splitting up. One, Riana, was found in a catatonic state. Ultimately, all returned safely, but no explanation has been given specifically for what happened. Whether it was shared psychosis, or someone was out to get the Tromps, the case has fascinated the world ever since.

#5: Oakville Blobs

In 1994, Oakville, Washington experienced perhaps the strangest weather phenomenon of the last few decades – it rained blobs. Strange goo fell from the sky over a period of several weeks, blanketing the town in ooze. What’s even more bizarre is that the residents experienced a widespread illness that lasted for several weeks too. So what could this goo have been? Was it evaporated bits of jellyfish that reformed in a cloud? Or maybe waste from an airplane? The most troubling theory is that the event was a military experiment on U.S. soil. There are a whole mess of theories about this messy, and weird weather.

#4: The “Wow!” Signal

Despite some very extensive and incredibly expensive efforts, we have found no hard evidence of extraterrestrial life - at least not public evidence. But we do have the “Wow!” signal. It was August 15, 1977, and a telescope at Ohio State University picked up a very bizarre radio wave. The telescope recorded the signal for a solid seventy-two seconds. A few days later, astronomer Jerry Ehman was studying the data when he stumbled across the signal. He circled the series of letters and numbers in red ink and wrote a very enthusiastic “Wow!” beside it. “Wow” is right. To this day, no one knows what caused the signal, and despite significant effort, it has never been found again.

#3: D.B. Cooper

The story of D. B. Cooper has captured our collective imaginations for decades. On November 24, 1971, a man largely known as “D. B. Cooper” hijacked an airplane for the modern equivalent of $1.3 million. The plane landed in Seattle and Cooper allowed the passengers to disembark. He then ordered that the empty aircraft be flown to Mexico City. But shortly after takeoff, Cooper opened the door and jumped out with his parachute. And with that, he disappeared from both the plane and history. Neither the man nor the money have ever been found, but a small portion was discovered on the Columbia River in 1980. It’s likely that Cooper died in the jump, but we just don’t know for sure.

#2: Disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370

On March 8th, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 vanished while flying from Malaysia to China. After a loss of communications and its disappearance from civilian radar, Flight 370 reappeared on military radar, having deviated from its planned flight path. The disappearance has fascinated the public for years and led to several expensive searches. It seemed impossible for an entire airplane to just go missing in an age where everything can be seen by satellites. Although a few pieces have washed ashore, the bulk of the aircraft and the reason for its deviation remain unclear. Speculations have run the gamut from a hijacking, to it being shot down, to some kind of equipment failure.

#1: Dyatlov Pass Incident

In 1959, nine Russian hikers were found dead in the Ural Mountains. All were severely injured, several were undressed, and they had cut their way out of their tent from the inside. Some were burned, and others slightly radioactive. Most seemed to have died of hypothermia or their injuries. The case has baffled the public and authorities for over half a century. Theories include an avalanche, an animal attack, or military involvement. The most plausible theory involves the group camping against a heavy snowbank, which collapsed, leading them to assume an avalanche and freezing after they escaped the tent. But, unless there really was outside involvement, only the victims know the truth.

Do you have theories about any of these unusual events or discoveries? Let us know in the comments below!