The Unexplained
Unexplained events, anomalous signals, and encounters that have resisted every attempt at classification.
106 articlesLatest in The Unexplained
Polybius: The Killer Arcade Game That Got Erased from History
Uncover the truth behind Polybius, the legendary 1981 arcade game said to cause seizures, mind control, and disappearances in Portland, Oregon—before vanishing without a trace.
A Message from the Stars: Who Sent ‘The Wow! Signal’?
In 1977, the Big Ear telescope detected the Wow! Signal—a narrowband radio transmission that remains the strongest candidate for a genuine message from extraterrestrial intelligence. Explore the mystery, the science, and the theories behind this cosmic enigma.
Aafia Siddiqui: Terrorist or Victim?
Was Aafia Siddiqui an unrepentant terrorist, a victim of American injustice, or something in between? Explore the disputed case of the Pakistani neuroscientist known as both "Lady Al-Qaeda" and the "Daughter of Pakistan."
Africa's Stonehenge.
Explore the controversial claims surrounding Adam's Calendar in South Africa—an alleged 250,000-year-old stone calendar that some call the oldest man-made structure on Earth, while skeptics see natural rocks and wishful thinking.
Alien Abduction: Is Travis Walton's Story the Most Compelling Evidence We Have?
A skeptical examination of the 1975 Travis Walton alien abduction case, exploring the incident, investigation, and enduring questions surrounding one of UFOlogy's most famous stories.
An Anthology of Dark Internet Mysteries
A comprehensive revisit of internet mysteries including Unfavorable Semicircle, Kate Yup, Celebrity Number Six, and The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet, with updates on their solutions and new developments.
More in The Unexplained
The Bloop and the Sounds of the Deep
In 1997, NOAA hydrophones detected an ultra-low-frequency sound of extraordinary power emanating from the South Pacific. For years it was unexplained. Then geology provided an answer — but the ocean had more mysteries waiting.
The Wow! Signal: 72 Seconds That Changed the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
On August 15, 1977, a radio telescope in Ohio detected a narrowband transmission so remarkable that the astronomer on duty circled it and wrote a single word. Nearly five decades later, it has never been explained.
The Bermuda Triangle: How a Legend Gets Manufactured
The Bermuda Triangle was invented in 1964 by a writer for a pulp fiction magazine. This is the story of how a manufactured mystery became one of the twentieth century's most durable legends — and what the famous disappearances actually show.
The Bermuda Triangle: What the Numbers Actually Show
The Bermuda Triangle has swallowed hundreds of ships and aircraft in the popular imagination. The data tells a different story — one about the history of maritime insurance, selective reporting, and how a legend gets built from nothing.