Have you ever had the feeling that there is more to a story than what you see? Then you are probably familiar with conspiracy theories. A conspiracy theory explains an event or situation by suggesting that a powerful group is secretly involved, often for their benefit, even when simpler explanations are available. It consists of the belief that unseen forces control significant events.
To simplify the definition with example would be: One looking at a magician who makes a coin disappear. Most people would be amazed, while someone might remark, "It's a trick! He has a hidden room!" This is an example of a conspiracy theory that describes a secret plan behind the scene.
There are conspiracy theories all over the world, on every subject from the moon landings being faked to the Earth being flat. It is like trying to find connections without enough to work with, making it easy to see patterns where there are none, creating a story that feels true but is not necessarily so.
Here are some conspiracy theories for our readers that may make you question if what you think you know is true.
Note: The article below is for entertainment purposes only. Viewer discretion is advised.
Listing out 40 mind-bending conspiracy theories
1. Bermuda Triangle Mystery
The Bermuda Triangle, spanning the ocean from Florida to Puerto Rico and Bermuda, has long captured the imagination with tales of ships and planes disappearing into thin air. Whispers of supernatural forces, including mischievous aliens and time-warping anomalies, have fueled countless legends.
What allows the mystique surrounding the Bermuda Triangle to thrive, is a combination of unexplained disappearances, exaggerated statistics, and mankind's collective fascination with the unknown. Though people have debated the topic with logical reasoning, the events occurring in this area have several minds thinking as to why unexplainable events occur in this region and why responsible authorities avoid flying or sailing through it.
2. Area 51
Did you know that there is a place on a map that is marked as a secret military base? Well yes, this area is called Area 51. This area is no simple military base where to can pay a visit but consists of a giant "No Trespassing" sign for the whole world. The area is so well guarded that you can see signs warning you to stay away, cameras watching your every move, and even armed guards patrolling the area.
The conspiracy theory behind this area has been made for a long time as people have begun whispering pretty wild theories about Area 51 for years now. Some folks believe it's where the government hides crashed UFOs and even the bodies of aliens. The theory doesn’t stop there, they think scientists there are trying to figure out how alien technology works so they can build their super-weapons.
3. Bigfoot/Sasquatch
Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, is a giant ape-like creature that some people believe roams North America. Some people believe these creatures are real and claim to site at least one BigFoot from time to time. People believe that these creatures are a distant cousin of humans, that somehow survived in the wilderness with their magical powers.
People believe that Bigfoot can disappear into thin air and can travel through wormholes.
4. Loch Ness Monster
For over 1,500 years, whispers of a creature have echoed through the Scottish Highlands. Legends of the Loch Ness Monster, a long-necked reptile thought to have vanished millions of years ago, have captivated imaginations for centuries.
The first siting was said to have been made in 565 AD by an Irish missionary St. Columba when they encountered a beast in the River Ness. But it wasn't until the 1930s that Nessie burst onto the world stage.
For decades, waves of monster hunters have descended upon Scotland, determined to uncover the truth with claims of numerous siting being made. This conspiracy theory has also spiked the attention of scientists worldwide. Is it a real creature lurking in the depths, a relic of a bygone era? Or is it all just a fantastic tale, a bit of Scottish folklore come to life?
5. Elvis Presley is Alive
Elvis Presley died 47 years ago on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. When the news of his death was announced, it shocked many and left fans in disbelief. Since then, conspiracy theories have surfaced with people claiming to have seen him in various places after his death. Some believe that Elvis faked his death to escape the pressures of fame and seek a normal life.
However, it is important to note that despite the popularity of these theories, there is no solid evidence to support them.
6. Paul McCartney Death Conspiracy
The "Paul is Dead" conspiracy theory claims that Paul McCartney of The Beatles died in a car accident in 1966 and was secretly replaced by someone who looked like him. The theory began after McCartney was involved in an accident in December 1965 in which he chipped a tooth. Despite this, he appeared in public looking very much alive.
However, when listeners heard the intro verse of "Revolution 9" on The Beatles' White Album, which includes the phrase "Turn me on, dead man," it led to many different theories.
7. Artificial Intelligence Takeover
The AI takeover conspiracy theory suggests that advanced AI could one day surpass human intelligence, leading to a future in which AI controls or even enslaves humans. Because AI is simplifying tasks in many areas, some fear that its rapid growth could lead to significant job losses, creating social and economic challenges.
Some concerns allowing AI to take over could lead to humans losing their ability to understand and manage it.
8. Project Blue Beam
The Project Blue Beam conspiracy theory is a wild idea. The theory suggests that powerful groups like NASA or the United Nations are secretly plotting to take over the world using mind-blowing technology.
To make this simpler for our readers let's look at this with an example: Imagine the powerful groups using holograms to project fake images in the sky. Maybe it's Jesus coming back to life, or maybe it's aliens invading! These mind games would cause chaos and make people lose faith in their religions. This theory believers also believe that Project Blue Beam will be done to scare everyone so much that they'll be willing to accept a new, one-world government.
9. Climate Change Denial
People who believe in the climate change denial conspiracy believe that scientists are deceiving us. They believe that the evidence for climate change is either made up or altered by scientists, politicians, or powerful groups for their own benefit.
They believe that scientists are being dishonest about climate change in order to secure more research funding, promote their political views, or control our actions.
Some even see discussions about climate action as a hidden agenda. They fear it could be a means to limit our freedom, concentrate power in the hands of a few, or manipulate the global economy.
10. Ancient Aliens
The Ancient Aliens theory is a popular conspiracy theory. It suggests that aliens have been visiting Earth for a long time and may have helped ancient civilizations create remarkable structures.
Numerous believers believe that sites such as the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge are too impressive to have been built by humans alone. They argue that extraterrestrials must have contributed to advanced technology. Some also believe that ancient texts, such as the Bible and Sumerian scriptures, contain hidden messages.
Scientists, however, are skeptical. There is not much hard evidence to support these claims.
11. Dinosaur Extinction Conspiracy
The main reason why dinosaurs went extinct is that a huge asteroid hit Earth about 66 million years ago. However, some people like to differ from the stated theory. According to conspiracy theory believers, their theory claims there is a cover-up to hide proof of advanced ancient civilizations that may have lived with dinosaurs.
The theory further explains that aliens saw dinosaurs as a threat. Leading them to intentionally cause their extinction. This could have been possible only by using advanced weapons or changing the environment. These conspiracy theories, while interesting, do not have strong scientific support and are mostly rejected by the scientific community.
12. Shape Shifter Conspiracy
The Reptilian conspiracy theory claims that a race of alien reptiles is secretly running the world. These reptilian aliens can supposedly change their shape, so they can look like humans or animals and can easily hide among us.
People who believe this think that powerful people like politicians and famous leaders are shape-shifting reptiles in disguise. They believe these reptilians are secretly pulling the strings to control us and make the world work in their favor.
13. Flat Earth Conspiracy
The flat earth theory claims that our planet is not a globe, but a large flat disc. Believers in this idea believe that scientists and organizations like NASA are hiding the truth. They argue that the evidence for a round earth is fake or created to deceive us.
Flat-Earthers believe that we should be able to easily see the curvature of the Earth, but we cannot. They also believe that pictures and videos from space are not real.
14. 9/11 Conspiracy
The attacks of September 11, 2001, were a tragic event that shocked the world. Discussions about the event continue to evoke feelings of grief and loss. They also give rise to many conspiracy theories. Despite strong evidence and official investigations, some people do not believe the official story.
9/11 attacks conspiracy thrives on distrust of government, hidden truths, and the influence of online groups. For years these people have been proposing different ideas. People claim that the government knew in advance or that the World Trade Center was brought down by controlled demolition. In a world filled with skepticism and doubt, these alternative views find a receptive audience.
15. Vaccine Conspiracy
People often believe some pretty wild things about vaccines! They think vaccines are dangerous, like they might have secret chips in them, or poison, or even parts of unborn babies. Some even think vaccines can cause serious problems like autism or make you suddenly get sick.
Others think vaccines don't even work and might make you more likely to get sick.
***It's important to remember that these are just ideas.
16. Chemtrails
In 1996, the Air Force published a research paper entitled "Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025.' This paper introduced the concept of chemtrails. The paper discusses a theoretical system for controlling the weather for military use, but it is only a concept and not an active project.
This conspiracy theory party thinks that the long white lines, left there in the sky by the jets, are something more than mere condensation trails. Their paranoid minds spin the yarn that the government or some big secret organization is spraying harmful chemicals over them.
These chemicals, according to them, might cause health issues like everything in this world; the other possible problem they can cause is weather alteration. But The Air Force has put on record that this paper doesn't reflect what they do as of now.
17. New World Order
The New World Order (NWO) is an ominous concept that comes into someone's mind which induces in them the idea of believing the presence of a secret and very rich and powerful group, that could eventually overpower the world.
The individuals who believe in this theory are, of the opinion that these powerful individuals secretly organize and control events such as wars, pandemics, and the economy. Controlling these sectors according to them, will weaken countries and make it easier for them to rule over.
The conspiracy theory believers believe that the United Nations and the World Bank are just fronts from where these great people gather wealth and power. People also believe that these individuals have already begun manipulating things like the news and education to brainwash people.
18. The Illuminati controls Hollywood
The idea that the Illuminati controls Hollywood is a popular conspiracy theory. This theory suggests that a secret group of powerful people called the Illuminati secretly run the entertainment industry, especially Hollywood.
As per this theory believers, members of the Illuminati insert hidden messages into movies, music videos, and other media to influence audiences without their knowledge. This is done to support their agenda. Proponents of this theory believe that the Illuminati shaped the careers of actors, directors, and musicians. Being a part of this sect ensures that only those who fit their agenda become successful.
19. Subliminal Messages
Some people are inclined to believe that hidden messages are often used in movies, music, or even advertising. Usage of subliminal messages is so subtle that most of the time you don't even realize you're seeing or hearing it, but it can affect your thought processes and emotions.
The concept is that powerful organizations like governments and giant corporations use such secret messages to control the masses without them even knowing. For example, some people believe that there are instances when these theory believers have found hidden messages in songs when they are played backward.
20. "They" are out to get us
The idea that "they're out to get us" suggests that some powerful and secret group, such as the government or wealthy individuals, is trying to harm or control people. People who believe this think that there is a hidden force interfering to keep us from succeeding.
They may believe that the government is constantly monitoring us through our phones and computers, which is not true. They also believe that the media is under the influence of this group, spreading false information and hate.
21. The "Curse" of Certain Roles
A few individuals tend to believe in an inherent 'curse' associated with certain occupations or designations. According to this belief, such an office is believed to inflict bad luck, if not death, upon the unfortunate people who work in that field.
Therefore, any curse around the house has to be believed chiefly on personalities and historical figures that this phenomenon has also produced, implying that the events are the consequence of some mysterious or supernatural powers.
22. The "Oscar Curse"
Many people believe in the 'Oscar curse'. The Oscar Curse is a superstition that winning the Best Actress award can bring bad luck. Some think it often leads to relationship issues for the actress, such as divorce or breakups. Others are concerned that winning an Oscar might negatively affect an actress's career, possibly making it harder for her to find good roles.
23. The "Me Too" Movement Impact
Some people believe that the #MeToo movement is a secret attack on powerful men. They think a hidden group is trying to hurt these men for political reasons or to weaken society.
Others who share this view worry that the movement has created a scary and unfair environment. They feel that men are now often presumed guilty without evidence, which can have serious and harmful consequences.
24. The moon landing was faked
Imagine yourself as a ten-year-old kid with an imagined interest in space. You watch old footage showing Neil Armstrong's first step on the moon, but something seems wrong. The flag appears to be waving, shadows look odd, and you slowly begin to see little details that don't seem correct.
And this is how we come to the conspiracy theory that started in the year 1969. Some people believe that the Apollo 11 landing was just a hoax staged. This theory mainly was based on the photo indicating some phenomena or things best explained with things like camera angles, lighting, and film processing. Nevertheless, the whole scientific community has thoroughly debunked this theory.
25. The universe is a simulation
Imagine being in a world of video games. You explore, meet characters, and feel happiness and sadness. The game feels so real that you sometimes forget it’s not the real world.
The simulation hypothesis is like that but on a cosmic scale. This conspiracy theory suggests that a highly advanced civilization might have the ability to create very detailed simulations of entire universes, including conscious beings like us.
26. The Big Bang Theory is a lie
The universe began about 13.8 billion years ago. This event is popularly known as the Big Bang, but it must be emphasized that scientists are still unsure of how the universe began, and even if a beginning is acceptable.
Instead of saying, "The universe exploded into existence," one might say: "Scientists believe that the universe began in a very hot, dense state and has been expanding and changing ever since." Such statements convey the uncertainty and journey of scientific discovery.
We are constantly learning and refining our understanding of the universe, with so much yet to be explored.
27. Flight 914: The Ghost plane
The allusion to Pan Am Flight 914 is a common urban legend. A Pan Am Douglas DC-4 disappeared during a flight from New York to Miami in 1955. The same plane, somehow, reappeared after some years, often said to be 37 years later, at a landing in an airport located in South America that is mostly identified to be Caracas, Venezuela.
The passengers and crew on board seemed all of the same age as they were on departure, dressed in 1950s clothing, and unaware of how much time had gone by.
28. The government is hiding a cure for cancer
The conspiracy theory suggests that a cure for cancer is being hidden by the government, claiming that it exists but is not being made public because pharmaceutical companies profit greatly from treating the disease and raising funds for it.
29. Minimalism is a cult
Minimalism has become a very popular concept. It's interesting how it's often presented in a very specific way, to keep up with the minimalist aesthetic.
It makes sense that it would appeal to people who are looking for ways to simplify their lives and reduce stress. Minimalism has indeed influenced many aspects of our culture, from design to how we think about consumption. But why is it believed to be a cult now, is the word itself being marketed outside as a brand?
If you visit a story and see the term minimalism being used in front of it, you will notice that the object is high priced compared to the rest.
30. The vegan agenda
The "vegan agenda" conspiracy theory consists of unsubstantiated claims that vegans are part of a hidden group that wants everyone to adopt a vegan lifestyle.
31. Parallel Universes exist
The theory of parallel universes has inspired many works of fiction. For physicists and philosophers alike, the scientific basis for such a theory continues to be debated and speculated upon.
The more tantalizing thought for centuries has been that of parallel universes: realities where history is written differently. Although the idea of multiple universes in the making is common in science fiction, it has yet to yield any scientific proof to make or break the argument.
32. Black holes are portals to other dimensions
Myriads of notions floated up through scientific pursuit or science fiction into how black holes could lead into other dimensions. Some scientific theories argue that black holes might serve as wormholes, purely theoretical tunnels patched between two different points of space-time. While creating wormholes is pure conjecture, they rest on the equations of general relativity.
String theory, which is one of the most attractive candidates for a unified universe theory, postulates that our universe is possibly made of more than three spatial dimensions. Black holes may thus open routes to connect these extra dimensions.
33. Time travel
The idea of traveling back and forth in time is one of mankind's oldest fascinations, though it often crosses into conspiracy theory territory.
Many conspiracy theories claim that secret time travel technology is owned by governments and developed in black top-secret projects.
All of these theories suggest that governments are suppressing information about the existence of time travel to keep it under wraps because it would lead to chaos if every one of these people knew about it.
34. Plastic surgery is mandatory in Hollywood
Hollywood is full of conspiracy theories: one of them is that plastic surgery is necessary. The fact that someone can be made to feel that they need surgery defines the imperfection associated with the desire to appear youthful. Beauty standards are publicized to the extent that they seem to suggest that there is an identical look for everyone in the industry, thus suggesting that such a look is indeed necessary.
However, in the entertainment industry, it's talent first and beauty second - it's entirely voluntary for actors to undergo cosmetic surgery.
35. The Matrix is real
The scenario that we may be living in a simulated cosmos, also known as the "Matrix" hypothesis, is probably derived from the hit movie trilogy. Proponents of this theory recognize such a reality as a computer-generated simulation operated by an unseen force. They claim that all experiences, thoughts, and feelings are just a part of this simulation. This simulation is believed to either control the individual, or perhaps extract energy from them, or simply keep them passive.
36. The NBA Draft is fixed
A team that is not favored to win a certain lottery or outperforms its expectations raises a few eyebrows. One has reason to suspect that there's more than just luck involved.
Odds have never been that far-fetched. Is it scared to admit that it wants to be good enough to make its team have the best chance at the top pick? And if that doesn't happen, the feeling is often that it is just unfair.
They often say that the independent auditors have not been transparent in such environments, which do not seem to outsiders and tend to doubt the findings.
37. TWA Flight 800 was hit by a missile
TWA Flight 800, which crashed in 1996, seems to have been much more than that. According to the official investigation, the plane was destroyed by an accidental explosion of its fuel vapors, but a wider range of suspicions say it was hit by a missile, either fired by the United States Navy or the result of a terrorist attack. Others believe it was bombed.
38. All conspiracy theories are connected
Believing one conspiracy theory makes them open to others. Strengthens the argument for the existence of a larger and interconnected network of deception. The worldview of such criminals usually includes a skeptical view of authority, a belief in hidden agendas, and a view of the world as a dangerous place controlled by unseen forces. This broad perspective can lend itself to thinking that various theories are related.
39. HAARP Manipulation
HAARP was a project to study the Earth's atmosphere, sponsored by the American government. It ran from 1993 to 2014.
Many people think that this project has a dark side. Many people think it is used to control the weather, such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Others think it can affect thoughts and feelings.
It should be noted that these are only speculations and have no actual scientific proof.
40. Predictive Programming
It believes that elite and globalist forces deliberately plant messages within culture-territory (movies, TV shows, music, etc.) to prepare people for future events in a very anticipatory way. An example of this belief is "predictive programming.