HowStuffWorks_Conspiracy_Theories

Cultures across the planet have legends describing giant, human-like creatures. Usually, these stories are dismissed as folklore -- yet some people believe a race of giants did exist at some point in Earth's past. Tune in and learn more.

Since vaccines have become widely available, many diseases have become less of a threat to the global population. However, some people believe that vaccines aren't all they're cracked up to be.

What is the Pilgrims Society? This organization has been called a 'dinner club' by some and a back-door policy think tank by others. But what's the truth? Why do some conspiracy theorists believe the Society controls policy decisions in the U.K.?

Donald Trump, like his rival Hillary Clinton, has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. But why? Tune in for a look at the allegations surrounding his campaign for president. Stay tuned for next week’s episode on the Clinton campaign.

You've probably heard it in the news lately: more and more police departments are getting military-grade weapons, training, and equipment. But how did this trend start? Where is it headed? And why is it happening in the first place?

In the 1940s Quaker Oats and MIT joined forces to study the absorption of vitamins and minerals. They recruited kids at the Fernald State School to join the “Science Club” and fed them radioactive iron and calcium without their knowledge.

Join Ben and Matt as they take a closer look at some of the world's strangest places.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is set to be one of the biggest trade agreements in recent US history. So why are so many people furious about it?

How permanent is the past? Could facts, times, and specifics of events somehow change after the fact? If so, why? Learn more about the tricky nature of memory and allegations of the multiverse in today’s episode.

Easter is one of the most important celebrations in Christianity. So why do some people believe it was originally a pagan ritual?

In the 1960s, UN Security Chief Dag Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash over modern-day Zambia. For decades the files on the crash were classified or suppressed -- and now, it seems, the truth is finally coming to light.

So what happened? Learn why skeptics and fringe theorists alike continue to argue about 7 World Trade Center.

In an age of global connectivity, North Korea remains one of the most isolated -- and enigmatic -- countries on Earth. How much do we really know about it?

Did you know that there's no systematic, comprehensive study of police shootings across the United States?

Mystic, Mason and alleged prophet, Albert Pike stands as one of the most unusual and fascinating personalities from the Civil War era. But who was he, exactly?

History is filled with horrific stories of disease wiping out millions, but how likely is such an event today?

The War on Drugs has continued for decades, yet the U.S. remains the world's largest market for illegal drugs. But, according to some, this is a war that was never meant to be won.

You've heard of the Black Market, but what about the Red Market? Watch to learn about the secret world of the illegal human organ trade.

Some experts believe that Haitian zombies are victims of tetrodotoxin poisoning -- sometimes they've been buried and revived, but they were never actually dead. So what are the odds of actually resurrecting a corpse? Tune in to learn more.

What is the 1001 Club, and why do some theorists think this group is out to do more than just save public parks?

Is it true that there are more slaves alive today than at any other point in human history? What's the future of slavery and human trafficking? Join Ben and Matt as they take a closer look at the face of modern slavery.

It's no secret that inequality is skyrocketing - but according to various international institutions, extreme poverty is also diminishing. So what's the future of poverty - and why don't some critics trust the organizations created to fight it?

Who runs the Islamic state? And why do some believe there's more to their story than the mainstream wants you to know.

In the 21st century, you might assume that we already know most of the intricacies of the human brain... but you'd be wrong. We don't even have all of the basics down yet.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs, have fundamentally changed the nature of warfare. But who controls them? What are they doing, and why?