HowStuffWorks_Conspiracy_Theories

Why do some people believe the U.S. is preparing for civil war?

Did Wilhelm Reich really discover a new form of energy? If he was just a fraud, then why did the FDA burn all his books?

It's true: We do have real lost technology. But what kind of stuff, exactly?

Several gaping craters recently appeared in the Yamal Peninsula of Siberia -- but what created them?

Decades of strange accidents and alleged disappearances have given the Bermuda triangle a terrible reputation -- but how much of this is deserved?

For decades Fidel Castro ruled Cuba -- and the CIA continuously tried to assassinate him. Some of their plans seemed orthodox, but others were outrageous (and even involved organized crime).

The Baghdad batteries and the Antikythera mechanism have puzzled many historians -- they just appear too advanced for their time. Where did they come from?

What are the common techniques propagandists use to sell you everything from a soda to a war?

Join Ben and Matt as they explore the differences between various versions of the Bible. Why do some contain books removed from others?

You may not have heard of the biggest trade deal in recent US history -- and that's the way world governments like it. So what is this thing? Why should it matter to you?

Is it possible that the future of the world's stock markets will be decided by increasingly intelligent software programs?

It's no secret that religious extremists in the Middle East use kidnapping and robbery to generate income -- but they have investors as well. And, though you might not hear it in the news, many of these investors are US allies.

People around the world eat processed foods -- and it's likely that you've either just eaten (or are about to eat) something containing any number of synthetic flavors, preservatives or other additives. So what's in all this stuff?

Despite numerous publicized efforts to destroy opium crops and end the drug trade, opium production has actually increased in the wake of war. What happened?

It's true that some news outlets have been blocked -- by either governments, corporate sponsors or their owners -- from reporting sensitive issues that might raise public outrage. So what did we miss? The answer might disturb you.

Since the dawn of civilization, nightmares have haunted the human mind. But what are they, exactly? Why do some people think they're more than hallucinations? Listen in to learn about the superstition and science surrounding sleep paralysis.

Are GMOs the wave of the future or an unprecedented danger?

Is it possible that someone has been playing both sides of the financial fence, seeking to destabilize markets for their own purposes?

Pope John Paul I was one of the shortest-reigning popes in Church history, and his untimely death led to numerous conspiracy theories. But could any of them be true? Why do some people believe this pope was murdered?

Learn more about how the Smith-Mundt act, designed to prevent domestic propaganda, became law -- and what happened to it afterward.

What if intelligence agencies were secretly involved with everything from the Manson family to the People's Temple and more?

Do any of the rumors about the Jesuit organization have a grain of truth?

Did a cartel of business interests really collude to make light bulbs worse -- and increase profits at the same time?

It's been said that diamonds are a girl's best friend, and they hold an important place in Western culture -- but why?

Death is one of, if not the most, enigmatic things in the human experience. We have no proof of life after death, and no clue about what happens to the mind when the body expires. So what's it like to die and return?