HowStuffWorks_Conspiracy_Theories

Tasked with building Stalin's new army of super soldiers, Russian scientist Dr. Ilya Ivanov attempted to breed monkeys and human beings. Learn more about humanzees -- and the people who think they already exist -- in this episode.

Join Ben and Matt as they explore the ins and outs of the pineal gland, along with the latest in neuroscience.

Human beings have believed in possession -- and exorcism -- for thousands of years. Nowadays most people associate exorcisms with horror movies, but are there any real exorcisms in the modern age?

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

While it may be possible to achieve some sort of immortality in the coming decades, global immortality might not be as beneficial as it sounds. Join Ben and Matt as they explore a world without death.

The world's countries can't agree on the best ways to combat pollution - or, for that matter, how to define it. So what's going on here? What's actually making it into water supplies, food sources and more?

When Muammar Gaddafi's regime fell, the Libyan rebels quickly set up new infrastructure, including a central bank and an oil company. These moves - as well as questions about the rebel movement - have fueled numerous conspiracy theories.

Aleister Crowley is one of recent history's most notorious (and self-styled) magicians. What did he do, exactly? And, perhaps most importantly, did Aleister ever achieve anything beyond scientific explanation? Tune in to learn more.

Nowadays many people are familiar with the legend of the Philadelphia Experiment -- but how did it all begin? Who is Carlos Allende? Tune in and learn more in this episode.

Could drugs and psychological torture turn an average person into an unwilling assassin? It sounds like the stuff of sci-fi -- so why do some people believe the CIA tried to do it in real life? Tune in to learn more about Project ARTICHOKE.

How many underground bases exist today? Is there any way to figure out what's stored in the world's various secret bunkers? Learn more in today's video.

What could turn a mild-mannered mother of two into a crazed torturer? What could change and innocent hiking group into a depraved cult? Tune in to learn more.

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

As frightening as it might sound to some people, future technological innovations could allow well-off parents to dictate numerous things about their child's appearance, intelligence, and perhaps even personality. But should we? Why or why not?

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have changed the nature of war. But where are they flying, and what are they doing? The answers might surprise you. Tune in to learn the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know about drones in the second part of this series.

It's a grisly, tragic fact that many of modern medicine's life-saving procedures and techniques come from horrendous experimentation. But what, exactly? How much do we know about history's unethical experiments?

Who killed RFK? Originally found guilty for the murder of Robert Kennedy, Sirhan Sirhan has spent years in prison -- but some people believe he was used as a scapegoat.

Join Matt and Ben as they speak with special guest Jeremy (MTGHeadquarters) about conspiracies in gaming, from card-hoarding cartels to the rumors about Steve Jackson's infamous Illuminati game.

You've probably heard some of the accusations regarding recent tragedies -- that the official story is wrong, and aspects of certain events are either misrepresented or staged completely. But could that be true? What are 'crisis actors?"

It seems that every year new evidence redefines our earlier assumptions about the past. Tune in to learn more with Ben and Matt.

The Dogon people are renowned for their artistic traditions, and their spiritual traditions are no less fascinating. But why did a French anthropologist believe they may have had contact with extraterrestrials? Tune in to learn more about the Nommo.

We hear the phrase constantly in TV shows and film, but what exactly is a front company? Are they really that prevalent? Who uses them, and why? Tune in to learn more.

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.

While skeptics believe the Illuminati disbanded in the 18th century, conspiracy theorists think the organization still exists -- and has nearly accomplished its ancient goals. But what, exactly, are these goals?

The Washington monument is one of the strangest structures in DC. Join the guys as they explore the weird history of this iconic obelisk.