People have different theories about current and past events. Some of these theories have higher or lower probability while some result in hoaxes. Some of the most popular ones have since proven false, but others still leave plenty of space for mystery.
John F. Kennedy’s assassination sparked many conspiracies due to the unusual circumstances surrounding the event. The assassination occurred on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas while in a motorcade. After receiving two bullet wounds by Lee Harvy Oswald, Kennedy was pronounced dead at one p.m. The most common theories relating to his death have to do with differing political opinions and the strange nature of the medical evidence. Some say that his assassination had to do with wanting to end Kennedy’s time as president, giving his remaining time to his vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson. People believe that the two separate firearm wounds came from separate assailants, as the trajectory of the bullets seems highly unusual. A similar theory, called the “Magic Bullet Theory,” adds on to the previous conspiracy. It states how unusual the trajectory of the bullet appears and how the condition of the bullet makes no sense in comparison to the injuries it caused. Differing medical evidence has also caused conspiracy theories. Medical accounts differ based on the eyewitness account and the autopsy report. Eyewitnesses claimed that the bullet entered in on the right side of the back of his head. The autopsy report showed that the bullet entered in on the base of the back of his head while the Zapruder film, a video recording of the event, showed what looked like the bullet hitting him from the front. All these discrepancies have given outlookers pause, making them question the medical and official records.
The moon landing took place on July 16, 1969 on the Apollo 11 mission. The theory surrounding this consists of the idea that NASA faked the moon landing. The belief came from one of two places. One theory stated that NASA wanted to win the Space Race against the Soviet Union so desperately that they had the willingness to lie to the public and fake the moon landing. The other theory thought that NASA could have faked it to take public attention away from the ongoing Vietnam War due to the amount of negative backlash the government received. They believed that “evidence” such as the American flag waving on the moon and the moon rock the astronauts brought back proved that the expedition was pre-recorded. The main cause for concern came from the flag. When the astronauts placed the flag on the moon, it appeared to wave. This would not happen if they actually landed on the moon as the airless and motionless atmosphere has no wind. However, this happened due to the way that the astronauts handled the flag and its packaging. It appeared to be waving when it, in actuality, did not. Many people have disproved the theory about the “fake” moon landing, proving its existence and historical significance.
The Illuminati only had a confirmed existence in 1776, but theories of it still existing today run rampant. The original Illuminati, the Baravian Illuminati, existed in Baravaia (modern day Germany) during the eighteenth century. Adam Weishaupt, the founder, valued enlightenment ideals of individualism and reason. This group quickly gained popularity among the common people, but the government of the time shut it down in 1787. This happened due to the group’s opposition to the government. Theories of it today tend to show the opposite of what the original group stood for. The theoretical Illuminati now consists of powerful figures around the world working to unify the globe under a totalitarian government. They supposedly orchestrate wars, change the economy and manipulate politics in their favor. Suspected symbols of the Illuminati consist of the “Eye of Providence” on the US dollar bill, the numbers 666, pentagrams and more. None of this has any proven truth, but it remains a pretty popular theory.
Area 51, located in Groom Lake, Nevada, has a plethora of alien related conspiracies centered around it. In 1989, Robert Lazer claimed to have worked on Area 51 and seen proof of aliens existing. The base already shrouded itself in secrecy due to the highly confidential nature of the projects going on there, which makes it a prime suspect for conspiracies. People believe that the mystery around this base is a result of the government trying to cover up alien intelligence and information. People have reported seeing “U.F.Os” around the base as well as other suspicious activity. While the base has its fair share of secrets that the public will most likely never know, Area 51’s supposed “U.F.O” sightings have a fairly simple explanation. This military base specifically works on aircrafts and aircraft testing. When the most U.F.O sightings happened, the testing at that time consisted of the U-2 spy planes. They looked highly unusual, so many confused them for U.F.Os. While the public will never know the full secrets of Area 51, the conspiracies surrounding aliens still run rampant.
Conspiracies can allow for a fun bit of intrigue. However, theories are still just theories, and until proven correct, they should not hold much power over one’s life. Enjoy the mystery.
Sources:
https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/november-22-1963-death-of-the-president
https://www.iop.org/explore-physics/moon/how-do-we-know-we-went-to-the-moon
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bavarian-illuminati
https://www.businessinsider.com/over-1-in-10-registered-voters-believe-the-illuminati-exists-2019-7
https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-known-and-not-known-about-area-51
