Buzz
For many, the most fascinating mysteries are those from times long gone. Occasionally, answers are discovered unexpectedly, like a stroke of luck. Other times, relentless determination leads to uncovering the truth.
10. The Two-Decade Quest to Find a Lost Opera
Enrique Granados, a celebrated Spanish composer, created an unpublished opera titled Maria del Carmen in 1898. Set in Murcia, the opera depicted a love triangle and was so well-received at its Madrid premiere that the Queen of Spain awarded Granados the prestigious Charles III Cross. Despite this acclaim, the original version of the opera was never staged again.
In 1916, when the New York Metropolitan Opera performed another of Granados' works, the composer and his wife traveled to America with the sole copy of Maria del Carmen, hoping to convince the Met to showcase his magnum opus. When their efforts failed, the couple boarded a ship to Spain via England, only to have their vessel struck by a German submarine in the English Channel.
While the couple tragically drowned, the three-volume opera survived, as did their six children, who had remained in Barcelona. Two decades later, a financially struggling son sold the opera to an American musician, against the wishes of other family members. For years, the ownership of the music was disputed in court. Before the legal battle concluded, the opera was allegedly lost in a New York warehouse fire in 1970.
Years later, Walter Clark, a graduate student researching music, stumbled upon the story of the missing masterpiece. For two decades, he couldn’t shake his curiosity about its fate. “I questioned whether it was truly destroyed,” Clark recalled. “No one had thoroughly checked the inventory after the fire. While working on my [2006 biography of Granados], I reached out to the grandson of the man who had bought Maria, and he continued the search.”
In 2009, the opera was finally discovered, though it had suffered smoke and water damage. Thanks to the detective work of the music professor, Maria del Carmen was restored and published by Trito. For the first time since 1899, the opera is set to be performed in Spain in 2015.
9. The Moroccan Village Perched on a Massive Rock Heap
Nestled at an elevation of approximately 3,900 meters (13,000 ft), the village of Arroumd rests precariously on a colossal mound of rocks in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains. For more than 130 years, the origin of this rock pile has puzzled scientists. While many believed a glacier's movement deposited the rocks, advanced dating methods suggest seismic activity 4,500 years ago was responsible. The village lies close to a significant tectonic fault beneath a cliff face.
Although glacial erosion likely weakened the cliff, making it prone to collapse, the rock avalanche happened roughly 7,000 years after the glacier disappeared. Thus, while the glacier may have set the stage, an earthquake likely triggered the massive rockfall.
Beyond the towering rock pile, Arroumd is shrouded in mystery. “Several strange incidents have occurred here, including minor accidents and unexplained illnesses among visitors,” said lead researcher Philip Hughes. “I often joke about the ‘curse’ of the Arroumd landform. This year, we faced intense whirlwinds upon entering the valley . . . We couldn’t even stand upright, which is highly unusual for this region, known for its typically hot and calm climate.”
8. The True Cause of Mary Ingalls' Blindness
In the beloved Little House on the Prairie book series, Laura Ingalls Wilder recounted how her sister, Mary, lost her sight at 14 due to scarlet fever. This event was also portrayed in the TV adaptation of the books. However, medical experts argue that this explanation doesn’t align with medical facts.
Dr. Beth Tarini first questioned this narrative during her medical training. “During my pediatrics rotation,” Tarini recalled, “we discussed scarlet fever, and I mentioned, ‘Scarlet fever causes blindness. That’s what happened to Mary Ingalls.’” Her professor corrected her, sparking Tarini’s decade-long quest to uncover the truth behind Mary’s blindness.
After years of research, Tarini and her team discovered that while Mary had scarlet fever as a child, her illness at 14 was described as “brain fever.” There was no mention of the characteristic scarlet fever rash during her teenage years. Although scarlet fever had a high mortality rate in the 1800s, blindness from the disease was typically temporary.
During their investigation, the team uncovered a 1937 letter from Laura to her daughter, Rose, detailing Mary’s illness. Written just before the release of her book By the Shores of Silver Lake, which attributed Mary’s blindness to scarlet fever, the letter revealed: “Mary suffered from a spinal ailment. The doctor didn’t specify its name. Later, when Pa took her to a specialist in Chicago, Illinois, we learned the nerves of her eyes were paralyzed, and there was no cure.”
After examining historical documents, including local newspaper reports of Mary’s severe headaches and partial facial paralysis, researchers concluded she likely had viral meningoencephalitis, a condition that inflames the brain and spinal cord. This inflammation can also damage the optic nerve, leading to blindness.
7. The Gospel of the Lots of Mary
Recently translated by Anne Marie Luijendijk, a Princeton University religion professor, the 1,500-year-old “Gospel of the Lots of Mary” is not a traditional gospel about Jesus Christ’s life, as previously thought. Instead, it functions like a fortune-telling tool, offering guidance and solutions to personal dilemmas.
This Christian oracle text, composed in the Egyptian Coptic language using the Greek alphabet, begins with the words: “The Gospel of the lots of Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, she who received the good news from the Archangel Gabriel. Whoever approaches with sincerity will find what they seek. Only do not doubt.”
The introduction initially led Luijendijk to assume it was a traditional gospel. Instead, she discovered the well-worn book contained 37 oracles, most of which scarcely referenced Jesus. Individuals seeking advice would pose a question to the book’s owner, who would then randomly select an oracle to provide a solution, interpreting its meaning for the seeker.
Each oracle is crafted with such ambiguity that it applies to a wide range of situations. For instance: “Cease your doubts, o human, wondering if this will come to pass. Indeed, it shall! Be courageous and do not waver. For it will endure, bringing you joy and contentment.”
Ancient “lot books” were used to foretell the future. This particular book maintains an optimistic tone about what lies ahead. Luijendijk notes that it is unique among lot books for being called a “gospel,” meaning “good news.” This suggests that gospels in ancient times may have been perceived more broadly, not exclusively as narratives about Jesus’ life and death.
In 1984, the manuscript was donated to Harvard University by the daughter-in-law of an antiquities dealer. However, the origins of how and when the family acquired the book remain unknown.
6. The Mystery Behind Palmyra’s Location in the Syrian Desert
Palmyra, a crucial trading center in the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago, puzzled historians for years. They couldn’t comprehend how its 100,000 inhabitants thrived in the heart of the Syrian desert or why they chose to settle there.
A team of Norwegian and Syrian researchers has now uncovered the secret. Palmyra and dozens of nearby ancient Roman farming villages relied on a network of water reservoirs to transform the arid landscape into fertile land. By capturing and directing 12–15 centimeters (5–6 inches) of annual rainfall from seasonal storms into these reservoirs, the residents cultivated a variety of crops. This ensured a steady food supply, even during dry spells, turning Palmyra into a flourishing oasis of grand avenues, arches, and columns in the midst of a bustling desert marketplace.
The city flourished as a key trading center connecting Eastern and Western civilizations. While the Persians and Parthians ruled the East and the Romans the West, small independent kingdoms lay between them. These rulers imposed fees on travelers using their waterways, such as sections of the Euphrates and Nile Rivers.
To avoid the steep river taxes along direct routes, merchants opted for desert paths, stopping at Palmyra. There, they could acquire supplies and services necessary for their journeys, significantly boosting Palmyra’s wealth in ancient times.
5. The Mystery of Stonehenge’s Shape
Historians have long debated whether Stonehenge’s stones originally formed a complete circle. The absence of stones in the southwest led some to believe the structure was never finished.
However, a short hosepipe unintentionally unraveled the mystery without the need for digging or costly tools. The solution had been overlooked by thousands of visitors.
When a caretaker couldn’t water the entire Stonehenge area due to the hose’s limited length, patches of dry grass revealed indentations in the ground. If stones had once stood in these dry spots, the circle would have been complete. Other brown areas aligned with known excavation sites, proving the dry patches marked areas of deliberate human disturbance.
“Many assume we’ve fully excavated the site and uncovered all there is to know,” said Susan Greaney, a historian with English Heritage. “In reality, much remains unknown, and significant discoveries can still be made through non-invasive methods.”
This still leaves the question of what happened to the missing stones. Were they repurposed for local construction or roads? The answer remains unclear, but English Heritage might intentionally leave certain areas unwatered during future droughts to uncover more clues.
4. The Vanishing of the Nazca Civilization
For decades, historians were puzzled by the sudden disappearance of Peru’s Nazca civilization around A.D. 500. This culture is famed for creating the Nazca lines, massive geoglyphs etched into the desert. While many theories exist about their purpose, most experts agree the lines likely served as sacred paths for ritual practices.
Recent studies reveal that the Nazca civilization contributed to its own downfall. By cutting down vast numbers of huarango trees for agriculture, they severely damaged their ecosystem. These trees, which enriched soil fertility and retained moisture, were crucial for sustaining the environment. Their loss led to desertification, making the land unsuitable for farming.
“The huarango . . . was vital for food, timber, and fuel,” explained archaeologist David Beresford-Jones. “It improved soil fertility, moderated the microclimate, and anchored the floodplain with its deep roots. Over time, deforestation crossed a critical threshold, leaving the land vulnerable to desert winds and El Nino floods.”
Researchers suggest that a significant El Nino event coincided with the deforestation, causing catastrophic floods due to the absence of trees. This would have left the Nazca unable to produce sufficient food to sustain their population in the region.
3. The Mystery Behind the Hindenburg Disaster
The Hindenburg, a hydrogen-powered airship capable of crossing the Atlantic in half the time of ocean liners, met a fiery end as it attempted to land in Lakehurst, New Jersey, in May 1937. The explosion claimed 35 of the 100 people on board.
For decades, scientists have debated the cause of the explosion. While they agree that a spark ignited leaking hydrogen, the source of the spark and the gas leak remains disputed. Proposed theories include lightning, flammable paint, and even sabotage.
In 2013, a team of experts dismissed other theories and concluded that the Hindenburg had accumulated static electricity during a thunderstorm. A faulty gas valve or damaged wire allowed hydrogen to escape into the ventilation shafts. A static spark then ignited the hydrogen, triggering a fire in the tail section that led to the explosion.
“The most plausible source of the spark is electrostatic,” explained British aeronautical engineer Jem Stansfield. “The fire likely began at the top, and our experiments—using scale models of the airship—showed flames would have traveled downward. When they reached the bottom, the explosive gas mixture caused the massive blast.”
2. The Mystery of Cambyses’ Disappearance
As previously mentioned, the disappearance of Persian king Cambyses II’s army remains one of history’s great mysteries. Around 524 B.C., the king sent 50,000 soldiers into the Egyptian desert near Thebes (modern-day Luxor). When they vanished, ancient historians claimed a sandstorm had obliterated the entire force.
Modern Egyptologist Olaf Kaper, however, doubted this explanation. “Since the 19th century, both amateurs and professionals have searched for this army,” Kaper noted. “Some hoped to uncover an entire buried army, fully armed. But evidence shows that sandstorms don’t kill people, much less make an entire army disappear.”
By combining findings from excavations, historical texts, and ancient temple inscriptions (which Kaper translated), he concluded the Persian army was heading to Dachla Oasis, where rebel leader Petubastis III and his forces were stationed. The Persians were ambushed and decisively defeated. Following this victory, Petubastis reclaimed much of Egypt and declared himself Pharaoh in Memphis.
Kaper explains that Persian king Darius I ended the Egyptian rebellion in a brutal battle two years after Cambyses’ defeat. To preserve Persia’s honor, Darius fabricated the sandstorm story to conceal his predecessor’s humiliating loss.
1. The Return of a War Bracelet
During World War II, Warren McCauley, an Army soldier, lost or left behind his silver identification bracelet (“dog tag”) in Castel D’Aiano, Italy, in 1945. That same year, an Army news release highlighted McCauley’s bravery, stating he earned the Bronze Star for “courageously advancing under heavy gunfire to repair communication lines” severed by German forces.
While in Castel D’Aiano, McCauley visited the de Maria family home, which they generously opened to American soldiers for food and medical aid. When he departed, his bracelet remained behind. Whether he lost it, forgot it, or intentionally left it as a token of gratitude remains unknown.
Bruna de Maria, then an eight-year-old living in poverty, discovered the bracelet and cherished it as a precious keepsake. She lovingly cared for it over the years but never attempted to locate its original owner.
Years later, Bruna’s adult son, Stefano Sedda, convinced his mother to return the cherished bracelet to its rightful owner. “This bracelet holds historical significance,” Sedda said. “It belonged to an American soldier who fought to protect our country—that’s why I felt it should be returned.”
With the help of a friend, Sedda reached out to an American lawyer, who collaborated with a journalist and the Army to track down McCauley using the bracelet’s ID number. Although McCauley had passed away 30 years prior, they located his 85-year-old widow, Twila McCauley, in Buena Vista, California. While Warren had shared wartime anecdotes with his family—like falling into a river and being stepped on by a donkey—he had never mentioned the bracelet.
Twila McCauley and her family were deeply moved and thankful to receive this meaningful keepsake, reconnecting them with her late husband nearly 70 years after it was lost.
