Buzz
Throughout history, humanity has been fascinated by incredible myths, many of which likely have roots in reality. While the explanations provided here are not exhaustive or definitive, they offer intriguing possibilities. Some tales may simply be products of the boundless human imagination (and, of course, Occam’s razor suggests that sometimes the simplest answer is that they’re fictional). While skepticism is healthy, a bit of imaginative speculation can be entertaining.
10. Chupacabras: Sick Dogs And B Movies
Many envision the chupacabra as a canine-like beast. It was in this form that Erik Estrada famously defeated the chupacabras during the Battle of the Alamo. As previously discussed in the case of the Cuero chupacabra, these creatures are often identified as dogs afflicted with mange.
Mange is a severe condition caused by mites tunneling beneath the skin, leading to inflammation that disrupts blood flow to hair follicles, resulting in hair loss and sometimes secondary infections. Restricted blood flow also leaves the animals weak and exhausted, often struggling to survive. DNA tests on supposed chupacabra remains consistently reveal them to be diseased dogs, coyotes, or raccoons. Despite the chupacabra’s vampiric reputation, autopsies of their alleged prey show no signs of blood loss.
The first reported chupacabra in Puerto Rico in 1995 was quite distinct. It was bipedal with a spiked back, bearing little similarity to the later canine depiction. Instead, it closely resembled Sil, the alien-human hybrid from the 1995 B movie Species (featuring Michael Madsen, Forest Whitaker, Alfred Molina, and Ben Kingsley). The original witness, Madelyne Tolentino, had watched the film weeks before her alleged encounter. She even noted the striking similarity between the movie monster and her chupacabra sighting. This suggests either the filmmakers unknowingly replicated a real creature, or the film inspired Tolentino’s account. Additionally, a group of rhesus monkeys, known for walking upright, had escaped in Puerto Rico that year, potentially contributing to further sightings.
9. Phantom Cats: Military Mascots And Released Pets
Phantom cats, also known as Alien Big Cats, are large felines spotted in regions where they logically shouldn’t be. In Britain, sightings surged in the 1970s, with the infamous Beast of Exmoor blamed for the deaths of 100 sheep in 1983. This led to a £1,600 reward and the deployment of Royal Marine snipers, though no conclusive evidence was ever found.
While many reports can be attributed to oversized domestic or feral cats, others defy easy explanation. One theory suggests that after the 1976 Dangerous Wild Animals Act banned private ownership of exotic animals, some owners irresponsibly released their pets into the wild. This is supported by the capture or killing of smaller exotic cats like lynxes, an ocelot, and even a tame puma in Britain. However, the limited lifespan of these animals makes recent sightings harder to explain, though interbreeding with local species remains a possibility.
In Australia, sightings of panthers or pumas are common, particularly in Victoria and New South Wales. One bold theory proposes the survival of the marsupial lion, believed to have gone extinct with Australia’s megafauna around 40,000 years ago. A more plausible explanation is that US servicemen brought pumas as mascots during World War II, some of which escaped or were released and subsequently bred.
Regardless of their origins, Australia’s big cats are transitioning from cryptozoological legend to potential reality. A 2001 Freedom of Information request revealed the NSW government’s serious concerns, and a subsequent report acknowledged that “it seems more likely than not . . . that such animals do exist in NSW.”
8. Jason’s Golden Fleece: Alluvial Mining
In Greek mythology, Jason, the rightful heir to Iolcus, is tasked by his usurping uncle Pelias with an impossible quest: retrieving the golden fleece. He sets sail on the Argo to Colchis, located in modern-day Georgia at the Black Sea’s eastern edge. There, he allies with and weds the king’s daughter to secure the fleece. Upon returning to Greece, Jason attempts to abandon his wife, driving her to a murderous rage.
While the golden takin has been suggested as inspiration for the fleece, this creature resides in the Himalayas. A simpler explanation lies in Georgia’s local practices. Residents reportedly used sheepskin-lined sluice boxes to collect alluvial gold. Coarse gold was shaken out, but finer particles clung to the wet wool. The sheepskin was then dried, and the fine gold was beaten out, creating a (temporary) golden fleece. Over time, oral retellings may have transformed this into the legendary Golden Fleece.
Critics argue that concrete evidence of this practice only dates back to the sixth century BC, while the tale of Jason originates centuries earlier (first recorded around Homer’s time, c. 800 BC). However, the definitive account of Jason’s journey, Apollonius of Rhodes’s Argonautica, wasn’t written until the third century BC. Additionally, Jason’s connection to Colchis wasn’t established until c. 700 BC. It’s possible that later storytellers were influenced by contemporary Colchian practices rather than historical events from Jason’s supposed era (pre-Trojan War, c. 1300 BC).
7. Excalibur, The Lady In The Lake: Celtic Ritual And Steppe Sword Worship
The legendary King Arthur’s historicity and identity could fill an entire list, so we’ll focus on the tales of his swords. One pivotal moment involves Arthur proving his worth by drawing a sword from a stone. This story may have roots in Steppe traditions, where groups like the Scythians, Sarmatians, and Alans revered swords planted in the earth, symbolizing sovereignty.
Additionally, Alanic and Sarmatian leaders were selected from the finest warriors, who likely played key roles in rituals involving the sacred sword. The connection between Steppe traditions and Arthurian legend is further reinforced by Marcus Aurelius exiling 5,500 defeated Sarmatians to Britain in the second century. One of their leaders, Lucius Artorius Castus, shares a name with Arthur, though his early timeline makes it improbable he was the historical figure. This concept was loosely adapted in the 2004 film King Arthur, which inaccurately placed the Sarmatians in the fifth century. Alternatively, the tradition might have been adopted from the Alans, who migrated as far as Brittany during the Great Migrations following the Roman Empire’s collapse.
As Arthur lay dying, he ordered Excalibur to be returned to the Lady in the Lake, from whom he had received it (in some versions). This likely mirrors ancient Celtic customs of offering swords and other treasures to deities by depositing them in lakes—the Romans allegedly retrieved 50 tons of such offerings near Toulouse. Water was venerated for its healing properties (a theme present in Arthurian lore) and as a gateway between the physical and spiritual realms. Evidence suggests this practice persisted into the Christian Middle Ages, potentially influencing the 15th-century composition of Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory.
6. Vampires: Rabies, Tuberculosis And Porphyria
Various diseases have been proposed as explanations for vampire legends. Porphyria, for instance, can lead to sunlight sensitivity, worsen with garlic consumption, and tighten the teeth and gums, making them appear more prominent. However, the idea that porphyria patients crave blood is false.
Rabies is another strong contender, primarily because it spreads through bites, and infected humans have been known to bite others. Dr. Juan Gomez-Alonso expanded on this, suggesting that the aversion to garlic and light could stem from hypersensitivity, a rabies symptom. The disease also disrupts sleep cycles, explaining nocturnal behavior. Additionally, animals linked to vampires, such as wolves and bats, are common rabies carriers and often transmit the disease to humans.
The 19th-century vampire panics in New England can be attributed to tuberculosis. Victims often infected family members before dying, and when symptoms appeared after their death, people turned to supernatural explanations. They believed the deceased were draining their relatives’ life force, leading to practices like exhuming and burning bodies. In other regions, suspected vampires were staked, beheaded, or weighed down with bricks before reburial. Misinterpretation of decomposition fluids as fresh blood likely fueled these beliefs.
5. Yetis: Bears
In 2013, Oxford geneticist Brian Sykes proposed a theory about the yeti based on DNA analysis of two hair samples. He claimed the samples matched DNA from an ancient polar bear jawbone dating back 40,000–120,000 years, suggesting the yeti legend stemmed from an unknown polar bear–brown bear hybrid. However, his methods were questioned, and most now believe the samples were from a modern Alaskan polar bear or a brown bear, species easily confused due to their genetic similarity.
Still, the yeti could be inspired by bear species native to the region, such as the Tibetan blue bear, Asiatic black bear, and Himalayan brown bear. Alleged yeti samples have frequently been linked to these animals. For instance, skins collected by explorer Edmund Hillary were identified as brown bear pelts, and a comprehensive Chinese study reached the same conclusion.
Mountaineer Reinhold Messner also concluded the yeti was a myth. During his expeditions, locals showed him yeti lairs that were bear dens, presented a stuffed yeti that turned out to be a Tibetan brown bear, and insisted brown or blue bears were yetis. Messner believes the yeti legend combines several bear species, embellished to teach young Sherpas about the dangers of the wild. Additionally, early Western explorers exaggerated the yeti into a more monstrous, ape-like creature, with mistranslation further distorting the myth.
These bear species share traits with the yeti. The blue bear often walks upright, and young black bears climb trees to avoid predators, retracting their inner claws for better grip. This can make their tracks resemble those of a bipedal hominid with an inward-facing thumb or toe. This explanation is simpler than theories proposing the yeti and Sasquatch are surviving Gigantopithecus, a massive ape thought extinct for 300,000 years. Questions remain about how such a large creature could evade scientific discovery and how a South Asian species became the North American Sasquatch.
4. Area 51: UFOs And Spy Planes
Area 51 is the ultimate obsession for conspiracy theorists, famed as a classified facility where the U.S. government allegedly experiments with extraterrestrial technology, including UFOs. It does exist, as confirmed by CIA documents released in 2013 through a Freedom of Information Act request. While no alien tech was admitted, the documents revealed the base was used for developing and testing spy planes starting in 1955, which likely fueled UFO rumors.
The first of these, the U2, operated at 20,000 meters (60,000 ft), far above commercial and military aircraft of the time, which flew below 6,000 meters (20,000 ft) and 12,000 meters (40,000 ft), respectively. The U2’s silver wings reflecting sunlight often appeared as glowing lights, commonly linked to UFO sightings.
The successor to the U2, the A-12 (codenamed OXCART), is even more fascinating. This advanced aircraft could travel at 3,000 kilometers (2,000 mi) per hour and capture images of objects as small as a foot long from 27,000 meters (90,000 ft) in the air. It completed nearly 3,000 classified test flights before being unveiled in the mid-1960s. Although the A-12 never operated over the USSR, being quickly replaced by the SR-71 Blackbird, its unusual shape and reflective titanium wings likely contributed to numerous UFO sightings. The CIA estimates that up to half of all reported UFO sightings in the late 1950s and early 1960s were linked to U2 or A-12 flights.
Other events may have fueled UFO myths. For instance, a 1963 A-12 crash was swiftly concealed, with debris removed and the incident disguised as an F-105 accident. The pilot, Kenneth Collins, ejected and was rescued by three men in a truck. To deter their curiosity, he claimed a nuclear weapon was onboard, and they were later forced to sign nondisclosure agreements. Collins also alleges he was administered a truth serum during his debriefing. While this may sound far-fetched, given the CIA’s controversial MK-ULTRA experiments and later military attempts to kill goats by staring at them, his account seems plausible.
While the U.S. government did conceal crashes and operated advanced, secretive aircraft around Area 51, no extraterrestrial involvement was ever confirmed.
3. Dragons And Griffins: Dinosaurs
The belief in dragons is a global phenomenon, appearing independently in cultures across China, Europe, Australia, and the Americas. One prominent theory suggests that dragon myths originated from ancient peoples misinterpreting dinosaur fossils. The fourth-century Chinese historian Chang Qu documented the discovery of a dragon thousands of years ago, highlighting the intrigue such findings would have sparked. Recent discoveries, like the 66-million-year-old Dracorex, with its dragon-like features, support this idea. Scholar Adrienne Mayor has linked the Dracorex to the dragon-like unktehi in Sioux mythology, as the fossil was found in Dakota.
Similarly, the long-necked Qijianlong has been tied to Chinese dragon legends. It’s theorized that ancient people discovered its neck vertebrae and imagined its appearance based on crocodiles. For over 2,500 years, the Chinese have used ground dinosaur bones in dragon tonics, mistakenly attributing them to dragons.
In Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, well-preserved Protoceratops fossils may have inspired griffin myths. This hornless relative of the Triceratops had a beak (resembling a griffin’s bird head) and a quadrupedal body. Its fragile frill could break to resemble ears, and its elongated shoulder blades might have been mistaken for wings.
2. Unicorns: Rhinos And Narwhals
The Elasmotherium, a relative of the woolly rhinoceros, roamed the Russian steppe during the ice ages. Measuring up to 6 meters (20 ft) long and weighing 4 tons, it differed from its cousin by having a single horn. Fossil evidence is sparse, dating back 50,000 years, but some suggest it survived until the end of the last ice age, around 10,000–11,000 years ago. Oral traditions of Siberia’s Evenks people and occasional Chinese and Persian records hint it may have persisted even longer. This is plausible, given that dwarf woolly mammoths survived on Russia’s Wrangel Island until 4,000 years ago.
While the Elasmotherium didn’t interact with Europeans, if later extinction estimates are accurate, it may have coexisted with humans in its eastern range for about 25,000 years. It’s theorized that oral traditions preserved memories of this creature, eventually evolving into the mythical Chinese unicorn known as zhi.
In Europe, unicorn myths originated from the eighth-century Greek writer Ctesias, who conflated a wild donkey, a tamed Asian rhino, and possibly a Tibetan antelope in his writings about India. He attributed magical and medicinal properties to the creature, sparking a trade in African rhino horns. Roman naturalist Aelian later altered the horn’s description from smooth to spiral, leading to narwhal tusks being mistaken for unicorn horns. These became highly valued—Queen Elizabeth paid £10,000 for one in the 16th century, and the Danish coronation throne, made of narwhal tusks in the 17th century, was last used in 1840 when monarchs no longer received coronations.
1. Bunyips: Megafauna
Descriptions of the bunyip in the Australian outback vary widely. It has been depicted with fur or feathers, legs or flippers, and ranging in size from a small dog to an elephant. European accounts have likened it to hippopotami, horses, alligators, walruses, dogs, and kangaroos. However, it is generally described as a large, water-dwelling mammal.
Prehistoric Australia was home to numerous creatures fitting this description, part of its unique marsupial megafauna. This diverse group included giant kangaroos, goannas, koalas, echidnas, a marsupial lion, the horse-sized Palorchestes with bark-stripping claws, and the rhino-sized Diprodont, a wombat relative. Particularly intriguing is the Zygomaturus trilobus, often found in former swamp areas, suggesting it was a semi-aquatic marsupial hippopotamus.
These creatures largely vanished 40,000–50,000 years ago, meaning many coexisted for a time with Aboriginal communities, whose ancestors arrived around 50,000 years ago. The timing of human arrival and megafauna extinction has sparked debate over whether humans caused their demise, though climate explanations are now more widely accepted. This overlap likely allowed the megafauna to embed themselves in Aboriginal myths, particularly species that may have survived until approximately 20,000 years ago.
