Buzz
Ranging from the belief in toxic chemtrails to the notion that Area 51 conceals government secrets about nuclear arms, espionage, or even extraterrestrial life, most conspiracy theories disregard factual evidence. Instead, they weave together loosely connected elements to fit a specific narrative.
Denver International Airport is often viewed with suspicion due to its unsettling murals and the infamous Blucifer statue, leading some to claim it’s a hub for the Illuminati. Others insist that tragic school shootings in the US are orchestrated to divert attention from darker political maneuvers.
Additionally, many believe that the wealthy and famous have struck deals with dark forces. The COVID-19 pandemic is seen by some as a stepping stone for a malevolent New World Order, allegedly orchestrated by Pope Francis. Furthermore, there are claims that the virus is merely a pretext to roll out 5G technology, which is feared to have deadly consequences.
8. It Was All Driven by Political Motives
Some alleged that the attack was a staged false flag operation, with the victims being portrayed by crisis actors. (This mirrors the conspiracy theory surrounding the Sandy Hook incident.) Others suggested that the operation was permitted to justify altering gun laws in New Zealand.
Radio personality Rush Limbaugh theorized that the shooter had leftist leanings and orchestrated the attack to tarnish the political right’s image. There were even assertions that the “white genocide conspiracy” might have motivated Tarrant’s actions.
Brenton Tarrant has admitted guilt to all charges and is currently awaiting his sentencing for the atrocities he committed.
7. In The Name Of Love
In March 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 vanished without a trace, leaving the world in shock. Few anticipated that six years later, the aircraft would remain undiscovered, with its wreckage and black boxes still missing, preventing any conclusive explanation for the tragedy.
By mid-2020, only a handful of debris fragments had been confirmed as parts of the doomed flight. Grieving families are urging officials to relaunch the investigation and resume the search. Meanwhile, conspiracy theories surrounding the incident have proliferated, with some growing increasingly outlandish.
One particularly intricate theory suggests the pilot orchestrated an elaborate plan to abandon his wife, as divorce was not an option due to his Muslim beliefs. Allegedly, he acquired counterfeit identification for himself and his lover, intending to parachute from the plane after depressurizing it to eliminate all passengers. He supposedly landed in a boat where his mistress awaited, while the aircraft plunged into the ocean.
Other persistent theories propose that the plane was hidden in a Cambodian jungle or fell victim to an “Asian” version of the Bermuda Triangle. Another far-fetched idea claims that North Korea, desiring a large aircraft, orchestrated the hijacking and diversion of MH370 to its territory.
6. Fake Melania
Numerous conspiracy theories surround Donald Trump and his time in office. Interestingly, Trump himself appears to believe many theories about various topics. However, he firmly dismisses one particular theory: the enduring notion of 'Fake Melania.'
The 'Fake Melania' theory suggests that a look-alike substitutes for the first lady, accompanying the president to various events. Proponents claim this double conceals her identity with oversized sunglasses and outfits mimicking Melania Trump’s style. The theory gained traction as some believe the impostor is noticeably shorter than the real Melania.
Donald Trump has vehemently denied this theory, labeling it as absurd and accusing the media of manipulating images of Melania to fuel the conspiracy.
5. Island Of Horrors
Established in 1954, the Plum Island Animal Disease Center was designed as a research hub for studying animal pathogens. Its primary goal was to develop innovative methods to combat diseases like African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.
The island is also home to the United States' sole foot-and-mouth disease vaccine repository. However, such research inevitably sparked a range of conspiracy theories about the activities conducted there.
One popular theory claims that no legitimate research occurs on the island. Instead, it alleges that scientists are secretly creating animal-human hybrids. Accusations have surfaced that these researchers are former Nazis working on alien technology and genetically engineered creatures.
Some theorists took a different approach, suggesting that the island is a hub for producing biological warfare weapons. They claim that Lyme disease is one such bioweapon that accidentally leaked from the lab.
The Plum Island facility is set to close in 2023, making way for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, currently being built in Kansas. Undoubtedly, this transition will spawn a new wave of conspiracy theories.
4. Economic Crisis? Enter Barack Obama
Conspiracy theorists have a particular fondness for crafting bizarre narratives involving national leaders. They seize on any tenuous connections, weaving them into elaborate theories that often cast one or more parties in a negative light.
The 2008 economic crisis offered just enough 'connections' for some to accuse the Democrats of engineering it. Rush Limbaugh amplified this theory on his 2008 radio show, alleging that Senator Chuck Schumer triggered the IndyMac collapse to foster a sense of financial chaos.
The Democrats allegedly exploited this widespread panic to secure victories in Congress and the White House. The purported goal was to elect Barack Obama and push for the nationalization of US industries.
Karl Rove and Bill O’Reilly expanded on this theory, asserting that journalists played a role in triggering the economic crisis to facilitate Barack Obama’s election as president.
3. Orchestrated Shark Attacks
On December 1, 2010, four individuals sustained severe injuries from shark attacks in the Red Sea near Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Just days later, on December 5, 2010, a woman lost her life after being attacked by a shark while wading in shallow waters close to the shore.
Some speculated that the “unprecedented” shark attacks resulted from accidental shark feeding or the disposal of animal remains. Following these events, numerous sharks were caught and killed.
Adding to the horror, a conspiracy theory surfaced claiming that a GPS tracking device had been discovered on one of the sharks, allegedly linked to Israeli operatives.
Israel was accused of masterminding the shark attacks to cripple Egypt’s tourism sector. This accusation followed earlier suspicions that Israel had used GPS-tagged birds for espionage in other nations.
The Israeli government has since refuted any involvement in tampering with sharks or birds for surveillance purposes.
2. Second Sun
NASA has faced numerous accusations, from hiding alien-related information from the public to fabricating stories about massive asteroids nearing Earth. One particularly far-fetched theory suggests that NASA’s true purpose isn’t space exploration but rather the creation of elaborate deceptions, such as the Moon landings and fabricated images of nonexistent planets.
In 2016, field astronomer Paul Cox alleged that NASA was concealing the existence of a second Sun. During a live broadcast, Cox pointed to what is widely recognized as Mercury in the night sky and declared, 'That large round object to the right of the Sun is our second Sun.'
While some assumed Cox was being sarcastic or joking, many conspiracy theorists seized the opportunity to 'prove' that NASA was guilty of nearly every accusation ever leveled against it.
Adding fuel to the fire, Cox also referenced the Planet X theory, which posits that a 'destroyed' planet will eventually emerge from behind the Sun (whether it’s the first or second Sun remains unclear) and collide with Earth, annihilating humanity. This, unsurprisingly, reignited the conspiracy community’s fervor.
1. Start Of The Apocalypse
On July 22, 2011, Norwegian terrorist Anders Behring Breivik detonated a van bomb in Oslo, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals. He then traveled to the island of Utoya, where he opened fire on a Workers’ Youth League camping event, killing 69 people.
Initially diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Breivik’s condition was later contested by a second team of forensic psychiatrists, who instead identified him as having antisocial and narcissistic personality disorders.
Shortly before the attacks, Breivik published his manifesto online, outlining his opposition to feminism and Islam. He advocated for the expulsion of all Muslims from Europe and stated that his primary goal was to bring attention to his manifesto through the attacks.
Despite Breivik’s explanation, numerous alternative theories emerged. Some speculated that Freemasons orchestrated the attack, while others suggested Hillary Clinton was behind it, allegedly funding an Israeli government operation. Others dismissed the entire event as fabricated, arguing that Breivik couldn’t have planted a bomb and still reached the island to carry out the shootings.
However, the most bizarre theory posits that Breivik was Conquest, the first of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, and that his attack was intended to herald the arrival of the remaining three horsemen—War, Famine, and Death.
+ Just When You Think You’ve Heard It All
Tragedy often sparks a wave of conspiracy theories. The sinking of the RMS Titanic gave rise to some of the most outlandish rumors still discussed today, such as the claim that a U-boat sank the ship. Another enduring theory suggests that the Titanic was secretly swapped with its sister ship, the Olympic, which was intentionally sunk to claim insurance money.
Then emerged the ultimate Titanic conspiracy: whispers that either the Rothschild family or J.P. Morgan orchestrated the disaster to eliminate individuals opposing the establishment of the Federal Reserve.
The alleged targets were Benjamin Guggenheim, Isidor Straus, and John Jacob Astor IV, all of whom perished in the sinking. The Federal Reserve was established by December 1913. Meanwhile, J.P. Morgan conveniently canceled his Titanic voyage at the last minute, citing illness.
