Top 10 Unsolved Mysteries

This collection features the most well-known unsolved enigmas that challenge logical reasoning or remain utterly peculiar. Mysteries have always been a highly popular topic on Mytour, and a quick search for 'mysteries' will reveal numerous additional lists to feed your curiosity.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section about which mysteries you believe deserve a spot or should be highlighted in upcoming lists.

10. The Taos Hum

The 'Taos Hum' refers to a low-frequency noise reported in various locations globally, particularly in the USA, UK, and northern Europe. It is typically audible in quiet settings and is often likened to the sound of a far-off diesel engine. Despite extensive efforts, its origin remains undetectable by microphones or VLF antennae, leaving its source and nature an unsolved puzzle.

In 1997, Congress tasked scientists and experts from leading research institutions to investigate an unusual low-frequency noise reported by residents near Taos, New Mexico. Often referred to as a 'hum,' this sound had puzzled locals for years. To this day, the cause of the hum remains unknown.

9. Black Dahlia

In 1947, the dismembered body of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short was discovered in a Los Angeles parking lot. Shortly after her murder, newspapers claimed she was nicknamed 'Black Dahlia' at a Long Beach drugstore in 1946, inspired by the film *The Blue Dahlia*. However, investigators from the Los Angeles County district attorney's office stated that reporters covering the case coined the name. Regardless, Short was not widely known by this nickname during her life.

Numerous rumors and stories have circulated about the Black Dahlia, yet the investigation, one of the largest in Los Angeles history, failed to identify her killer.

8. Comte de Saint Germain

The Count of St. Germain (reportedly died February 27, 1784) was a multifaceted figure—courtier, adventurer, inventor, amateur scientist, violinist, composer, and practitioner of alchemy. Known as 'Der Wundermann' or 'The Wonderman,' his origins were shrouded in mystery, and he vanished without a trace.

Following his death, numerous occult groups have embraced him as an exemplary figure or even a potent deity. In recent times, several individuals have come forward claiming to be the Count of St. Germain. (It’s worth noting that St. Germain was never canonized by the Roman Catholic Church—the 'st.' in his name refers to his supposed place of origin).

7. Voynich Manuscript

The Voynich Manuscript is an ancient text written in an unidentified script and language. Despite over a century of attempts, the code remains unbroken. The surviving pages suggest it may have served as a pharmacopoeia or addressed medieval or early modern medical topics. Yet, the enigmatic illustrations have sparked countless theories about its origins, content, and purpose.

The manuscript features illustrations that imply it is divided into six sections: Herbal, Astronomical, Biological, Cosmological, Pharmaceutical, and recipes.

6. The Zodiac Killer

The Zodiac Killer operated in Northern California during a ten-month span in the late 1960s. He is confirmed to have murdered at least five individuals and wounded two others. His first two killings, carried out with a pistol, occurred just inside the Benecia border. In a subsequent attack in Vallejo, he targeted two people, but one survived despite being shot in the head and neck. Forty minutes later, police received an anonymous call from a man claiming responsibility for the murders. A month later, three letters containing a cipher were sent to California newspapers, with the killer asserting it would reveal his identity. The decrypted message read:

“I LIKE KILLING PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH FUN IT IS MORE FUN THAN KILLING WILD GAME IN THE FORREST BECAUSE MAN IS THE MOST DANGEROUE ANAMAL OF ALL TO KILL SOMETHING GIVES ME THE MOST THRILLING EXPERENCE IT IS EVEN BETTER THAN GETTING YOUR ROCKS OFF WITH A GIRL THE BEST PART OF IT IS THAE WHEN I DIE I WILL BE REBORN IN PARADICE AND THEI HAVE KILLED WILL BECOME MY SLAVES I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY NAME BECAUSE YOU WILL TRY TO SLOI DOWN OR ATOP MY COLLECTIOG OF SLAVES FOR MY AFTERLIFE EBEORIETEMETHHPITI” The final eighteen characters remain undeciphered.

Although Arthur Leigh Allen was the primary suspect, all evidence pointed away from him being the killer. To this day, the Zodiac murders remain unsolved.

5. The Babushka Lady

While examining footage from the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy, a mysterious woman was observed. She wore a brown overcoat and a headscarf tied in a style reminiscent of Russian grandmothers, earning her the nickname 'Babushka Lady.' She appeared to be holding what is believed to be a camera, visible in numerous photos from the scene. Even after the shooting, as others fled, she stayed behind, continuing to film before eventually walking east on Elm Street. The FBI publicly appealed for her to come forward with her footage, but she never did.

In 1970, a woman named Beverly Oliver claimed to be the Babushka Lady, but her account was riddled with inconsistencies, leading most to dismiss her as a fraud. To this day, the true identity of the Babushka Lady and her actions remain a mystery, compounded by her refusal to provide her evidence.

4. Mary Celeste

The Mary Celeste was originally launched in Nova Scotia in 1860 under the name 'Amazon.' Measuring 103 feet in length and displacing 280 tons, she was classified as a half-brig. Over the next decade, she was involved in multiple maritime accidents and changed ownership several times. She eventually appeared at a New York salvage auction, where she was bought for $3,000. After extensive repairs, she was registered under American ownership and renamed 'Mary Celeste.'

Benjamin Briggs, a 37-year-old experienced captain with three prior commands, took charge of the Mary Celeste. On November 7, 1872, the ship set sail from New York with Captain Briggs, his wife, young daughter, and a crew of eight. It carried 1,700 barrels of raw American alcohol destined for Genoa, Italy. The captain, his family, and the crew vanished without a trace. The ship was later discovered adrift in the Strait of Gibraltar, with no signs of struggle and all documents missing except for the captain’s log.

In early 1873, reports surfaced of two lifeboats washing ashore in Spain. One contained a body and an American flag, while the other held five bodies. Speculation arose that these could be the remains of the Mary Celeste’s crew, but the bodies were never positively identified.

3. Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin is a linen cloth featuring the image of a man who appears to have died from crucifixion. Many Catholics regard it as the burial shroud of Jesus Christ. Currently housed in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, the shroud has undergone numerous scientific studies, yet no one has been able to determine how the image was created or replicate it. Radiocarbon dating places its origin in the Middle Ages, though supporters argue it is incorruptible and thus undatable by conventional means.

Historical records of the shroud date back to at least the 4th century, where it was referred to as the Image of Edessa. Another cloth, the Sudarium, mentioned in biblical texts (John 20:7), is believed to have covered Christ’s head in the tomb. In 1999, Mark Guscin, a researcher with the Spanish Center for Sindonology, conducted a study comparing the two cloths. His findings, based on historical records, forensic pathology, blood chemistry (both cloths reportedly have type AB blood stains), and stain patterns, concluded that the two cloths covered the same head at different but closely timed intervals. Avinoam Danin of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem supported this analysis, noting that pollen grains on the Sudarium matched those on the Shroud of Turin.

Due to popular demand, I’ve written a similar article: Another 10 Unsolved Mysteries.

2. Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle is a region in the North Atlantic Ocean where numerous planes and ships have vanished under mysterious circumstances. Over the years, various theories have been proposed to explain these disappearances, ranging from severe weather and alien abductions to time warps and the suspension of natural laws. While much evidence suggests that many reports have been exaggerated, the unusually high number of incidents in this area remains unexplained.

1. Jack the Ripper

During the latter part of 1888, London was gripped by fear due to a string of murders in the East End, particularly in the Whitechapel district. The name 'Jack the Ripper' originated from a letter sent to a newspaper by someone purporting to be the murderer. The victims, mostly prostitutes, were found with their throats slit and bodies horrifically mutilated. In some instances, the bodies were discovered mere minutes after the killer had fled the scene.

At the time, the police investigated numerous suspects but lacked sufficient evidence to charge anyone. In modern times, theories have even emerged suggesting Prince Albert Victor might have been the culprit. Despite advancements in forensic science, the identity of Jack the Ripper remains a mystery, and the case continues to baffle investigators to this day.