LibGuides: Real World Mysteries: The Web

Do the search yourself with these!

Try these alternatives to Google. I think you'll find that you get great results!

RefSeek
This is a search engine, but there are no ads and the answers will be more academic.
Sweet Search
This is another academic search engine. There are no ads and the sites are chosen by librarians to be the most helpful results.
Internet Public Library
Not only can you search on this website, you can also ask a librarian for help, get homework help, get book suggestions and play games.

Infotopia
This is another academic search engine that is run by former librarians who only choose the best results for your search!

Is it real?

Area 51 Acknowledged
From CNN, Area 51 is officially acknowledged by the government, but will the explanation be enough for conspiracy theorists?
Aliens at Area 51?
A man who claims he saw aliens while working at Area 51. Blurry pictures? You know it!
Roswell
A farmer who claimed to have seen aliens in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. Includes a 3 minute video.
Roswell Uncovered
This article claims that Roswell was covered up and the apparent weather balloon was actually an alien spacecraft.
Atlantis
First mentioned by Plato in 330 BC, Atlantis is a lost island that is a supposedly Utopian society.
The Lost City of Atlantis
From history.com a video and article about this apparent city that sank thousands of years ago.
Bermuda Triangle
A quick couple of paragraphs about the basics.
Bermuda Triangle explained?
Read about a theory involving explosions from gas hydrates that may explain how ships and planes are lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Evidence of Bigfoot?
Discusses how the legend was started and people's general beliefs. Head to the Northwest if you want to catch a glimpse.
Bigfoot
A couple short paragraphs from FactMonster...a "biography" of Bigfoot.
Loch Ness Monster Spotted
A video and article about the 1933 sighting of the Loch Ness Monster. Legends actually date back more than 1500 years.
Loch Ness Eyewitness Accounts
Several people discuss when they saw the Loch Ness Monster personally.
The Yeti
Starting in 1942, the abominable snowman is a legendary creature said to live in the mountains of Asia.
Yeti-the Unmuseum
This claims the Yeti was first seem in 1925. Are tracks and a photo from 1,000 feet away enough evidence?
Spontaneous Combustion
Can a person just burst into flames without burning anything around them...with no explanation?

Historical Mysteries

Here are a few websites that have information on some o the historical mysteries you are looking at. Make sure to read the description of each before clicking.

Encyclopedia Titanica
This website has everything you could want to read about the Titanic and includes animation of the sinking.
Titanic Videos
From the National Geographic website, you can see many videos about the Titanic such as its being built, its discovery in 1985 and various videos with James Cameron who directed the film in 1997.
The Hindenburg
These are just 9 fun and interesting facts about this disaster!
Audio and Video of the Hindenburg
See a short video caught on tape by a reporter and then click to the right to hear the radio broadcast.
Hindenburg Photos
Cool photos with descriptive captions!
Egyptian Pyramids
A Norwegian researcher says he has figured out how the pyramids were built. Look around this site to find lots of info on the pyramids.
Pyramids
This article might make you realize there is not a mystery behind this at all.
King Tut
A bit about Tut's life and the discovery of his tomb and preserved body approximately 5,000 years after his death.
Was Tut Murdered?
One BBC correspondent thinks so, but others think he died from disease...try to figure out what you think based on good web sites and databases.
The Mona Lisa
The story of the theft from CNN claiming it to be the main reason the painting is so famous.
Mona Lisa-recording
This is a 5 minute recording from NPR along with a written article about the fame of the Mona Lisa.
The Lost Colony
This is a short article about the Lost Colony of Roanoke and also includes a 2 minutes video-make sure to check it out and see which theory you agree with...or come up with your own!
Roanoke
A new clue leads people in a different direction...one more theory to add to the mix.
Pompeii
A story about an exhibit (that is unfortunately closed) at the British Museum. There are pictures of objects found from 79 AD.
Pompeii and Vesuvius
Looks at what is happening today around Mt. Vesuvius as well as what happened in Pompeii so many years ago.
Witch Hunt Hysteria
From National geographic, a story of what it might have felt like to be accused of being a witch. Click along to read the story!
Salem Witch Trials
From Eyewitness to History, a look at what was happening back in 1692.
Rosetta Stone
From History.com, discusses the day the stone was found in 1799.
Hieroglyphics
How the Rosetta Stone helped us to understand how to read hieroglyphics.
Amelia Earhart
From biography.com the story of Earhart's life and disappearance including a 3 minute video.
Amelia Earhart
A timeline of Earhart's life, time in aviation and disappearance.
The Lindbergh Kidnapping
From the FBI, the story of Aviator Charles Linbergh's 20 month old child being kidnapped and the many ransom notes and investigation to find him.
Baby Lindbergh Found
From May 12, 1932, the day the body of the Lindbergh baby was found despite the kidnapper still asking for ransom to return the child to his parents.
Jimmy Hoffa
From the Crime Library-the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. Make sure to click on more pages to continue reading.
Hoffa Primary Sources
This is actual documents from the FBI. There are tons, but you might want to scroll through and look at some of the pictures to get a general idea.
The Mary Celeste
From Smithsonian Magazine, theories on what happened to the crew of the Mary Celeste, who disappeared in 1872.
Mary Celeste Video
A 4 minute video about what may have happened to this abandoned ship.
Easter Island Statues
Get some info about just how huge these statues are! How were they made and moved so many hundreds of years ago?
About Easter Island
Get some general information about the island and the statues.
Gobekli Tepe
This is thought to be the first holy place and dates back at least 11,000 years! Check out the pictures and see what people could do before metal tools were even around!
Gobekli Tepe Theories
Some thoughts from NPR on why this "temple" exists and how it was built.
Dinosaur Extinction
Theories on how the dinosaurs died. At the bottom of the page, make sure to click on the next theory to read several and see which one makes the most sense to you.
How the dinos died
From history.com read the theories of why dinosaurs went extinct.