The UnXplained

For hundreds of years there have been legends of vast treasures hidden throughout the United States. Stories of stolen gold, piracy, murderous revenge, but are these legends of lost treasures tall tales? Or is it possible that these valuables are out there, waiting to be discovered?

For centuries, fantastic tales of terrifying monsters have fascinated mankind. Bizarre beasts of all shapes and sizes have been portrayed in some of history’s most classic stories and folklore. But what if these creatures were more than just works of imagination and superstition? Could these stories of legendary creatures be inspired by actual events and where does the line between fact and fiction fall? Do these famous monsters still lurk in the dark corner of our globe today?

Space. The Final Frontier–and the ultimate mystery. Scientists are involved in a never-ending quest to understand the vast universe our planet inhabits. But it seems that for each answer science provides, even more questions arise. Our own solar system is populated by mysterious objects and phenomenon that seem to defy our attempts to understand them. And when we get deeper into space, the mysteries only deepen. What could lay beyond the confines of the Milky Way? Are there galaxies similar to our own? Could they be capable of sustaining intelligent life? And is that life trying to contact us?

Who was Jack the Ripper? The question has baffled police investigators, historians, and armchair detectives for over a century. Countless books, movies, and television shows have been based on the Ripper’s murderous exploits each with their own unique take on the killer’s identity. Was he an accomplished surgeon? A member of the British royal family? Did he actually exist at all? Over 130 years later, are we any closer to the identity of one of history’s most notorious serial murderers?

Remarkable feats of engineering from our ancient past span the globe. Some are amazing in size. Others in sophistication. Some are so strange they border on inexplicable. Did the ancients have advanced scientific knowledge that has been lost to time? How–and why–did they fashion these incredible wonders?

King Arthur. England’s first pop culture superhero, his exploits have inspired numerous blockbuster movies and television series. Without King Arthur, we wouldn’t have Middle Earth, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Star Wars or–perish the thought–Star Trek. It is impossible to gauge the impact that the Arthurian legend has had on our Western culture. A testament to the power of myth? Or the enduring legacy of fact? Was he simply a thrilling figure cobbled together from the folklore of many cultures? Or a flesh and blood man?

Human can survive catastrophic injuries and deadly scenarios that defy the odds in ways that are inexplicable. These survivals challenge our best attempts to explain how anyone could live through such circumstances. Is cheating death when survival is seemingly impossible simply fate or good fortune? Or are there other, more mysterious, factors at play?

Today, human civilization spans the globe, and there are more than 7 billion people on Earth. But how did humanity evolve? Although many around the globe believe that the divine hand of God placed homo sapiens on Earth, were there other kinds of human-like creatures–cousins of man–that could have been just as intelligent as us? And if so, might these other species still exist today, perhaps in remote parts of the world?

Some people are capable of the seemingly impossible. Whether surviving freezing temperatures, diving unfathomable depths on one breath, or lifting objects of mind-boggling weight, superhuman feats never cease to amaze. But how do these superhumans pull them off? Is it a matter of training, willpower, genetics, or something more mysterious?

All over the world, there are places and objects that are thought to be cursed. Many people avoid these locations and things, believing they will bring harm. Others think that curses are nothing than superstition and folklore. Are curses just the product of over-active imaginations? The byproduct of uncanny coincidences? Or is it possible that these curses are real–and there are dark forces at play that defy explanation?

Throughout history humans have buried their dead–in caves or chambers, in pyramids or in some form of a tomb–but why? Ancient tombs were visual memorials for the dead. In China, a vast necropolis was constructed as a way to connect to the afterlife. Is there an inherit need for us to dig up our past? What is it that we are searching for? And what profound secrets might remain hidden in tombs? That is what we will try to find out.

The animal kingdom is full of deadly predators, and some of them attack in extraordinary and inexplicable ways. Do some animals strike back at humans for reasons beyond normal defense and hunger? Can they have emotions like anger or a desire for revenge? Despite our technological advancement, do animals pose a greater threat to us than we realize for reasons that we cannot explain?

There are some events that are so destructive, so astounding, or truly miraculous–that for the faithful–they must be directed by the hand of the Almighty. The Great Flood. The Plagues of Egypt. Sodom and Gomorrah. Moses Parting the Red Sea. Were these merely tall tales, or could they be historically accurate? And, if so, were they just freak occurrences–or were Acts of God? That is what will try and find out.

From the ancient Babylonian’s to modern day urban explorers, mankind has always been fascinated by abandoned places. What is the allure that draws us to these post-apocalyptic landscapes? Is it simply morbid curiosity? Or, something harder to define? Could abandoned places actually be places of ‘magic’–as the ancients believed? Well, that is what we will try and find out.

More than 80% of the Earth’s oceans remain unexplored, and in many ways, the underwater world is the final frontier. As new technology allows us to explore oceans and deep lakes more than ever before, what will we find? Will we discover profound secrets about the oceans? Underwater ruins that were lost for thousands of years? Or perhaps something even more extraordinary?

Genius is widely considered to be the ability to change the world in an incredible way: inventing new technology, deciphering the mysteries of the universe, or creating transcendent art. But where does genius come from? What is the X-factor that makes someone a genius? Is it “good genes”? A proper education? Or do geniuses tap into something much more mysterious and extraordinary?

Ancient ruins fascinate us, and some archaeological finds are so baffling that they challenge everything we know about the past. Will we ever learn the truth about these mysterious ruins? Or will they continue to present more questions than answers?