Who was Jack the Ripper? What happened at Dyatlov Pass? These are the sort of questions that are really exciting the first time one hears of them, generally, as a child, but as time goes on and answers remain elusive, that doesn’t mean that folk’s appetite for mystery has gone anywhere.
People from across the internet have detailed examples of mysteries they would love an answer to and we’ve gathered them here for you to read through and ponder. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own thoughts, examples and possible explanations in the comments down below.
#1 Monarch Butterfly
So the Monarch Butterfly migrates to Mexico and back every year. During the year there are a full 4 generations of butterflies that live and die during the journey. Upon returning back from Mexico, the butterfly manages to find the same trees it's relative started out at despite never having been there.
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120points
#2 Chechem Tree And The Chaka Tree
I'm not sure if you'd call this 'unsolved' or frankly even solvable. But there are two trees found in parts of Central America, called the Chechem tree and the Chaka tree. The Chechem tree's bark has a p****n that is so strong that just by touching the bark (or its sap of course) your skin will begin to numb. The cure to this exact p****n lies in its sister tree, the Chaka. And as if that wasnt enough all on its own, whats more they are Always found to be right next to each other in nature. There is a Mayan myth that comes with these trees that they are from two brothers that fought each other over the love of a woman, but they ended up unaliving each other, and the woman, Nicte-Ha, died of heartbreak. One of the brothers, Kinich, was kind and caring, and thus became the Chaka tree. The other brother, Tizic, was cold-hearted and arrogant, and became the Chechem tree. Poisons and cures found in nature are of course a reality in many different instances, but the fact that these trees are right next to each other in nature, and provide exactly opposite effects, is pretty crazy.
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112points
#3 Invention Of Bread
I would really like to know how bread was invented. Which madman looked at a field of wheat and thought to themselves: 'If we dry it and ground it, mix it with water, pound it into a ball and place it in a warm box for a while, it could be really delicious.'
And don't get me started on yeast.
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109points
There is something fundamentally human about being drawn to mysteries, especially those that cannot be solved. From ancient myths to cold cases, from inexplicable disappearances to inscrutable symbols etched in extinct languages, humans return repeatedly to unsolvable enigmas.
The attraction persists even when or maybe especially when there is no solution to be had. We read conspiracy theories, re-read true crime reports, and ponder endlessly about the unexplained. This fascination with mystery is no defect of reason, but a part of our nature, intimately related to curiosity, imagination, and the need to interpret our world.
#4 The Ibadan Forest Of Horror In Nigeria. A Local Taxi Driver Goes Missing And His Friends Create A Makeshift Search Party And Investigate A Forest
Instead of finding their friend, they find an abandoned school (or factory) that have the remnants of a hellish t*****e/m****r, ritual k*****g and human trafficking. 8 survivors were rescued. Numerous body parts, rotting corpses and personal artifacts were found. The perpetrators were never found - although local politicians and ritualists were suspects.
Whilst this discovery is disturbing, the mystery for me is that the original taxi driver - still hasn’t been found.
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76points
#5 On April 4th, 1991, Angela Hammond, 20, Was Abducted While Using A Payphone
Her fiancé heard her screams and the haunting words of her kidnapper saying, "I didn't need to use the phone anyway," before the line went dead. She has never been found.
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66points
#6 The Sodder Children
The Sodder family house burned down in the middle of the night. Several of the kids were presumed dead, but their bodies were never found in the debris and it never burned hot enough to cremate them. It started to look extremely suspicious and the parents until their deaths believed that they had been taken for some reason. Many years down the line they did receive a photo and cryptic note from someone claiming to be their son but it was never authenticated.
66points
Mysteries fascinate the mind because they leave us with a feeling of incompleteness. The world is generally governed by cause and pattern, and when something won't obey a plane vanishes into thin air, a historical figure disappears under mysterious conditions, an encryption remains unbroken for decades, the mind is invigorated. We seek closure, because closure is knowledge, and knowledge is power.
#7 Christopher Kerze, 17, Stayed Home From School On April 20th, 1990, Complaining Of A Headache
His mom came home later to find him gone and a note explaining that he'd be back later, if he didn't get "lost" (which was underlined twice). He has never been found.
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58points
#8 The Voynich Manuscript – Still Unreadable After 600+ Years
I’ve recently done a deep dive into one of the most persistent unsolved mysteries in history: the Voynich Manuscript. It’s a book that has fascinated cryptographers, linguists, historians, and conspiracy theorists alike for over a century. Here’s a full breakdown of what we actually know, the main theories, and why none have held up to serious scrutiny so far.
What is the Voynich Manuscript?
Discovered in 1912 by rare book d****r Wilfrid Voynich in a Jesuit college in Italy, the manuscript is written in an entirely unknown script and illustrated with bizarre images. It’s been carbon-dated to around 1404–1438. The pages contain:
Unidentified plants (none matching known species). Astrological diagrams with suns, moons, and zodiac symbols. Biological imagery, including naked women bathing in green liquid and connected by strange tubes. Pharmaceutical-like illustrations showing jars and roots.Long passages of continuous text with paragraph markers, but no recognizable words or syntax. It’s currently housed in the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University.
What is the Voynich Manuscript?
Discovered in 1912 by rare book d****r Wilfrid Voynich in a Jesuit college in Italy, the manuscript is written in an entirely unknown script and illustrated with bizarre images. It’s been carbon-dated to around 1404–1438. The pages contain:
Unidentified plants (none matching known species). Astrological diagrams with suns, moons, and zodiac symbols. Biological imagery, including naked women bathing in green liquid and connected by strange tubes. Pharmaceutical-like illustrations showing jars and roots.Long passages of continuous text with paragraph markers, but no recognizable words or syntax. It’s currently housed in the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University.
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58points
#9 The Lead Mask Mystery Of Brazil
The bodies of two men were found wearing lead masks covering their eyes with a notebook that mysteriously read “4:30 PM be at the determined place. 6:30 PM swallow capsules, after effect, protect metals, wait for signal” in Portuguese.
There are multiple theories that have been proposed to explain this case, ranging from foul play to UFOs. One theory revolves around the testimony of a friend of the two men, who claimed that they were members of a group of "scientific spiritualists". This theory purports that the men were apparently attempting to contact extraterrestrials or spirits using psychedelic d***s; believing that such an encounter would be accompanied by blinding light, the men cut and wore metal masks to shield their eyes. The two then ultimately died of a simultaneous drug overdose. This account is corroborated by the esoteric diary entry found at the scene and by mask-making materials and literature concerning spirits found at the men's homes
There are multiple theories that have been proposed to explain this case, ranging from foul play to UFOs. One theory revolves around the testimony of a friend of the two men, who claimed that they were members of a group of "scientific spiritualists". This theory purports that the men were apparently attempting to contact extraterrestrials or spirits using psychedelic d***s; believing that such an encounter would be accompanied by blinding light, the men cut and wore metal masks to shield their eyes. The two then ultimately died of a simultaneous drug overdose. This account is corroborated by the esoteric diary entry found at the scene and by mask-making materials and literature concerning spirits found at the men's homes
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57points
Even when facts are few or inconsistent, the mere presence of a question can generate a compelling urge to close the loop. At times it is done through intense inquiry and theory-building, at others through narrative, myth-making, or even elaborate conspiracy.
#10 In 1993, Six Hikers Were Trekking Near Lake Baikal In Siberia When They Were Suddenly Overcome With Horrific Symptoms
Blood streamed from their eyes and noses, they clutched at their throats and bashed their heads against rock. Why this happened is still unknown.
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54points
#11 Three Men Vanished From A Yacht In 2007 - Engine Running, Food On Table, No Trace Ever Found
I want to share a real mystery from 2007 that still has no clear answer. It happened in Australia, and some people call it the modern "Mary Celeste."
What Happened?
On April 15, 2007, three men—Derek Batten (56), and brothers Peter (69) and James Tunstead (63)—left Airlie Beach, Queensland, on a 9.8-meter catamaran named Kaz II. They planned to sail around northern Australia to Western Australia. On April 18, a helicopter spotted Kaz II drifting near the Great Barrier Reef. When authorities boarded the boat on April 20, they found it abandoned under strange conditions:
The engine was running. A laptop was on and working. Food and cutlery were set on the table. A newspaper was open on the floor. All safety equipment, including life jackets, was still on board. One sail was badly torn. The anchor was up, and a small dinghy was secured at the stern. There were no signs of struggle or foul play. The men's wallets and personal items were untouched. No distress signal had been sent. Despite extensive searches, no trace of the men was ever found.
What Happened?
On April 15, 2007, three men—Derek Batten (56), and brothers Peter (69) and James Tunstead (63)—left Airlie Beach, Queensland, on a 9.8-meter catamaran named Kaz II. They planned to sail around northern Australia to Western Australia. On April 18, a helicopter spotted Kaz II drifting near the Great Barrier Reef. When authorities boarded the boat on April 20, they found it abandoned under strange conditions:
The engine was running. A laptop was on and working. Food and cutlery were set on the table. A newspaper was open on the floor. All safety equipment, including life jackets, was still on board. One sail was badly torn. The anchor was up, and a small dinghy was secured at the stern. There were no signs of struggle or foul play. The men's wallets and personal items were untouched. No distress signal had been sent. Despite extensive searches, no trace of the men was ever found.
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50points
#12 The Mary Celeste Was A Ghost Ship Found Abandoned On December 4, 1872
Despite having ample provisions, an intact cargo, and no signs of structural duress, her crew had disappeared without a trace. To this day, there is no conclusive explanation for what happened on the ship.
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49points
Mystery also resonates at a deeper emotional and existential plane. It offers room for the world to be larger than the sum of its parts. A mystery suggests layers, secrets, the unseeable it promises that reality is not as it appears on the surface. For those of us who live stabilized, routine lives, mysteries can be a way to enter a state of awe. They represent a form of intellectual sandbox, where one gets to stretch what is known, toy with fear, or defy official versions. The unexplained, the bizarre, the unsettled, these are all reminders of something larger than oneself.
#13 In 2003, Two Individuals Successfully Stole A Boeing 727 From Luanda International Airport In Angola
After taking off, the aircraft vanished, prompting a large international search by intelligence agencies. Despite the efforts, both the plane and the thieves disappeared without a trace.
The Boeing 727, once operated by American Airlines, was retired and left at Luanda airport after plans to convert it fell through. In 2003, two men—a pilot and a mechanic—illegally boarded the plane and took off with 14,000 gallons of fuel, enough to travel 1,500 miles. The plane and the men were never found.
The Boeing 727, once operated by American Airlines, was retired and left at Luanda airport after plans to convert it fell through. In 2003, two men—a pilot and a mechanic—illegally boarded the plane and took off with 14,000 gallons of fuel, enough to travel 1,500 miles. The plane and the men were never found.
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46points
#14 The Mystery Of The Icon Preserving Bees
For a decade, a beekeeper near Athens, has kept a tradition: every spring, he slips icons of Christ, the Holy Virgin and different saints in his beehives, in order to bless his bees and his yearly honey production. And every year, the very same mysterious phenomenon occurs: bees make their honeycomb cells around the pious images, meticulously avoiding covering them.
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45points
#15 On June 5th, 1991, Hotel Security Went To Check On Someone Only Known As Eduardo. He Was Supposed To Check Out The Day Prior
Instead, they found the decomposing body of a woman and this photo of her and an unknown man. The woman has never been identified.
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44points
Also, mysteries offer a kind of fellowship. They generate shared narratives that people can relate to, discuss, and disagree about. The enduring interest in Jack the Ripper, the Dyatlov Pass tragedy, or the Voynich Manuscript is not just about facts; it's about being part of a cultural phenomenon.
#16 Natalie Wood Lived Her Life Afraid Of Dark Water. She Disappeared Off Her Yacht In 1981. No One Can Explain How She Got In The Water
Film legend Natalie Wood was 43 when she went on a weekend trip with husband Robert Wagner and costar Christopher Walken. The boat’s captain, Dennis Davern, reported tension onboard. Wagner, Walken, and Davern all confirmed a heated argument on Saturday night, during which Wagner smashed a wine bottle.
Davern claimed Wagner said to Walken, “What are you trying to f**k my wife?” Natalie reportedly returned to the couple’s stateroom. Walken went outside. Wagner and Davern cleaned up the mess. Nearly 45 minutes later, Wagner discovered Natalie was missing. He believed she went to shore. At 1:30 AM, almost two hours after her disappearance, Wagner called for help— but not the Coast Guard. Volunteers and the harbormaster called the Coast Guard at 3:30 AM.
Natalie was found hours later floating in a cove, upright, eyes open, wearing a nightgown, red coat, and wool socks. The couple’s dinghy was found elsewhere, tangled in kelp, engine off and in neutral.
Wagner told people he thought Natalie went to shore, but also said he couldn’t imagine her doing so. Natalie, one of the last stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, was known for always appearing glamorous — yet she was found in sleepwear. She had long feared “dark water.”
Davern and others questioned why Natalie would try to use the dinghy alone at night in rough water. The case was initially ruled accidental drowning, but reopened in 2011 after new information emerged. Wagner is now a person of interest.
Witnesses John Payne and Marilyn Wayne reported hearing a woman calling for help at 11:05 PM. They kept a spotlight on the water for 20 minutes and heard two male voices speaking to the woman “almost mockingly.” Other reports described a man and woman arguing on the yacht around the same time.
Accounts of the dinghy’s condition vary. Some say it appeared unused; others say it showed signs of struggle and scratches. Natalie had long, pointed nails at the time.
In 2020, Wagner told his stepdaughter Natasha in a documentary that Natalie likely tried to tie up the dinghy, slipped, hit her head, and fell into the water. However, the autopsy showed an abrasion on her cheek but no major head trauma. If unconscious, her eyes likely would’ve remained closed, especially in cold water.
Davern claimed Wagner said to Walken, “What are you trying to f**k my wife?” Natalie reportedly returned to the couple’s stateroom. Walken went outside. Wagner and Davern cleaned up the mess. Nearly 45 minutes later, Wagner discovered Natalie was missing. He believed she went to shore. At 1:30 AM, almost two hours after her disappearance, Wagner called for help— but not the Coast Guard. Volunteers and the harbormaster called the Coast Guard at 3:30 AM.
Natalie was found hours later floating in a cove, upright, eyes open, wearing a nightgown, red coat, and wool socks. The couple’s dinghy was found elsewhere, tangled in kelp, engine off and in neutral.
Wagner told people he thought Natalie went to shore, but also said he couldn’t imagine her doing so. Natalie, one of the last stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, was known for always appearing glamorous — yet she was found in sleepwear. She had long feared “dark water.”
Davern and others questioned why Natalie would try to use the dinghy alone at night in rough water. The case was initially ruled accidental drowning, but reopened in 2011 after new information emerged. Wagner is now a person of interest.
Witnesses John Payne and Marilyn Wayne reported hearing a woman calling for help at 11:05 PM. They kept a spotlight on the water for 20 minutes and heard two male voices speaking to the woman “almost mockingly.” Other reports described a man and woman arguing on the yacht around the same time.
Accounts of the dinghy’s condition vary. Some say it appeared unused; others say it showed signs of struggle and scratches. Natalie had long, pointed nails at the time.
In 2020, Wagner told his stepdaughter Natasha in a documentary that Natalie likely tried to tie up the dinghy, slipped, hit her head, and fell into the water. However, the autopsy showed an abrasion on her cheek but no major head trauma. If unconscious, her eyes likely would’ve remained closed, especially in cold water.
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43points
#17 The Winchester Mystery House
I watched a documentary on this house when i was 10 and it has stuck with me ever since. it’s about a woman named Sarah Winchester. Her husband and baby both died. Her husband owned a rifle company, and she went to a psychic. The psychic told her that she is being haunted by the ghosts of all the people who have died by the hands of those guns, and that is the reason for the tragedy that happened in her life.
To appease the spirits, the psychic told her to build a great house for them, and she was not allowed to stop building, or tragedy would strike again. She didn’t get help from anyone, but she did it and kept building for the next 38 years.
There are stairs that lead to nowhere, windows that don’t look out, hallways that wrap around. It has 161 rooms, and it’s huge.
Was it really the ghosts? Was she insane? I have no idea, but it’s the most interesting story i’ve ever heard.
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43points
#18 Not Sure If It's The Biggest Mystery. But The Antikythera Mechanism Is Pretty Wild
Dated to at least 60BC, possibly as old as 200BC, it's as complex as clockworks that didn't show up until the 1400s, over a millennium later!
It's just such a strange technological anomaly. Who made it? What else did they make and why haven't we found more stuff as advanced?
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42points
Even if the solutions are advanced, they are not likely to quench the allure. Often, even the presence of alternative explanations simply reinforces the sense of mystery. A number of theories suggest that maybe the truth is actually out there lurking, just out of reach. Each mystery is a platform in which belief, skepticism, hope, and preoccupation coexist.
#19 Car In The Trees At Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Found what looks like a vintage car in the trees above a rock cliff next to the railroad track trail in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Anyone know the story behind this?
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40points
#20 We Like To Think We Understand The Universe And That Physics Is A Well Grounded Discipline, And In Some Ways It Is
However we have no idea what dark matter or dark energy is and yet we think it makes up 27% and 68% of the universe respectively.
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40points