During The Golden Age of Piracy, thousands of buccaneers terrorized the high seas and became legends; their exploits spawned stories of larger-than-life characters, billion dollar heists, and buried treasure that to this day, has never been found.
There are stories of advanced technology from the ancient past that seem too impossible to be true; these technologies challenge everything humanity thought about the innovation of ancestors.
People go missing every day, but throughout history, there have been strange and eerie disappearances that continue to capture the world's attention.
While modern science has stopped many dangerous viruses and bacteria in their tracks, there is a growing concern that contagious germs could be traveling through the deadly vacuum of space.
Humanity has launched satellites into outer space and submarines to the ocean floor, but the ground below Earth's surface remains shrouded in mystery.
A look at whether time travel has already occurred, on purpose or by accident, and scientists who believe it is theoretically possible.
Age-old mysterious ruins stand as silent sentinels from the past, with their true history seemingly erased by time; modern archaeology attempts to unravel the enigma of how and why the ancient structures were built.
During the Middle Ages, the Vikings were infamous for being a bloodthirsty band of seafaring warriors; historians are learning surprising new things about this Norse society.
From mysterious wounds that appear for no apparent reason, to a peculiar madness that compels people to dance themselves to death; looking at bizarre afflictions.
There are many puzzling artifacts from around the world that challenge everything known about the technological capabilities of distant ancestors; some ancient objects are so mysterious they've spawned endless debate and theories.
There's nothing more fascinating than a code that can't be cracked.
During World War II, a number of persistent mysteries were born, including unexplained stories about everything from lost gold to secret societies and highly advanced technology.
Since the dawn of humanity, tales of monstrous creatures lurking in the shadows have sparked both fascination and fear; discussing the potential that these stories have elements of reality to them.
Whether ancient burial practices, like graves, tombs and cremations, can preserve the soul for eternity or bring the dead back to life.
Many people are afraid of walking into a cursed place or touching a reportedly cursed object; looking at if whether or not curses are real and how are they brought into existence.
The world is full of stunning displays of natural phenomena that are so spectacular and, at times, so strange they defy conventional wisdom; examining if science can explain these mysteries.
A look at the visions of mystics, prophets and clairvoyants throughout history, what their prophecies reveal and predictions for the future.
Around the world, people have claimed to have seen bizarre creatures that can only be described as monsters or beasts.
Throughout human history, many cultures have used sacred rituals to express their spiritual beliefs; there are many rituals that are thought to unlock supernatural powers.
Every year, thousands of people report looking up at the sky and witnessing unidentified flying objects.
Throughout the world, there are ancient structures that defy explanation because even with today's technology they would be nearly impossible to duplicate.
Throughout history and across the globe, there have been many sacred relics believed to be imbued with mystical powers.
Some archeological finds are so baffling, they challenge what is known about the past; learning the truth about these mysterious ruins and answering the questions they continue to present.
Genius is widely considered to be the ability to change the world in an incredible way, like inventing new technology, deciphering the mysteries of the universe, or creating transcendent art, but its origin is a mystery.
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 people to explore oceans and deep lakes more than ever before, nobody knows what they will find.
From the ancient Babylonians to modern-day urban explorers, mankind has always been fascinated by abandoned places; discovering the allure that draws people to post-apocalyptic landscapes.
Examining various events that are said to have been directed by the hand of the Almighty, such as the Great Flood, the Plagues of Egypt, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Moses parting the Red Sea.
The animal kingdom is full of deadly predators, and some of them attack in extraordinary and inexplicable ways; some animals strike back at humans for reasons beyond normal defense and hunger.
Throughout history, humans have buried their dead in caves or chambers, in pyramids or in some form of a tomb; ancient tombs were visual memorials for the dead; in China, a vast necropolis was constructed as a way to connect to the afterlife.
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, while others think that curses are nothing more than superstition and folklore.
Whether surviving freezing temperatures, diving unfathomable depths in one breath, or lifting weighty objects, superhuman feats never cease to amaze; pulling them off could be a matter of training, willpower, genetics, or something more mysterious.
More than 7 billion people live on Earth; human civilizations span the globe; although many around the globe believe that the divine hand of God placed humans on Earth, others question whether there were ever other kinds of human-like creatures.
King Arthur, England's first pop culture superhero; his exploits inspired blockbuster movies and television series like "Middle Earth", "Harry Potter", "Game of Thrones" and "Star Wars"; the significant impact of Arthurian legend on Western culture.
Whether the ancients had scientific knowledge lost to time; how and why they fashioned remarkable feats of engineering.
The question of the identity of Jack the Ripper has baffled police investigators, historians, and armchair detectives for over a century, even with media offering its own unique take on the killer's identity.
Scientists are involved in a never-ending quest to understand the vast universe the planet inhabits; it seems that for each answer science provides, even more questions arise.
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.
Whether legends of vast, lost treasures hidden throughout the U.S. are real or tall tales.
All over the world are forbidden triangles that are mysterious regions where ships, planes and people enter and then just disappear; they are found in Bermuda, Alaska, Japan and elsewhere.
The Founding Fathers established the pillars of freedom and democracy in the United States; more than two centuries after their bold vision came to life, new information has emerged about the agendas and secrets of these important historical figures.
The American frontier is full of legends of cowboys, Native Americans, and outlaws; but there are also many eerie stories of cursed mountains, monsters and even UFOs.
Examining if modern technology and scientific knowledge can help protect people from almost anything, including natural disasters, or if vulnerability remains a factor.
All over the world, there are giant monoliths that ancient ancestors carved out of solid rock.
Sunken ships filled with priceless cargo; lost cities of gold; ancient temples concealing untold riches; there's something about these hidden treasures that captures the human imagination.
Throughout history, many have sought the lost Ark of the Covenant; according to the Old Testament, God himself instructed Moses to build the Ark and it is believed that it held the power of the Almighty.
Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has been fixated on predicting our own demise.
Sacred waters with remarkable healing powers; ancient mystics who lived for hundreds of years; a scientific breakthrough may provide the answers to eternal life.
The possibility of bones holding sacred power after death.
As a new era of exploration of the Red Planet begins, the Red Planet's mysteries might be close to getting solved; ancient cataclysms are believed to have left Mars barren, but science continues to find clues that this red planet was once blue.
Stories of escape that defy explanation; Harry Houdini pulls off escape acts; an attempted prison break from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary; one man receives guidance that allows him to escape the South Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11.
The five senses: sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch; constructing the reality of the world around us, like a blank canvas continuously painted and repainted every day.
Throughout history, many have believed that certain places, things, or even people can be tainted with dark curses; ominous lakes that morph into watery graves; paintings and precious stones that bring death and destruction to their keepers.
For decades, the debate has raged as to what exactly unidentified flying objects really are; theories have been put forth that attribute UFOs to everything from secret military aircraft to weather phenomena and more.
Exploring the center of the Earth.
Stories of great impostors are both daring and baffling. What compels a person to attempt to become someone else? Is it merely for material gain, or to pull off an ingenious scam? Or is there a deeper reason?
Many believe it to be the Word of God, but others claim it contains inconsistencies and contradictions that could only be manmade.
Examining mankind's fascination with the dead, from ancient civilizations to 20th-century empires, and the possible reasons for that focus.
America's monuments are inarguably impressive due to their colossal size and scope, their groundbreaking feats of engineering, and their storied histories, as well as the closely guarded secrets their implacable facades may be hiding.
According to the Greek philosopher Plato, the lost continent of Atlantis was once home to an advanced civilization before it was destroyed in a cataclysm; for centuries, archaeologists have tried to uncover evidence to prove that this legend is true.
For centuries, humanity has been compelled to build remarkable structures that are much more than simple places of shelter or work.
For centuries, legends and eyewitness accounts have told of a massive, hairy creature that roams the forest on two legs.
Stories of mysterious disappearances are compelling and confounding; cases of bizarre happenings, such as Flight MH370 and disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle.
The contempt for life exhibited by serial killers makes people question their own safety; psychopaths and sadists rarely show regret or empathy for the lives they destroy.
Examining some of the most devastating plagues in human history, as well the scientific advances to combat these diseases, including the development of Edward Jenner's vaccine for smallpox in the 1790s.
Experts question whether the moon is just a rock floating in space, or whether it holds profound secrets and perhaps even possesses incredible powers.
Examining what motivates someone to steal.
Deadly forests, haunted houses, and mountains where visitors never return alive; a look at what constitutes an evil place and whether these locations are imbued with dark energy that is currently beyond understanding.
For centuries, archaeologists have tried to unravel the mysteries of how and why certain incredible structures like the Great Pyramid at Giza, the staircase at Loretto Chapel, and Coral Castle were built.
Probing the Windsor Hum and Old Faithful; visiting a Venezuelan lake where lightning rains down 300 nights a year; sizing up the massive underground fire that's been burning in Centralia, Pa., since 1962.
Ancient practices such as prayer, blood sports, voodoo and exorcism are often thought to be relics of bygone superstition but there is evidence they have an impact on the physical world.
The age old question of what happens after death and the clues to the answer may lie in unusual cases of near-death experience, reincarnation, and how memories can be passed from organ donors to transplant recipients.
After centuries of study, the human mind remains inscrutable; examining how the brain can be more powerful than humans realize.
A look at how some people live through the impossible such as plane crashes, freezing temperatures, or performing superhuman feats while in danger; remarkable tales of human survival force others to reconsider what is known about the will to live.
For more than 200 years, treasure hunters have been coming to Oak Island in search of a treasure that has so far eluded them all, and has even cost six men their lives, could it be, as legend suggests, the treasure is protected by a deadly curse.
Can humans predict the future by use of prophets and dreams, if so, can humankind harness this knowledge to avoid future deadly events.
A look at what could cause once-thriving groups of people to just abandon their great cities, never to return; modern scientific knowledge may be able to help answer the unsolved questions surrounding these lost civilizations.
Many of the world's deadliest cults venture down dark, dangerous rabbit holes of twisted ideologies, with deadly dances, manipulation, mass suicides, and murder.
A house that narrowly dodges the path of a tornado; rain that falls from the sky like blood; lightning that follows into the home.
A miraculous meteorite falling from the heavens and a chunk of sandstone considered so sacred that wars have been fought to protect it; throughout history, many have insisted that simple stones can do everything from choosing a king to causing death.
Dracula, Lycaon of Arcadia, the Beast of Gévaudan; these are the names of grotesque monsters who have reared their terrifying heads throughout history, unearthly creatures that thrived on human blood and flesh.
A dog that can detect cancer faster than doctors can do it by using sophisticated equipment; a horse that can read minds; birds that can sense disaster days before it happens.