A conspiracy theory, at its heart, is a cause for both relief and alarm—relief since it’s a sign that at least people are still using their brains to explain or shed light on otherwise inexplicable events. They can also cause alarm though as they strike fear into people’s hearts or distrust in the government or other bodies. Here are the top 10 conspiracy theories out there.

10. Princess Diana murdered?

Since the controversial car accident more than a decade ago in 1997, Princess Diana has never seen a day without people speculating about the nature of her death. Was it really an accident? Or was it murder? If so, for what reason? Some say the princess was pregnant at the time of her death. Was Prince Philip or, worse yet, Prince Charles involved? Questions arise, but the future for sensible answers looks bleak. In 2007, the Metropolitan Police decided to re-open the case in hopes of putting an end to these conspiracy theories that, surprisingly, have managed to linger for so long.

9. Elvis is alive?

The idea that Elvis is alive and in hiding still resonates in the back of people’s minds more than three decades after his death: that’s how insanely popular the man is. Elvis Presley—or the King of Rock and Roll, or simply the King—died on August 16, 1977. But many of his fans, which is like saying more than two-thirds of the world’s population, choose to believe otherwise. Stories about Elvis wanting to spend the remainder of his life in solitude and alien abductions have popped up in various forms of media time and again. Alien abductions: can you believe that? I’m sure Elvis would’ve been flattered, if he isn’t already.

8. Paul is dead?

Elvis is alive, and now Paul is dead. Two of the world’s most famous musicians are involved in conspiracy theories about life and death. Am I the only one sensing a pattern here? So what’s next? Lionel Richie is dead and the replacement look-alike is Eddie Murphy? The story about Paul’s death surfaced at about the same time The Beatles’ twelfth and final studio album, Abbey Road, was released, prompting some critics to question whether the hoax was, by any chance, staged by the band members themselves to boost album sales. But is Paul really dead? No one knows for sure.

 

(In addition music experts still believe that the Beatles still lead the pack of the Top Ten Most Amazing Rock Bands of All TIme.)

7. Satanic ritual abuse?

While satanic ritual abuse is a fact, the theory about a satanic group conspiring to promote widespread satanic ritual abuse is not. At least as long as it is considered a conspiracy theory, it isn’t. Numerous cases of non-related ritualistic sexual abuse in children have occurred in the United States and throughout the rest of the world. These guys are sick right down to the bone, I tell you. Demon worship doesn’t get any worse than this.

6. Apollo moon-landing a hoax?

If there’s one man in the world, in history, that any avid traveler ought to be jealous of, it’s Neil Armstrong. The man with this household name is the first human to ever step foot on the moon. Not only is this landmark event mankind’s then-greatest achievement, but it also served the United States a couple of favors, including winning the Space Race against the Russians and fulfilling President Kennedy’s promise during his speech to land the first man safely on the moon and back “before the decade is out”. But was Apollo 11 really able to touch the moon? Or did it touch nothing more than the floor of some elaborate studio designed to look like a beach in Outer Space? It’s about time we get some real answers.

5. World domination by Jews?

Would you believe that such an unlikely idea as world domination by the Jews is actually one of the first, if not the first, conspiracy theory to begin all conspiracy theories? The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is widely considered to be the first real piece of contemporary literature about conspiracy theories in general, antisemitism in particular. The book discusses the importance of manipulating several key aspects of modern society—media, finance, social order—to generate immense political and economic power. It was first published in 1903 and alleges a Masonic and Jewish plot for world domination.

4. A New World Order?

New World Order? Sounds a bit too much like George Orwell’s 1984. In this conspiracy theory, the theorists feed on the cryptic but common symbols found all over modern American society to fuel the public’s interest into giving the ideology a second, and far more serious, thought. The theory asserts that a group known only as the Illuminati is conspiring a plot to rule the world by way of an autonomous world government. When this event will take place, or how, is more than what anyone knows at the moment. Maybe we should ask our resident seer what he knows about the matter.

3. John F. Kennedy assassination staged?

Where were you when Kennedy was shot?

This became one of America’s most common topics of discussion following the John F. Kennedy’s, then-president of the United States, assassination on November 22, 1963. But was it just the work of a lone gunman? Or was it the work of a lone gunman that was sent by some of the nation’s, and possibly the world’s, most powerful political figures? No one knows for sure, because Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin, was murdered two days after being taken into custody by the police. This is the second conspiracy theory on this list in which President Kennedy is involved, the first being the Apollo landing hoax.

2. US government responsible for 9/11?

The 9/11 attacks are a source of great trauma and loss. They’re also a great source of controversy. On September 11, 2001, the United States came under attack by its own commercial airplanes. The attack culminated with the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, a destroyed section of the Pentagon, and a fourth crashed airplane in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Although al-Qaeda, a terrorist group, was held responsible by the US government, some theorists instead decided to point their fingers back at the government as the real plotters and conspirators behind the event. ()

1. Aliens house partying at Area 51?

The remoteness, not to mention the US government’s flair for secrecy, of the location known as Area 51 is all it takes to fire up the curiosity of even the most dim-witted of conspiracy theorists. Stories of recovered UFOs and possibly even alien bodies being stored for research in Area 51 facilities are old news.These are also the kinds of stories that some people simply can’t seem to let go. Besides, physical evidence of alien existence is, sure enough, deeply terrifying to say the least. That’s an understatement. Hey, chump. (Wanna be a UFO Hunter know the 11 Ways To Spot A UFO…)

 

Mulder and Scully says it best: “The truth is out there.”

 

(Now after learning all these outrageous conspiracy theories, are your ready for the Top Ten Political Conspiracy Theories?)