Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Top Products Lists
  • Developer
  • 5G
  • Security
  • Cloud
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Tech & Work
  • Mobility
  • Big Data
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • CES
  • See All Topics
  • Sponsored
  • Newsletters
  • Forums
  • Resource Library
TechRepublic Premium
Join / Sign In
After Hours

10 geeky conspiracy theories

By Wally Bahny June 28, 2010, 1:25 AM PDT

Image
1
of 10

439642.jpg
439642.jpg
10 geeky conspiracy theories

The War of the Worlds

The War of the Worlds

On October 30, 1938, in what was perhaps the start of the UFO scares and conspiracy theories, Orson Welles’ reading of H.G. Wells’ book The War of the Worlds sparked mass panic on the U.S. eastern seaboard. This photo is an artist’s rendition of what the martian walkers looked like.

Image credit: Meinert Hansen.

For more on this topic, read the Geekend post Conspiracy theories for geeks.

10 geeky conspiracy theories

The Battle of Los Angeles

The Battle of Los Angeles

Known as The Battle of Los Angeles and as The Great Los Angeles Air Raid, this event was a massive artillery and anti-aircraft barrage late one night in 1942. Initially, it was thought there was an attacking force from Japan, but it was later determined to be a false alarm. Because of this, many UFO theorists have claimed it was actually an extraterrestrial spacecraft. The official record states that the misfiring was a case of “war nerves.”

This is a photo of an 8-inch howitzer artillery gun, the type which may have been used in the barrage.

Image credit: Narayan Sengupta.

For more on this topic, read the Geekend post Conspiracy theories for geeks.

10 geeky conspiracy theories

Roswell

Roswell

Perhaps the most famous UFO conspiracy theory, Roswell, New Mexico is the site of what was perhaps the only recovered flying saucer — if the stories are true. The origin of the controversy is a July 8, 1947 press release from the U.S. Air Force stating that a “flying disk” was recovered near there. Shortly thereafter, the press release was withdrawn, and the U.S. Air Force stated that it was actually a weather balloon. What’s more surprising is that this incident was largely forgotten for more than 20 years.

Image credit: Public domain courtesy of http://top10ufo.com.

For more on this topic, read the Geekend post Conspiracy theories for geeks.

10 geeky conspiracy theories

Area 51

Area 51

Another famous alleged UFO site in the United States is Area 51 in Nevada. Made even more famous by the 1996 movie, Independence Day, Area 51 is an Air Force Base on the shores of the dried-up Groom Lake in southern Nevada. Many UFO believers think that recovered alien spacecraft (including what was recovered from Roswell) was delivered here for examination and reverse engineering. Another belief is that there is a large, underground facility beneath this base where all of the extraterrestrial activity takes place.

Image credit: DVD cover photographed by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic.

For more on this topic, read the Geekend post Conspiracy theories for geeks.

10 geeky conspiracy theories

Apollo

Apollo

The NASA Apollo missions are another major source of conspiracy theories. Many believe that the moon landing was staged; the theories diverge here into either “the moon landings never happened” or “NASA staged them to conceal what really happened.” Check out my 2009 post about the MythBusters show about the conspiracy theories surrounding the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Image credit: NASA.

For more on this topic, read the Geekend post Conspiracy theories for geeks.

10 geeky conspiracy theories

HAARP

HAARP

High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is an ionosphereic research program that is jointly funded by the Air Force, the Navy, DARPA, and the University of Alaska. The goal is to create technologies that use the ionosphere to enhance radio transmissions and improve military surveillance. Conspiracy theorists believe that HAARP is creating directed energy weapons, weather-controlling technology, and mind-control technology.

Image credit: HAARP.

For more on this topic, read the Geekend post Conspiracy theories for geeks.

10 geeky conspiracy theories

Contrails

Contrails

Contrails, the condensation of wet jet exhaust in a wet atmosphere, are commonly thought to contain chemical or biological agents, especially those that spread out, such as in this photo. These are referred to as chemtrails. Conspiracy theorists think the government, terrorists, and other groups put the chemical or biological agents in the contrails, which are then spread to unsuspecting citizens on the ground.

Image credit: Uncinus at Contrail Science.

For more on this topic, read the Geekend post Conspiracy theories for geeks.

10 geeky conspiracy theories

Philadelphia Experiment

Philadelphia Experiment

The Philadelphia Experiment was an alleged attempt in 1943 to turn a U.S. Navy warship optically invisible. Conspiracy theorists also posit that crew members were severely affected by the attempt. The official source states that the attempts were to make the ship invisible to torpedoes using degaussing technology and other methods.

Image credit: Naval History and Heritage Command.

For more on this topic, read the Geekend post Conspiracy theories for geeks.

10 geeky conspiracy theories

Montauk Project

Montauk Project

An extension of the Philadelphia Experiment theory, the Montauk Project is an alleged group of experiments attempted at Camp Hero / Montauk Air Force Station at Montauk, Long Island, NY. Most conspiracy theorists claim that the experiments were in psychological warfare or time travel technologies.

Image credit: John Hock.

For more on this topic, read the Geekend post Conspiracy theories for geeks.

10 geeky conspiracy theories

Peak oil

Peak oil

Peak Oil is a conspiracy theory that many of us have expressed from time to time. It has to do with the control of oil supplies and alleged shortages. The theory is that the oil industry is aware of vast untapped stores of oil, yet does not use it to maintain an illusion of scarcity to keep profits high.

While not specifically related to this theory, I chose this image of “Oil Derrick Worship” to also show our reliance on oil.

Image Credit: Jason Skinner (photographer) and Dan Das Mann and Karen Kusolito (artists).

For more on this topic, read the Geekend post Conspiracy theories for geeks.

  • After Hours
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    10 geeky conspiracy theories

    Your email has been sent

Share: 10 geeky conspiracy theories
Image of Wally Bahny
By Wally Bahny
  • Account Information

    Contact Wally Bahny

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Wally's content

TechRepublic Premium

  • TechRepublic Premium

    IT staff systems and data access policy

    IT pros typically have access to company servers, network devices and data so they can perform their jobs. However, that access entails risk, including exposure of confidential information and interruption in essential business services. This policy from TechRepublic Premium offers guidelines for governing access to critical systems and confidential data. From the policy: SUMMARY IT ...

    Published:  January 31, 2023, 11:00 AM EST Modified:  February 1, 2023, 12:00 PM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Windows administrator’s PowerShell script kit

    The Windows GUI is the traditional way to perform administrative tasks, but scripting offers faster and more versatile methods that can help further your technical skills. This download includes 21 publicly available PowerShell scripts, along with a document explaining each one, to help you up your scripting game and administer your AD environment more efficiently. ...

    Published:  January 31, 2023, 11:00 AM EST Modified:  February 1, 2023, 12:00 PM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Scheduled downtime policy

    Maintenance tasks, equipment upgrades and installations must be completed regularly — potentially creating disruptions and preventing employees from doing their work. This policy is designed to help your organization determine procedures for scheduling and communicating server, system and network downtime with the goal of minimizing the impact and inconvenience for your staff, clients and contractors. ...

    Published:  January 30, 2023, 11:00 AM EST Modified:  January 31, 2023, 6:00 PM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Premium

    Nondisclosure policy

    This policy outlines the measures the organization is taking to ensure protection of its confidential information, including the imposition of a contractual obligation in the form of a nondisclosure agreement. From the policy: SUMMARY A nondisclosure policy protects an organization’s confidential information from exposure to persons outside or inside the organization who could intentionally or ...

    Published:  January 30, 2023, 11:00 AM EST Modified:  January 31, 2023, 8:00 PM EST Read More See more TechRepublic Premium

Services

  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information

Explore

  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Twitter
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on Flipboard
© 2023 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Property of TechnologyAdvice