If you’ve been on the internet over the past couple of days, chances are you’ve come across the word aliens. If you haven’t, (which probably means you’ve been living under a rock) here’s the story – Haim Eshed, Israel’s former space security chief has made an unprecedented claim saying that aliens exist. Shocking, we know! Adding to that, he also mentioned an agreement between the US government and a ‘Galactic Federation’ of aliens, which, if you aren’t a space-nerd like myself, essentially means a super-government of extraterrestrial life forms. Now, we can’t really confirm or deny this seeing that there are no aliens walking around us, (unless that thing about Mark Zuckerberg is true!) but ever since Eshed came out with this statement, it has quickly become one of the internet’s favourite conspiracy theories. And we all have one question – could 2020 get any weirder?
If the mention of aliens sent you down a frantic spiral to search for evidence, you’re not alone. But before you go further down the rabbit hole, here’s a few more conspiracy theories that are bound to have you scratching your head, muttering, ‘that seems suspicious…’ (Warning: Read at your own risk!):
1. The Mystery Of The Monoliths
When it first appeared in Utah in November, people were confused. But the strange monoliths that have begun appearing all over Europe and the US seem to have no explanation, lest for one – conspiracy theorists believe that it could be a warning from aliens about an impending invasion. 2020 truly is the gift that keeps on giving, no?
2. Avril Lavigne’s Clone
Did you know Avril Lavigne was replaced by a lookalike named Melissa in 2003? Well, that’s what the internet wants you to believe. Apparently, at some point, the real Lavigne passed away, so the record company replaced her with Melissa. ‘Proof’ has included Lavigne’s red carpet shots – Lavigne wears trousers; Melissa prefers dresses and skirts – and supposed differences between the facial features. While we don’t pay heed to most conspiracy theories, we’ve got to say – Complicated does sound different now. (Or maybe that’s because we’re not 12 anymore.)
3. The Real Reason Behind The Rise Of Selfies
So, this one believes that selfies were popularised so the government could build a facial recognition database. Because obviously, the best way to build a database like that is to populate it with puppy-filtered, duck-faced selfies. While we love good ol’ Animal Farm-esque conspiracy theories, we’re going to give this one a hard pass.
4. Finland Doesn’t Exist
The nation of Finland is actually part of the Baltic Sea and people who claim to live there are really from eastern Sweden, western Russia or northern Estonia, according to a theory born on Reddit in 2016. Crazy, we know. But what got to us was the justification for this theory – even though other countries know Finland ‘doesn’t exist’, they’ve agreed to keep it a secret and allow it to serve as a model for a better world, since Finland has consistently placed first in education, healthcare, gender equality and literacy rates. With such great stats, maybe there is some truth to this theory about the near-utopian country because we definitely find it hard to believe.
5. Hollywood Is Filled With Time-Travellers
From Anne Hathaway (who people believe is Shakespeare’s wife!) to Keanu Reeves, the internet is convinced that Hollywood is full of time travellers. Having spotted doppelgängers of big names through different periods in history, fans are convinced that celebrities are allegedly immortal, barely show any signs of ageing, and may even be… Vampires? Yeah, no. It is possible for two people to look similar, you know.
6. The Origins Of The Stonehenge
While the Stonehenge is a pretty big part of the UK’s history, its origins are uncertain. Well, the internet has some pretty interesting ideas about where it came from – either the giants built it, or the aliens did it. Come on guys, have some faith in humanity already!
Which conspiracy theories are you most fascinated by?
