Mysteries

For all of history, humans have <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/brainteasers-adults-struggle-with/lowe-saddler" target="_blank">enjoyed a good puzzle</a>. Puzzles, codes, and ciphers have been found almost everywhere, from second-century Egypt&nbsp;to the 17th-century letters between <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-king-charles-i/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">King Charles I</a> and&nbsp;Queen Henrietta-Maria. Still today, crossword puzzles, Rubik&#39;s cubes,&nbsp;and Sudoku&nbsp;all remain enjoyable ways to pass the time.

But not all puzzles are simply meant for fun and leisure. Ciphers and codes are, of course, also a great way to keep a secret, such as where one <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/beale-ciphers/kellie-kreiss" target="_blank">buried some hidden treasure</a>. A well-crafted code can also inform your own military of certain movements and plans, and without revealing that information to an enemy. Many of the strongest ciphers and codes endured for decades or even centuries before finally being cracked. The following codes were called impossible, even unbreakable - until the right people came along.&nbsp;

9 Times People Broke Unbreakable Codes - And How

General

Times People Broke Unbreakable Codes - And How

Chrissy Rose

We fall into a certain order in our lives, completing the same tasks day to day, assuming we know what's coming and having the peace of mind that we know what to expect.&nbsp;When <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-unsolved-mysteries/olivia-pasquarelli">the unexplainable happens</a>, it can become a point of obsession. We must know all the pieces of the puzzle, and why. Over the last year, we've discovered many unexplainable mysteries - some with the pieces revealed, while others remain hidden.&nbsp;These are the most compelling mysteries we saw in 2022.

Mysteries We Just Learned About In 2022

Will Morgan

Psst! Hey, kid: wanna see something cool? Check out these lists of neato facts, pics, and vids of science working around you, all day in every way.

That's Just Science

Weird History

Science has done a great deal to demystify the world. Things that would once have been ascribed to the supernatural or to gods have, thanks to the scientific method, been explained rationally (even if, all too often, some&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-widely-misunderstood-scientific-concepts/bruce-maisy">scientific concepts remain poorly understood</a>).Numerous <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unsolved-ancient-mysteries-from-around-the-world/jeffrichard?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">ancient mysteries of the world</a> have been solved through experimentation - and there have been&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weirdest-scientific-experiments-that-received-funding/zack-howe">many strange and unusual examples of these</a>. However, while science has managed to discover some fascinating things about both earth and space, there are a number of surprisingly common things it has yet to fully understand.&nbsp;These aren't the “big think” mysteries like reconciling quantum physics and relativity, or understanding the fundamental nature of time itself. These are things you'd expect scientists to have a handle on - like how bicycles work, or why sand is soft. Vote up the concepts you were sure humans had figured out by now.

Ordinary Things Scientists Don't Actually Understand

Thomas West

Lists about real and fictional mysteries and the people who solved them—or at least tried to.

Mysteries & Detectives

So many new shows, so little time. Which are worth your precious eyeballs? These list rank the best new series in each genre that have premiered since 2019, so you still have plenty of time to catch up.

New Shows to Check Out

Watchworthy

With so many great TV series currently airing, we&rsquo;re ranking the best mystery TV shows since 2019. Our list of the highest-rated TV mysteries&nbsp;of the past few years is ranked by viewers from everywhere, so make sure you vote up the best new mystery series on television.&nbsp;What is the best new mystery TV show?&nbsp;

Featuring new <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-mystery-shows-on-netflix/ranker-streaming?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Netflix mystery shows</a>, Hulu originals, critically acclaimed&nbsp;miniseries, and more, the best recent mystery shows include Home Before Dark, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, and Cruel Summer. The Netflix series Lupin is&nbsp;considered to be one of the most binge-worthy shows today, while Applet TV+&#39;s Servant and HBO Max&#39;s The Flight Attendant are known as the shows to watch now.&nbsp;

What are television&#39;s best recent mystery shows? Vote up the TV mysteries you think are the best to have premiered recently and see where your favorites rank.

The Best New TV Mysteries of the Last Few Years

TV Program

The 50+ Best New Mystery TV Shows, Ranked

Ranker TV

Maps, ciphers, millions of dollars worth of gems - who doesn't love a treasure hunt?When we think of buried treasure, though, many of us might think of what's resting on the floor of the Pacific or Atlantic. Even so, there's good news for American, landlocked <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-treasure-hunters/ranker-entertainment">treasure hunters </a>- there are many legends of great treasures that exist within our borders.From Spanish conquistadors to victors of the Gold Rush, lost treasure is spread throughout the country. Which of these treasures do you think is worth hunting for?

Famous Buried Treasures In The United States That Have Never Been Found

Emily Mast

Outdoors

In 1959, a group of young hikers left on an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/10-of-the-most-doomed-expeditions-in-history/analise.dubner">expedition</a> into the Ural Mountains that would become known as the Dyatlov Pass Incident. The group never returned home, and a rescue team eventually found their frozen bodies in various places around their campsite. While hypothermia was blamed for some of the deaths, there were many more questions than answers.For instance, the group's tent had been cut open from the inside. Clothing and food had been left behind. Some of the hikers were barefoot and in their pajamas and had burn marks on their clothes and skin. A few of the bodies had been mutilated, and later testing showed they had been exposed to radiation.The strange case of the Dyatlov Pass Incident has inspired an array of theories, some more plausible than others, and there are many who question the official explanation as to how nine experienced skiers lost their lives more than 60 years ago.

What Happened During The Dyatlov Pass Incident Remains A Mystery, But There Are Many Theories

Patrick Thornton

Entertainment

Have you ever imagined yourself as a Sherlock Holmes-level detective? If so, you probably enjoy murder mysteries. The genre has been around almost since the invention of movies, and it's proven to be extremely durable. From the films noir of the '40s and '50s, to the star-studded&nbsp;productions of the '70s, to the more recent Knives Out, audiences have long relished&nbsp;the opportunity to bring out their inner Miss Marples and solve some crimes.&nbsp;If you've seen all the usual suspects (pun intended), the following underrated murder mysteries will give you some new fodder for your detective fantasies. Many of these are true hidden gems that never quite got the attention they deserved. Others were hits - or at least hits among a target audience - upon their initial release, yet didn't quite&nbsp;break&nbsp;into the mainstream. And some are simply older films that younger people&nbsp;may not be hip to yet. Whatever the case, they offer plenty of fun and chills as you follow the clues.

20 Underrated Murder Mysteries That Make Us Feel Like Master Detectives

Film

Mike McGranaghan

Lists of fascinating and bizarre real cases that continue to stump detectives and amateur sleuths.

Unsolved Mysteries

Unsolved Mysteries (Netflix)

The show Unsolved Mysteries <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unsolved-mysteries-where-are-they-now/jacob-shelton">first premiered</a> on NBC in 1987 and captivated viewers with true crime cold cases. Aside from the theorizing the series caused, it also heightened public awareness of the cases it covered, leading to new tips and leads that <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cases-solved-by-unsolved-mysteries/patrick-thornton">actually helped solve</a> some of the crimes.In 2020, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81026055">Netflix revived the series</a> and has since released three new volumes. The show invites viewers to do their own sleuthing and speak up if they might have any knowledge that could pertain to the cases discussed. As is oft-repeated on the show, in most instances, someone out there knows something - solving the cases is often a matter of someone remembering a small detail and sharing it with authorities.While the recent volumes of Unsolved Mysteries have covered a wide variety of stories, these are just a few we can't stop thinking about. If you or someone you know may have information related to these cases, you can send in tips to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://unsolved.com/">Unsolved.com</a>.

9 Of The Most Unsettling Cases From The 'Unsolved Mysteries' Reboot

Elle Tharp

In a world where internet search engines provide logical explanations to just about every question a person can think of, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unexplained-mysteries-that-were-solved/setareh-janda">a good mystery </a>can reignite the imagination and recreate the sense of a world not wholly explored or understood. Possibly out of nostalgia for a past when inexplicable occurrences remained unexplained, many of these mysterious tales go unchecked over the years.&nbsp;However, just because <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/strange-mysteries-solved/mike-rothschild">eerie tale collectors</a> neglect to search for answers doesn't mean that logical explanations to these phenomena don't exist. In fact, many longstanding historical and scientific mysteries the internet loves to put on lists have actually been solved by scholars. Readers who enjoy a good conspiracy theory regarding aliens, magical moving rocks, unexplained noises in the wild, or royal murders, beware. This list features some of the most popular science and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/solved-mysteries-2021/will-morgan-1">history mysteries experts have debunked</a>.

Mysteries Of Science And History That Have Actually Been Solved Already

Mysteries Of Science And History That Have Already Been Solved

Lauren Glen

A closer look at mysterious disappearances that continue to baffle detectives.

Gone Missing

On June 3, 2011, 20-year-old Indiana University student Lauren Spierer disappeared. On the evening of June 2, Spierer went to a friend's apartment before going out to a popular local sports bar. By the time she left the bar in the early hours of June 3, surveillance footage showed her acting extremely intoxicated. After going by two friends' apartments, she reportedly headed home by herself around 4:30 am.The case remains open, and authorities have seemingly reached no concrete conclusions, though Spierer is presumed to be dead. Her parents believe that her friends and others around her that night know details that could finally answer the nagging question of what happened to their daughter. Even 11 years later, her family and friends believe that if they keep looking, the truth will eventually come out.

Lauren Spierer Disappeared After A Night Out, And No One Can Make Sense Of What Happened

The Shocking Disappearance Of IU Student Lauren Spierer

Aspen Stevens

September 17, 1992, was supposed to be an ordinary trip to the fair for two teenage girls just looking for a fun weekend outing. Misty Copsey was a popular, straight-laced student with good grades, and despite her mother's struggles with alcohol, she was seemingly able to avoid the trappings of her upbringing. All that was cut short, however, when she mysteriously disappeared from the Washington State Fair in her hometown of Puyallup, WA.Misty Copsey hasn't been seen since, and the search for her whereabouts was both messy and mismanaged. This case is filled with complications and rabbit holes, and has it countless active players - perhaps why the case is still open to this day.

Misty Copsey Vanished From A Small-Town Fair In 1992, And We’re Still Looking For Answers

The Disappearance Of Misty Copsey: Still Searching For Answers

Stephen Morin

There is no official database for how many people go missing in national parks every year. Unofficial reports put the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kron4.com/mystery-wire/missing-411-author-sheds-light-on-mysterious-disappearances/">total number in the thousands</a>, but the count remains unconfirmed by the National Park Service.Most disappearances result from accidents inherently related to the outdoors, such as under-preparing for extreme weather, chance encounters with animals, and hikers getting lost. Alive or deceased, most missing persons are found and returned to their loved ones. Some disappearances, however, remain shrouded in mystery indefinitely.In June 1969, Dennis Lloyd Martin snuck into the woods to play a prank on his father and was never seen again. His disappearance <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/foia/upload/1969_GRSM_DennisMartin_dissapearance_REDACTED.pdf">sparked the largest search in park history</a>, but no traces of Dennis were ever found. A span of 20 minutes turned a family's celebrated camping tradition into a disaster and forever left them - and their community - wondering what happened. But how can a child simply vanish, especially with his family so close?The mystery of Dennis Lloyd Martin's disappearance has lasted decades, and time hasn't revealed any more answers.

The Odd Disappearance Of Dennis Martin, Who Vanished In The Smoky Mountains

Sonja Ska

Hannah Upp was a young woman with a positive attitude and a zest for life. Despite having divorced parents and struggling with her personal understanding of religion, she was a&nbsp;seemingly happy, successful woman <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/02/how-a-young-woman-lost-her-identity/amp">aspiring to become a Montessori teacher</a> in order to effect positive change in the world.Unfortunately, she also suffered from a rare disorder best known for afflicting Jason Bourne, the fictional protagonist from The Bourne Identity and its sequels. Because of this condition, she went missing twice and was later found with no recollection of what had happened. In 2017, Upp <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/what-happened-to-hannah-upp-the-mystery-around-the-young-womans-disappearance-continues">went missing for a third time</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/paula-jean-welden-disappearance-vermont/patrick-thornton">has never been found</a>.

A Teacher With A Rare Form Of Amnesia Disappeared Three Times And Hasn't Been Found

A Teacher With A Rare Form Of Amnesia Disappeared Three Times And Has Not Been Found

Photography

Bigfoot, otherwise known as Sasquatch, is a large, human-like creature whose existence has never been verified. The creature is typically spotted in forests in the Northwest region of the United States, but it has also been sighted in the Northeast. Bigfoots have an ape-like appearance and appear mostly at night. Has anyone ever captured a real photo of Bigfoot? Is there proof that Bigfoot exists? Take a look at the photos on this list and decide for yourself.What is the most famous Bigfoot photo? A still shot from Roger Patterson's 1967 film (known simply as the Patterson-Gimlin film) has become an iconic Bigfoot visual. The film has been studied by Bigfoot believers, who think the film is the real deal, and Bigfoot skeptics who believe that the film only captures the image of a man in an ape suit.Bigfoot is frequently spotted in Washington State as well as in Pennsylvania. It was even spotted as far north as Canada. Some people take photos when they accidentally stumble upon Bigfoot, while others set up cameras to try to get photo evidence of the elusive creature.Why do you think it is so difficult to get a photo of Bigfoot? Do you think Bigfoot is really in the pictures below? Vote up the best, most realistic Bigfoot pictures.Want more Bigfoot? Check out this list of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-bigfoot-movies/ranker-film">best Bigfoot movies</a>.

The Best (Alleged) Pictures Of Bigfoot

Best Pictures of Bigfoot | Real Photos of Sasquatch

Roger Nackerman

Graveyard Shift

Bethany Anne Decker was a 21-year-old college senior studying global and economic change when she went missing in early 2011.Decker was also the wife of an Army National Guard private, the mother to a 17-month-old son, and was about three months pregnant with a second child; however, there was tension in Decker's life - her marriage was struggling, and she began an affair with a man named Ronald Roldan, whom she said was abusive. Then one day in late January, Decker seemingly disappeared without a trace.Decker's case was seemingly cold until Roldan was charged in the attempted murder of another woman. In 2020, new evidence led to Roldan's arrest in Decker's disappearance, with a trial scheduled for 2023.

Bethany Decker Was Three Months Pregnant When She Vanished, And Her Whereabouts Are Still A Mystery

Bethany Decker Was Three Months Pregnant When She Vanished Without A Trace

Dusting for prints & pointing the magnifying glass at some of history's most persistent, fascinating, and frustrating mysteries.

History's Mysteries

Just because the past already happened doesn&#39;t mean we know all of its secrets. In fact, there are many enduring mysteries from history for which we still have no answers.

Like <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unsolved-ancient-mysteries-from-around-the-world/jeffrichard" target="_blank">unsolved ancient mysteries</a>, this collection of unsolved historic mysteries includes stories of inexplicable disappearances, puzzling objects, and missing artwork. Some unsolved mysteries from the past involve mystifying&nbsp;occurrences, while others are the result of lost knowledge, paperless trails, and long-gone evidence.

Why did people abandon a Mesoamerican city? How did an entire room mysteriously disappear? Who erected a monument containing a modern-day 10 Commandments - and why? From <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-figures-undiscovered-tombs/genevieve-carlton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">lost burial sites</a> to unexplained cryptozoological phenomena, these historic mysteries prove that there&#39;s always something new to uncover about the past.

14 Historical Mysteries That We'd Really Like Answers To

Historic Mysteries That We'd Really Like Answers To

Setareh Janda

Mysteries lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories