They Never Stop Believing: How Crabs Ate Amelia Earhart and Other Crazy Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theories aren’t anything new, but they’ve taken a new form thanks to the internet. Recently, we witnessed more than our fair share of misinterpretations online—some rooted in historical facts and others in fear. These are some of the wackiest conspiracy theories people have believed in throughout history. From The Beatles being a fake band to Amelia Earhart being eaten by crabs, conspiracists never stop believing.

First things first, did you know that some folks actually think that the Earth is hollow? Well, if you’re already shocked, let us show you some of the most intriguing and bizarre conspiracy theories folks of generations past and present believe.

The Earth is Hollow

While most believe that the Earth is indeed round, some think that the planet is an oblate spheroid. And now, another conspiracy theory made headlines after a group of theorists revealed that the Earth is “hollow.” A lot of speculations and questions have gone into the making of the conspiracy theory—Hollow Earth.

According to conspiracy theorists, the Earth is hollow and is home to aliens, Vikings, and Nazis. It’s not new how people have debated the shape of the Earth over the years.

Dubbed as the hollow-Earthers, these conspiracists believe that UFOs are sent from the globe's interiors by the “guardians of the planet” to spy on humans and avoid potential nuclear war.

Scientifically, the Earth is very much filled, there’s definitely no Sun inside of Earth, and the Hollow Earth conspiracy theory doesn’t stand a chance. Let’s narrow it down a bit: The Earth’s structure is covered by an outermost layer of rock called the crust, and beneath the crust come a couple of thick layers of molten rock called the mantle.

The structure comprises a liquid outer core and the deepest solid inner core. Of course, no one has made it down to the Earth’s mantle or core. If the planet were truly hollow, it would be much lighter with a weaker gravity, and perhaps so weak that we’d all float away.

The Beatles Never Existed

Forget the old conspiracy that Paul McCartney is dead. That’s amateur hour stuff! How about this one—The Beatles were a fake band staged by a cast of identical body doubles?

The crazy conspiracy theory argues that rock stars Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison, who stormed the rock music scene in the ’60s and ’70s, were actually “body doubles” or “clones.”

Shockingly, the theorists claim to possess credible proof that the rock legends differ throughout the years, pointing out that there’s no way they can be the same people. Well, a conspiracist even claimed that there were three John Lennons! Were The Beatles being recycled throughout the years?

Well, that’s what some conspiracy theorists are adamant about, but the theory doesn’t die there. According to one claim, the real “Paul” died in a car crash in 1966, making the current Paul McCartney a body double.

But if Paul McCartney was a body double of a songwriter whose band never existed, why would he still believe in his past with late John Lennon and recall it on “The Late Show?” Well, that explains a lot. The music legend reminisced, saying he still thinks about the late John Lennon quite often, nearly 39 years after The Beatles’ demise.

“I dream about him. I often have band dreams, and they’re crazy. I’m often with John... I have a lot of dreams about John. They’re always good.”

Crabs Ate Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart’s mysterious disappearance during her attempt to fly around the world continues to captivate historians and several conspiracists alike for more than 80 years.

However, one organization suggested Earhart’s fate may have been sealed or “snacked” by giant crabs. According to The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR), Amelia Earhart and flight navigator Fred Noonan may have crashed their plane on Nikumaroro Island.

Meanwhile, the island’s endemic giant crustaceans are believed to have played a crucial role in feasting on Earhart’s mortal remains following the alleged crash. Bon appétit coconut crabs!

According to reports at the time, the Navy culminated that Earhart and Noonan ran out of fuel, crashed, and drowned into the Pacific. A court order legally declared Earhart dead 18 months after her disappearance. However, the debate on what happened to her before and after the crash never ceased.

Meanwhile, several alternate theories surfaced, with millions of dollars spent searching for evidence that would reveal the mystery behind Earhart’s fate, and the alleged “crab” theory is still anybody’s guess.

The Maine Explosion in 1898

On February 15, 1898, a mysterious explosion ruined the American battleship, USS Maine, in Havana Harbor, eventually propelling the U.S. into a war with Spain. The USS Maine was in Cuba and was set on a mission of friendly courtesy and to protect American lives.

A U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry ruled in March that a mine blew up Maine. However, they didn't place direct blame on Spain. Subsequent diplomatic failures to resolve the issue, coupled with the United States' resentment over Spain's suppression of the Cuban rebellion, led to the outbreak of the Spanish-American war in April 1898, with the U.S. defeating the Spanish army.

Contrary to the belief, a team of researchers concluded that a mine didn't destroy the USS Maine. In 1976, American naval investigators theorized that the Maine explosion was probably caused by a fire that alighted its ammunition stocks and not a Spanish mine.

Black Helicopters is a Sign of Alien Invasion

The black or unmarked helicopter concept became one of the most famous conspiracies in the American militia movement. For instance, in the 1990s, it was associated to be an alleged symbol, precisely a warning sign from a military takeover of a part or all of the United States.

According to rumors, the United Nations patrolled the U.S. with black helicopters, and federal agents used them to enforce wildlife laws.

Based on a similar conspiracy dubbed the "phantom helicopter," the choppers were deemed UFOs, and spotting a phantom helicopter was considered an alien invasion rather than a military takeover.

However, it still didn't explain why most UFO footage and pictures are grainy or blurry. With the advent of modern photography and video gadgets, it's always possible to capture high-resolution images. Then why not UFOs, if any?

Well, this is what some UFO theory critics have pointed out and even suggested that conspiracists should wait for a clear image to emerge before concluding or linking black helicopters with aliens or UFOs.

Never-ending Mystery of the Georgia Guidestones

Atop a desolate hill in Elbert County, Georgia, are a set of stone slabs called the Georgia Guidestones. On March 22, 1980, the mysterious Guidestones—four colossal rough-edged stones encircling a center slab, weighing around 119 tons, were revealed to the public. Some from the crowd, including a local pastor, professed his belief that the stones were erected for cult worship.

They were erected with ten guidelines in eight modern languages, including four dead ones, etched onto the slabs. However, that’s pretty much all anybody can decipher about these mysterious stones. The interpretation of the guidelines, who put the stones there, and what people should do about them is still anybody’s guess.

Meanwhile, several conspiracists came forward to share their view on the bizarre stones. One theorist suggested that the Georgia Guidestones were Satanic and should be destroyed.

On the other hand, some believe that these stones supposedly give messages, and their arrangement replicates a Stonehenge-like astronomical theory. Some conspiracists have associated the Georgia Guidestones with a post-apocalyptic message for the world.

Despite the confusion and mystery, the monument does have a devoted community dedicated to figuring out what the mysterious stones are for. And like most conspiracy theories, the expedition will probably never end. However, we'll have to wait until Doomsday hits to get to the bottom of why these Guidestones are there in the first place!

Let's hope giant coconut crabs didn’t snack on Amelia Earhart, and someone manages to solve the real mystery of the Georgia Guidestones! While most people are adamant and against these bizarre theories, the conspiracists still believe the claims they’ve put forward. Let us know what you feel about these strange theories. And please don’t forget to share this article with all your friends! Thanks for reading!