Misinformation at Its Finest

Four of the Most Famous Conspiracy Theories

Photo by Kajetan Sumila on Unsplash

A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that asserts the involvement of a secret plot, often as a result of powerful instigators. Other explanations provide more convincing stories, given that conspiracy theories generally lack sufficient evidence. Conspiracy theories can even cause mistrust in public health, which has deadly effects. Social media has led to many conspiracy theories becoming widespread in recent years. Here are just some of the most famous conspiracy theories.

1. Holocaust Denial

The Holocaust was the systemic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of over 6 million Jews and other groups across Europe and North Africa by Nazi Germany and its collaborators from 1933 to 1945. Some believe that these facts of the Holocaust are over-exaggerated or simply not true. This is a conspiracy theory known as holocaust denial, which is usually fueled by antisemitism–prejudice toward the Jewish population. One of the most famous holocaust deniers is David Irving, who has written multiple books that sympathize with Nazi ideas. He was given a sentence of three years for holocaust denial.

2. Aliens Built the Egyptian Pyramids

Some conspiracy theorists find it hard to believe that an ancient civilization could build massive structures that have lasted thousands of years, which is why they think extraterrestrial life made the Egyptian pyramids. These pyramids are used as tombs for pharaohs, and there are over 50 intact to this day. Conspirators believe that the Egyptian pyramids were made by aliens, not tens of thousands of Egyptians who built them for decades. This conspiracy theory emerged when the fiction book series “The War of the Worlds” came out in 1897, which argued that the pyramids and the Sphinx were constructed by the Martians.

3. Moon Landing Was Fake

A small percentage of people believe that NASA’s Apollo 11 mission never landed astronauts on the moon. Instead, they think it was filmed and captured using props on Earth. One of the arguments for this theory is that the photo portrays the United States flag waving, despite the absence of wind on the moon. However, this argument is invalid, as the material on the flag was not pulled tight, potentially creating creases that made it appear to be waving. Another claim is that there should have been visible stars in the photos. However, because the camera was set to a fast exposure time due to the sun’s light on the surface of the moon, stars were not able to be captured in these photos.

4. Flat Earth Theory

Perhaps the most famous conspiracy theory is that the Earth is flat. Believers say that the Earth is not round but rather a flat disc with an ice wall around it. Some even claim that the government is lying about the Earth’s real shape. However, science has disproved this theory for thousands of years–a flat Earth would not last, as it would be crushed under its own gravity and eventually made into a sphere.