History is rife with questions! And answers!&nbsp;One of the fun things about history is that people come up with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/really-answers-to-historical-questions-0621/melissa-sartore">new questions</a> all the time - inquiries about people, places, events, and everything in between.&nbsp;We wanted to know what types of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/wh-readers-q-and-a-0922/melissa-sartore">questions our readers have</a>, so we did the only thing possible - we asked. And, boy, did Weird History readers come up with some great topics to research! From mysteries about Wild West figures to teasing out rumors about militant emus, we found some <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/questions-and-answers-2022-wh/melissa-sartore?ref=profile_own">really satisfying answers</a> to the questions YOU asked.Take a look and decide which answers help take the mystery out of some of your questions about history.

Weird History Readers Asked, We Answered - 11 Unraveled Mysteries From History

General

Melissa Sartore

1980s

In the 1980s, Unsolved Mysteries was a big television hit. As the name implies, and many recall, the show highlighted some of the strangest mysteries that had yet to be <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/solved-mysteries/jason-f-collins" target="_blank">solved</a>. Episodes about missing persons, unsolved murders, and strange phenomena&nbsp;captivated audiences.&nbsp;

There are many <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unresolved-mysteries/chrissy-rose" target="_blank">real-life mysteries</a> from that decade that have still gone unsolved. While many of these stories here never made it onto the hit TV show, they are nonetheless another legacy of the &#39;80s. These are real-life stories of whodunnit, what the heck happened, and how did they get away with that? Some are also just <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-unexplained-stories-in-america/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">plain creepy</a>. While they may not have all made national headlines, most of them have left the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/local-solved-mysteries/chrissy-rose" target="_blank">locals still scratching their heads</a>. You may not have heard of these mysteries&nbsp;before, but you won&#39;t be able to forget them now.&nbsp;

The Biggest Mysteries From The '80s That Are Still Unsolved

Chrissy Rose

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

Whodunits & Whydunits & How

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

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

Unsolved Mysteries

Unspeakable Times

Some of the most famous true crime cases may never be solved. Even with advancements in DNA testing and forensic technology, we're still faced with seemingly unanswerable questions. Who was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/crimes-overshadowed-by-jack-the-ripper/aspen-stevens">Jack the Ripper</a>? Who <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/elizabeth-short-black-dahlia/patrick-thornton">killed the Black Dahlia</a>? How did <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/flannan-isles-disappearance-facts/quinn-armstrong">three lighthouse keepers</a> vanish off an island?&nbsp;In the list below, we'll look at a few unsolved cases that occurred between the late 1800s and mid-20th century. Although theories abound in each of these cases, an air of mystery hangs around all of them.

Unsolved True Crime Cases That May Never Be Solved

Unsolved Cases That May Never Be Solved

Patrick Thornton

With ever-evolving technology and investigation capabilities, true crime cold cases are <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/true-crime-updates-2022/patrick-thornton">getting solved</a> left and right. Forensic genealogy has named an astounding number of formerly unidentified <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/jane-john-does-identified-2022/christina-chilin">Jane and John Does</a>. Even so, many unsolved mysteries remain.Whether they're oft-discussed historical cases like Amelia Earhart or cases that dominated the headlines when they occurred before slowly fading from the public eye, these unsolved mysteries are still on our minds. Sleeping in 2022 wasn't easy knowing these stories still don't have closure - and that many of these perpetrators could still be out there.

Unsolved Mysteries That Creeped Us Out In 2022

Elle Tharp

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

Times People Broke Unbreakable Codes - And How

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

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

Fans always seem to love a good <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-all-detective-fiction-movies/ranker-film">mystery</a>, and what would a mystery be without a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-detective-characters/ranker-entertainment">great detective</a>. Detective stories have always driven the narrative in a powerful way and are the crux of any mystery.&nbsp;From unanswered questions&nbsp;to character quirks,&nbsp;some passionate fans managed to come up with&nbsp;some interesting&nbsp;theories surrounding a&nbsp;few of the most well known <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/who-would-you-want-investigating-your-murder-">fictional detectives</a>.Check out these fan theories&nbsp;about fictional <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/detective-fiction-tv-shows-and-series/ranker-tv">detectives</a>, and don't forget to vote!

22 Fan Theories About Fictional Detectives That Really Make Us Wonder

Loren O'Connell

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

Gone Missing

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

Graveyard Shift

Crime-related <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-new-tv-dramas-of-the-last-few-years/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">dramas on TV</a> and in film often make even the most mysterious cases seem relatively easy to solve. After a few scenes depicting frustration and bewilderment, the expert CSI agent or forensic scientist suddenly makes a case-breaking discovery by analyzing a piece of hair, pulling together cellphone data, or having a witness crack under pressure. Often, the heroes of these stories overcome another corrupt entity within their division to ensure that justice is served as they save the day.&nbsp;While these dramas make for excellent and entertaining stories, they're often a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-forensic-science-actually-works/zack-howe">far cry from reality</a>. What happens when a killer leaves behind all his clothes at a crime scene, full of DNA, and experts still can't identify the perpetrator? Or when crooked law enforcement agents don't have anyone there to expose their evidence-meddling tactics? Or when a serial killer strikes a city, and no one finds out about it for years?&nbsp;Unlike the popular mystery-solving dramas in the entertainment industry, these true crime stories are a collection of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-history-moments/lauren-glen">eerie mysteries that remain unsolved</a> - despite the evidence and clues the murderers left behind.&nbsp;

Creepy And Disturbing Mysteries That Sent Shivers Down Our Spines

Lauren Glen

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

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

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

Lists of fascinating facts and lesser-known details about the lives of people whose names you learned in History class (or should have).

Down in History

Grigori Rasputin

Grigori Rasputin is one of the most notorious names in Russian history - and his piercing eyes, creepy gaze, greasy hair, and bushy beard only add to the mystique surrounding him. The Mad Monk, as he has been called, was a figure of both fascination and outrage in the years leading up to the Russian Revolution. And in the century since the revolution, time has done little to diminish interest in the Black Monk.Rasputin was a self-made holy man whose interest in spirituality and mysticism brought him from the fields of Siberia to the imperial court in St. Petersburg in the early 20th century. <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/royal-henchmen-in-history/peterdugre">The Romanovs employed him</a> to help heal their <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/mutations-and-birth-defects-caused-by-royal-inbreeding/peterdugre">ill son</a>, Alexei Romanov. Soon, Rasputin was <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/historical-leaders-conned-by-their-advisors/isadora-teich">influencing the entire government</a>, not just the health of the heir to the throne. For that, he made more enemies than friends, and played a political game that would lead to his death. He preceded <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/royal-assassinations-that-changed-the-world/setareh-janda">his imperial patrons to the grave</a> by two years.Rasputin had a controversial life and a mysterious death, so actual facts about him are sometimes hard to separate from <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/great-penises-in-history/jacob-shelton">legend</a>. Enough tantalizing glimpses remain to piece together the life of a self-styled monk who was unapologetic about his earthly gaze.

The Enduring Mystery Of Rasputin, Imperial Russia's Secret Shadow Master

The Enduring Mystery Of Rasputin, Imperial Russia's Mad Monk

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