Science Versus Myth

Are vampires real? What is an out-of-body experience? Are crop circles proof that aliens exist? HowStuffWorks explores what is real and what is urban legend with this collection of Science Versus Myth articles.

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Mokele-Mbembe is a legendary creature of African folklore that is rumored to inhabit Congo's remote swamps. Here's the story of this dinosaur-like cryptid.

By Desiree Bowie

Fire will turn a human's teeth to dust. But what about a dragon's?

By Robert Lamb

Experts are baffled as to why dogs keep throwing themselves off Overtoun Bridge in Scotland. Are they lured by unseen scents or is something supernatural at work?

By Nathan Chandler

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Skinwalkers blur the line between human and beast. They're shape-shifting magical beings that belong to the Navajo spirit world. But how does one become a skinwalker?

By Robert Lamb & Desiree Bowie

Does everyone's favorite Wookiee call Bigfoot family?

By Robert Lamb

No crew, sails set, fire still blazing in the galley — some ships wash up on shores under mysterious circumstances. The Resolven was one of them.

By Kate Kershner

According to new research, many people believe wildly inaccurate myths about the brain and learning — even those who know a lot about neuroscience.

By Shelley Danzy

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Humans are awesome and we have superpowers of our own. But could a greedy world of "supervillains" twist them against us?

By Diana Brown

Maybe it's mistrust of the U.S. government and health-related industries, as well as Lyme's insidious nature, that makes this idea catnip for conspiracy theories. But what's the truth?

By Nathan Chandler

Fast, right? You'll have no trouble accommodating your vampire overlord.

By Robert Lamb

They weren't always the sparkling, smiling G-rated creatures that they are today.

By Julia Layton

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There's no doubt people are seeing lights. But are they really spirits of ghosts — or even aliens — or can these unusual lights be clarified with a simple explanation?

By Diana Brown

The Tower card is one that people are afraid to draw. But what if the seemingly ominous tarot card is just misunderstood?

By Dominique Michelle Astorino

If you think chainsaws were first invented to take down a swath of trees, think again. The real story is much more cringe-worthy and involves cutting bones during childbirth.

By Jennifer Walker-Journey

Explore the powerful 444 angel number meaning! Uncover divine messages of protection, stability, and spiritual awakening. Decode 444 now.

By HowStuffWorks

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Explore the world of tattoo meanings! Decode the symbolism, culture, and significance behind various tattoo designs. Ink your story with purpose.

By HowStuffWorks

Unlock the mysteries of your sun sign! Explore personality, compatibility, and insights revealed by your zodiac sun sign.

By HowStuffWorks

"Safety coffins" were tricked-out caskets that provided a way for prematurely buried people to escape from 6 feet under, back when this fear was sometimes a frightening reality.

By Dave Roos

Indigo children are either here to save the world or need help with their undiagnosed ADHD, depending on your point of view. We explore this New Age concept in more detail.

By Alia Hoyt

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In the Namib Desert, fairy circles have stumped researchers for decades. Where did they come from? One scientist thinks he's solved the mystery.

By Allison Troutner

It's 11:11 on your phone's clock. This is what's known as an angel number. Is the universe trying to send you a message?

By Alia Hoyt

When it comes to water witches we're faced with two distinct possibilities. One, they're either really good, at pulling a fast one on desperate landowners looking for groundwater. Or, two, they actually know what they're doing.

By John Donovan

Theories about the ghostly lights abound. Conclusions are harder to come by.

By Jamie Allen

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These booming sounds are part of a mysterious phenomenon that's occurred for years around the U.S. and elsewhere in the world.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Are strange skeletons unearthed across the globe evidence that we're not alone, or are they simply more myths and legends that are bound to be debunked?

By Diana Brown