Would you believe that there is a conspiracy theory about the way we tune musical instruments? And that this theory even involves the Nazis, chakras, and whatnot? No? Then sit down and enjoy perhaps the most ridiculous conspiracy theory of all times.

The mysterious silky substance is the source of much speculation. By Naomi Russo.

The US government is preparing to activate an “internet kill switch” according to cyber security experts, and the groundwork has been laid to blame the unprecedented act on Russia. Obama effectively declared “cyber-war” on Russia this week, promising “retaliatory hacks” and suggesting the US would covertly release “embarrassing” information about Putin as tensions between Washington and Moscow continue to escalate.

Max Spiers, a British Ufologist and conspiracy theorist, sent his mother a text message days before his death earlier this year saying: “If anything happens to me, investigate.” Spiers, 39, originally from Canterbury, was found dead in Warsaw in June. Local authorities say he died from natural causes – but his mother has told reporters she has doubts over the verdict.

It is now clear that as a loss looms, Donald Trump will only escalate his rolling claims that the election is rigged against him. The conspiracy now includes the media, numerous women who allege inappropriate sexual advances, their friends and relatives, immigration officials, international bankers, and elections officials across the country.

Stephan Lewandowsky, chair of cognitive psychology at the University of Bristol, answered questions posed by the public on Reddit. The Conversation has curated the highlights. (Apr. 16, 2016)

In the long history of United States’ presidents, the chief executive has defended the office against myriad accusations, but Tuesday is likely to have been the first time that a sitting president has had to deflect accusations that he might be a demon.

The clandestine corners of the world where the occult lives. By Cynthia Pelayo.

Over the past year or two, someone has been probing the defenses of the companies that run critical pieces of the Internet. These probes take the form of precisely calibrated attacks designed to determine exactly how well these companies can defend themselves, and what would be required to take them down. We don't know who is doing this, but it feels like a large a large nation state.

Just as a father was mourning his child killed at Sandy Hook, strangers were saying he’d never lived at all.

The first peer-reviewed journal article has been published on the 'chemtrails' conspiracy - the idea that organisations or governments are covertly pumping chemicals into the sky via aircraft.

*And these people will tell you why. By Alexis Kleinman.

It's one of the most universal recommendations in all of public health: Floss daily to prevent gum disease and cavities. Except there's little proof that flossing works. By Jeff Donn.

Is my social network using my inbuilt mic to spy on me? No, but it sure does feel that way. By Leigh Alexander.

“You’re not really sick, They’re poisoning you so you have to buy Their costly drugs to treat the symptoms They’ve caused because They’re also suppressing the cheap and easy natural remedes you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard! Credit card number?” By Spenser Davis.

Zach Dorfman exposes a militant network operating inside U.S. borders and the work of investigators wrestling with questions that resonate with the terrorism we face today.

The U.S. government and mainstream media are playing down the long-hidden 9/11 chapter on official Saudi connections to Al Qaeda’s hijackers, hoping most Americans won’t read it themselves, as 9/11 widow Kristen Breitweiser observes. (July 15, 2016)

Perhaps one of Tesla’s most famous inventions deals directly with energy, something that is the talk of many social and political conversations and something that could be free to everyone if we used Nikola Tesla’s invention. Over the years, as more and more people begin to recognize the game being played in our society, Nikola […]

They may have been disproved by science or dismissed as ridiculous, but some foolish beliefs endure. In theory they should wither away – but it’s not that simple. By Steven Poole.