Why do we prefer fantastic myths over complex realities?

It is often more exciting to imagine alien visitors than to learn about military radar budgets and engineering formulas. Our brains love mystery, which makes us vulnerable to rumors.

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The next time you hear a wild rumor, try to find the most boring, logical explanation first and see if it fits the facts.

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What else is in this exploration

3 evidence blocks3 perspectives2 visualizations8 media resources10 rabbit holes

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Cold War engineers used Area 51 to secretly study and fly captured Soviet fighter jets.

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The US military built Area 51 in 1955 specifically to test the secret U-2 spy plane.

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Virtually every modern US stealth aircraft was developed and tested at Area 51.

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The Secrets of Area 51

Evidence, perspectives, rabbit holes, and more