Why are we so drawn to mysteries that have no answers?

Humans hate unfinished stories, so we fill the gaps with our own imagination. The D.B. Cooper legend survives because it lets us project our own desires for freedom and cleverness onto an empty canvas.

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Think of a personal mystery or unresolved argument in your life, and try to accept not knowing the final answer.

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What else is in this exploration

3 evidence blocks3 perspectives2 visualizations10 media resources10 rabbit holes

evidence

On November 24, 1971, a man using the name Dan Cooper hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 3...

evidence

In 1980, an eight-year-old boy found a small portion of the ransom money buried on a beach.

evidence

The hijacker left behind a cheap clip-on tie on the plane, which became a key piece of physical e...

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The Vanishing of D.B. Cooper

Evidence, perspectives, rabbit holes, and more