The Why Files: Operation Podcast

HOW LONG DO ANIMALS (and people) SURVIVE WITHOUT THEIR HEADS?   Does a human head remain conscious after being separated from its body?   It sure does. But just how long do you actually survive? Not that long.  But, if we look at other animals, some of them can survive for longer than you think.   Let's find out why. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewhyfiles/support

THE LATITUDE.  How do you join a cult without knowing it?   Here's how it happened to thousands of people in San Francisco just a few years ago. You're with a trusted friend; maybe on a hike, or sitting in a bar or just hanging out. Out of nowhere, your friend asks you: "Can you keep a secret?" Of course you reply that you can.   Your friend hands you a small black sleeve, about the size of a credit card. On one side of the sleeve is a geometric pattern. On the other side, the words "Absolute Discretion".   Inside is a security card. Printed with a website and a code. Later that night, you go to the site and enter the code.   The website responds with: "Congratulations. You've been invited to the Latitude."   What happens next, changes you forever.   Let's find out why. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewhyfiles/support

According to a German historian, the year is actually 1724. He says our calendar is a lie and a big chunk of the Middle Ages never happened.   Which says that back in 1000 AD, there was a conspiracy between the church and the Holy Roman emperor to change the calendar. The years 614 through 911 were completely made up. Those 300 years just didn't happen.   So all that history you learned about Charlemagne and the middle ages. Completely fabricated. In fact, the theory says that Charlemagne was specifically designed as propaganda to support the calendar change. To give the emperor and the pope more power.   Sounds crazy? Well, there may proof.   Let's find out why. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewhyfiles/support

GHOST PHONE vs SPIRIT RADIO.  Edison versus Tesla. One of history's greatest rivalries. They would never admit it but as different as these men were, they also had many similarities. For instance, they also both dabbled in paranormal technology.   Nikola Tesla was convinced he could invent a device to communicate with the spirit world. And Thomas Edison was convinced he could get there first.   Let's find out why. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewhyfiles/support

TITANPOINTE.  New York City has skyscrapers of all shapes and sizes. But why does this 500 foot tall, 29-story building have no windows, no lights and no markings at all?  Because it's a top-secret NSA spy station built to withstand nuclear war.   Officially, this is an AT&T telecommunications building. But thanks to leaked documents, we now know that 33 Thomas Street is actually a top secret NSA mass surveillance hub.  It's code name is: TitanPointe. And right now, as we speak, TitanPointe is listening.   The gray, granite tower is located at 33 Thomas Street in Lower Manhattan. Locals know the building as the "Long Lines Building" and it's been a source of mystery for years. What jumps out is that the building has no windows and no exterior lighting. During the day, it fades into the background of the New York City skyline. And at night, it becomes an invisible shadow.   Thanks to NSA documents leaked by Edward Snowden, we now know that creating an invisible building wasn't an accident. It was absolutely by design.   33 Thomas Street operates under NSA codename TITANPOINTE. And Titanpointe is a core location used for a controversial, and possibly illegal, NSA-sponsored mass surveillance program. According to leaked documents, this program has targeted the communications of the UN, the World Bank, the IMF. It's been used to spy on at least 38 countries, including US allies like France, Germany and Japan.   It's common knowledge that AT&T is very cooperative with the NSA. Using an AT&T cell phone? Eh, you might want to rethink that.    Let's find out why. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewhyfiles/support

JANET AIRLINES.  Heard of Janet Airlines? No? Good. That's exactly what the US government wants. One of the government's biggest secrets is hiding in plain sight. In Las Vegas.  Janet is the top-secret government airline that doesn't exist.   Next time you're in Vegas, visit one of the big casinos next to McCarran Airport. I'm talking about Luxor, Excalibur, Mandalay Bay. When you get there, look East at the airport.    All day long, but especially early in the morning and late in the evening; you'll see mysterious planes taking off and landing. You can't miss them. They're big. They're Boeing 737s.    They have no markings. No logos. They're plain white with a single red stripe. This is Janet Airlines.   Janet is a top-secret, air-force owned commuter airline. For civilians.  But the destination Janet goes to the most -- I'm talking a few times a day-- is... Area 51.   Let's find out why. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewhyfiles/support

Was Polybius real? In 1981, an arcade in Portland was the scene of countless gamers coming down with migraines, having heart attacks, seizures and strokes. Local teens were suffering from amnesia and having hallucinations. All due to a mysterious game that seemed to arrive out of thin air.   The game was called Polybius.   And even though playing the game was dangerous, it was highly addictive and caused some teens to become hyper-aggressive.    Fights started breaking out at the arcade. One player was stabbed to death. All traced back to people who played Polybius.   Why would the government allow the public to play such a dangerous game? Because the government created it.   Let's find out why. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewhyfiles/support

THE KARDASHEV SCALE.  We have no idea what an alien civilization would look like. Humans are evolved primates. What if an alien species is reptilian? Or more like an insect? Or a hybrid of these? Or maybe something completely unique that we couldn't even imagine.   There is only one set of universal laws that every species must follow. Physics. Specifically energy.   One way to measure a civilization is by its energy consumption. This is done with the Kardashev Scale.   By using the Kardashev Scale, we can address some big questions about alien civilizations. Like: Fermi's Paradox. It's estimated that there are 40 billion Earth-like planets in the Milky Way that could support life. Certainly a few of these should have given rise to intelligent life. And if so, where is everyone?   A recent study done by researchers at JPL and CalTech states that when a civilization finally reaches a certain point on the Kardashev Scale, it destroys itself. Which is why we haven't discovered any evidence. They're gone.   And the Kardashev Scale addresses the most worrisome theory of all. If there are advanced civilizations in our universe, it's probably best if we don't make contact with them.    Let's find out why. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewhyfiles/support

THE DOG SUICIDE BRIDGE.  In Dumbarton, Scotland, there's a 19th-century gothic bridge that crosses a 50-foot ravine. It's *officially* called Overtoun Bridge. But it's *unofficial* name is the "dog suicide bridge."   Built in 1895, the ornate bridge leads up to Overtoun House, a 19th century manor built by wealthy industrialist James White on the outskirts of the village of Milton in the Scottish Lowlands. It spans Overtoun Burn, a deep gorge with a small river.  Hundreds of dogs have attempted to commit suicide by jumping off this bridge. Stories about Overtoun Bridge are all over the internet and have been featured on the TV series The Unexplained Files. There's even an entire book dedicated to the phenomenon.   But despite all this attention, the mystery is still unsolved.   Let's find out why. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewhyfiles/support

THE MAX HEADROOM INCIDENT.  November 22nd, 1987 was a pretty normal evening for television viewers in Chicago. That night, like every night, Dan Roan was covering sports on WGN-TV, Channel 9.  Then suddenly, the signal was disrupted and screens across the city cut to black.   Engineers at WGN-TV thought their transmitters were failing.    They weren't. A few seconds later, something crazy happened.   WGN's broadcast signal had been hijacked in what is now known as "The Max Headroom Incident".    WGN-TV was able to act quickly and get their signal back. But, Two hours later, it would happen again to another TV station and there was nothing they could do to stop it.   What happens next remains one of the most bizarre unsolved crimes in television history.   Let's find out why. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thewhyfiles/support