All posts by Strange Matters Podcast

Science & Technology

Strange Science: Time Travelers, Head Transplants, & Black Holes

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

In this episode of Strange Matters we talk about three cases of bizarre and weird science topics. First up Eric discusses the conspiracy behind the Large Hadron Collider. This underground particle accelerator was constructed with hopes of discovering the elusive Higgs Boson particle. Some believe that the discovery of this particle would create a cataclysmic event that would destroy the space-time continuum. Suspiciously, in recent years it has been plagued by a series of unfortunate setbacks. A baguette found on a circuit board caused one of the super coolers to overheat, then a strange individual was found snooping around the CERN facilities. Eloi Cole claimed to have come back from the future in an attempt to sabotage the collider. However when he was whisked away to the nearby mental institute he later disappeared. Could this individual really be from the future sent back in an attempt to save the future from its own destruction?

Doghead experiment

Next up Sean presents a series of bizarre experiments that involve transplanted animal’s heads.  A Soviet scientist named Vladimir Demikhov, who was well known for pioneering organ transplant surgeries,  also lead a series of experiments in which he created two headed dogs.  Though strange, he thought the techniques learned in this surgeries would benefit humans in the future.  His work inspired an American Doctor, Robert White, who performed several surgeries in which he transplanted one monkey’s head onto another’s body.  His hope was that with time this could lead to the ability in humans of being able to transplant heads onto  fresh new bodies.

Black Hole 2

Finally, Ethan discusses the findings of “hair-like” structures on the outer rims of black holes. World renowned physicist, Stephen Hawking, and colleagues claim that this finding means the possibility of information storage in regards to what black holes consume. As science progresses we have gone from the beliefs that all objects in black holes cease to exist after consumption never to be found again to now having good reason to believe that we may be able to extract information from the beginnings of black holes to reveal their histories and origin. Though we have come this far, we have barely scratched the surface of understanding how black holes function and the purpose they serve in our universe.

iTunes | Stitcher | Facebook Page | Twitter

Unsolved Crime, Unsolved Mystery

The Mysterious Death of Elfrieda Knaak

2 Comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

In this episode we discuss the mysterious and bizarre death of Elfrieda Knaak.  In the early hours of the morning Elfrieda was discovered alone and locked inside the basement of a police station, suffering from severe burns from the nearby furnace.  Investigators were baffled from the start, as Elfrieda claimed she had carried out the horrible act herself in order to purify herself for her ‘psychic lover.’

While she was slowly dying in her hospital bed, Elfrieda would make increasingly confusing and strange comments.  These statements lead to more questions than answers forCharles Hitchcock the police.  She claimed she burned herself to prove herself to her so called astral lover, Charles Hitchcock.  However Charles claimed he knew nothing about this situation at all.

 

Hitchcock would be ruled out as a suspect due to his broken leg, but many believe he still had something to do with her death, whether directly or indirectly is still unknown.  Elfrieda continued on, speaking of a mysterious woman who holds all the answers, an unknown man who threw her down, along with other weird and supernatural comments… However she was unable to answer further questions due to her increasingly worsening health.  Unfortunately Elfrieda Knaak would die from her burns before any solid leads or answers could be found, and to this day her death remains a complete mystery.

Did Elfrieda really burn and torture herself all alone?  Was somebody with her in that basement, either assisting or forcing her into the furnace? Listen and hear all about the strange twists and turns to the bizarre and disturbing death of Elfrieda Knaak.

iTunes | Stitcher | Facebook Page | Twitter

 

 

History, Urban Legend

The Bunny Man – Urban Legend

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

In this episode we discuss the creepy and bizarre tale of the Bunny Man.  This urban legend originates in Fairfax county, Northern Virginia.  This strange story begins in the 1970’s, when several people encounter an ax-wielding man supposedly dressed in a full bunny suit.  In the coming weeks suddenly dozens of people reported having encounters with this so called ‘Bunny Man.’  Police searched the woods around the area but could find no trace of who this man was.

Soon the origin story became known to the public which only caused this urban legend to spread further.  In the early 1900’s a prison bus transporting mentally insane criminals crashed.  One man, guilty of slaying his family on Easter Sunday, escaped into the woods and evaded any police search.  Soon the corpses of rabbits would be found hanging from an overpass, a landmark that would later become known as the famous Bunny Man Bridge of Virginia.  Through the decades further crimes would be pinned on the Bunny Man, including the murder of groups of teens visiting the bridge on Halloween as a scare.

In the modern day there are dozens of twists and variations on this infamous urban legend tale.  Some say the Bunny Man is a wild woodsman wearing rabbit pelts, or a chainsaw carrying lunatic who wears a bunny costume, or a man who snapped and attacks groups of bullying kids who come to his bridge.  Local historians and archivist have worked to debunk and find the truth behind this weird story.  Is there any legitimacy to this particular urban legend?  Was there an actual man wearing a rabbit suit who liked to attack others with an ax? Listen to this episode and hear all about this creepy and disturbing tale and make up your mind!

iTunes | Stitcher | Facebook Page | Twitter

Conspiracy, History

Hitler’s Fate: Death or Escape?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Battle of Berlin, April 1945.  The last major European offensive of World War II. As Soviet troops push into the German capital, a defeated Adolf Hitler commits suicide in his underground bunker… Or did he?  In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss the claims that Adolf Hitler not only survived the battle and escaped Berlin, but went on to live for years afterwards hiding in multiple countries.  Sean presents the known facts leading up to Hitler’s supposed death, and the evidence supporting the existing fate of the German dictator.  Ethan then goes on to show the clues that could point to the case that Hitler in fact did escape Berlin, and the likely path he took on his way to freedom.  Investigators have discovered a possible escape route Hitler could have used to slip away from the Soviet and American armies.  New evidence may also show that many in the Nazi high command managed to escape from Germany and stay hidden in several South American countries.

Could Hitler really have escaped from the Red Army surrounding Berlin? If so where did he go and what was he up to?  Or is it all just false leads and Hitler actually died in his bunker?  Listen to the episode and let us know what you think!

Listen to us on iTunes | Stitcher | Podbay

Visit and Follow us on our Facebook Page & Twitter

History, Unsolved Crime, Unsolved Mystery

The Mysterious Case of Anneliese Michel – A Strange Matters Short

2 Comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

In our latest Strange Matters short, Eric discusses the mysterious exorcism of Anneliese Michel. This young lady was raised in a family of devout Catholics, however she eventually began experiencing strange symptoms including auditory hallucinations and a strange aversion to religious symbols. As her violent symptoms continue to spiral out of control she eventually finds a priest who is willing to attempt an exorcism. After numerous exorcisms the unimaginable happens. What really happened to Anneliese Michel? Was she truly possessed or was this simply an extreme case of psychiatric instability with a taste of religious fanaticism? Check out this episode and form your own opinions!

Listen on iTunes | Stitcher | Podbay

Visit and follow our Facebook Page & Twitter

Cryptozoology

The Wendigo: The Winter Monster- A Strange Matters Short

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

This Strange Matters Short is all about the Wendigo, the legendary Native American man-eating creature.   This episode continues our series on cryptozoology, the study of beings that are considered myths and legends.  The Wendigo is a tale that was told for generations by the Algonquian people who inhabited the northern regions of the U.S and Canada.  This bizarre creature was supposedly a terror that haunted the local tribes. Hiding in the frozen woods of the North and attacking their villages, the Wendigo would kill and devour men, women, and children.  Even stranger than the story of the Wendigo is the disturbing mental disorder that plagued the Algonquian people.  This so called “Wendigo Psychosis” would spontaneously drive members of the native tribes to kill and eat anyone around them.

Is there any legitimacy to this mysterious and terrifying monster?  Why were the Algonquian people so obsessed with the possibility of falling into the practice of cannibalism?  Could the Wendigo monster really just be a tall tale describing the acts of those who became mentally ill and driven to eat their fellow tribesman?  Listen to this episode and hear all the theories about this strange creature!

If you like this episode check our our earlier discussion on the The Chupacabra!

Background & Ambient music can be found by artist on Cryo Chamber

Listen on iTunes | Stitcher | Podbay

Visit and follow our Facebook Page & Twitter