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How the 1977 mockumentary "Alternative 3" spawned a lasting conspiracy theory about vanishing scientists

By

Guardian staff reporter

4d ago· 10 min readenInsight

Summary

A 1977 British mockumentary called "Alternative 3" about scientists disappearing as part of a sinister space plot has spawned a real-world conspiracy theory that persists 50 years later. The theory claims scientists in aerospace and nuclear research are dying or going missing, which has been amplified by mainstream media outlets like the Daily Mail and even prompted a Trump-era government investigation. The article examines how a fictional TV show created a lasting conspiracy theory that continues to influence public discourse and government action.

Source

Hacker NewsHow the 1977 mockumentary "Alternative 3" spawned a lasting conspiracy theory about vanishing scientiststheguardian.com

Key quotes

· 3 pulled
'Wow, it really worked!'
the disappearances form a 'chilling pattern'
scientists whose work related to aerospace and nuclear research are either dying or going missing
Snippet from the RSS feed
When UK mockumentary Alternative 3 tried to spook viewers that scientists were vanishing as part of a sinister space plot it succeeded. Today, the resulting conspiracy theory has even seen Trump’s government launch an investigation

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