Amelia Earhart made history when she became the first female pilot to fly over the Atlantic Ocean. However, during a flight around the globe in 1937, she vanished and was never heard from again…until now.

After years of intense speculation and investigation, a group of researchers may have finally unlocked the secrets behind Earhart’s puzzling disappearance all those years ago. The mystery of Amelia Earhart may have finally been solved.

A new breakthrough may have finally shed new light on the age-long mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance. In recent times, Prof. Richard Jantz, who is a professor at the University of Tennesee, has made a discovery that potentially proves a popular theory, while casting many others aside.

While many have wildly speculated about the nature of her disappearance, this may be the confirmation that historians and fans of the groundbreaking pilot have been looking for all this time.

Another mystery surrounding Earhart’s disappearance is working out what happened to her plane. Although the Lockheed Electra aircraft has never been officially discovered, a group of scavengers reportedly unearthed part of what they consider to be the wreckage back in 1991.

Tighar, or The International Group of Historic Aircraft Recovery, found the aluminum piece on the island of Nikumaroro. Tighar’s executive director Ric Gillespie announced in 2014 that scientists had concluded that the relic must’ve been part of Earhart’s plane.

Although Tighar’s findings impressed many once they were revealed, there were numerous critics who were skeptical about Gillespie’s announcement. One critic said that “everybody should have facts to back up [their] opinions, and Mr. Gillespie, well, he doesn’t.”

However, the organization also found an “ointment pot” that resembled Dr. Berry’s Freckle Ointment. Due to Earhart’s skin complexion, Gillespie deduced that she may have taken it with her. “Earhart had freckles and is known to have considered them unattractive,” Gillespie said.

The most plausible theory for many years, and the official U.S. position on Amelia Earhart’s disappearance is that she ran out of fuel during her trip and crashed somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.

The Electra never made it to Howland Island, which was where Amelia was trying to get to in order to stock up on fuel. To this day, search teams are making regular expeditions to the Howland Island vicinity in search of her plane. However, this is just one theory…

In 1960, an old American coastguard by the name of Floyd Kilts told a story he had heard 14 years prior. It was about a man who was walking on Nikumaroro and stumbled across something incredible. “There in the brush about 5ft feet from the shoreline he saw a skeleton,” Kilts said.

“What attracted him to it were the shoes. Women’s shoes, American kind…” For many years, researchers wondered whether his story was alluding to the disappearance of Amelia Earhart…

In 1940, a collection of bones were discovered on the Pacific island of Nikumaroro. A rescue team actually found the bones while on an expedition to the island. They were determined to find Earhart, and firmly believed that the bones belonged to her.

The main reason behind their theory was that the island was very close to her flight path. However, since the dawn of forensics in the 20th Century, scientists were eventually able to settle the score once and for all…

During the 1940s, scientists did everything in their power to try and uncover the identity behind the discovered bones. However, as hopeful as they were to prove that they did belong to Amelia Earhart, the signs were all pointing to that not being the case.

The distinctive features of the bones suggested that they actually once belonged to a man. Since then though, forensic analysis has become more advanced, and new studies have provided fresh results…

The photo below is the image that many historians have clung onto in belief that Amelia Earhart was actually captured by the Japanese during her trip across the Pacific. The photo reportedly shows Earhart and her flying partner Fred Noonan on the Jaluit Harbor of the Marshall Islands.

The Post‘s Amy B Wang referred to “a figure with Earhart’s haircut and approximate body type sits on the dock, facing away from the camera.” The photo is still the source of heavy debate to this day.

May 21, 1932, was the date that Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly non-stop across the Atlantic by herself. However, it wouldn’t come without its fair share of danger. At one point, four hours into the flight, to be precise, Earheart got into some trouble.

“I saw flames shooting from the exhaust pipe,” she said. “I became uneasy…It would have taken four hours to return, however, so I thought it would be safer to go ahead.” To make matters worse, her fuel tank was leaking.

For a while, it seemed like Amelia was destined to fail in her attempt at crossing the Atlantic. However, fate had other plans, and 20 hours and 40 minutes after leaving Trepassey Harbor, Newfoundland, Earhart arrived at Pwll, close to Burry Port, South Wales.

“After scaring most of the cows in the neighborhood, I pulled up in a farmer’s back yard,” she said. A farmer reportedly asked her, “have you flown far?” to which she replied, “from America.”

In stark contrast, Earhart’s flight across the Pacific in the following decade had very different consequences. She had already become the first woman to fly across the ocean, flying from Honolulu to Oakland, California.

However, after raising $80,000, Earhart and her flying partner Fred Noonan decided to go on a trip around the globe. They did incredibly well, successfully flying 29,000 miles. Ultimately though, it was their last stretch from Lae, New Guinea that changed everything. They “only” had 7,000 more miles to go…

On July 2, 1937, after setting off for their final stretch, Earhart and Noonan were having communication issues with their next fuel stop in Itasca. Before setting off, they were told that the forecast predicted fairly mild weather.

However, clouds appeared instead, making it virtually impossible for Noonan to navigate by the stars. The last time that the duo said anything was at 8.43am, when Earhart said, “we are running north and south.” They were never heard from again.

If there is one thing that all people are in a unanimous decision about when it comes to Amelia Earhart, it is that she is one of, if not the most influential woman of all time.

In her final letter she wrote before embarking on her fateful flight across the Pacific, she wrote the following: “Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be a challenge to others.”

To understand the incredible story of Amelia Earhart, we need to go all the way back to the very beginning. Born in 1897 to parents Edwin and Amy, Amelia was brought into the world in her maternal grandfather’s home, federal judge Alfred Gideon Otis.

For her parents, Amelia was a blessing, especially after their first child was stillborn. She also had a younger sister Grace, who looked up to her and considered her to be her hero.

What some of the fans don’t realize is that Amelia went by a nickname. That’s not all though, the future pilot would carry her nickname well into her adulthood. Friends and family alike would refer to her as “Meeley,” while her sister Grace would go under the alias “Pidge.”

This fitted with the way that their mother didn’t want to raise as stereotypical girls. She wanted them to find their own identity and do things their way.

Amelia Earhart’s eagerness for adventure began way back when she was just a child. The future pilot would embark on mini adventures with her sister around their neighborhood and even further. Together, the sister duo would do daring things such as hunting rodents, climbing trees, and sliding down hills.

This only added to Earhart’s reputation as a tomboy: the girl who would do things that girls of the time didn’t traditionally do. She did one thing in her childhood that truly kickstarted her flying career…

It seems that Earhart’s first taste for flying came when her uncle made a ramp for her, with the intention of using it as a mini roller coaster – similar to one she went on as a child. It was with this ramp that Earhart took her first flight, gliding off the ramp and in the process, ripping her dress and injuring her lip.

She described the experience as a “sensation of exhilaration.” After surviving her epic leap, she said to her sister, “Pidge, it’s just like flying!”

Amelia Earhart’s natural inclination to be an independent woman started way back when she was just a child. When she was young, she would do daring things such as hunting rats with a rifle and climbing trees. She even made a scrapbook that consisted purely of newspaper articles about successful women.

The first time Earhart got on a plane, she knew that she wanted to take to the skies. After working as a truck driver, she paid for her own flying lessons and flew for the first time in 1921.

When you end up becoming a legend like Amelia Earhart, it’s surprising to hear about her peculiar education. During her teenage years, Amelia Earhart lived with her grandparents. However, she received an unorthodox form of homeschooling from her mother. A fan of reading, Earhart could often be found in her family’s library.

By the time 1909 came around, Earhart and her sister finally got the chance to enroll in an actual school. She was already 12 years old when she entered seventh grade.

Just a year after taking flight for the first time, Earhart took her yellow Canary and flew 14,000 feet up in the air. At the time, it was the world altitude record for a female pilot. In light of her record-breaking feats, the world governing body for aeronautics gave Earhart her official pilot’s license in 1923, making her the 16th woman to ever be given one.

Another record she set was being the first woman to ever fly across the U.S. nonstop, from coast to coast.

Soon enough, Earhart became a public figure, which meant that she needed a publicist. When she started working with George P. Putnam, she never anticipated their working relationship turning into a romantic one. However, she played incredibly hard to get, with Putnam having to propose six times before she said yes.

This was rooted in her burning desire to remain an independent woman. “You must know again my reluctance to marry, my feeling that I shatter thereby chances in work,” she wrote to him.

Despite tying the knot in 1931, Earhart was adamant about being known by her maiden name. When the New York Times published the headline “Mrs. Putnam flies Atlantic in record time” in light of her Atlantic crossing heroics, Amelia wrote to the publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger and courteously asked him to refer to her in a different way.

She asked that from that point onwards, refer to her in the paper as Amelia Earhart. She wanted to be known professionally, and not in reference to her husband.

Amelia Earhart ultimately represented the idea that women can do anything that men can, which was an unpopular sentiment during her time. Her efforts to promote gender equality came to fruition when she founded the organization, the Ninety-Nines.

It was called this due to the following fact: out of the 285 licensed American female pilots of the time, 99 of them, including Earhart, assembled to support each other. The organization has since gone international and helps women from 44 different countries.

Due to her longlasting reputation as a symbol of female empowerment, Amelia Earhart has been represented many times in pop culture. One song that addresses the pilot’s disappearance is “Amelia” by Joni Mitchell.

“I was thinking of Amelia Earhart and addressing it from one solo pilot to another…sort of reflecting on the cost of being a woman,” Mitchell wrote. Earhart has also been portrayed in movies such as Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian and Amelia, by Amy Adams and Hilary Swank, respectively.

Amazingly, years after vanishing, Amelia Earhart’s vintage car also went missing in 2018. There are only 14 models of the green and black 1932 Hudson Essex Terraplane that exist and Earhart’s, which is currently owned by car collector Jim Somers, was reportedly stolen before being found in an L.A. neighborhood less than a week later.

Earhart promoted the car during the Great Depression and after fixing the engine and cosmetic work, Somers’ model is now worth between $250,000 and half a million bucks.

Although Tighar has been on more than 13 separate expeditions to the island of Nikumaroro to try and uncover Amelia Earhart’s remains, the reality is that the giant coconut crabs that inhabit the island may have already beaten them to it.

According to Inverse Science, crabs may have eaten her remains a long time ago. Although there is no substantial evidence to suggest that this definitely happened, Tighar doesn’t want to leave any stone unturned on the Pacific island.

When Earhart returned home from her history-making trip, she was welcomed by a huge parade in New York City. That wasn’t all though. Congress also presented her with a Distinguished Flying Cross; the first to ever be given to a woman.

However, her impact stretched far and wide to other parts of the world. “She has succeeded in proving that the flight is not beyond the knowledge and the capacity for sustained endurance which a woman can acquire,” the Manchester Guardian wrote.

Another urban legend that was being thrown around during this time revolved around the nature of Amelia Earhart’s trip. At one point, there were intense rumors that former president Franklin D. Roosevelt had actually sent Earhart on a secret mission as a spy.

Upon successfully completing her mission, Earhart returned to the U.S. and as part of the deal, lived the rest of her days under the name Irene Bolam. Nevertheless, this is purely an urban legend, without any factual evidence.

It is Richard Jantz, a professor at the University of Tennessee, who now believes that those very bones actually belonged to Amelia Earhart. Although the bones were pretty much forgotten about after their 1940 analysis, Jantz inspected them once again through a collection of photos.

Although he didn’t have the actual bones in front of him, Jantz was confident that he could process the photos through a computer program and work out both the gender and ancestry of the person.

Using the measurements of the bones and the photos, Jantz took his findings and compared them with Earhart’s height and weight at the time of 1937. He was able to collate such information from both documents about Earhart as well as photos of her.

After close inspection and a stunning cross-reference, Jantz came to the conclusion that the results from the bones discovered in Nikumaroro were indeed a direct match to Earhart. He was convinced that they belonged to her.

Professor Richard Jantz is an important figure in the exploration of Amelia Earhart. This is because, unlike many other researchers covering the mystery, Jantz’s findings have made him absolutely convinced that the bones do belong to her.

“From a forensic perspective, the most parsimonious scenario is that the bones are those of Amelia Earhart,” he wrote. “Until definitive evidence is presented that the remains are not those of Amelia Earhart, the most convincing argument is that they are hers.”

One thing was for sure; if the bones didn’t belong to Earhart, then they certainly belonged to a woman from a similar background. At least, this is what Jantz thinks. “[They were] more similar to the Nikumaroro bones than 99 [percent] of individuals in a large reference sample,” he said.

“If the bones do not belong to Amelia Earhart, then they are from someone very similar to her.” This heavily suggests that it was, in fact, Earheart who ended up on Nikumaroro.

It seems like if we are to take Jantz’s words as gospel, then this would mean that Floyd Kilts, that old coastguard who told that story all those years ago, was actually right. This would also mean that Amelia Earhart, and most likely, Fred Noonan, both died as castaways on the Pacific island of Nikumaroro.

No matter what the truth might be about her fate, one thing is for sure: Amelia Earheart lived life to the fullest, and gave her life for gender equality.

While theories still run wild about what exactly happened to her, Jantz’s findings pretty much verify that Nikumaroro was indeed the place that Amelia Earhart ended up. The only other explanation is that another woman with an identical physique/background died on the island at exactly the same time that Earhart was flying in this part of the world.

Jantz’s research has certainly taken the mystery into another intriguing direction and possibly, one step closer to the truth.

Every neighborhood has homes with sale signs in their front yard that seem to be perpetually there. There may be many reasons why these homes are left untouched. Some of them are just because of location, and others may be because they’re a little too rundown. But, there are also homes — or rather mansions — that have the same problem. These mansions are so expensive nobody wants to buy them, and here are a few examples of that.

The Hamptons are one of those places we’ve all heard of. This is a destination that many stars spend their summers in. For Matt Lauer, that meant taking time away from the hard-hitting world of journalism to visit this beautiful waterfront estate.

This property had problems selling from the get-go, with the ex-anchor having issues even getting it listed! That may be why it’s still set for so long, or perhaps it’s because it costs $44.8 million.

When you look at this sprawling mansion with its stone facade and sweeping greens, it’s hard to understand why it still sits empty. This mansion itself once belonged to a steel tycoon and comes with a ton of great amenities.

However, because of things like the home theater and the 11-car garage, the price tag on this mansion may just be the culprit of why it sits empty. After all, who has a spare $32.9 million lying around?

Connecticut is one of the most beautiful states in the US, and many well-off individuals choose to live there. This may be because it’s close to New York City or perhaps because of the beautiful nature surrounding the property.

This home, which is located in Farmington, has a built-in nightclub and an indoor pool, yet it still sits empty. It’s been unsold for so long that the owners have dropped the price tag from $14.5 million to a measly $5.9 million.

Who doesn’t want to live in a castle? This French provincial-style estate includes a terraced garden and medieval-style turrets, adding to the castle-like feel of the home. Built in 1926, there are a lot of beautiful accents to this home.

But, despite the fact it’s so beautifully designed, this home has been available since 2009 and is still on the market for $3.2 million.

When you think of luxury homes and mansions, many of us do not automatically go to Michigan, but this home is set in Bloomfield Hills. The home is a waterfront residence; it has beautiful views of Long Lake and features many as well as many other attributes, including six fireplaces.

The home sat empty for quite a while until eventually, the owners decided they needed to make some money off of it. So, they rented it for $25K a month.

There’s nothing like buying a plot of land and getting three separate homes when you do. This 25-acre estate comes with not only the main house but also a guest house, as well as an apartment.

To be able to take advantage of this beautiful property, all you have to do is shell out $48.9 million. That seems very reasonable, don’t you think?!

Sitting on a historic road in Northville, Michigan, this private estate sits on almost five acres of land. The home itself is designed in a chateau layout. Inside this secluded mansion, you will find a beautiful stone fireplace, and it grants a spiral staircase that adds to its charm.

Even with all that, though, it seems like it has been quite a challenge to take the home off the market, and that just may be due to the $9.9 million price tag.

For some, having a home on the 18th hole of a golf course would be a benefit. But, maybe not with this six-bedroom estate that’s located in the beautiful countryside of Tennessee.

It has a beautiful antique-looking exterior with an interior that’s fitted with tons of beautiful features like a media room and a wine cellar. But, even with its close proximity to a beautiful golf course and its visual appeal, this mansion still sits on the market.

Who doesn’t want to have a home that has a beautiful outdoor pool and an open-air pavilion that can seat a ton of people? It seems like this estate that sits on the water was built for partying, and yet no one has partied in it for quite a while.

Not only do you have all of the wonderful amenities we’ve already mentioned, but you also have spa baths and a solarium, as well as a chef’s kitchen. All you have to do is pay $18 million.

Built in 1905, this historic mansion in San Jose, California, was almost taken off the market for a cool $47 million. However, that sale didn’t go through — and so, this home still remains empty.

This house is truly a part of history when it comes to California, and to own this piece of history, you simply have to shell out $36 million.

If you’re looking for a beautiful French country home in the Malibu area, then you may have come across the home of Mel Gibson. This home is outfitted with five bedrooms and five baths, and was originally put on the market in 2010.

It has a certain old-world feel, and yet it still sits on the market, but the price has dropped from its original $14.5 million to $12.8 million.

Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn have been together for years and have starred in several movies together. When not doing this, they like to relax in one of their many homes. One of these many homes was a beautiful Malibu beach house.

Designed with a Bali-like feel in 2011, this home went on the market for $14.8 million. Because they were unable to sell it, this Hollywood couple opted to rent it out for $95,000 a month.

Part of the land that measures over 750 acres, this barn-style home was once occupied by one of country music’s favorite couples, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The house has five bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. This home seems like it would go quickly.

But, that assumption would be wrong as it has been sitting on the market for quite a while, and yet no one has purchased it. We wonder why?

One of the most recent additions to the mansion real estate market is the Connecticut home of Tommy Hilfiger. Just placed on the market in 2020, this property features a beautiful mansion originally built in 1939.

Of course, you would imagine that — since it is the home of such an illustrious fashion designer — you can expect to pay quite a pretty penny. You would be guessing right as this home is on the market for a cool $48 million.

Michael Jordan was the “IT” player of the NBA during the ’80s and early ’90s. So, with his status, he had the ability to buy a pretty impressive mansion to call home. In 2012, the retired NBA star placed this beautiful mansion on the market.

Sitting on seven acres, this property was initially put on the market for $29 million — but it has since dropped down to $15 million.

If you have an extra $17 million lying around and have a devoted love for Jennifer Lopez, then you are in luck because you could purchase one of her former homes. Located in the Hidden Hills, her Los Angeles home was put on the market in 2015.

This house has a dance studio along with a recording studio, and since putting it on the market, the “Jenny From the Block” singer has had to lower the price down to $12.5 million.

In 2010, Sylvester Stone originally purchased this La Quinta estate. A mixture of Tuscan and Mediterranean styles, it has four-and-a-half bedrooms and five bathrooms. It also features hardwood floors and arched entryways.

Originally purchased for $4.5 million, Stallone soon found himself putting it back on the market at a reduced price of $3.87 million. At least he’s not taking that much of a hit.

Ellen DeGeneres loves to buy homes and renovate them so that she can flip them. One of these homes is this beautiful Los Angeles property. Though this may be one of her smaller properties, it seems like it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

In fact, this condo has been on the market since 2014 and hasn’t budged a bit. The condo started with an $8 million price tag and is now available for $5.85 million.

Taking a home that once belonged to a Hollywood legend, Helen Hunt made this Hollywood Hills estate her own. But, in 2002, she decided she would place it on the market with a price tag of $9 million.

Though that seems like a high price to pay for this newly refurbished Hollywood estate, some have been interested in it — but only at a lower price.

When you say the word hedge funder, many things probably come to mind, including having several lavish estates. Steve Cohen sits on several great properties, including this Manhattan duplex penthouse.

In 2013, this businessman decided he wanted something new and put it up on the market for $115 million. But eventually, he realized that might be a little too steep, so now it’s available for $57.5 million.

American entrepreneur Alan Wilzig owned a fabulous Tribeca townhouse. This subdued and classic-looking home was put on the market in 2014 for $44 million.

After sitting on the market for a little bit in 2018, the financial businessman reduced the price to $18.75 million. Doesn’t that just seem like a bargain?!

Sometimes finding the right home is like buying a piece of history. Originally built in 1770, this mansion is made of stone and has beautiful gabled roofs. Because of this history, in 1984, it was declared a building that was to be preserved.

That coupled with the $825,000 price tag may be why this mansion seems to be unsellable. There may also be rumors that the house is haunted, which could also be part of the problem.

If you’re into ’70s history, then you may have heard the name Halston in conjunction with Studio 54. This amazing and spacious penthouse once belonged to Roy Halston Frowick and has had several famous names walking its corridors.

In 2011, this minimalistic-designed penthouse went on the market at $38 million. However, after not selling as quickly as they thought it would, the price tag was reduced to $24 million.

If you’ve ever wanted to live in the Beverly Hills area and you have $129 million available, you could be the owner of a beautiful Mediterranean-style mansion.

This mansion has 12 bedrooms and 23 bathrooms, a reflecting pool, and an entertainment complex. In 2014, the house went on the market at quite the markup, seeing how that owner only paid $35 million for the home.

Looking for a little southern charm in Savannah, Georgia? Then, you might be interested in the Aiken estate. This home was built in 1855 and was the home of famous American poet Conrad Aiken.

In 2015, this beautiful historic home went on the market for just $1.3 million. However, it has remained unsold for quite a while. The truth is, though, most people don’t think it’s the price tag that’s keeping someone from buying it — but rather the fact that it’s rumored to be very haunted.

For those that are a little more outdoorsy but still want a lavish lifestyle, this home on Lake Superior might just be a great fit for you. This home, which had 400 workers and 22 different architects on the project, has been empty since the ’50s.

When it initially went on the market, it was placed at $40 million, and after a little bit of time, that price dropped to $20 million.

So, Neverland ranch has been on the market since 2015 and was originally built in 1981. Of course, most people know the name because it was once the home to Michael Jackson. After he died, the property wasn’t taken care of and fell into disrepair.

But, in 2015, the property was renovated and placed on the market at $100 million. Not only because of the price but because of the allegations against the “King of Pop,” this property has remained unsold and is now only worth $31 million.

The SK Pierce mansion may not be as expensive as some of the other properties, but it’s just as hard to get off the market. This home was originally built in 1875 and is a beautiful, albeit eery-looking Victorian home.

Eery is the keyword because part of the reason why this home — that only costs $329,000 — is still empty is due to the fact that many people have experienced some pretty scary occurrences within its walls.

Having a home that’s filled with old Hollywood glamor is very appealing to many people. Often, homes described as this have beautiful tactile textures and artisanal ornaments that make the property feel more grandiose.

The home is designed with seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, and it features a rooftop deck. This home, which went on the market in 2017 for $29.5 million, has sat without a new owner for several years.

Actress, model, and reality television star, Denise Richards has led a pretty interesting life. Arriving to Hollywood in the ’80s, she has found herself attached to such names as Charlie Sheen. She has lived in many homes, including this beautiful mansion.

In 2015, she placed it on the market for $7.7 million, and it spent quite a bit of time waiting for someone to purchase it. Instead of buying outright, many people have rented it over the years, including Angelina Jolie allegedly.