For centuries, humans have wondered if they are alone in the universe. In the early 20th century, the US government set out to figure it out once and for all. Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty ImagesPhotograph of the supposed Westall UFO. More than 200 students and teachers at two Victorian state schools allegedly witnessed this UFO, 1966. Project Blue Book would have sought to explain this such incident. In their new drama series, the History Channel dives into the murky world of UFO sightings and explores a very real, but now defunct, project funded by the US government known as Project Blue Book.

The 2,000-year-old mummified corpse of the Yde Girl was uncovered by Dutch laborers in a bog in 1897, and many believe she was either executed or sacrificed.Wikimedia CommonsThe Yde Girl was killed between 54 B.C. and 128 A.D. On May 12, 1897, two laborers dredging peat from a Stijfveen bog near the Dutch village of Yde believed they had seen the devil. Rising to the surface without warning, the deformed and blackened corpse with hair the color of fire sent the men running.

Ancient Egyptian murder mystery solved, mysterious population of human ancestors uncovered, 3,000-year-old mummy's voice resurrected.Murder Mystery Behind Peculiar Egyptian Mummy Solved After 2,600 Years Ulster MuseumTakabuti has fascinated researchers since her 1834 discovery due to her blackened face and stunningly-preserved auburn hair. Takabuti lived in the ancient city of Thebes during the 25th Egyptian dynasty before dying a horrible death some 2,600 years ago. For the last two centuries since her mummy was discovered, researchers have never been sure what killed her — until now.

What happened on this day in history: King Ferdinand II dies, Israel declares Jerusalem as its capital, and more important events on January 23rd.1516: King Ferdinand II Dies De Agostini/Getty ImagesKing Ferdinand II ruled for over 30 years. King Ferdinand II dies in Extremadura, Spain, at the age of 63. Over the course of his reign, Ferdinand united Spain through his marriage to Isabella of Castile, banned all religions aside from Catholicism, and funded Christopher Columbus’s missions of exploration.

What happened on this day in history: Ronald DeFeo Jr. kills his entire family in the infamous Amityville Murders, the Nevado del Ruiz erupts in Colombia, and more.1002: St. Brice’s Day Massacre King Aethelred the Unready orders his army to kill all Danes living in England in what’s now known as the St. Brice’s Day Massacre. After years of violent raids, the king was told that the Danes wanted to kill him and take over his kingdom, so he decreed that they should all be exterminated.