Ever since Amelia Earhart made her last radio transmission somewhere over the Pacific, theories about her disappearance have proliferated; more than 80 years later, the constant retelling of her story shows no signs of slowing. Although the search to find a “smoking gun” has yielded little evidence, there are many who believe they know how Amelia’s story ended. Whether they’re right or wrong, one thing remains true: Their stories have little to do with Amelia herself.

For more information on this episode, visit nationalgeographic.com/overheard.

Want more?

Check out the maps of Amelia Earhart’s flight plan as well as archival photos, and take a peek inside Bob Ballard’s search vessel in a National Geographic story about Ballard’s expedition. You can also watch the documentary Expedition Amelia on Disney+.

See the final radio log between Earhart and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca on the morning she disappeared.

Also explore:

Learn about how cadaver dogs are used around the world to help uncover what humans can’t detect.

There’s a reason humans are such good storytellers—it’s to our evolutionary advantage. Learn about why we crave the ending to a story.

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Amelia Earhart Part I: The Lady Vanishes