The date is 7 July 1947 and the place is Roswell, New Mexico. Something has crash-landed in the desert – but what is it? The debate is still raging today and AWitnesses reported shiny silver debris scattered over the impact site. Was it the remains of a flying saucer, as the Roswell Daily Record suggested, or just fragments of an errant weather balloon? Stories and conjecture were rife, and from them came the most famous conspiracy theory in the history of the species. Were aliens being hidden from the rest of the world by the United States government?

Conspiracy theories are a thoroughly modern cultural phenomenon. In loose terms they explain historical events as being the work of secret and powerful conspirators. After 9/11, conspiracy theorists insisted the hijackings were the work of the American government. Black helicopters in the sky – that must mean that secret and wealthy juntas are up to no good. Even the humble light bulb isn’t safe from suspicion: was the everlasting light bulb designed in 1930 and then suppressed to bolster bulb makers’ future profits?

A conspiracy theory’s recipe is disarmingly simple: all you need is an occurrence, the suggestion of a dark cabal, a wilful disregard for evidence and a creative mind. Critically, however, once released the tale takes on a life of its own and begins galloping around the globe. As it travels, self-appointed experts begin picking it over, searching out ‘the real truth’. Layers upon layers of detailed information are added to what may originally have been an overheard whisper, a lie or just a simple misinterpretation.

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