The philosopher Plato asserted the existence of an ancient utopia called Atlantis, but no one has ever been able to find it.
History's greatest searches —
The philosopher Plato asserted the existence of an ancient utopia called Atlantis, but no one has ever been able to find it.
Mary Evans Picture Library/Everett Collection
According to legend, King Arthur and his knights searched unsuccessfully for the Holy Grail. Here, young Arthur proves that he is the rightful king by pulling a sword from a stone.
History's greatest searches —
According to legend, King Arthur and his knights searched unsuccessfully for the Holy Grail. Here, young Arthur proves that he is the rightful king by pulling a sword from a stone.
APIC/Getty Images
Shakespeare and Elizabeth Taylor immortalized Cleopatra in theater and film, but where is the tomb where Cleopatra was buried with her husband, Mark Antony? An archeologist began a new search in 2009, but he's had no luck so far.
History's greatest searches —
Shakespeare and Elizabeth Taylor immortalized Cleopatra in theater and film, but where is the tomb where Cleopatra was buried with her husband, Mark Antony? An archeologist began a new search in 2009, but he's had no luck so far.
Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images
In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors scoured the Americas in search of gold. (This engraving, made in 1853, depicts the arrival of Hernando de Soto and his men at what is now Tampa Bay in Florida.) In 1540, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, inspired by rumors of seven cities of gold, led an expedition from Mexico into what is now New Mexico in search of Cibola. The search was fruitless, even though the Spaniards continued eastward, all the way to what is now Kansas, before giving up.
History's greatest searches —
In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors scoured the Americas in search of gold. (This engraving, made in 1853, depicts the arrival of Hernando de Soto and his men at what is now Tampa Bay in Florida.) In 1540, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, inspired by rumors of seven cities of gold, led an expedition from Mexico into what is now New Mexico in search of Cibola. The search was fruitless, even though the Spaniards continued eastward, all the way to what is now Kansas, before giving up.
SSPL/Getty Images
Among better-known modern searches is the one for the Titanic, the supposedly "unsinkable" luxury ocean liner that sank in the Atlantic after it hit an iceberg in 1912. It seemed forever lost in the deep until its wreckage was finally found in 1985.
History's greatest searches —
Among better-known modern searches is the one for the Titanic, the supposedly "unsinkable" luxury ocean liner that sank in the Atlantic after it hit an iceberg in 1912. It seemed forever lost in the deep until its wreckage was finally found in 1985.
Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images
American aviatrix Amelia Earhart and navigator Frederick Noonan disappeared after their plane took off from New Guinea in 1937. They and their plane were never found, despite a great search. Some believe they ran out of fuel and crashed in the Pacific. This photo was taken before Earhart took off from Los Angeles on March 10, 1937, on a flight to Oakland, California.
History's greatest searches —
American aviatrix Amelia Earhart and navigator Frederick Noonan disappeared after their plane took off from New Guinea in 1937. They and their plane were never found, despite a great search. Some believe they ran out of fuel and crashed in the Pacific. This photo was taken before Earhart took off from Los Angeles on March 10, 1937, on a flight to Oakland, California.
Associated Press
The hunt for the body of Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa is legendary. He disappeared in 1975. Some believed he was killed and buried. Where? That remains a mystery.
History's greatest searches —
The hunt for the body of Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa is legendary. He disappeared in 1975. Some believed he was killed and buried. Where? That remains a mystery.
Associated Press
Air France Flight 447 plunged into the South Atlantic in 2009, killing 228 people. It took about two years for investigators to find the wreckage in a mountain range on the ocean floor. Boats from the Brazilian frigate Constituicao helped recover debris in one search operation that also recovered five bodies.
History's greatest searches —
Air France Flight 447 plunged into the South Atlantic in 2009, killing 228 people. It took about two years for investigators to find the wreckage in a mountain range on the ocean floor. Boats from the Brazilian frigate Constituicao helped recover debris in one search operation that also recovered five bodies.
HO/AFP/Getty Images
Don't we all wonder what's out there, especially when we launch spacecraft to another planet? Perhaps our greatest search is for whether we live alone in the cosmos. This photo shows the red Martian landscape and part of the Viking 2 lander, which was launched in September 1975 and landed in the Utopia Planitia region of Mars on September 3, 1976. It studied the Martian environment, soil constituents and searched for simple life forms. None were found.
History's greatest searches —
Don't we all wonder what's out there, especially when we launch spacecraft to another planet? Perhaps our greatest search is for whether we live alone in the cosmos. This photo shows the red Martian landscape and part of the Viking 2 lander, which was launched in September 1975 and landed in the Utopia Planitia region of Mars on September 3, 1976. It studied the Martian environment, soil constituents and searched for simple life forms. None were found.
SSPL/Getty Images