One theory that has gained traction over the years would change the way we see Amelia Earhart forever. Not the way we remember her life, but the way we envision her death. According to some far-flung corners of the internet, this aviation icon didn’t plummet from sky to sea and tragically drown. Rather, she survived on an island called Nikumaroro (via USA Today). This is a real place that exists just a few hundred miles away from the island authorities avidly searched when Earhart initially disappeared. The name of that island, incidentally, was Howland Island.

The thing that breathes life (or perhaps death) into this theory is the fact that a skeleton was uncovered on this mysterious, remote island. Anthropology professor Richard Jantz explained in an interview with The University of Tennessee Knoxville News that the skeletal remains in question “have more similarity to Earhart than to 99% of individuals in a large reference sample.” Supporters of the theory claim that Earhart’s final radio log coordinates put her within the vicinity of this island. Earhart as a castaway would likely become a backdrop for even more international intrigue. However, the thorough search conducted following her disappearance make this an unlikely scenario.