/x/

Lore & Background

/x/ was launched in February 2007 as 4chan's paranormal board, not as a photography board. The board quickly became a hub for collaborative horror fiction and internet mysteries.

The SCP Foundation originated on /x/ in 2007 when an anonymous user posted the first SCP file, SCP-173. Many additional SCP files followed, copying SCP-173's style and establishing a shared fictional universe. The project later moved to its own wiki in January 2008. Many of the earliest creepypastas were created on /x/, including Ben Drowned, posted in September 2010, and The Backrooms, which originated from a thread on May 12, 2019.

Reader's Guide

/x/ holds significant cultural importance as the incubator of several major internet horror phenomena. The SCP Foundation, which began as a single short story on the board, grew into a vast collaborative writing wiki that has influenced countless works of fiction. The creepypasta genre, including the widely popular Ben Drowned story, found its early home on /x/. The Backrooms concept, originating from a simple thread asking for disquieting images, became a viral internet meme and inspired numerous media adaptations. The board also played a role in investigating and popularizing the controversial Sad Satan video game and was the first place where the 2015 viral video 11B-X-1371 was posted. Additionally, /x/ contributed to internet meme culture through the figure of "Creepy Chan" (model Allison Harvard), who gained fame on the board before appearing on America's Next Top Model.

Did You Know?

• The first SCP file, SCP-173, was posted on /x/ by an anonymous user in 2007.
• The Backrooms phenomenon began from a thread on /x/ on May 12, 2019, where users were asked to 'post disquieting images that just feel off'.
• American model Allison Harvard first gained internet fame on /x/ as 'Creepy Chan' in 2005 before appearing on America's Next Top Model.
• The 2015 viral video 11B-X-1371 was first posted on YouTube, not on /x/.

Origins & Format

Expedition X launched on Discovery Channel on February 12, 2020, arriving as a direct spinoff of the long-running Expedition Unknown. While its parent program cast a wide net across unexplained mysteries, the new series narrowed its lens to one specific domain: paranormal investigation. The show's premise is straightforward yet compelling. Josh Gates, working from a studio called Expedition HQ, introduces the audience to eyewitness accounts, local legends, or reported sightings of phenomena ranging from cryptids and ghostly hauntings to unidentified flying objects. From there, a dedicated field team departs for the location in question, immersing themselves in the community and conducting hands-on paranormal investigations. The format positions Gates as the narrative anchor while delegating the on-the-ground work to specialists, creating a clear division between storytelling and fieldwork that has defined the series' identity from its very first episode.

The Team & Host Dynamic

Central to Expedition X's structure is a deliberate split between the studio and the field. Josh Gates anchors each episode from the Expedition HQ studio, presenting the case and setting the narrative stage. However, he does not typically join the team in the field. The exceptions to this rule are notable: the two-part episodes that opened seasons three, six, eight, and ten brought Gates alongside his colleagues on location, offering viewers a rare glimpse of the host in the thick of the investigation. The field team itself has seen one significant change over the show's run. Phil Torres, a field biologist, has been a constant presence from season one through the present. Jessica Chobot, a television personality and paranormal investigator, served alongside him for the first seven seasons. Beginning with season eight, Heather Amaro, also a paranormal investigator, took Chobot's place, bringing fresh perspective to the team's on-site work while maintaining the investigative core of the format.

Longevity & Seasonal Evolution

From its debut in early 2020 to the premiere of its twelfth season on August 19, 2026, Expedition X has demonstrated remarkable staying power on Discovery Channel. The second season followed quickly, arriving on November 11, 2020, signaling the network's confidence in the format. Over six years, the series has maintained a steady annual cadence, with seasons rolling out across 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. The most visible evolution in the cast occurred between seasons seven and eight, when Heather Amaro replaced Jessica Chobot as the team's paranormal investigator. Beyond its regular seasons, the show also expanded its footprint during Discovery's annual Shark Week programming, airing special episodes in both 2025 and 2026. These specials allowed the series to reach a broader audience during one of the network's most-watched events, reinforcing Expedition X's place as a staple of Discovery's reality lineup.

Investigative Scope & Method

The subject matter of Expedition X spans the full spectrum of paranormal folklore. Josh Gates introduces episodes by presenting eyewitness accounts or long-standing legends involving cryptids, hauntings, and UFO sightings. Once the case is established, the field team travels directly to the site where the phenomenon was reported. Their methodology is grounded in direct engagement: they interview locals who have witnessed or experienced the event, and they conduct a structured paranormal investigation at the location. This approach distinguishes the series from purely documentary or speculative formats. Rather than relying solely on archival footage or expert commentary from a distance, the team is physically present, gathering first-hand testimony and performing on-site investigations. The combination of community voices and hands-on fieldwork gives each episode a grounded, investigative texture that sets it apart within the paranormal genre. The Discovery Channel platform further lends the series a credibility that aligns with its science-adjacent branding.