Geographic Locations
Empires, historic regions, the continents and modern countries
Hundreds of Emaciated Stranded Sea Lion Pups Are Washing Ashore in California
No one knows what is causing the unprecedented strandings, and the number of pups in need of help is only increasing
March 18, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Nixon Prolonged Vietnam War for Political Gain—And Johnson Knew About It, Newly Unclassified Tapes Suggest
Nixon ran on a platform that opposed the Vietnam war, but to win the election, he needed the war to continue
March 18, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Events March 19-21: Poetry Lessons, Nam June Paik Films and a Native Ballet
This week, unlock your inner poet, see films by the first video artist and take in the history of the Osage people performed in dance
March 18, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
Black Plague Death Pit Dug Up in London
Dug up during London construction, the bodies of those killed by the black plague
March 18, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Coffee Here, and Coffee There: How Different People Serve the World’s Favorite Hot Drink
Coffee is black and bitter—but global travelers find a surprisingly wide range of forms of the world's favorite hot beverage
March 15, 2013 |
By Alastair Bland
Albania Has No Idea What to Do With All of These Leftover War Bunkers
Albania's 700,000 war bunkers aren't going anywhere soon, so locals are turning them into hostels, animal sheds and make-out spots
March 15, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Town Featured in ‘Erin Brockovich’ Still Has a Bunch of Pollution in Its Water
The chromium pollution is spreading, and Hinkley's residents are at a loss for what to do
March 15, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Is Corned Beef Really Irish?
The rise and fall and rise of the traditional St. Patrick's Day meal
March 15, 2013 |
By Shaylyn Esposito
Six Centuries Ago, Chinese Explorers Left This Coin Behind in Africa
Emperor Yongle was perhaps best know for starting the initial construction of Beijing's Forbidden City, but he also sent huge fleets of ships, under the command of admiral Zheng He, out across the ocean to faraway lands
March 15, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Beautiful Monarch Butterflies Basically Aren’t Migrating Anymore
Over the past two years, the migration has shrunk by nearly 60 percent, the latest in a long-term plummet
March 14, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The U.S. Is Stocking Drugs for a Hypothetical Smallpox Bio-Attack
In the event of a bio-terrorism smallpox attack, at least 2 million Americans will be able to get treatment, though we can all receive vaccinations
March 14, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Cannibals of the Past Had Plenty of Reasons to Eat People
For a long time cannibalism was a survival technique, a cultural practice, and a legitimate source of protein
March 14, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Events March 15-17: Three Movies, the Persian New Year and Native Story Time
This week, see free films, celebrate the Persian New Year by jumping over fire and hear children's stories from different Native communities
March 14, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio Chosen As New Pope
Pope Francis is the first South American ever to hold the position and the first non-European pope in more than 1,000 years
March 13, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Brand New, Never Before Seen Bacteria Found in Frozen Antarctic Lake—Maybe
Scientists are revealing, then recanting, then reaffirming their claim to have discovered a new type of bacteria
March 13, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The Twisted Reasons People Poison Pets
Journalist Deborah Blum found a few culprits that cropped up again and again
March 13, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
An Otter Learns to Play Therapeutic Basketball at the Oregon Zoo
Zookeepers show that it is possible to teach an old otter new tricks
March 13, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Most Audacious Australian Prison Break of 1876
An American whaling ship brought together an oddball crew with a dangerous mission: freeing six Irishmen from a jail in western Australia
March 12, 2013 |
By Gilbert King
Centuries Ago, a Cat Walked Across This Medieval Manuscript
While pawing through a stack of medieval manuscripts from Dubrovnik, Croatia, a student stumbled upon a familiar set of splotches marring the book's pages
March 12, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
This Giant Snail Is Giving Australia Terrible Flashbacks to the Last Giant Snail Takeover
The giant African snail is a true nightmare. So when Australian officials found one in a shipping container yard in Brisbane, they destroyed it as quickly as possible
March 12, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth


