Events
Momentous and notable cultural and historic occasions as well as holidays and celebrations
An Edible White House, and the Long History of Gingerbread
The history of gingerbread starts as early as the 11th century
December 24, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Watch Out for All the Holiday Drinking—You Might Spontaneously Combust
In the 18th century, sober citizens and church goers loved to harp on the evils of alcohol abuse, which supposedly could cause a person to randomly burst into flames
December 24, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Key to Getting Holiday Shopping Right, Science Says, Is to Trust Your Gut
Skip the holiday season melt downs by not over-thinking gifts for family or close friends, researchers advise
December 24, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Instead of Dieting After the Holidays, Take the Bus
Driving just 1 mile less per day is more effective at reducing weight than cutting back on 100 calories per day
December 21, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
That Time 150 Years Ago When Thousands of People Watched Baseball on Christmas Day
During the Civil War, two regiments faced off as spectators, possibly as many as 40,000, sat and watched
December 21, 2012 |
By John Hanc
How Will Life on Earth Survive the Actual Apocalypse?
What will life be like for the last holdouts during the actual end of the world?
December 20, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Food Can Give You a Hangover
The connection between specific foods and migraines is tough to prove, scientifically, but those with migraines often switch their diets to avoid foods that trigger the pain
December 20, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Boy Who Became a World War II Veteran at 13 Years Old
In 1942, Seaman Calvin Graham was decorated for valor in battle. Then his mother learned where he'd been and revealed his secret to the Navy.
December 19, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Document Deep Dive: Emancipation Proclamation
When freeing the slaves 150 years ago, Abraham Lincoln traded in his famous lyricism for a dry, legal tone. Harold Holzer explains why
December 19, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Prolonged Drought Could Shut Down Shipping on the Mighty Mississippi
This time last year the Mississippi around St. Louis was 20 feet deeper
December 18, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
NASA Assures Us the World Won’t End on Friday
NASA points out the blatant illogic of this apocalypse scenario and misconceptions that caused the false notion of an end-of-the-world prophesy to come about
December 17, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Tornado Power: Green Energy of the Future?
Paypal co-founder and early Facebook investor Peter Thiel just gave a small $300,000 startup grant to a Canadian researcher trying to harness power from man-made tornados
December 17, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The First Nativity Scene Was Created in 1223
Nativity buffs will also note that the familiar cast of characters relied upon today is not biblically accurate
December 14, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
After Nearly 70 Years, How Do Stealth Planes Stay Stealthy?
From the Horten Ho 229 to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, stealth technology has changed a lot
December 13, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Pet Store Refuses to Sell Impulse-Buy Puppies for Christmas
Too many animals end up on death row, one Australian pet shop says, so their shop will not sell kittens or puppies around Christmas time
December 12, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
More Than One Person Has Built an Ark To Prepare for the Mayan Apocalypse
How exactly does one prepare for the end of the world?
December 12, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Your Christmas Tree Helps Fight Climate Change
The key for trapping carbon lies in the soil, rather than the trees.
December 12, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Before the Civil War, There Were 8,000 Different Kinds of Money in the U.S.
It wasn't until after the war that the U.S. started to really use the dollar
December 12, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
This Is Probably the World’s Most Beautiful Seismograph
Using different colors of paint and a map of Christchurch, this machine lays down beautiful portraits of New Zealand's deadly earthquakes
December 11, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
We Don’t Know the Origins of the Candy Cane, But They Almost Certainly Were Not Christian
There are a lot of explanations floating around out there about the candy cane - but almost none of them are true
December 11, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
