Events
Momentous and notable cultural and historic occasions as well as holidays and celebrations
UNESCO-Listed Medieval Souk in Syria Burned, Bombed
Aleppo, the site of an ancient UNESCO-listed souk in Syria, went up in flames on Sunday as clashes between troops and rebels infiltrated the market quarter.
October 03, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone 3D-Prints a Gun
The 3D printing gun idea has taken off, but Stratasys, the company who's printers are being used, isn't exactly happy about it. They want their printers back
October 02, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Photographs That Prevented World War III
While researching a book on the Cuban missile crisis, the writer unearthed new spy images that could have changed history
October 2012 |
By Michael Dobbs
The Silence that Preceded China’s Great Leap into Famine
Mao Zedong encouraged critics of his government—and then betrayed them just when their advice might have prevented a calamity
September 26, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Largest Quake of the Year Crossed Fault Lines, Echoed for a Week
The largest earthquake of the year left quite an impression on the earth, but not via mass destruction or tsunamis. In fact, you probably didn’t even hear about it. The 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck on April 11 in the Indian Ocean. Two people are known to have died as a result of the quake, while [...]
September 26, 2012 |
By Mary Beth Griggs
Looters Are Selling Artifacts to Fund War in Syria
War zones are dangerous places, for both people and cultural heritage
September 26, 2012 |
By Mary Beth Griggs
Tsunami Debris Is Just Now Arriving at Hawaii’s Coast
A dock 30-by-50 feet long, with Japanese writing on it, was found floating off the coast of Hawaii, around the same time that a plastic blue bin (a seafood storage container in its past life) became the first confirmed piece of tsunami debris to reach Hawaii. Authorities have not confirmed whether or not the dock was [...]
September 24, 2012 |
By Mary Beth Griggs
Diamond Mines Are a Paleo-Climate Scientist’s Best Friend
A column of magma worked its way up from the mantle and drilled its way to the surface, bedazzling itself with diamonds that it picked up along the way
September 21, 2012 |
By Mary Beth Griggs
Cartoons of Mohammed, Anti-Jihad Subway Ads and Other Provocations, Past and Future
Today, as protests continue across the Muslim world in reaction to a translated movie trailer posted on YouTube, French Magazine Charlie Hebdo announced that it was publishing cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad
September 19, 2012 |
By Mary Beth Griggs
The Real World Versions of Revolution’s Dystopian Cities
A new TV show looks very dystopian, but there are places that resemble Revolution's landscape in the world today
September 18, 2012 |
By Mary Beth Griggs
The Blazing Career and Mysterious Death of “The Swedish Meteor”
Can modern science determine who shot this 18th century Swedish king?
September 17, 2012 |
By Mike Dash
Flooding in Pakistan Threatens Remains of 4500-Year-Old Civilization
Strong flooding fueled by the annual monsoon threatens the ancient town of Mohenjo-Daro
September 14, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
When Bad Things Become Funny
Humor experts set out to discover when tragedies are fine to joke about, and when they're not
September 14, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Scientists Unleash Bacteria Into Boston Subway to Study Bioterrorism
To study the spread of biological agents, researchers sprayed bacteria into the Boston subway system
September 13, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Don’t Trust Robots? The Pentagon Doesn’t Either
Not everyone at the Pentagon is ready to embrace the new robot army
September 13, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
50 Years Ago, JFK Sent Us to the Moon
President Kennedy bolstered American support for his mission to the Moon with a speech at Rice University 50 years ago today
September 12, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
As Global Food Prices Climb, So Does the Probability of Riots
Rising food prices set the stage for riots and instability
September 11, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
How Scientists Know the Tar Balls Hurricane Isaac Dredged Up Came From the BP Oil Spill
Scientists confirm that oil strewn by hurricane Isaac derived from BP's blown-out Macondo well
September 07, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
The Ugliest, Most Contentious Presidential Election Ever
Throughout the 1876 campaign, Tilden’s opposition had called him everything from a briber to a thief to a drunken syphilitic
September 07, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
The Navy’s Future Is Filled With Laser Guns
The US Navy is driving the push in the development of laser-based weaponry
September 06, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
