Historic Eras
Historic eras—including prehistory, ancient and modern history—represent time viewed through the lens of human events
Russia Just Voted To Stop Letting Americans Adopt Russian Kids
The Duma - Russia's power house of Parliament - voted in support of a bill that would ban American citizens from adopting Russian orphans
December 20, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Dead Sea Scrolls Just Went Digital
Written between 200 BC and the middle of the first century AD, the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered again 1947
December 19, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Native American Woman May Have Made It to Europe 500 Years Before Columbus Was Born
Portions of DNA passed only from mother to child reveal that about 80 people living in Iceland today possess a genetic variation distinct to one found mostly in Native Americans
December 19, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Ramses III’s Mummy Reveals the Pharaoh’s Throat Was Slit
Ramses III's death has always been a mystery, but new evidence just emerged the the Pharaoh's throat was slit, likely by members of his harem
December 18, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
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
One of the World’s Oldest Bibles Is Now Online
An ancient Greek Bible is now available online
December 17, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Even Mummy Doctors Forgot Tools in Their Patients Sometimes
Researchers examining the brains of mummies have found a small tool that was used during embalming, left behind after the procedure
December 17, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
White Gold: How Salt Made and Unmade the Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos had one of the world's first, and largest, salt industries—which led, indirectly, to their becoming the only tropical jurisdiction to have a pair of igloos on their flag.
December 14, 2012 |
By Mike Dash
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
North Korea’s Failing Satellite Could Ruin Space for Everyone
North Korea's new satellite is out of control, and it could wipe out human's access to space
December 13, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
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
Climate Change May Have Driven Genghis Khan’s Army Across Eurasia
A multidecadal blip in temperature and rainfall patterns may have spurred the rise of the Mongol Empire
December 07, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
It’s the Final Day of the Doha Climate Talks, And, Uh, Did Anything Actually Happen?
Reports from Doha don't provide much hope that any progress has been made on the increasingly urgent issue of global climate change
December 07, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Day Henry Clay Refused to Compromise
The Great Pacificator was adept at getting congressmen to reach agreements over slavery. But he was less accommodating when one of his own slaves sued him
December 06, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
World’s Greatest Extinction May Have Actually Been Two Extinctions in One
The Permian-Triassic extinction nearly wiped out life on Earth
December 04, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
The Pope’s Tweets Are Official Church Doctrine
The pope is officially Tweeting now, under the handle @pontifex, and his Tweets are officially "part of the church's magisterium." Which means that anything he Tweets is the teaching authority of the Catholic Church
December 03, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
1 Million Dollars Worth of Rare Dictionaries About to Go on Sale
On December 4, a collection of rare old dictionaries will go on auction at Bonhams in New York City
November 30, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
To Adapt to Harsh Greenland Climate, Vikings Gorged on Seals
Despite their barbaric reputation, the Viking-era Norse typically worked as farmers rather than hunters - except on Greenland
November 21, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Here’s the Reality We’re Signing Up For By Letting Climate Change Happen
Say goodbye to winter, New Orleans, olive oil, rivers and world peace if climate change plays out as predicted
November 21, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
People Have Been Using Stone-Tipped Spears For Way Longer Than We Thought
A new study adds 200,000 years to their run
November 20, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
