Historic Events
Wars, important political and economic occasions, catastrophes and social movements of the past
Nearly Every American Has Had to Deal With Some Weather Disaster Since 2007
Around four out of five Americans live in a counties declared federal disaster areas in the past six years
April 11, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
When New York City Tamed the Feared Gunslinger Bat Masterson
The lawman had a reputation to protect—but that reputation shifted after he moved East
April 03, 2013 |
By Gilbert King
Photos: The U.S. Military’s Prototype for a Flying Submarine
Capable of carrying 66 tons of cargo, the Aeroscraft could bring airships back to the skies
April 2013 |
By Mark Strauss
Michael Pollan, World War II and More Recent Books Out This Month
Read about the transformation of food and what happens to it once its in the digestive system
April 2013 |
By Chloë Schama
Why Is North Korea Pointing Its Missiles at American Bases?
The U.S. sent stealth bombers to the Korean Peninsula. North Korea didn't like that
March 29, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Oklahoma’s Biggest-Ever Earthquake Was Likely Man-Made
By injecting fluid deep underground, people may have caused Oklahoma's big 2011 earthquake
March 27, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Italian Dictator Mussolini’s Secret Bunker Unearthed
Hidden beneath the Palazzo Venezia, Benito Mussolini's World War II bunker
March 25, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
It Snowed So Hard During This Soccer Game That Costa Rica Wants a Rematch With the U.S.
It was snowing so hard that they had to use a bright yellow ball to even see what was going on
March 25, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Vengeance of Ivarr the Boneless
Did he, and other Vikings, really use a brutal method of ritual execution called the "blood eagle"?
March 18, 2013 |
By Mike Dash
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
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 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
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
The Secret Plot to Rescue Napoleon by Submarine
In 1820, one of Britain's most notorious criminals hatched a plan to rescue the emperor from exile on the Atlantic isle of St Helena -- but did he ever try it?
March 08, 2013 |
By Mike Dash
The Gettysburg Cyclorama Is Gone Forever
Richard Neutra's Gettysburg Cyclorama building demolished
March 05, 2013 |
By Angela Serratore
North Korea Has Begun a Week-Long Countdown to War
North Korea is threatening to end a 60 year-old ceasefire with South Korea
March 05, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The Nazi’s Concentration Camp System Was, Somehow, Even Worse Than We Knew
There were tens of thousands more Nazi prisons and concentration camps than anyone previously realized.
March 05, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
This Might Be Why People Don’t Move Away From Tornado Zones
Living through a tornado doesn't change our optimism about our chances of injury compared to other people
March 04, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
