Historic Events
Wars, important political and economic occasions, catastrophes and social movements of the past
Giant Paintball Gun Could Save the World From Death-by-Asteroid
A big asteroid will eventually hit the Earth. What can we do to push it out of the way?
October 26, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Napoleon’s Army May Have Suffered From the Greatest Wardrobe Malfunction in History
Historians still puzzle over Napoleon's catastrophic Russian defeat, but materials scientists think the army's buttons may be to blame
October 25, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Italian Scientists Sent to Jail Because They Downplayed the Risk of an Earthquake
Six scientists and one former government official will do time for failing to accurately convey the risk of an earthquake
October 22, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Today, 14 Million People Are Going to Have an Earthquake Drill
"Duck, cover, and hold on" is the best way to get through an earthquake
October 18, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Never-Before-Seen Photos Taken 50 Years Ago During Preparations for Cuba Invasion
During the dark days of October 1962, Marines trained on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques to train for an amphibious assault on Cuba
October 17, 2012 |
By Brian Wolly
How a Missile Silo Became the Most Difficult Interior Decorating Job Ever
A relic from the Cold War, this instrument of death gets a new life … and a new look
October 15, 2012 |
By Lisa Bramen
This is a Map of Every War Ever
The Battle of Jericho is the first entry in a massive project that sees the dates, locations, and brief descriptions for thousands of human conflicts overlaid on a scrollable, zoom-able map
October 12, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Kenai the Sea Otter, Rescued From Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Has Died
One of the last two otters rescued from the Exxon Valdez oil spill has just passed away
October 11, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Three Quarters of Americans Now Believe Climate Change Is Affecting the Weather
74 percent of surveyed Americans think that global warming is changing the weather
October 09, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
The U.S. Air Force’s Plan To Build a Flying Saucer
Newly-released schematics show the plans for a failed flying saucer
October 08, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
The Weather Channel Unilaterally Decides Winter Storms Should Have Names Like ‘Q’ and ‘Gandolf’
The private broadcaster laid out their plan to start naming blizzards
October 03, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
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
