Historic Events
Wars, important political and economic occasions, catastrophes and social movements of the past
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
New Camouflage Makeup Protects Soldiers From Bomb Burns
Soldiers are adding a new makeup to their war wardrobe that protects them from bomb blast burns
September 05, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Cold War–Era Science Shows Beer Will Survive a Nuclear Apocalypse
In 1955, scientists dropped nukes on beer and soda to see how they held up
September 05, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Fires Are Escaping Our Ability to Predict Their Behavior
Today's fires are bigger, weirder, and way harder to model
September 03, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Martin Amis Contemplates Evil
England’s most famous living novelist has moved to America—and tilted the literary world
September 2012 |
By Ron Rosenbaum
Watch This Decades-Old WWII Bomb Go Boom
A World War II bomb was discovered by workers the on the site of an old bar that was being demolished, and then blown up the next day
August 30, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
“After the Storm” Workbook Helps Kids Deal with Hurricane Stress
The "After the Storm" workbook that helps parents sort out their kids' feelings following a potentially traumatic hurricane
August 29, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Watch Hurricane Isaac Grow and Slam Into Louisiana
A range of satellites are set to watch Isaac, giving a step-by-step look into the storm's evolution
August 29, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Yet to Fully Recover from 2010 Earthquake, Haiti Braces for Tropical Storm Isaac
Destabilized by an earthquake and ravaged by cholera, Haitians prepare for tropical storm Isaac
August 24, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Document Deep Dive: What Did the Zimmermann Telegram Say?
See how British cryptologists cracked the coded message that propelled the United States into World War I
August 21, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Going Nuclear Over the Pacific
A half-century ago, a U.S. military test lit up the skies and upped the ante with the Soviets.
August 15, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Archaeologists Excavate Death Pit, Finding Hundreds of Sacrificed Soldiers in Denmark
Archaeologists are excavating hundreds of skeletons from the boggy swamps, and the remains belong to men who all sacrificed around the time of Christ
August 15, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
What Caused the Deadly Iranian Earthquakes?
Straddling the seam between the Eurasian and Arabian tectonic plates, Iran has a history plagued with earthquakes
August 15, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
In 2010 $600 Million in Guns and Ammo Were Exported from the US
In 2010, $607 million dollars worth of small and light arms left the United States, headed to buyers around the world
August 07, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Italian Supervolcano Could End Eurozone Crisis the Easy Way
Deep underground in southern Italy, just outside the city of Naples, the Campi Flegrei supervolcano has been resting for the past 500 years.
August 06, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
