Wars
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Timbuktu’s Ancient Relics Lay In Ruins At Hands of Militant Group
The tombs and cultural relics of Timbuktu, a key trade and social center of the ancient world, are being destroyed by an armed group known as the Ansar Dine.
July 03, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
How Dogs Can Help Veterans Overcome PTSD
New research finds that "man's best friend" could be lifesavers for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
July 2012 |
By Chris Colin
That Pixellated Uniform Pattern Was So Bad, The Army Trashed $5 Billion Worth
The army spent $5 billion on those new-fangled pixelated camouflage uniforms that peppered Iraq and Afghanistan, only to find out that they do not work at all, The Daily reports: “Essentially, the Army designed a universal uniform that universally failed in every environment,” said an Army specialist who served two tours in Iraq, wearing UCP [...]
June 26, 2012 |
By Sarah Laskow
Scientists Confirm that Somali Pirates Are On Holiday Now, Too
Danger Room journalist Richard Wheeler reports that the world may see a brief respite from costly, often lethal Somali piracy as we head into the summer months. The evidence is in a joint New Zealand–Australian study, Climatic controls on piracy in the Horn of Africa Region, 2010—2011. Unlike previous reporting, which proposed that both summer [...]
June 26, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
How Canada Celebrates the War of 1812
The Rodney Dangerfield of wars in the United States, the 19th-century conflict is given great respect by our Northern neighbors
June 18, 2012 |
By John Hanc
The Legend of Dolley Madison’s Red Velvet Dress
Before the burning of the White House, the First Lady saved some red draperies. Could she have made a dress from them?
June 15, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Document Deep Dive: The Musical History of "The Star-Spangled Banner"
Was the national anthem really set to the melody of a drinking tune? Take a closer look at the original manuscript of Francis Scott Key's song
June 13, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Fritz Haber’s Experiments in Life and Death
The German chemist helped feed the world. Then he developed the first chemical weapons used in battle
June 06, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
The War of 1812: 200 Years Later
What is there to remember about the battles long relegated to footnote status? More than you might think!
June 01, 2012 |
By Smithsonian magazine
“I Was Looking Forward to a Quiet Old Age”
Instead, Etta Shiber, a widow and former Manhattan housewife, helped smuggle stranded Allied soldiers out of Nazi-occupied in Paris
May 25, 2012 |
By Karen Abbott
A Restored Version of Let There Be Light Available Online
Here's your chance to see a haunting and long suppressed WWII documentary about PTSD
May 25, 2012 |
By Daniel Eagan
Team Hollywood’s Secret Weapons System
During World War II, Hedy Lamarr raised $7 million in one night by kissing war-bond buyers. But she and the Hollywood composer George Anthiel also designed a radical new torpedo-guidance system
May 23, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
The 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the War of 1812
Why did the country really go to war against the British? Which American icon came out of the forgotten war?
May 22, 2012 |
By Tony Horwitz and Brian Wolly
Hitler’s Very Own Hot Jazz Band
American troops tuning in to wartime German radio broadcasts found themselves listening to one of Hitler's strangest experiments: the swinging sounds and virulently pro-Nazi lyrics of Charlie and His Orchestra
May 17, 2012 |
By Mike Dash
Gripping Photos of Fallen Soldiers’ Bedrooms
A photographer's images of domestic tranquility pay tribute to U.S. service members
May 2012 |
By T.A. Frail
Should LBJ Be Ranked Alongside Lincoln?
Robert Caro, the esteemed biographer of Lyndon Baines Johnson, talks on the Shakespearean life of the 36th president
May 2012 |
By Ron Rosenbaum
Closing the Pigeon Gap
A hundred years ago, the British Empire looked enviously at the efficient carrier pigeon networks established by its European rivals. Yet during the First World War, Allied birds outperformed their rivals and saved thousands of lives–all thanks to the efforts of one London pigeon fancier.
April 17, 2012 |
By Mike Dash
Women: The Libyan Rebellion's Secret Weapon
They helped overthrow Qaddafi by smuggling arms and spying on the government. Now the women of Libya are fighting for a greater voice in society
April 2012 |
By Joshua Hammer
The Aftermath of Mountain Meadows
The massacre almost brought the United States to war against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but only one man was brought to trial: John D. Lee
February 29, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
2012 Oscar-Nominated Documentary Shorts: A Cheat Sheet
As always, Academy voters have their tendencies, but there's one short this year that stands out among the rest
February 22, 2012 |
By Daniel Eagan
