Topic

Biography & Personal Stories

A collection of 191 issues

The Lunar High Jump That Nearly Killed an Astronaut

Apollo 16 astronaut Charles Duke holds the lunar high jump record. In a moment of fun during the "Lunar Olympics," he attempted to set a record but fell backward onto his fragile life support pack. A crack would have meant certain death, a stark reminder of the perils of space exploration.

The Room Locked in Time: A WWI Soldier's Bedroom Preserved for 500 Years

In a small French town, the bedroom of a WWI soldier has been left untouched since his death in 1918. Kept as a time capsule by his grieving parents, a unique stipulation in the property's deed intends for this private memorial to remain preserved for an astonishing 500 years.

The Terminator and The Bolshevik: Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Kept a Statue of Lenin

Arnold Schwarzenegger, a staunch Republican and icon of capitalism, once owned a collection of Marxist busts. After his wife, Maria Shriver, asked for their removal, he kept one: a statue of Vladimir Lenin. He famously said he kept it in his office as a reminder of failure to "show losers".

The Dictator's Daughter: The Story of Nicaragua's Teenage 'Queen of the Army'

In 1941, as the world braced for war, Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza Garcia staged a bizarre ceremony, crowning his 15-year-old daughter, Lillian, the 'Queen of the Army.' This was no fairy tale; it was a calculated move to fuse his family dynasty with the nation's military might.

Shot, Trapped, and Falling: The Impossible Survival of WWII's 'Sky Rammer'

Soviet pilot Boris Kovzan is the only person to score four aerial kills by ramming. His last came after being shot in the eye. Trapped in his cockpit, he collided head-on with a bomber, was thrown clear, and fell 20,000 feet before waking up to pull his parachute and land in a swamp.

The Spy in the Stacks: How a KGB Archivist's Secret Notes Exposed 50 Years of Soviet Secrets

In 1992, disillusioned KGB archivist Vasili Mitrokhin defected to the UK with 25,000 pages of notes. Hidden beneath his dacha, they detailed 50 years of Soviet covert operations, becoming one of the greatest intelligence coups of the 20th century.

Frozen at 38,000 Feet: The Stowaway Who Risked It All to Meet a Soccer Star

A Tahitian stowaway survived a flight to LA in a wheel well, enduring -58°F at 38,000 ft. His body temperature dropped to a near-fatal 79°F, placing him in a hibernation-like state. His incredible motive? He wanted to fly to France to shake hands with footballer Zinedine Zidane.

The Parody King vs. The Purple One: The Time Prince Banned 'Weird Al' From Making Eye Contact

For decades, "Weird Al" Yankovic, known for his respectful approach of seeking permission for parodies, was consistently denied by Prince. This culminated in a bizarre incident where Prince's team sent a telegram demanding Al not even make eye contact with him at an awards show.