Topic

History

A collection of 463 issues

Venera's Victory: The Story Behind the Only Surface Photos of Venus

Captured by the Soviet Venera program, the only photos from Venus's surface are a monumental achievement. Landers briefly survived apocalyptic pressures and lead-melting temperatures to reveal a rocky, orange-lit landscape before succumbing to the hostile world.

Space & Astronomy History Technology & Innovation

Honest Abe's Tab: The Forgotten Story of Abraham Lincoln, Tavern Keeper

Long before his presidency, Abraham Lincoln was a licensed bartender. In 1833, he and a partner opened a tavern in New Salem, Illinois. The short-lived venture, which sold whiskey and gin, ultimately failed but remains a unique chapter in his life.

Biography & Personal Stories History Politics & Power

Beyond the Leash: The Surprising Warmth and History of Chiengora

Chiengora, yarn spun from shed dog hair, is a sustainable textile up to 80% warmer than wool. Lacking natural elasticity, it is often blended with fibers like alpaca or silk. This ancient practice offers a way to create a personal, eco-friendly memento.

Animals in Culture History Oddities & Curiosities

The Battle With No Enemy: Britain's Secret WWI Submarine Catastrophe

In the dark waters off the Scottish coast on a single night in 1918, the Royal Navy experienced a self-inflicted catastrophe known as the 'Battle of May Island.' In a fleet exercise, a series of collisions sank two submarines and killed over 100 sailors.

History Military Technology & Strategy Mysteries & Unsolved Cases

Project Disenchantment: The CIA's 1950s Campaign to Make UFOs Boring

In 1953, the CIA's secret Robertson Panel concluded UFOs weren't a direct threat, but public hysteria was. Fearing clogged communication channels and enemy propaganda, they recommended a national debunking campaign using mass media to strip the topic of its mystery.

History Politics & Power Media & Censorship

From Breakfast Table to Dwarf Planet: The Quiet Legacy of Pluto's Namer

In 1930, 11-year-old Venetia Burney named the newly discovered planet Pluto. She lived to see its controversial 2006 reclassification to a "dwarf planet." Phair, then 87, met the news with grace, offering a unique, personal perspective on the astronomical debate.

Biography & Personal Stories Space & Astronomy History

Death by Dessert: The Surprisingly Deadly History of 19th-Century Ice Cream

In the 19th century, before modern food safety, ice cream was a gamble. Produced with unpasteurized milk carrying typhoid and cholera, and ice from polluted rivers, it was a common source of deadly illness. Some vendors even used arsenic or lead for coloring.

History Food & Lifestyle Medicine, Psychology & Health

The Gripsholm Lion: A Perfect Failure in 18th-Century Taxidermy

Sweden's famed Lion of Gripsholm is a beloved example of poor taxidermy. A 1731 gift to King Frederick I, the lion was preserved after its death by a taxidermist who, having never seen one live, used heraldic art as a guide, creating a comically inaccurate icon.

History Oddities & Curiosities Art, Culture & Design

The Million-Pound Cough: Anatomy of the 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' Scandal

In 2001, Army Major Charles Ingram won £1 million on 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?', but his victory was a fraud. A pattern of coughs from an accomplice was found to be a code, guiding Ingram to the right answers. The prize was revoked, and all three were convicted.

Law, Crime & Justice Entertainment & Media History

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