Topic

History

A collection of 346 issues

Thirteen Days on the Ice: The Harrowing True Story of the 1946 PBM Mariner Crash in Antarctica

In 1946, a U.S. Navy plane crashed during Operation Highjump, stranding six crewmen in Antarctica. For 13 agonizing days, they battled extreme cold and dwindling hope before a dramatic rescue. This is their incredible story of survival against all odds on the frozen continent.

The Strange Tale of Australia's Giant Worm Museum: From Wonderland to Abandonment and Rebirth

In Bass, Victoria, the Wildlife Wonderland Park housed a unique Giant Earthworm Museum. After the park's 2012 closure over welfare concerns, the iconic worm-shaped building was abandoned before being saved and relocated, preserving a piece of weird Australian history.

From Miracle Cure to Macabre Meal: The Strange History of Why Europeans Ate Mummies

For centuries, Europeans consumed ground-up Egyptian mummies as medicine. This bizarre practice wasn't ancient magic but a colossal misunderstanding. It all began when the word for a medicinal tar, 'mummia,' was confused with the embalmed bodies themselves, leading to a grim trade.

The First Lady Who Faced the Guillotine: Elizabeth Monroe's Daring Rescue in Revolutionary France

During the French Revolution's deadly Reign of Terror, Elizabeth Monroe, wife of the U.S. Minister, staged a bold public visit to the imprisoned Adrienne de Lafayette. This single act of soft power highlighted America's interest and saved the French hero's wife from certain execution.

The Bone Wars: How Petty Rivalry, Sabotage, and Ego Fueled America's Greatest Dinosaur Rush

In the late 1800s, paleontologists Edward Cope and Othniel Marsh engaged in the 'Bone Wars,' a bitter feud of sabotage and slander. Despite destroying fossils and careers, their obsessive rivalry incredibly led to the discovery of over 130 new dinosaur species.

The Leg That Toppled a Nation: How Tito's Final Stand Sealed Yugoslavia's Fate

In 1980, Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito refused a life-saving leg amputation, a defiant choice that led to his death. This act created a power vacuum that hastened the unraveling of the nation he held together, ultimately contributing to its violent collapse in the following decade.