What Caused the 10 Plagues of Egypt?A volcanic eruption and shift in climate could have triggered a series of ancient calamities—from pestilence to locusts—as described in the Bible.Read more
Doris Kearns Goodwin: A Personal History of the 1960sWith youthful stints in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, the presidential historian and her husband had unparalleled views into the pivotal people and events of that momentous decade.Read more
Electric Vehicles Have Been Around Since the 19th Century: TimelineElectric vehicles were some of the earliest automobiles ever invented—and, unlike early gas-powered cars, they didn’t require a crank to start the engine.Read more
The Wright Brothers’ Sister Played a Key Role in Their SuccessKatharine Wright helped publicize her brothers’ first-in-flight achievement and made sure they made it into the record books.Read more
Christa McAuliffe: How NASA’s Teacher in Space Project Ended in TragedyChrista McAuliffe embraced the chance to be part of a space shuttle mission and, despite the Challenger disaster, left an inspiring legacy.Read more
6 Eclipses That Influenced HistoryThese celestial events, whether solar or lunar, inspired fear, advantaged armies and proved groundbreaking theories.Read more
6 Presidential Election Rematches in U.S. HistoryAmong the handful of U.S. presidential rematches, the candidate who lost the first round more often came back to win.Read more
How Hitler’s Failed Beer Hall Putsch Helped Fuel His RiseHitler’s failed 1923 coup and his short term in prison ended up helping the future dictator reset and find his path to power.Read more
8 Ciphers That Shaped HistoryThese secret codes enabled secure communication—at least until others found ways to crack them.Read more
8 of the Most Devastating Bridge CollapsesThe disasters had a wide range of causes, from marching soldiers to a crowd gathered to witness baptisms.Read more
Rosalind Franklin’s Overlooked Role in the Discovery of DNA’s StructureFranklin’s work paved the way for Watson and Crick’s breakthrough discovery of the DNA double helix.Read more
Ben Franklin in Paris: How He Won France’s Support for the Revolutionary WarAs American colonists faced tough odds in the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Franklin worked his charm to win France’s vital backing.Read more