history

How A Small Texas Town Paid A Conman A Ton Of Money To Build “The World’s Littlest Skyscraper”

J.D. McMahon promised Wichita Falls a skyscraper befitting the prospering boom town. Unknown to townspeople, the con man drew up blueprints for a building 480 inches tall, instead of the 480 feet he promised.

By Aimee Lamoureux • Jul 15, 2018

How A Small Texas Town Paid A Conman A Ton Of Money To Build “The World’s Littlest Skyscraper”

J.D. McMahon promised Wichita Falls a skyscraper befitting the prospering boom town. Unknown to townspeople, the con man drew up blueprints for a building 480 inches tall, instead of the 480 feet he promised.

By Aimee Lamoureux • July 15, 2018

He Died 5,300 Years Ago — And Now We Know His Last Meal

He's the oldest preserved human ever found, and now scientists have extracted the food from his stomach.

By Kara Goldfarb • Jul 13, 2018

Science News

He Died 5,300 Years Ago — And Now We Know His Last Meal

He's the oldest preserved human ever found, and now scientists have extracted the food from his stomach.

By Kara Goldfarb • July 13, 2018

This Week In History News, July 8 – 14

Centuries-old stone may solve Lost Roanoke Colony mystery, new study says we didn't all evolve from one population, unearthed ancient Egyptian sarcophagus contains unknown body.

By All That's Interesting • Jul 13, 2018

News

This Week In History News, July 8 – 14

Centuries-old stone may solve Lost Roanoke Colony mystery, new study says we didn't all evolve from one population, unearthed ancient Egyptian sarcophagus contains unknown body.

By All That's Interesting • July 13, 2018

This Medieval Warrior Had His Hand Amputated, Then Replaced It With A Prosthetic Knife

Archaeologists have uncovered the skeleton of a warrior in northern Italy from the 6th century who after having his hand amputated, used a knife as a prosthetic hand.

By Kara Goldfarb • Jul 13, 2018

Science News

This Medieval Warrior Had His Hand Amputated, Then Replaced It With A Prosthetic Knife

Archaeologists have uncovered the skeleton of a warrior in northern Italy from the 6th century who after having his hand amputated, used a knife as a prosthetic hand.

By Kara Goldfarb • July 13, 2018

Giuseppe Zangara Tried To Shoot FDR — But Missed And Killed Another Powerful Politician Instead

Giuseppe Zangara was an unemployed bricklayer unwilling to wait for President-Elect FDR to take office to blame him for his problems.

By William DeLong • Jul 13, 2018

Giuseppe Zangara Tried To Shoot FDR — But Missed And Killed Another Powerful Politician Instead

Giuseppe Zangara was an unemployed bricklayer unwilling to wait for President-Elect FDR to take office to blame him for his problems.

By William DeLong • July 13, 2018

How Claire Phillips Used Her Gentleman’s Club As A Front For A World War II Spy Ring

Claire Phillips was a smalltown girl from Michigan who wound up running a spy ring for the United States in the Japan-occupied Philippines during World War II.

By Aimee Lamoureux • Jul 12, 2018

How Claire Phillips Used Her Gentleman’s Club As A Front For A World War II Spy Ring

Claire Phillips was a smalltown girl from Michigan who wound up running a spy ring for the United States in the Japan-occupied Philippines during World War II.

By Aimee Lamoureux • July 12, 2018

We Didn’t All Evolve From One Population Of Early Humans, Bold New Research Claims

"We've arrived at a place where we can begin to address some key questions about our shared ancestry and even emerge with new questions we haven't known to ask before."

By All That's Interesting • Jul 12, 2018

Science News

We Didn’t All Evolve From One Population Of Early Humans, Bold New Research Claims

"We've arrived at a place where we can begin to address some key questions about our shared ancestry and even emerge with new questions we haven't known to ask before."

By All That's Interesting • July 12, 2018

Why Some Wounded Civil War Soldiers Actually Glowed In The Dark – And Lived Because Of It

"Angel's Glow" was a phenomenon of the Civil War in which soldiers' wounds seemed to glow in the dark. It took 139 years to figure out why.

By Aimee Lamoureux • Jul 12, 2018

Why Some Wounded Civil War Soldiers Actually Glowed In The Dark – And Lived Because Of It

"Angel's Glow" was a phenomenon of the Civil War in which soldiers' wounds seemed to glow in the dark. It took 139 years to figure out why.

By Aimee Lamoureux • July 12, 2018

How H.A. Rey And Curious George Escaped The Nazis And Created A Classic

If author H.A. Rey hadn't avoided the Nazis in dramatic fashion, the world wouldn't even know about Curious George today.

By William DeLong • Jul 11, 2018

How H.A. Rey And Curious George Escaped The Nazis And Created A Classic

If author H.A. Rey hadn't avoided the Nazis in dramatic fashion, the world wouldn't even know about Curious George today.

By William DeLong • July 11, 2018

Listen To The Seikilos Epitaph, The World’s Oldest Complete Musical Composition

Written sometime between 200 B.C. and 100 A.D., the Seikilos epitaph is the oldest complete musical composition in existence — hear it for yourself.

By Aimee Lamoureux • Jul 11, 2018

Listen To The Seikilos Epitaph, The World’s Oldest Complete Musical Composition

Written sometime between 200 B.C. and 100 A.D., the Seikilos epitaph is the oldest complete musical composition in existence — hear it for yourself.

By Aimee Lamoureux • July 11, 2018

How Mob Hitman Johnny Martorano Admitted To Killing At Least 20 People — And Then Walked Free

The government not only let Johnny Martorano off the hook, they also gave him $20,000 to start a new life after he testified against Whitey Bulger.

By William DeLong • Jul 11, 2018

How Mob Hitman Johnny Martorano Admitted To Killing At Least 20 People — And Then Walked Free

The government not only let Johnny Martorano off the hook, they also gave him $20,000 to start a new life after he testified against Whitey Bulger.

By William DeLong • July 11, 2018