Archaeology On Mars: Preserving Artifacts of Our Expansion Into the Solar...
In 1971, the Soviet Mars 3 lander became the first spacecraft to land on Mars, though it only lasted a couple of minutes before failing. More than 50 years later, it’s still there at Terra Sirenum. The HiRISE camera NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter may have imaged some of its hardware, inadvertently taking part in what…
History of the Self: Smell and Memory
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images "History" can seem big and imposing. But it's always intensely personal – it's all of our individual experiences that add up to historical events. Over the next few episodes, we're exploring the personal and how it's changed history: from the story of romantic love, to the man who tried…
How political violence has rocked US elections
Many Americans are concerned about the risk of political violence in a tight race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. But attacks and intimidation surrounding the elections aren't new. We take a look at such incidents in the US, from the present day to the 1800s.
At this McDonald’s in Italy, your Big Mac comes with a...
In 2014, during construction on a McDonald's in Italy, workers found an ancient road.McDonald's Italia supported restoration work on the road before building the restaurant over it.Visitors to the restaurant in Frattocchie can see the road and skeletons among its stones. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're…
Astronomer Calculates When van Gogh Painted This
One of my favorite paintings is Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh — for obvious astronomical reasons. But another favorite of van Gogh’s works is Lane of Poplars at Sunset. This painting depicts the setting Sun perfectly aligned with a long lane of trees, casting long shadows. The geometry of the Earth and Sun means…
Due to AI fakes, the “deep doubt” era is here
Memento | Aurich Lawson Given the flood of photorealistic AI-generated images washing over social media networks like X and Facebook these days, we're seemingly entering a new age of media skepticism: the era of what I'm calling "deep doubt." While questioning the authenticity of digital content stretches back decades—and analog media long before that—easy access…
Why Did Copernicus Reject Geocentrism?
Popular science history paints a picture of the Greek geocentric model dominating astronomical thought beginning around the 3rd century BCE, and being the favored model for ~1,500 years. Then, suddenly (it suggests), astronomical thought was overhauled at the birth of the Renaissance by brilliant astronomers such as Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo, all of whom rejected…
WWII historian rates ‘Saving Private Ryan’ for realism
John McManus, a World War II historian, looks at war scenes from "Saving Private Ryan" and rates them for realism.He breaks down the iconic movie opening of the landing on Omaha Beach during the Allied invasion of Normandy, often referred to as D-Day. He discusses the realism of the weapons and strategies used by the…
Vintage photos show what it was like to stay at the...
Members of the US team stayed at Chateau Rocquencourt, a sprawling estate west of Paris. American gymnasts practiced outside their modest barracks at Rocquencourt estate. Bettmann/Getty Images The New York Times reported in 1924 that the property had been built for Olympians and had living quarters, a dining hall, and a recreation center. The estate…
Photos show what it was like to eat at McDonald’s in...
The first McDonald's franchise opened in Des Plaines, Illinois, on April 15, 1955. Chicken nuggets were introduced to the menu in 1983. Motorhead and President Ronald Reagan were photographed eating at McDonald's in the 1980s. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app By…
