The Origins of the Police
Sir Robert Peel is popularly credited with the formation of the first modern municipal police force. But the Thames River Police did it first.
Should I Kill Spiders in My Home?
An entomologist explains why not to.
The 1918 Parade That Spread Death in Philadelphia
In six weeks, 12,000 were dead of influenza.
The Real Joy of Mock Food
"Wow, this really kind of tastes like turkey.”
The Cartoonishly Giant Antlers of the Irish Elk
The mystery of the Irisk Elk's giant antlers attracted the attention of famous evolutionary biologist Steven Jay Gould.
The Man Whose Face Got Stuck Like That
No one could have predicted Franz Xaver Messerschmidt’s turn to the bizarre.
Mary Pickford Knew Not to Take the First Offer
When the 17-year-old actress auditioned for her first film, director D.W. Griffith offered her $5 a day. That wasn’t good enough for Mary.
Wind Power Returns to the Shipping Industry
The industry explored the idea of using actual sails, but modern turbine-based wind power will significantly reduce emissions.
Video Game Streams Are Creating New Forms of Community
Khasino, a Marvel Strike Force streamer on Twitch, makes his living playing video games for an audience.
What the Reconstruction Meant for Women
Southern legal codes included parallel language pairing “master and slave” and “husband and wife.”