The Mediums Who Helped Kick-Start the Oil Industry
Apparently some people communed with spirits to locate the first underground oil reserves.
The Anatomical Machines of Naples’ Alchemist Prince
Rumor had it that these machines were once the Prince’s servants, whom he murdered and transformed into anatomical displays. Scholars showed otherwise.
James Baldwin and the FBI
The author was monitored for his political activities, but also for being gay. The surveillance took a toll on him.
Patriotism and the LGBTQ+ Rights Movement
Charged with being "un-American" during the Cold War, activists appealed to American ideals in their quest for full citizenship.
Catherine de’ Medici Was Good at Chess
The game was a way for early modern women in royal courts to prove their skill in political life.
What Happens When Rising Seas Shift Maritime Borders?
Some countries argue that they should keep their ocean territories, even if the land they're based on is submerged.
George Washington Williams and the Origins of Anti-Imperialism
Initially supportive of Belgian King Leopold II’s claim to have created a “free state” of Congo, Williams changed his mind when he saw the horrors of empire.
Discovering the “Gay Lifestyle” through 1970s Magazines
The gay men's magazines QQ and Ciao! were unabashedly liberated, but they still catered to an exclusive audience.
Who Invented the “Mexican” Food of the United States?
The debate over what counts as authentic Mexican food may be moot when there are 7,000 Taco Bells around the world.
The Bayonet: What’s the Point?
According to one scholar, the military sees training in this obsolete weapon as helpful on the modern battlefield.