GOVERNMENT

Hanford, Washington, became the site of nuclear experiments.

Green Run: When the U.S. Government Released Radiation in the Pacific Northwest

In the 1940s, residents near Hanford, Washington, were getting dosed with the radioactive equivalent of Three Mile Island every day.

The U.S. Senate chamber and its rows of desks.

5 Famous Desks in the U.S. Senate

The historic moments that happened at these desks—and the Senate VIPs who sat behind them—mean that some have taken on lives of their own.

Four UFOs appeared in the sky at 9:35 a.m. on July 15, 1952 over a parking lot in Salem, Massachusetts.

Think You Spotted a UFO? See What the 1952 Questionnaire for Reporting Sightings Looked Like

Project Blue Book's questionnaire had sections for describing UFOs and even sketching pictures.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Hart-Celler Act.

9 Facts About the Hart-Celler Act

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 irrevocably changed the face of the United States.

A Third Round of Free At-Home COVID Test Kits Is Now Available

The previous rounds of free at-home COVID test kits maxed out at four. This time, the USPS will ship eight to each household.

8 of History's Strangest Taxes

History is full of kings and governments who have tried to earn money by taxing anything from beards to bachelors.

Scotland Apologizes to the Victims of Its Witch Hunts After 300 Years

After Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued an apology to victims of the country's witch trials, an official pardon could be on the way.

15 Things You Didn't Know About Madeleine Albright

Albright's impressive credentials included professor, ambassador, New York Times best-selling author, and 'Gilmore Girls' guest star.

Lawmakers have been trying to make the Equal Rights Amendment happen for almost a century.

9 Facts You Should Know About the Equal Rights Amendment

Almost 100 years have passed since the Equal Rights Amendment was first proposed. Here are the facts you should know.

Next year's spring forward could be our last ever.

The Senate Just Passed a Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

The Senate has unanimously decided that the Daylight Saving Time system of falling back and springing forward just isn’t worth it.

Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke Of Edinburgh on their coronation day.

A Rundown on English and British Royal Eras

Since 1485 English (and later British) cultural periods have been named after the monarch or group of monarchs who occupied the throne.

What Happens to Undeliverable Mail With No Return Address?

If you forgot to put a return address on a piece of mail that never made it to its destination, you can still get it back.

Chernobyl's nuclear power plant is in crisis.

Chernobyl Has Lost Power in Ukraine, Raising Concerns Over Escaping Radiation

It’s a development that could potentially have serious repercussions for Europe.

23 Far-Out Facts About UFOs, From Weird Sightings to Government Investigations

What *really* happened at Roswell? And what did Project Blue Book actually uncover? All that and more on this episode of The List Show.

Why Is Ukraine’s Capital City Now Called ‘Kyiv,’ Not ‘Kiev’?

‘Kyiv’ is not a new name for the capital of Ukraine—and the Kyiv-or-Kiev discussion isn’t new, either.

Elmo went before Congress to make a case for music education.

Mr. Monster Goes to Washington: When Elmo Testified in Front of Congress

The beloved 'Sesame Street' star went to Capitol Hill 20 years ago and became the first non-human to ever testify in front of Congress.

‘FDA Cleared’ vs. ‘FDA Approved’: What’s the Difference?

FDA approval and FDA clearance aren’t used for the same products—but they’re both valid messages to see on packaging.

Maya Angelou at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 2010.

Maya Angelou Is Now the First Black Woman to Appear on a U.S. Quarter

The U.S. Mint has officially shipped its Maya Angelou quarters—earning the ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ author another “first” to her name.

Good News: Online U.S. Passport Renewals Are Finally Coming

‘Can I renew my passport online?’ is a question Americans have been asking since the dawn of the digital age. Soon, the answer will be yes.

The Real Reason Kate Middleton Isn’t Known as “Princess Catherine”

When Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot, she didn’t become “Princess Kate.” Here’s why not.

Christchurch's wizard, Ian Brackenbury Channell, in 2012.

After More Than Two Decades on the Payroll, Christchurch, New Zealand Is Laying off Official City Wizard

“It makes no difference. I will still keep going. They will have to kill me to stop me.”—the soon-to-be former city wizard of Christchurch, New Zealand, Ian Brackenbury Channell.

Preschoolers waiting to be vaccinated for smallpox outside their doctor's office.

Mandatory Vaccines for Schools Began in Boston Nearly 200 Years Ago

The prospect of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for schools has been ruffling some feathers lately. It’s not a new issue.

The McFlurry is at the center of a delicious controversy.

The Mystery of the Broken McDonald's McFlurry Machines Is Now Under Federal Investigation

McFlurry machines are notorious for breaking down, forcing customers to mourn the dessert that could have been. Now the FTC wants to know why.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg during a Supreme Court photo shoot in 2006.

Notorious RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and Work Will Be the Subject of a New Exhibition at the New-York Historical Society

‘Notorious RBG,’ the bestselling book, has inspired a traveling retrospective dedicated to Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

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