HISTORY

As Bombs Fell on Paris, Marie Curie Went to War

First, Marie Curie tried to donate her Nobel Prize medals. When bank officials refused to melt them down, she donated her prize money to purchase war bonds instead.

The British King Whose Corpse Exploded During His Funeral

William the Conquerer was an unlikely king who reigned brutally and met an equally brutal end.

The Story Behind John Cage's 4'33"

In a world plagued by Muzak, John Cage needed to find a quiet way to make a powerful statement.

As Big as a What? How Literary Size Comparisons Change Over Time

Authors have stopped turning to the natural world for size comparisons and started referring to sports.

Metal Salvagers Are Destroying World War II Shipwrecks in Asia

The ships are considered the graves of thousands of sailors.

The Watergate Hotel Celebrates Its History With 1970s-Themed 'Scandal Room'

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the presidential scandal that rocked America.

The New York Public Library Needs Help Identifying Old Photos of New York City

Many photos depict landmarks that no longer exist.

Good Fortune: How Empress Bonaparte Popularized the Tarot Card Trend and Made Her Cartomancer a Household Name

The cartomancer Lenormand had incredible influence over Joséphine Bonaparte, but Napoleon didn't like or trust her.

How 8 Twin Cities Neighborhoods Got Their Names

Both crime and amphibians may play a role.

Cowboy Bob: The Mysterious Middle-Aged Bank Robber Who Fooled the FBI

When they finally caught up with Cowboy Bob, they found something that turned their investigation on its head.

A Pizzeria Owner's Bizarre Plot to Capture the Zodiac Killer

In 1971, fast food franchisee Tom Hanson spent $13,000 to make a low-budget movie about the Zodiac murders. He expected the killer to attend the premiere. What he didn't expect was to come face-to-face with him at the urinal.

6 Historical Methods for Contacting the Dead (and Their Drawbacks)

Pick up the psychic telephone.

Dave Doody, http://historicjamestowne.org

Archaeologists Search for the Graves of Jamestown's Elite

Teams of scientists are excavating the colonial settlement's tiny churches to see if they can locate the bones of notable historic figures like John Rolfe, Pocahontas's husband.

Long After Alexander Hamilton's Death, His Son and Rival Aaron Burr Dueled in Divorce Court

Hamilton’s son appears to have had the last word against his father's nemesis in during a divorce trial.

How 17th Century Polish Villagers Warded Off Vampires

Villagers liked to make extra sure their deceased stayed that way.

The Reason You Almost Never See Purple on National Flags

It has to do with practicality.

By Scan by NYPL, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

A Brief History of Witches in America

They've come a long way, baby.

Russian Submarine Officer Who May Have Averted Nuclear War Will Be Awarded First Future of Life Prize

Without Vasili Alexandrovich Arkhipov, World War III might have happened in 1962.

5 Intriguing Details Found in the Newly Released JFK Assassination Papers

The Soviets thought Lee Harvey Oswald was a total maniac.

This Bronx-Based Running Club Doubles as a Local History Class

Bronx Sole wants to make fitness fun for runners of all levels. To do that, the running club takes local residents on a joggable history tour of their borough.

Peek Inside a Trove of Witchcraft Artifacts at This Rare Exhibit

“The World Bewitch’d” will use documents, illustrations, manuscripts, and books from university archives to explore the historical origins of belief in witches.

11 Stamps From Countries That No Longer Exist

A new book looks at political history through the vintage stamps of short-lived countries.

Einstein's Handwritten Note on Happiness Just Sold for $1.3 Million

He wrote it to tip a hotel bellboy and told him "will probably be worth more than a regular tip."

Sarah Mahala Photography & Makeup Artistry, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0

Why Lucky the Leprechaun Was Missing From Some Lucky Charms Boxes in 1975

Waldo the Wizard was barely given a chance to make a blip in cereal mascot history.

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