WAR

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 Battle of Inkerman during the Crimean War

11 Intriguing Facts About the Crimean War

Europe saw no shortage of bloody conflicts in the 19th century, and one of the most important was the clash of empires in Crimea.

A German submarine not unlike the one destroyed by a poop.

The Turd Reich: The Toilet Malfunction That Sank a German U-Boat

Your history teacher probably didn't tell you about the time the unfortunately named Captain Schlitt's bowel movement sank an entire German submarine.

"Doughnut lassies" did a lot to boost morale on the front lines.

How the Doughnut Became a Symbol of Volunteerism During World War I

While enjoying a free doughnut on National Doughnut Day, remember the women who introduced the treat to soldiers during World War I.

French gunners during World War I, circa 1914.

5 Misconceptions About World War I

We're shedding light on some common misconceptions about World War I, including who was actually involved and when the fighting officially ended.

The Tollense Valley battle site contains hundreds of victims.

10 Prehistoric Battle Sites Around the World

We sometimes think human prehistory was much more peaceful than today. But archaeological evidence suggests otherwise.

(L to R) Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Cholmondeley, Colin Firth as Ewen Montagu, and Johnny Flynn as Ian Fleming in 'Operation Mincemeat' (2022).

The True Story Behind ‘Operation Mincemeat’: How Hitler Fell for Britain’s Most Daring—And Disgusting—Deception

Major William Martin was a Roman Catholic Welshman who enjoyed the theater and loved his fiancée, Pam. He also didn’t exist—but the Nazis didn’t know that.

Tom Cruise once considered 'Top Gun' sequels a highway to the danger zone.

In 1990, Tom Cruise Told 'Playboy' That Making a 'Top Gun' Sequel Would Be 'Irresponsible'

Tom Cruise was less enthusiastic about a sequel to 'Top Gun' in 1990, which he described a 'fairy tale' version of war.

The 25 Safest Countries in the World

Whether you're planning to live abroad or travel internationally, these are the countries where you'll find the most safety and stability.

"La Queue à la Boucherie en 1871" by Clément-Auguste Andrieux

'I'll Have the Kangaroo Stew': When Paris Was Forced to Eat Its Zoos

For Christmas dinner in 1870, Paris restaurant Voisin publicized a menu that featured kangaroo stew, elephant stock, stuffed donkey head, and bear chops.

A fu-go reinflated at California's Moffett Field in 1945. (The lines of the fu-go have been redrawn to make them easier to see.)

Fu-Go Fire Balloons: Japan’s Last-Ditch Effort to Win WWII

The U.S. military catalogued 285 incidents involving Japanese fu-go, mostly in the Western United States and Canada; one incident resulted in five deaths.

'Francisco Pizarro Seizing the Inca of Peru' by John Everett Millais, 1846.

10 Pivotal Battles That Changed History

The fall of Constantinople isn’t the only battle that helped usher in a whole new era of history.

A painting of the Battle of Pea Ridge, which was fought from May 7 to 8, 1862

7 Misconceptions About the Civil War

The Civil War remains one of the most important chapters in American history. But the conflict itself was more complex than North vs. South.

8 Battles Fought After the War Ended

From Pontiac's Rebellion to the Battle for Castle Itter, here are eight of the most legendary clashes that were waged after the war was technically over.

Nuclear Test Footage From the 1950s Shows Fake Towns Getting Incinerated

In the 1950s, the U.S. government built fake houses on its nuclear test site in Nevada, and many of them didn't survive.

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.

The Sultana, the day before it exploded.

5 Deadly, Explosive Ship Disasters From U.S. History

For centuries, boats have been blowing up with amazing spectacle and horrible tragedy. Here are five ship explosions just as worthy of a three-hour dramatization as the RMS 'Titanic.'

The ‘Doomsday Vault’ Has Opened Its Doors to Receive New Seed Deposits

The Svalbard Global Seed Bank in Norway contains 1.1 million seed samples from roughly 6000 plant species, and it just received a new batch of deposits.

These phrases likely came from some dark places.

8 Common Phrases with Surprisingly Dark Origins

From poisoning to warfare, these are the dark origin stories behind eight common phrases and idioms.

A New Albanian Crisis

September 16, 1913: In 1912 and 1913, a series of crises centered on Albania repeatedly brought Europe to the edge of war.

Showdown in Constantinople

Agent 355: The American Revolution’s Most Mysterious Female Spy

The spy thriller 'The 355' gets its title from a Culper Spy Ring agent known only as “355.” Who was she?

Cleopatra depicted in a calendar print by Beatrice Decker.

The Royal Rundown on Cleopatra's Children

Cleopatra famously had relationships with the Roman generals Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Less, however, is remembered about the four children she had with these men.

How World War I Turned Peanut Butter Into a Kitchen Staple

Celebrate National Peanut Butter Day with a World War I-era recipe for peanut loaf or peanut butter soup.

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