News | HISTORY

Navy Christens Research Ship Named for Sally Ride

The U.S. Navy has christened a new research vessel named in honor of the first American woman in space, Sally Ride.

10 Famous Elephants From History

Whether revered as a divine symbol of luck and wisdom, used as unique tools of diplomacy between leaders, deployed to intimidate opposing armies or put on display in the service of status or science, elephants have loomed large in the historical record.

Study Explores Rise of Egyptian Pharaohs

A new study reveals how a despotic system like ancient Egypt’s could have evolved from egalitarian hunter‑gatherer societies.

The Last Hours of the Nixon Presidency

In 1974, Richard Nixon became the first president to resign from office. Here’s how his final hours in the White House unfolded.

From Chuck Wagons to Pushcarts: The History of the Food Truck

This week we’ll take a look at the surprisingly long history of mobile dining.

When a French Daredevil Walked a Tightrope Between the Twin Towers

On August 7, 1974, New York awoke to find aerialist Philippe Petit walking on a wire between the 110‑story World Trade Center towers.

Lower Testosterone May Have Civilized Humanity, Study Says

A new study argues that humanity’s development of tools, art and culture may have coincided with lower levels of testosterone and a more feminine skull shape.

Who Created the First Alphabet?

The first writing system is believed to have developed during the second millennium B.C.

The Civil War’s Landmark Naval Battle Is Remembered for a Unique Rallying Cry

In 1864, Union Admiral David Farragut damned the torpedoes at Mobile Bay.

10 Things You May Not Know About John Dillinger

Below, some surprising facts about the short and infamous life of the man the authorities branded ‘Public Enemy No. 1.’

How the Gulf of Tonkin Incident Embroiled the US in the Vietnam War

One real and one phantom firefight led the United States to engage more directly in the Vietnam War.

Food Fraud: A Brief History of the Adulteration of Food

Since prehistoric times humans have altered the state of food to extend its longevity or improve its taste.