The Mercury 13

In 1959, a small band of guerrilla fighters marched out of the mountains and toppled a government backed by one of the most powerful nations on Earth. What began as a rebellion against corruption and...

9 Apr 15min

In the middle of one of the harshest deserts in North America sits a city that, by all rights, shouldn’t exist.  What began as a watering hole for ancient peoples became a railroad stop, then a gambl...

8 Apr 14min

Every day, thousands of ships crisscross the oceans, carrying the goods that power the global economy. But flying at the stern of those ships often flies a flag that puzzles people. Many vessels are...

7 Apr 15min

A thousand years ago, the world was a radically different place. Europe was fragmented and struggling, while China and the Islamic world stood at the height of their power and innovation.  Great empi...

6 Apr 13min

They are some of the largest bodies of freshwater on Earth, yet they weren’t carved by ice, but by a continent literally tearing itself apart.  These lakes are older, deeper, and more biologically di...

5 Apr 15min

Long before modern democracies, before constitutions or elections as we know them, a society of Viking settlers gathered in a windswept valley to create laws, settle disputes, and govern themselves wi...

4 Apr 15min

In the early 20th century, a glowing new element promised progress, prosperity, and even health.  It lit watch dials, captivated the public, and symbolized the cutting edge of science.  But behind t...

3 Apr 14min

Approximately 3,400 years ago, Egypt was at the height of its power during the 18th Dynasty.  In the midst of this period came a Pharoah who completely upended Egyptian society. He built an entirely ...

2 Apr 15min