The History of Academic Degrees

Long before Marvel turned them into superheroes, the Norse gods were something far more mysterious and far more human.  They were flawed, doomed, and destined to face their own destruction at Ragnaro...

10 Apr 15min

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