cold war

Inside Project A119, America’s Top-Secret Plot To Detonate A Nuclear Bomb On The Moon During The Cold War

In an effort to show up Soviet Russia in the Space Race, the United States considered exploding an H-bomb on the moon so that the mushroom cloud be seen around the world.

By Genevieve Carlton • Dec 20, 2022

Inside Project A119, America’s Top-Secret Plot To Detonate A Nuclear Bomb On The Moon During The Cold War

In an effort to show up Soviet Russia in the Space Race, the United States considered exploding an H-bomb on the moon so that the mushroom cloud be seen around the world.

By Genevieve Carlton • December 20, 2022

The Story Of The ‘Demon Core,’ The 14-Pound Plutonium Sphere That Killed Two Scientists

Physicists Harry Daghlian and Louis Slotin both suffered agonizing deaths after making minor slips of the hand while working on the plutonium orb known as the "demon core" at Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico.

By Kaleena Fraga • Dec 10, 2022

The Story Of The ‘Demon Core,’ The 14-Pound Plutonium Sphere That Killed Two Scientists

Physicists Harry Daghlian and Louis Slotin both suffered agonizing deaths after making minor slips of the hand while working on the plutonium orb known as the "demon core" at Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico.

By Kaleena Fraga • December 10, 2022

The Incredible Story Of Starfish Prime, When The U.S. Detonated A Nuclear Bomb In Space

On July 9, 1962, the Atomic Energy Commission set off a 1.4-megaton thermonuclear warhead in outer space, 240 miles above the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.

By Kaleena Fraga • Nov 29, 2022

The Incredible Story Of Starfish Prime, When The U.S. Detonated A Nuclear Bomb In Space

On July 9, 1962, the Atomic Energy Commission set off a 1.4-megaton thermonuclear warhead in outer space, 240 miles above the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.

By Kaleena Fraga • November 29, 2022

What Was MK-Ultra, The CIA’s Top-Secret Cold War Research Program?

During the 1950s and '60s, the CIA used brainwashing, hypnosis, and torture on thousands of subjects brutalized by the infamous Project MK-Ultra experiments.

By Katie Serena • Jul 8, 2022

What Was MK-Ultra, The CIA’s Top-Secret Cold War Research Program?

During the 1950s and '60s, the CIA used brainwashing, hypnosis, and torture on thousands of subjects brutalized by the infamous Project MK-Ultra experiments.

By Katie Serena • July 8, 2022

How Bobby Fischer Went From Chess Champion To Troubled Recluse

Bobby Fischer became the World Chess Champion after defeating Soviet Boris Spassky in 1972 — then he descended into madness.

By Daniel Rennie • Jul 3, 2022

How Bobby Fischer Went From Chess Champion To Troubled Recluse

Bobby Fischer became the World Chess Champion after defeating Soviet Boris Spassky in 1972 — then he descended into madness.

By Daniel Rennie • July 3, 2022

Inside Operation Northwoods, The U.S. Military Plot To Incite A War With Cuba

Devised by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1962, Operation Northwoods called for CIA agents to attack U.S. military personnel and civilians so they could blame it on Cuba's communist regime.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jun 24, 2022

Inside Operation Northwoods, The U.S. Military Plot To Incite A War With Cuba

Devised by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1962, Operation Northwoods called for CIA agents to attack U.S. military personnel and civilians so they could blame it on Cuba's communist regime.

By Kaleena Fraga • June 24, 2022

How Did Joseph Stalin Die? Inside The Murky Death Of The Soviet Dictator

Joseph Stalin died on March 5, 1953, after apparently suffering a stroke — but some suspect that he was actually poisoned.

By Kaleena Fraga • Apr 3, 2022

How Did Joseph Stalin Die? Inside The Murky Death Of The Soviet Dictator

Joseph Stalin died on March 5, 1953, after apparently suffering a stroke — but some suspect that he was actually poisoned.

By Kaleena Fraga • April 3, 2022

The Story Of ‘Amazing Grace’ Hopper, One Of The First Modern Programmers

One of the minds behind the first electromechanical computer, Grace Hopper also pioneered a computer language that revolutionized the future of programming — which is still in use today.

By Marco Margaritoff • Dec 20, 2021

The Story Of ‘Amazing Grace’ Hopper, One Of The First Modern Programmers

One of the minds behind the first electromechanical computer, Grace Hopper also pioneered a computer language that revolutionized the future of programming — which is still in use today.

By Marco Margaritoff • December 20, 2021

Inside Operation Gladio, The CIA’s Secret Fight Against Communism In Cold War Europe

During Operation Gladio, the CIA was so desperate to thwart the spread of communism that it partnered with everyone from right-wing terrorists to the Vatican to the Mafia.

By Morgan Dunn • Nov 16, 2021

Inside Operation Gladio, The CIA’s Secret Fight Against Communism In Cold War Europe

During Operation Gladio, the CIA was so desperate to thwart the spread of communism that it partnered with everyone from right-wing terrorists to the Vatican to the Mafia.

By Morgan Dunn • November 16, 2021

Inside The Hanoi Hilton, North Vietnam’s Torture Chamber For American POWs

The North Vietnamese called it the Hỏa Lò prison, while American POWs ironically dubbed it the "Hanoi Hilton." Hundreds were tortured there with meat hooks and iron chains — including John McCain.

By Hannah McKennett • Oct 30, 2021

Inside The Hanoi Hilton, North Vietnam’s Torture Chamber For American POWs

The North Vietnamese called it the Hỏa Lò prison, while American POWs ironically dubbed it the "Hanoi Hilton." Hundreds were tortured there with meat hooks and iron chains — including John McCain.

By Hannah McKennett • October 30, 2021