modern history

How Elvis Presley Convinced Americans To Take The Polio Vaccine

In 1956, the King of Rock 'n' Roll got his polio vaccination on live TV — and helped America turn the corner in fighting the epidemic.

By Marco Margaritoff • Jun 3, 2021

How Elvis Presley Convinced Americans To Take The Polio Vaccine

In 1956, the King of Rock 'n' Roll got his polio vaccination on live TV — and helped America turn the corner in fighting the epidemic.

By Marco Margaritoff • June 3, 2021

Newly Uncovered Documents Reveal History Of Racist Hiring Practices At Buckingham Palace

The documents, discovered in the National Archives, show the royal family barred people of color from serving as office or clerical staff as late as 1968.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jun 3, 2021

News

Newly Uncovered Documents Reveal History Of Racist Hiring Practices At Buckingham Palace

The documents, discovered in the National Archives, show the royal family barred people of color from serving as office or clerical staff as late as 1968.

By Kaleena Fraga • June 3, 2021

Aktion T4, The Nazi Program That Slaughtered 300,000 Disabled People

Inside the Aktion T4 program, the little-known euthanasia initiative that killed as many as 300,000 disabled people as the Nazis swept across Europe.

By Richard Stockton • Jun 3, 2021

Aktion T4, The Nazi Program That Slaughtered 300,000 Disabled People

Inside the Aktion T4 program, the little-known euthanasia initiative that killed as many as 300,000 disabled people as the Nazis swept across Europe.

By Richard Stockton • June 3, 2021

The Adventures Of Legendary Spymaster Mansfield Smith-Cumming, The Inspiration For James Bond’s ‘M’

In MI6’s early days, British naval officer Mansfield Smith-Cumming ran a spy agency full of daring eccentrics who used swords disguised as canes, poison-tipped rings, and invisible ink made from their own bodily fluids.

By Morgan Dunn • Jun 2, 2021

The Adventures Of Legendary Spymaster Mansfield Smith-Cumming, The Inspiration For James Bond’s ‘M’

In MI6’s early days, British naval officer Mansfield Smith-Cumming ran a spy agency full of daring eccentrics who used swords disguised as canes, poison-tipped rings, and invisible ink made from their own bodily fluids.

By Morgan Dunn • June 2, 2021

Single 16mm Frame Of ‘Alien Autopsy’ Allegedly Shot In Roswell Up For Auction As A $1 Million NFT

The footage has purportedly been authenticated by the CIA and the winning bidder will also receive a memo from a scientist affiliated with the agency that verifies the negative.

By Kaleena Fraga • Jun 2, 2021

News

Single 16mm Frame Of ‘Alien Autopsy’ Allegedly Shot In Roswell Up For Auction As A $1 Million NFT

The footage has purportedly been authenticated by the CIA and the winning bidder will also receive a memo from a scientist affiliated with the agency that verifies the negative.

By Kaleena Fraga • June 2, 2021

Sarah Forbes Bonetta: The African Princess Who Became Queen Victoria’s Goddaughter

Born a princess of the Yoruba people in West Africa, Sarah Forbes Bonetta was kidnapped by a rival king at an early age. Then in a twist of fate, she was taken to Victorian England.

By Genevieve Carlton • May 28, 2021

Sarah Forbes Bonetta: The African Princess Who Became Queen Victoria’s Goddaughter

Born a princess of the Yoruba people in West Africa, Sarah Forbes Bonetta was kidnapped by a rival king at an early age. Then in a twist of fate, she was taken to Victorian England.

By Genevieve Carlton • May 28, 2021

This Week In History News, May 23 – 29

Germany officially recognizes the Namibian genocide, Viking ships found thanks to centuries-old drawings, castle thieves steal rosary beads that belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots.

By All That's Interesting • May 28, 2021

News

This Week In History News, May 23 – 29

Germany officially recognizes the Namibian genocide, Viking ships found thanks to centuries-old drawings, castle thieves steal rosary beads that belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots.

By All That's Interesting • May 28, 2021

The Complicated Story Of Norma McCorvey, The ‘Jane Roe’ From Roe V. Wade

As "Jane Roe," she fought for the right to choose in the landmark Roe v. Wade case. As Norma McCorvey, she later took money to push an anti-abortion agenda.

By Genevieve Carlton • May 25, 2021

The Complicated Story Of Norma McCorvey, The ‘Jane Roe’ From Roe V. Wade

As "Jane Roe," she fought for the right to choose in the landmark Roe v. Wade case. As Norma McCorvey, she later took money to push an anti-abortion agenda.

By Genevieve Carlton • May 25, 2021

Dashrath Manjhi, The ‘Mountain Man’ Who Spent 22 Years Carving A Lifesaving Road Through A Treacherous Mountain

After Dashrath Manjhi’s wife was killed traversing a steep mountain path in 1959, he decided he would make a safer one — by hand.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 25, 2021

Dashrath Manjhi, The ‘Mountain Man’ Who Spent 22 Years Carving A Lifesaving Road Through A Treacherous Mountain

After Dashrath Manjhi’s wife was killed traversing a steep mountain path in 1959, he decided he would make a safer one — by hand.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 25, 2021

The Story Of The Max Headroom Incident, America’s Creepiest Unsolved TV Hack

During the Max Headroom hack of 1987, Chicago television stations were overtaken by a masked man who continues to baffle authorities to this day.

By Katie Serena • May 25, 2021

The Story Of The Max Headroom Incident, America’s Creepiest Unsolved TV Hack

During the Max Headroom hack of 1987, Chicago television stations were overtaken by a masked man who continues to baffle authorities to this day.

By Katie Serena • May 25, 2021