Edgar Allan Poe married his 13-year-old cousin in 1836. How weird was that for the time? A clear look at age, cousin marriage, law, and social norms.
History
Why 536 AD Might Be the Worst Year in History
In 536 AD, a mysterious fog dimmed the sun, crops failed, famine spread, and a deadly plague followed. Historians call it the worst year to be alive.
5 Things Charles XII’s Bloody Coat Tells Us
King Charles XII of Sweden died in 1718 wearing the uniform you see in museums today. Here are 5 things his bloodstained coat reveals about war, power, and myth.
No Child Left Behind: How One Law Remade US Schools
How the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act reshaped American education, why both parties backed it, and why it became so controversial so fast.
What If Viral AI History Videos Ran Our Past?
A counterfactual look at viral AI history videos: what if their style of fast, shallow, error‑prone storytelling had guided real decisions in the past?
Who Should Push the Pram? 1925 vs Today
In 1925 a New York photographer asked, “Who should push the baby carriage, husband or wife?” What that question revealed about gender, class, and parenting then vs now.
Rosemary Kennedy and the Dark History of Lobotomy
At 23, Rosemary Kennedy had a lobotomy arranged by her father that left her disabled for life. How did this happen, and what did it change for medicine and the Kennedys?
Brothels vs ‘Pure’ Women: Sex and Double Standards 1900–1920
In the early 1900s, American towns had both celebrated “pure” wives and tolerated brothels. Here’s how that double standard worked and why it mattered.
‘Wife Beater Sentenced’: 5 Things That Headline Hides
In April 1925, a ‘Wife Beater Sentenced’ headline hid a bigger story about domestic violence, law, and gender. Here are 5 things that were really going on.
Flat Earth vs Science: What Antarctica Changed
In 2024, flat Earth YouTubers went to Antarctica to film the 24-hour sun. The “Final Experiment” forced a public rethink. Here’s how belief met method.