In 1980, photographer Robert Landsburg died in the Mount St. Helens eruption while protecting his film. His final images helped scientists understand the disaster.
History
What If the Kent State Shootings Never Happened?
A counterfactual look at the 1970 Kent State shootings. How would U.S. politics, the antiwar movement, and the Vietnam War have changed if no one died?
Chained Aboriginal Prisoners in Colonial Australia
Why were Aboriginal men chained in colonial Australia around 1901? How the justice system, frontier violence and “blackbirding” shaped images like Wyndham.
A Family Photo Before Vietnam: What Came Next
A single 1967 family photo of a young American bound for Vietnam opens a story of the draft, the war’s human cost, and how one death echoed for generations.
1939 Weddings vs Today: Why They Look So Similar
A 1939 wedding photo looks surprisingly modern. Compare origins, methods, outcomes, and legacy of weddings then and now, from dress and photos to money and meaning.
Cloris Leachman: From 1926 Baby to 9-Decade Icon
Cloris Leachman, born in 1926, built a nine-decade career from Miss Chicago to Oscar winner to TV legend. Here’s how she kept reinventing herself.
Those Victorian Objects of Decoration, Explained
What were “Victorian objects of decoration” and why did people in 1926 mock them? A tour through cluttered parlors, status anxiety, and the birth of modern taste.
5 Real Reasons the Puritans Went to America
The Puritans did not go to America just for vague ‘religious freedom.’ Here are 5 concrete reasons they left England and what that choice changed.
Harvard, Slavery, and Why the Researchers Are Leaving
Harvard launched a major project on its ties to slavery. Within two years, key researchers quit or were fired. Here’s what happened and why it matters.
The Fake AI Unicorn vs Real AI: Why They Look Similar
An AI startup raised $450M and a $1.5B valuation while secretly using 700 humans instead of AI. How did that look like real AI, and how is it different?