With each new gadget, tech companies declare that everything has changed. Whether that’s true will remain to be seen, of course. Looking back, though, it’s far easier to see clearly what discoveries and inventions really did change everything. In this fascinating 10-part series, James Burke examines the advances that altered our world.
In 1910, two separate expeditions set out to be the first to reach the South Pole. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen’s expedition was successful, and Robert Scott’s expedition from England tragically fell short of its goal. Read about the great risk these men undertook and the price they had to pay for taking such risks.
In 1989, the Chinese government silenced a pro-democracy protest in Tiananmen Square. An unknown number of protesters, mostly college students, were killed by their government. To this day, the Chinese government censors the media to prevent its people from learning about this event. Explore this photo essay to learn more.
Embark on a virtual visit of Walden Pond, the famous site that inspired Henry David Thoreau’s Walden.
Many consider the label “African-American” to describe people who are descended from slaves that were brought to the United States against their will, forced into slavery, and eventually emancipated. Countless African immigrants do not identify with this narrative, though they find themselves associated with it. What does it mean to be African-American and for whom is it an accurate label?
Learn about Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer credited with discovering the Mississippi River and a subject in Joy Harjo’s poem titled “New Orleans.”
Odysseus longed to return home to Ithaca, but where exactly was ancient Ithaca? Some researchers think they have found the answer. Watch a video to learn about a place that just might be Odysseus’s home—modern-day Cephalonia Island in Greece.
Not everyone gives chocolates and flowers on Valentine’s Day. Read about a few unusual customs from the past.
Nobel Prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer writes about South Africa and the effects of apartheid on its people. Learn more about apartheid, from its origins to its end in 1994.
Visit the Anne Frank house online, where you can read about the events in her life, enter a 3D version of her hiding place in the secret annex, examine her writing, view photographs, and more.
Did you know that more than one-third of all current United States citizens can trace an ancestor to Ellis Island? For more than 60 years, Ellis Island was an entry point to the United States for millions of immigrants from all over the world. Explore this site to learn more about Ellis Island and immigration to the United States.
Did you ever wonder where the idea of dragons came from? And how did so many isolated civilizations come to believe in them? This article explores potential theories behind the dragon myths.
Are you interested in learning about Greek mythology? Visit this site to read about the Olympian gods, their heroes and monsters, and the origins of their stories. You can also watch a variety of video clips.
Read this article to learn about the Titanic disaster. Find out how the ship was made, what its flaws were, and who was on it. The site also includes several videos and photo galleries related to Titanic.
