Becky Little Archives

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Painting depicting dinosaurs during the Saurian Age.

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When Did Humans First Discover Dinosaurs?

The first known illustration of a dinosaur bone is from 1677. The man who wrote about it thought it might belong to a giant.

6 of the Earliest Known Cave Dwellings

Our early human ancestors left behind archaeological clues whenever they went, but the ones they left in caves are often particularly well‑preserved. From South Africa to Siberia, archaeologists have discovered prehistoric bones, fire ash and even fossilized human footprints inside caves. Early humans may have used caves for shelter, but they also used them in […]

How the Great Cranberry Scare of 1959 Set Off a Thanksgiving Panic

On November 9, 1959—just two‑and‑a‑half weeks before Thanksgiving—the U.S. secretary of Health, Education and Welfare made a startling announcement: some cranberries grown in the Pacific Northwest may have been contaminated by a weed killer that could lead to cancer in rats. This meant that cranberry sauce, a popular staple of Thanksgiving dinners, might not be […]

The 18th‑Century Origins of Recess Appointments

When cross‑country travel by horse prevented senators from quickly convening, the Framers decided to allow the president to make temporary appointments.