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What Are the Earliest Known Origins of Bird Flu?

Avian influenza has been sickening birds at least since the 1800s—and has been a key factor in the emergence of human pandemics.

Thomas Jefferson’s Lavish Lifestyle—and Struggle With Debt

Thomas Jefferson was many things during his long and accomplished life: Founding Father, U.S. president, ambassador to France, architect, author, farmer, inventor, violinist and all‑around renaissance man. Through it all, he was also something else: an incorrigible shopaholic, saddled with debt. Jefferson inherited not one but two large estates, his father’s and his father‑in‑law’s, and […]

7 Major Asteroids Strikes in Earth’s History

Earth’s early history was marked by frequent asteroid impacts that had lasting consequences for our planet’s geology and life.

How Thomas Jefferson Made Monticello a Laboratory of Innovation

As a boy growing up on his family’s sprawling tobacco plantation, Thomas Jefferson was drawn to a particular hilltop where he played with his best friend and immersed himself in books and picturesque vistas. After inheriting several thousand acres of the property in Virginia’s Albemarle County, the future president transformed his childhood sanctuary into a […]

The California Water Wars: How LA Got Its Water Supply

When the L.A. Aqueduct was completed in 1913, it was celebrated as an engineering marvel, but it drained distant watersheds to ensure its own precarious survival.

Why the Name of Alaska’s Peak Changed From Mt. McKinley to Denali

A gold prospector dubbed the peak Mount McKinley in 1896, but Alaskans have historically championed Denali, a name rooted in its Native American history.

8 Presidential Inauguration Traditions

Every four years, Inauguration Day and the weeks preceding it unfold with rituals that reinforce the peaceful transfer of power in the United States. While much of the pageantry—from the president‑elect’s White House visit to the inaugural address—follows long‑standing tradition, little of it is required by law or the U.S. Constitution, beyond the 35‑word oath […]

How Coffee Fueled US Troops During World War II

Coffee increased energy and alertness on the battlefield, improved morale and was even used by medics to help prevent shock.

Thomas Jefferson: 6 Facts About His Family and Upbringing

Thomas Jefferson, one of America’s most revered Founding Fathers, is best remembered for his role in writing the Declaration of Independence and serving as the third president of the United States. However, less is known about his formative years. From his privileged upbringing on a Virginia plantation to his intellectual awakening under the tutelage of […]

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