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History & Culture

vintage color illustration of christopher columbus standing on a ship deck with one hand on a large globe and the other on his hip holding a paper scroll, he wears a hat, dark jacket, long sleeve shirts, dark pants and leggings, several people surround him on the deck many with their hands out toward him

Was Christopher Columbus a Hero or Villain?

Columbus Day churns up a stormy sea of controversy every year: Was Christopher Columbus a gifted navigator or reckless adventurer?

By B. Myint
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astronauts from the apollo 13 flight crew saluting and holding their caps to their chest as they stand next to president richard nixon

Why Astronaut Jim Lovell Absolutely Hated the First Apollo 13 Movie

The famed rescue mission has had a rocky onscreen history and is now the subject of a new Netflix documentary.

By Tyler Piccotti
a group of men posing for a photo

40 Famous Inventors Who Changed History

By Jamie Ballard
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Photo

The Remarkable Story of Maya Lin’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial

By Christopher Klein
a black and white photo of the titanic next to smaller boats in the water

Why Nobody Originally Believed Titanic Survivors

By Colin McEvoy
maya angelou wearing a red dress and gesturing with her hands as she reads poetry at a podium

10 Famous Poets Whose Enduring Works We Still Read

By Tyler Piccotti

Movies & TV

taylor frankie paul poses in black dress

Taylor Frankie Paul’s Scandals, Explained

By Catherine Caruso
TTS audio available9 min
Mr. T salutes

How Mr. T Got His Tough-Guy Persona

By Eric Spitznagel
two individuals posing together one with long hair and a light dress the other in a black shirt

What to Know About ‘Monster’ Season 4

By Catherine Caruso
OJ Simpson sits in car with door open

Inside O.J. Simpson’s Failed Prank Show Juiced

By E.J. Bradley
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famous women
Must-Read

51 Famous Women in History Who Have Changed the World

From outer space to the Oscars stage, these trailblazers have left their mark.

By Janaya Wecker, Catherine Caruso
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Music

a woman and a man stand close together while performing on a stage, they wear white outfits and sing into microphones, he plays electric guitar

These 7 Musical Duos Ended in Disaster. Here’s What Tore Them Apart.

At least we’ll always have their music.

By Michael Natale
1984 american rock festival

Ozzy Osbourne’s DNA Helped Science Evolve

By Michael Natale
TTS audio available7 min
the tomb of jim morrison in paris, france in june, 1985.

A Lost Rock Star Statue Reappeared After 37 Years

By Michael Natale
TTS audio available5 min
a woman and a man stand together on a stage and sing into microphones on stands, the man points one figure up in the air as he holds a guitar hanging from a shoulder strap in front of him

Miley Cyrus Talks Dad Billy Ray’s New Romance

By Olivia Truffaut-Wong
TTS audio available3 min
carrie underwood

Carrie Underwood Shares Whether She’d Go to Space

By Chaise Sanders

Trivia

a close up photo of a gold oscar statuette with a red curtain behind it

Why Is the Academy Award Statue Called “Oscar?”

By Colin McEvoy
Marilyn Monroe on the cover of Playboy

Marilyn Monroe Didn't Actually Pose for the First Issue of 'Playboy'

By Brad Witter
a pile of silver and gold coins over paper banknotes

Which Historical Figures Are on U.S. Money?

By Catherine Caruso, Eudie Pak
TTS audio available14 min
charlie chaplin wears a top hat and looks to the left

17 Stars Ensnared by the Hollywood Blacklist

By Catherine Caruso, Eudie Pak
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More History & Culture

a man smiles and waves at the camera, he wears red and white robes with an ornate red and gold sash, a white cap, and glasses

24 Influential Hispanic Americans Who Made History

TTS audio available35 min
firefighters walk towards a smoking skyscraper

The Everyday Heroes of 9/11

TTS audio available10 min
Historical depiction of sailors gathered around a man with a globe on a ship.

Did Christopher Columbus Actually Discover America

Two women smiling in a bookstore, surrounded by shelves of greeting cards and fans in the background.

Carly Simon Was by Jackie Kennedy's Side When She Died. Inside Their Surprising Friendship

Usha Vance smiles at podium

Meet Usha Vance: JD Vance’s Wife Is Also a Lawyer

Woman Playing Glass Harmonica

Did A Founding Father’s Instrument Cause Madness?

TTS audio available8 min
Bessie Coleman

10 Black Pioneers in Aviation Who Broke Barriers

'The Man Will Burn' on HBO Max examines the Burning Man festival in Black Rock

The Genesis and History of Burning Man

Little Rock Nine

The Lasting Impact of the Little Rock Nine

hamnet_fp_00281jacobi jupe stars as hamnet and paul mescal as william shakespeare in director chloé zhao’s hamnet, a focus features release.credit: courtesy of focus features / © 2025 focus features llc

The Life and Death of Hamnet Shakespeare

TTS audio available9 min
Kevin Bacon And Tom Hanks In 'Apollo 13'

The Rocky Onscreen History of Apollo 13

TTS audio available10 min
ameila earhart with airplane

A New Search Could Find Amelia Earhart’s Plane

TTS audio available12 min
louis armstrong with his trumpet

12 Notable Artists from the Harlem Renaissance

2000 Sacagawea dollar coin with Liberty inscription.

5 Powerful and Influential Native American Women

George Washington, Portrait

17 Figures of the American Revolution

Paul Revere by J.Singleton Copley

Paul Revere

Red Cloud and Wife

13 Influential Native American Leaders

a man riding a galloping horse waves to two people staring out from a doorway, other buildings and people are in the background

The True Story of Paul Revere’s Ride

a painting of betsy ross sewing an american flag as people look on

Who Designed the American Flag?

george takei smiles wearing gray suit

15 Trailblazers to Honor for AAPI Heritage Month

The Latest

A picture taken 20 April 2006 shows a ga

20 Chilling Photos of the Chernobyl Aftermath

bong and marge

Plane Flown by 'Ace of Aces' Pilot Finally Found

TTS audio available4 min
2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones - Arrivals

How These Famous Arab Americans Made History

amelia earhart looks at the camera with a small smile on her face, she wears a leather jacket and has short hair

Amelia Earhart

amelia earhart

An Old Radio Could Help Find Amelia Earhart's Plane

TTS audio available6 min
historian carter g woodson

Carter G. Woodson’s Idea for Black History Month

drawer unit with an open compartment revealing a hidden space

Underground Railroad Passage Found in New York

TTS audio available10 min
john f. kennedy, jr. and wife carolyn

All About JFK Jr.’s Marriage to Carolyn Bessette

john kennedy, jr attends ceremony awarding the john kennedy prize

What Doomed JFK Jr.’s Final Flight?

carolyn bessette kennedy poses in white blouse

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

a man smiles while standing in a black tuxedo with a white shirt

Giorgio Armani

TTS audio available11 min
melania trump poses in front of american flag

Inside Melania Trump's Modeling Career