"In the process of mapping the heavens, it doesn't take long to realize the data problem they generated."

The deep study of friction and surfaces — so crucial to industrial manufacture — emerged from a mid-century engineering conference.

Joel Miller, the author of “The Idea Machine,” joins us to explore why books are history’s most successful information technology.

Scientists found a massive underwater wall off the coast of France that might help explain the origin of the legend of Ys.

Well before plants and animals, there were fungi.

In this excerpt from "Strange Stability," Benjamin Wilson explores how the concept of "deterrence" went from explaining criminal behavior to becoming a nuclear strategy.

In this excerpt from "The Great Math War," Jason Socrates Bardi explores how Georg Cantor revolutionized mathematics and reshaped how our finite minds conceived of the infinite.

Preindustrial life wasn’t simple or serene — it was filthy, violent, and short. The Industrial Revolution was imperfect, but it was progress.

Fibonacci’s "Liber Abaci" not only revolutionized commerce — it also helped nudge the world towards reasoned, quantitative enquiry.

From Hitler to Hamas, Western powers have repeatedly dismissed open threats as bluffs — with catastrophic results.

When Jesus was crucified, it led to even more followers. When books are banned, people flock to read them. Humans are fascinated by the forbidden, which is why censorship – especially in the digital age – doesn’t work. Jacob Mchangama explains.

In this excerpt from "America's Most Gothic," Leanna Hieber and Andrea Janes examine the history and folklore of Maine's vanished schooner.

Philosophers rarely change their minds. These thinkers did — often at social and professional cost.

In this excerpt from "The Formula for Better Health," Tom Frieden explores how Alice Hamilton transformed public health in her fight against lead poisoning.

In this excerpt from "Seven Rivers," historian Vanessa Taylor explores how Ancient Egyptian pharaohs harnessed the Nile River to build empires and secure their power.

In this excerpt from "Facing Infinity," Jonas Enander examines how John Michell conceived of "dark stars," or massive bodies with enough gravity to trap light, all the way back in 1783.

In "The Gift of Not Belonging," Rami Kaminski explains why group consensus may hinder the original thinkers who help advance society.

From medieval myths to Shakespeare's plays and modern cinema, British culture kept the Roman Empire alive long after its fall.

If an asteroid hadn't killed off the dinosaurs, humans would almost certainly have never walked the Earth.

From King Midas to Gordon Gekko, humanity has struggled to grasp greed's true nature.