Why Do Insects Hate the Smell of Peppermint?
The stick bug primarily depends on its camouflage to avoid predators. But when enemies get too close, this insect deploys peppermint as a last resort.
Dec 25, 2017•1 min
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Episodes
Gay or Straight? Show Me Your Fingers
Two scientists in Sydney, Australia, believe men and women have different finger length ratios due to testosterone levels. Not only that, they think it's a predictor of sexual orientation.
Dec 18, 2017•2 min
Were Sacrificial Rituals Performed in These Bogs?
The ancient roads that lead into the peat bogs of central Ireland were impressive, but mystifying. For one thing, some of them just end in the middle of nowhere. Why?
Dec 04, 2017•3 min
A Cruise Ship Chef Hunts for Big Fish. Will He Succeed?
As luxury liner Europa 2 docks into port, its chef de cuisine has a major challenge ahead: prepare lunch for his very discerning clientele, while also impressing his boss - whom he's meeting for the first time.
Dec 04, 2017•3 min
Elephants Can Afford to Be Picky About This Kind of Fruit
A single marula tree can provide up to 1.5 tons of fruit each season--as much as 90,000 fruits. That works well for the average elephant who needs to consume 6% of its own body weight each day and prefers only the ripest fruits.
Nov 27, 2017•2 min
Did Nazis Hide Loot Beneath This Giant Polish Castle?
Ksiaz Castle in southern Poland sits atop a remarkable complex of underground tunnels built by the Nazis in 1944. Some experts believe these tunnels hold a still undiscovered secret... but what?
Nov 27, 2017•3 min
How Princess Diana Prepared Her Son for the Paparazzi
With the birth of Prince William in 1982, the future of the Royal Family was secured. But the young heir's first challenge was one his mother, Diana, was uniquely equipped to address: handling photographers.
Nov 20, 2017•2 min
Why This 1969 Royal Family Documentary Was Pulled Off Air
On June 21, 1969, a fly-on-the-wall documentary about the Royal Family was aired on British TV and watched by 37 million people. Then, the Queen ordered it taken off the air and never shown again.
Nov 13, 2017•3 min
Tracking Plant and Animal DNA Can Transform Science
Cataloging plant and animal species may yield a wealth of medical advances.
Nov 06, 2017•2 min
The Devastating Fire That Left Windsor Castle in Shambles
Windsor Castle, the scene of a disastrous fire in 1992, was badly in need of restoration. One problem: The bill was likely to be in the millions--and taxpayers were in no mood to foot the bill.
Nov 06, 2017•3 min
The Moon Landing Was the Television Event of the Decade
On July 16, 1969, Americans filled highways, streets and homes to witness the launch of a rocket from the Kennedy Space Center: the legendary, moon-bound Apollo 11.
Oct 30, 2017•3 min
The Devastating 1926 Hurricane that Halted the Growth of Miami
In 1926, the Miami economy was soaring, fueled by wealthy northerners attracted to the tropical climate and beaches. But a devastating hurricane would smash into the city, causing widespread destruction.
Oct 30, 2017•2 min
This Air Force Bomber Can Hold 70,000 Lbs. in Weapons
The legendary B-52 can carry smart bombs, laser-guided bombs, mines, even nuclear missiles--a total of 70,000 pounds of weaponry at a time.
Oct 23, 2017•1 min
How NYC Women Stayed Safe from the Son of Sam Killer
The Son of Sam serial killer appeared to target young New York women with brown hair. In 1977, one reporter took to the streets to ask them about the steps they'd taken to protect themselves.
Oct 16, 2017•2 min
One of the Toughest Foes a Submarine Could Battle
By April 13, 1944, the USS Tang had already sunk 10 Japanese merchant ships. But on that day, they were about to run into a far more formidable opponent: a Japanese destroyer.
Oct 16, 2017•2 min
This Man Is the Father of Modern American Suburbia
By 1951, two thirds of Americans lived in urban areas. Enter William Levitt, a former navy lieutenant, who would utilize construction techniques he learned in the military to build affordable suburban homes.
Oct 09, 2017•2 min
Why the U.S. Army Guarded the 23 Remaining American Buffalo
In 1882, General Philip Sheridan's expedition to the protected buffalo haven in Yellowstone National Park revealed a gruesome reality: Poachers were continuing to slaughter the last remnants of America's big-game icon.
Oct 09, 2017•3 min
These Are the Final Moments of Amelia Earhart on the Ground
In 1937, Amelia Earhart was about to embark on a record-setting flight around the world. In her final moments, she took her last photograph and set off from a Burbank, California airstrip, captured in recently recovered home movie footage.
Oct 02, 2017•3 min
Prohibition Inspired a New Generation of Rebellious Women
One of the social side effects of Prohibition was it inspired many women to break out and challenge the conservative norms of society. These women were dubbed 'Flappers.'
Sep 25, 2017•2 min
Hammerheads Can Hear Injured Fish From a Mile Away
Hammerhead sharks are so attuned to low-frequency sounds, they can hear them from over a mile away. Not only can they tell the distance and direction of their prey, they can even estimate its size.
Sep 25, 2017•2 min
Why These Vegetarian Monkeys Have Sharp Predator Teeth
In the Ethiopian highlands, native Geladas have impressive canines despite being grass eaters. The reason is simple: The males need to defend themselves and their group against potential challengers.
Sep 18, 2017•4 min
These WWI Ambulance Trains Could Care for 500 Men at Once
During World War I, the British converted a large number of commuter train cars into ambulance cars. These mobile hospitals had the facilities to cater up to 500 men.
Sep 18, 2017•2 min
This Terrifying Spider Hunts Fish Underwater
If the prospect of a spider that catches fish wasn't scary enough, the fishing spider is disturbingly well-adapted to its task. This includes walking on water, as well as breathing underneath it as it stalks its prey.
Sep 11, 2017•3 min
U.S. Marines' First Test Against Japanese Defenses on Okinawa
As U.S. marines advanced northward in Okinawa, they approached a craggy mass known as Mount Yae-Take. The battle to capture this remote mountain resulted in numerous casualties on both sides.
Sep 11, 2017•3 min
Why Do These Monkeys Have Such Outrageous Noses?
Proboscis monkeys may look ridiculous to us, but they are in fact perfectly adapted to their swamp surroundings. Their pot-bellied stomachs are able to digest toxic leaves, while their huge noses play a role in attracting mates.
Sep 04, 2017•3 min
Why Pocahontas May Not Have Rescued John Smith After All
According to legend, Pocahontas threw herself between the leader of the Jamestown colony, John Smith, and a warrior's club to save him. But experts have some doubts about whether she was even present.
Sep 04, 2017•3 min
A Checklist That Might Tell If You're a Psychopath
While studying prisoners in 1980, psychologist Dr. Robert Hare developed the Psychopathy Checklist - a list that evaluates people based on twenty basic traits, including lying and lack of remorse.
Aug 28, 2017•2 min
The Reason This South American Tribe Shrunk Their Enemies' Heads
The Shuar of South America is the only tribe to have never been conquered by the Spanish Empire. But the thing they're most famous for is a macabre tradition: shrinking the heads of their enemies.
Aug 28, 2017•3 min
Meet the Echidna, an Incredible, Fire-Proof Spiny Anteater
The echidna, or spiny anteater, is a marvel of defensive self-preservation, from its impenetrable spikes to its amazing ability to breathe through bushfires.
Aug 21, 2017•3 min
The Egyptian Pharaoh With the Biggest Ego
Though little is known about Khufu, the pharaoh who oversaw the Great Pyramid's construction, vicious rumors about him persist today.
Aug 21, 2017•2 min
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