Apr 20 What history revealed about cities that socially distanced during a pandemic By Dr. Howard Markel In 2005, in response to the threat of H5N1, a flurry of pandemic preparedness planning began in Washington and across the nation that would set the groundwork for what’s happening now. Continue reading
Apr 03 Watch 5:14 In latest book, author Erik Larson looks back at another time of crisis: London's Blitz In previous books like "The Devil in the White City" and "Isaac's Storm," bestselling author Erik Larson has used everyday people to chronicle historical events. But his latest offering, "The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and… Continue watching
Mar 24 How the discovery of HIV led to a transatlantic research war By Dr. Howard Markel As the world struggles to constrain the new coronavirus, it's worth remembering the discovery of another deadly, global virus and a controversy that played out among the researchers who brought it to light. Continue reading
Feb 21 The dramatic death of a former president at the U.S. Capitol By Dr. Howard Markel Perhaps the strangest event that ever occurred in the House chamber of the Capitol harkens all the way back to 1848. Continue reading
Jan 20 Watch 7:11 Former Defense Sec. William Cohen on partisanship and impeachment evidence Former Rep. William Cohen was among a handful of Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee in 1974 to vote for the impeachment of President Nixon. Cohen later served as secretary of defense under President Clinton, who was impeached during that… Continue watching
Jan 14 100 years later, prohibition's legacy remains By David Crary, Associated Press Even with prohibition ending nearly a century ago, its impact on American politics continue to be seen. Continue reading
Nov 28 Watch 12:04 How Nixon, Clinton and Johnson dealt with the threat of impeachment By Amna Nawaz Impeachment is a rare event in American politics. Amid the past few weeks of public hearings, we have wondered how this episode compares to previous instances of impeachment. Amna Nawaz spoke with three historians, each focused on a former president… Continue watching
Nov 22 John F. Kennedy kept these medical struggles private By Dr. Howard Markel Long before he died at age 46, President John F. Kennedy was a very sick man. Continue reading
Oct 29 Watch 7:21 Why Chernobyl has suddenly become a hotspot for global tourists By Simon Ostrovsky The site of the world’s worst radiological catastrophe is unexpectedly coming back to life -- due to an American television show. Scores of tourists are visiting Chernobyl, located in northern Ukraine, in response to an HBO miniseries that illuminates the… Continue watching
Oct 27 How steak became 'manly' and salads became 'feminine' By Paul Freedman, The Conversation When was it decided that women prefer some types of food – yogurt with fruit, salads and white wine – while men are supposed to gravitate to chili, steak and bacon?… Continue reading