quote [ A seemingly simple question of geography captivated explorers and rulers throughout history — and lives on to this day. ]

quote [ Aerodrome No. 5 had to be launched by catapult on the Potomac River on May 6, 1896, but it flew unpiloted 3,300 feet ]

quote [ Preserving an unusual slice of rural life. ]

quote [ Why avoiding uncomfortable conversations about equity, race, and access threatens to spoil a nascent movement’s environmental promise. ]

quote [ “Streak from the eye of the kingfisher” for a buff orange. “Flower of deadly nightshade” for a brownish purple red. “Decayed leaves of none-so-pretty” for cochineal red. “Beauty spot on wing of Mallard Drake” for a Prussian blue. These were the poetic descriptions inspired by nature to describe colour in a book used by Charles Darwin himself, to catalogue unknown creatures in a strange new world. ]

quote [ Why it seemed like Hooked on Phonics ads were everywhere in the 1990s—and why the cassette-tape program was a lot more controversial than you remember. ]

quote [ Master criminal Rédoine Faïd loved the movies, and his greatest crimes were laced with tributes: to "Point Break," "Heat," and "Reservoir Dogs." When he landed in a maximum-security prison, cinema provided inspiration once again. ]

quote [ In the 1970s and 1980s, gangs in Chicago advertised their presence and membership on business cards. This was criminality with a dash of style and wit. ]

quote [ In gritty 1980s New York, one West Village flophouse became a last-chance refuge for addicts, criminals, LGBTQ runaways, and anyone with nowhere left to go. And my mom was their queen. ]

quote [ In 1970, an image of a dead protester immediately became iconic. But what happened to the 14-year-old kneeling next to him? ]