History

Science

The Universe According To Albert Einstein: Relativity

3:28pm March 14, 2018

by Marcelo Gleiser

When Einstein, born 139 years ago on Wednesday, came onto the science scene, physics was in crisis. New ideas were badly needed — it was the perfect moment for a trailblazer, says Marcelo Gleiser.

What Happens When States Defy Federal Laws

5:17am March 14, 2018

Commentator Cokie Roberts talks with NPR's Rachel Martin and answers listener questions about the history of states nullifying federal laws by choosing not to follow them.

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Pushbuttons are one of many technology that have flown under the radar, in many ways, says guest commentator Jimena Canales.

Science

An Ode To Insignificance: Buttons, Touchscreens, And Other Dangerous Technologies

11:53am March 13, 2018

by Jimena Canales

The most successful technologies are so seductive, user-friendly, and so apparently innocuous that we hardly notice them entering our lives, says Jimena Canales. One such technology? The pushbutton.

In a full-issue article on Australia that ran in National Geographic in 1916, aboriginal Australians were called "savages" who "rank lowest in intelligence of all human beings." The magazine examines its history of racist coverage in its April issue.

'National Geographic' Reckons With Its Past: 'For Decades, Our Coverage Was Racist'

8:52pm March 12, 2018

by Laurel Wamsley

Before it could publish an issue on race, the magazine first had to look at its own history. "Some of what you find in our archives leaves you speechless," writes editor Susan Goldberg.

Books

'The Woman's Hour' Documents Pivotal Leaders In The Fight For Suffrage

5:49pm March 11, 2018

NPR's Michel Martin talks to Elaine Weiss about her new book, The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote, which looks at a decisive moment in the women's suffrage movement.

Sen. Eugene McCarthy, D-Minn., waves to supporters in his campaign headquarters, March 13, 1968, the day after the New Hampshire primary showed strong support for his opposition to the Vietnam war.

The Night In 1968 When A Nation Watched An American Presidency Crumble

5:00am March 11, 2018

by Ron Elving

Fifty years ago almost to the day, anti-war activism led to President Lyndon Johnson's downfall. After a lackluster showing in the New Hampshire primary, he announced he would not seek reelection.

JR Bluff donned a wig and a white leisure suit and performed "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley. He translated the song into his native Salish language for the contest.

National

An Indigenous Language Is Stayin' Alive In A Karaoke Contest

6:13pm March 10, 2018

by Emily Schwing

Native American tribal members in the Pacific Northwest host an annual karaoke contest to keep their indigenous language, Salish, alive.

World News

A History Of Trade Wars

8:08am March 10, 2018

NPR's Don Gonyea speaks with author and all-around expert A.J. Jacobs about history's most bizarre trade wars.

Tiffany Watt Smith: Did People In The Past Experience Emotions Differently?

9:09am March 09, 2018

by NPR/TED Staff

Did past generations experience and express emotions the same way we do? Probably not, says historian Tiffany Watt Smith — perceptions of our emotions depend on the time and place.

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Michael Tilson Thomas: Why Is Music So Good At Conveying Emotion?

9:09am March 09, 2018

by NPR/TED Staff

Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas traces the history of classical music, revealing its power to present a variety of complex human emotions.

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