History

German studies major William Keiser rehearses for Princeton University Ballet's revival of Cole Porter's Within the Quota.

Cole Porter's Pro-Immigration Ballet Gets A Trump-Era Revival

4:32pm May 23, 2017

by Deb Amos

Within the Quota criticized the restrictive immigration laws passed by Congress after World War I. Now the Princeton University Ballet has brought the show back — with a few updates.

'Smile Stealers' Recalls A Time When Dentists Routinely Reached For The Pliers

1:22pm May 23, 2017

Medical historian Richard Barnett traces the history of dentistry in his new book. He says that prior to the 18th century, the profession was often practiced by charlatans with "big muscles."

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Americans Aren't Just Divided Politically, They're Divided Over History Too

7:30am May 23, 2017

Historian Jill Lepore tells Rachel Martin that Americans have no shared past, no shared agreement about the facts or meaning of our past — so it's hard to have a shared sense of the present or future.

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David Giovannoni uses a reproduction of Scott's phonautograph. Giovanni is part of the team that recovered the audio from Scott's recordings.

At The Dawn Of Recorded Sound, No One Cared

6:59pm May 22, 2017

by Laura Sydell

In the late 19th century, French inventor Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville patented the earliest known sound recording device. But his accomplishments were only recognized recently.

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Richard Oakes, seen in November 1970, led a group that occupied Alcatraz from November 1969 to June 1971.

National

Richard Oakes, Who Occupied Alcatraz For Native Rights, Gets A Birthday Honor

3:41pm May 22, 2017

by Colin Dwyer

The late activist and Google doodle honoree stormed the island with dozens of other activists in 1969, citing a century-old treaty in claiming it for Native Americans. He would have been 75 on Monday.

Charles Barkley and executive producer Dan Partland speak during the American Race Press Luncheon in May in New York City.

In 'American Race,' Charles Barkley Is A True Believer In The Power Of Dialogue

12:01pm May 22, 2017

by Gene Demby

In the new TNT docu-series about race, the former NBA star is mostly indifferent to the broader context of the discussions he's wading into — and to the limits of trying to "start a dialogue."

Cloud eggs: It's not just Instagrammers who find them pretty. Chefs of the 17th century whipped them up, too. Then, as now, they were meant to impress.

Science
Arts

Cloud Eggs: The Latest Instagram Food Fad Is Actually Centuries Old

10:53am May 21, 2017

by Maria Godoy

The fanciful dish was meant to impress nearly 400 years ago, so don't roll your eyes at photos of these pretty edibles: They're actually a time-honored tradition tinged with a bit of kitchen science.

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One doctor's account of the personality shift in Phineas Gage following the accident.

Why Brain Scientists Are Still Obsessed With The Curious Case Of Phineas Gage

5:00am May 21, 2017

by Jon Hamilton

In 1848, a railroad worker survived an accident that drove a 13-pound iron bar through his head. The injury changed his personality, and our understanding of the brain.

A statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee is removed Friday from Lee Circle in New Orleans. Lee's was the last of four monuments to Confederate-era figures to be removed under a 2015 City Council vote on a proposal by Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

National

With Lee Statue's Removal, Another Battle Of New Orleans Comes To A Close

9:31am May 20, 2017

by Tegan Wendland

Protests and court battles trailed the nearly two-year effort to get rid of the monuments. For the past month they've been acrimonious gathering places for those in favor and opposed to removal.

Hindenburg's passenger quarters featured observation windows on both the port and starboard sides that opened for fresh air and taking photographs.

Arts

PHOTOS: When The Hindenburg Was The Height Of Luxe In-Flight Dining

10:07pm May 19, 2017

by Nicole Jankowski

Before it became a byword for disaster, the hydrogen-lifted airship heralded an era of fine dining in the skies — with an all-electric kitchen, a cocktail lounge, wine cellar and multi-course meals.