Awful Moments In Quarantine History: Remember Typhoid Mary?
Quarantines have been imposed on the sick and contagious for thousands of years. We look at the use — and abuse — of this strategy to stop the spread of disease.
History
The Colorful, Blossoming D.C. Arts Scene In The 1950s, '60s
In 1965 the work of six local painters went on exhibit at the now-defunct Washington Gallery of Modern Art. The show launched a movement, and the painters' work now hangs in major museums. One of those artists, now 97, lives in Arlington, Va.
VIDEO: You Don't Know Jack-O'-Lanterns
Explore the guts and glory of pumpkin science with Skunk Bear's latest video.
Jonas Salk's Polio Vaccine Trials Would Be Hard To Repeat Today
Robert Siegel talks with Dr. David Oshinsky about the historic polio vaccination trials. Tuesday is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jonas Salk, who invented the vaccine.
Officer Killed In Civil War To Receive Medal Of Honor
On Nov. 6, President Obama will award a long-delayed Medal of Honor to Army 1st Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing, who fought in the Civil War. Advocates have lobbied for years on his behalf.
New Incan Find One-Ups Peru's Famous 12 Angle Stone
The find was announced by Peru's Ministry of Culture, which says the 13-angled stone was part of a water system that irrigated a strategically important area southeast of Lima.
Tracing A Gin-Soaked Trail In London
Around the world, new gin distilleries are popping up like mushrooms after a rain. NPR traces the boom to its historic roots in London, which once had 250 distilleries within the city limits alone.
In Southeast Turkey, A Long History Of Bloodshed And Worship
A vast plain near Syria is no stranger to military carnage. But a place known as "Potbelly Hill" holds ruins built in ancient times, possibly for ritual purposes, long before organized religion.
Sunken U-Boats Off North Carolina Coast A Significant Find For Historians
The North Carolina coast may be the last place you'd think to find a sunken German submarine from World War II. But that's what Joe Hoyt — a nautical archeologist — found on a recent expedition to the ocean floor. Robert Siegel talks to him about the underwater battle site there.
Six Words: 'Must We Forget Our Confederate Ancestors?'
The Confederate flag is a sign of bigotry to some. For others, says reporter Jesse Dukes, it symbolizes family heritage and defiance — but also what he calls a "willful innocence" about U.S. history.