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King William III and his mid-17th century "close stool," which is on display at Hampton Court.
bathrooms

It Was Once Someone's Job to Chat With the King While He Used the Toilet

"Groom of the Stool" could be a crappy role, but it came with great benefits.
Natalie Zarrelli April 6, 2017
The Ross Ice Shelf.
mystery

Listening to Icebergs' Loud and Mournful Breakup Songs

Scientists are just learning to decode the sounds of icebergs.
Sarah Laskow April 5, 2017
Eroni Matatia, Fiji's foremost iguana protector.
islands

How Fiji’s Official Iguana Guardian Protects 12,000 Lizards

As a third-generation reptile ranger, Eroni Matatia keeps smugglers at bay.
Serena Solomon April 5, 2017
Welcome to Miami Beach.
language

'Miami English' and the Linguistic Oddness of South Florida

South Beach speech is like no other.
Dan Nosowitz April 4, 2017
The view from Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, Montana.
parks

This Century-Long Photo Project Documents Montana's Shrinking Glaciers

Repeat photography from 70 spots shows the stark differences over decades.
Andy Wright April 4, 2017
Molly Lewis: “It’s the weird and the wonderful, and that’s why I love it.”
obscura day

Listen to the Strange and Wonderful Sound of One of Earth's Best Whistlers

“You can’t really study or learn whistling, but it is kind of magical to see and hear.”
Sarah Laskow April 4, 2017
Patented coffin torpedoes, for all your grave-defending needs!
victorian

Victorian 'Coffin Torpedoes' Blasted Would-Be Body Snatchers

Grave robbing got more hazardous in the 1880s.
Lucy Tiven April 3, 2017
"Smelly" Kelly, using his famous nose.
infrastructure

The Man Who Used His Nose to Keep New York's Subways Safe

From gas leaks to eels, James "Smelly" Kelly changed the history of the city's underground.
Eric Grundhauser March 30, 2017
Lulu demonstrating the secret behind her balance test.
victorian

The Victorian Teenage Girl Who Entertained Crowds by Overpowering Men

Lulu Hurst's seemingly supernatural strength made for a compelling night out.
Tony Wolf March 30, 2017
Tollbooth in New Harmony, Indiana.
roads

The Case for Preserving the 20th Century Tollbooth

When highways were marvels, toll plazas were well designed.
Sarah Laskow March 30, 2017
Guard on Shinkansen bullet train in Kyoto Station
transportation

Why Japan's Rail Workers Can't Stop Pointing at Things

A seemingly silly gesture is done for the sake of safety.
Allan Richarz March 29, 2017
Lt. Kirk Booth of the U.S. Signal Corps being lifted skyward by a man-carrying kite.
aviation

How a Wild West Showman Brought Man-Lifting Kites to the British Army

In the early 20th century, military daredevils soared high.
Andy Wright March 29, 2017
Wild West outhouses as depicted in the 1989 film <em>Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure</em>.
wild west

Why We Think Outhouses All Had Crescent Moons in Their Doors

The classic symbol of an outdoor toilet was probably just made up.
Eric Grundhauser March 28, 2017
1829 map of former Indochina, Vietnam along the east coast of the peninsula. Inset is the 1821 seal of the Nguyen Dynasty.
linguistics

Why 40% of Vietnamese People Have the Same Last Name

Everyone knows a Nguyen, but how did that come to be?
Dan Nosowitz March 28, 2017
Valts Ernštreits, a professor at Tartu University in Estonia, writes poetry in Livonian.
linguistics

These Passionate Latvian Linguists Refuse to Lose Their Language

Livonian may be extinct as a native tongue, but it's still being used to write poetry.
Rob Kunzig March 28, 2017
The whole collection, back in the vault.
libraries

The Folger Shakespeare Library Will Lend Chilly Readers a Handmade Shawl

The reading room's head of circulation has created an informal lending library of coziness.
Sarah Laskow March 28, 2017
Ruth Hale as a university student c. 1900 (she entered college at the age of 13). Hale co-founded the Lucy Stone League to support a woman's right to use her maiden name after marriage.
women

The 1920s Women Who Fought For the Right to Travel Under Their Own Names

Being listed as "and wife" in a joint passport was just not going to fly.
Sandra Knisely March 27, 2017
Thirsty?
infrastructure

Portland's Love Affair With Its Special Water Fountains

Benson Bubblers are unique to the Oregon city, and it won't let anyone else have them.
Eric Grundhauser March 24, 2017