history

Love, loss, and creativity – there’s more to Chanel than just perfume. Tilar Mazzeo, author of The Secret of Chanel No. 5, tells the story behind Coco Chanel and her iconic brand. Read More...

A serial inventor’s best-known project burst into flames before being embraced by the rich and famous. Read More...

A shattered arm didn’t stop one guitar player from redefining music and influencing rock & roll for generations. Read More...

Scientists often live by the mantra “publish or perish.” But one young naturalist kept a revolutionary theory to himself for 20 years. When Charles Darwin finally shared his findings, he faced tremendous criticism, says Sean B. Carroll, the author of The Making of the Fittest. Read More...

Without the money to attend medical school, one inventor instead developed a futuristic – and life-saving – material. Read More...

An obituary – published in error – spurred one inventor to take a second look at his legacy. Read More...

A stray piece of metal in a Philadelphia shipyard provided the inspiration for an affordable toy with a uniquely American twist. Read More...

When an inventive patent officer got tired of the tedious proofreading process his job entailed, he started searching for a better way to make copies. Read More...

A long-forgotten political race for Iowa’s Secretary of State produced a new way of polling voters and catapulted one unelected man to fame. Read More...

While ancient civilizations were building pyramids and mapping the globe, they also brewed up a new use for grains. William Bostwick, author of The Brewer's Tale, discusses the intersection between beer and innovation. Read More...