Travel / Video
This Woman Manages America’s Oldest Lighthouse
Boston’s iconic lighthouse, the Boston Light, is managed by a single person: Sally Snowman. She is the 70th keeper of the lighthouse since it was built over 300 years ago.
The Roman Wall That Split Britain Into Two Parts
Hadrian’s Wall was a 73 mile barrier stretching from coast to coast, splitting the warlike north of Britain from the more docile south. It was the Roman Empire’s way of …
How Tea Drinking Became an Important Part of Japanese Culture
In the late 1300s, tea was introduced to Japan from mainland China, transported in delicate jars. Over the years, as drinking tea became a prized activity in Japan, so too …
The Wildlife at Leopard Rocks Is as Impressive as the Terrain
The Leopard Rocks—giant boulders spread out over hundreds of square miles—impress. But it’s the area’s wildlife that really catches the eye: from leopards to peacocks to gray langurs.
This Icelandic Volcano Recreates Early Conditions on Earth
In 1963, an Iceland volcano by the name of Surtsey began an eruption that would last for four years. To scientists, it’s become an invaluable opportunity to observe an environment …
It Took a Storm to Lift the Cover on This Ancient Roman City
The few records that exist of the Roman city of Neapolis mention that it was once a major commercial port. But no evidence of a harbor was ever found—until a …
A Cheetah Changes His Hunting Strategy in a Surprising Way
At Kafue National Park, one cheetah has adapted his hunting strategy to find more prey: He hunts in the forest, instead of the open plains. This flexibility is good news …
Boston and New York Competed for America’s First Subway
In March 1895, Boston and New York City began an epic and highly competitive race to become the first American city with a working subway system.
How Idlewild Courted the Black Middle Class in the 1930s
By the 1930s, the black middle class had arrived, with the purchasing power to match. Sensing an opportunity, developers established Idlewild: a summer resort aimed exclusively at African-Americans.
The Fishy Reason This Ancient Roman City Was So Wealthy
Archaeologists know that Neapolis used to be a major trading hub for the ancient Roman empire—but what did they trade?
How This School Prepares Orphan Orangutans for the Wild
In Borneo, orphan orangutans are sent to a unique school in Kalimantan. There, they’ll be cared for in the early years of their life, and then later trained for a …
How the Wealthy of Pompeii Protected Their Valuables
In ancient Pompeii, wealthy residents of the city took extraordinary measures to guard their valuables. One such measure found in the ruins, was a Roman strongbox with a four-stage locking …
A 600-Mile Journey Across Alaska Saves the Town of Nome
In 1925, an Alaskan adventurer and his trusted Siberian husky completed a grueling 600-mile journey across the frozen plains. Their exploits would end up saving the lives of 2,000 people.
Was This Pre-Viking Gathering a Prelude to a Massacre?
At the ringforts of Sandby Borg, the remains of dozens of ancient warriors show signs of an ambush. But were they killed as part of a robbery, or was it …
Why Iceland Offers a Perfect Picture of Our Geological Past
Formed over 20 million years ago, Iceland is the world’s largest volcanic island. It’s also an ideal window for anyone looking to take a peek into our geological past
The Dazzling Marine Life of the Salt Pier in Bonaire
A trumpet fish swims along in its unusual vertical pose, while a stoplight parrotfish performs its reef-cleaning duties—just some of the dazzling marine life that inhabits Salt Pier
How Ecotourism Can Save Both Gabon’s Forests and Its Gorillas
In Gabon, a local group of conservationists are sowing the seeds of ecotourism. Their goal is to finance the protection of not just the local gorillas, but also the rain …
How Science Helps Preserve Longmen Grottoes
The Buddhist statues of the Longmen Grottoes are a Chinese heritage—one in urgent need of preservation. To do this, archaeologists use advanced scanning technology to pinpoint the vulnerable areas in …
People Believe in Witchcraft in This Corner of England
Do you believe in witches? For the good people of Long Compton, it’s part of a longstanding tradition—one that, as recently as 1875, cost a woman named Ann Tennant her …
This New Zealand Train Line Is a Panoramic Marvel
If you’re looking for the ideal vantage point to the stunning viaducts and landscapes of the Tongariro National Park in New Zealand, you have only have one option: the miraculous …
These Palau Shipwrecks Are Ideal Underwater Homes For Coral
In the shallow waters of Palau, remarkably well-preserved shipwrecks like the Iro Maru provide an ideal breeding ground for coral to thrive—and a major draw for divers.
How Trains Gave Americans a Path to National Parks
By 1925, a sprawling rail network had sprung into place, and more Americans could now head west to sightsee—and with five new national parks added to the roster of public …
This Magical Train Ride Was Used in a Harry Potter Film
Just a few miles from Ben Nevis mountain is the start of one of the most breathtaking train journeys in the world—so spectacular, in fact, that it was adapted by …
Why Wales Is the Place to See Amazing Roman Forts
Wales is home to one of the most perfectly-preserved Roman fortifications in all of northern Europe. In Caerwent, near the southern city of Newport, sections of the original first-century Roman …
This Ingenious System Brings Water to the Chinese Desert
The Karez is a modern-day engineering marvel and a prime example of people working with, not against, the forces of nature to deliver their needs—in this case, water.
The Glaciers of Vancouver Island May Disappear Within Our Lifetime
In the 1970s, Vancouver Island was home to more than 170 glaciers. Rising global temperatures have reduced that number to five—with some scientists predicting they could all be gone within …
Why Was This Valley of the Kings Tomb Undecorated?
Why was this tomb in Luxor’s “Valley of the Kings” lacking any kind of decoration or hieroglyphics? Egyptologists believe it belonged not to a king, but another lesser royal.
Why London Skyscrapers Are Famous for Their Distinctive Looks
London’s statuesque skyscrapers are one of the British capital’s most distinguishing features. The buildings’ unique nicknames are even more absorbing.
Sand dunes, salt plains and toxic soils: the vast “deserts” of Oklahoma are more than unusual.
How Alabama Became Home to ‘Rocket City’
Originally home to the first NASA space station and post-WWII’s Operation Paperclip, quaint Huntsville, Alabama is etched in history as ‘Rocket City.’
Where to Sell Your Soul for the Delta Blues
Clarksdale, Mississippi, is where Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the Devil and where the first juke joints started playing a new kind of American music—the …
Atlanta, Georgia: Home of Martin Luther King Jr
From natural resources to national icons, Atlanta is adorned in history.
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