Cold War - Grunge

A trio of people smiling for the camera, with the middle person wearing a shirt saying that she survived Chernobyl

Events From 1986 That Changed Lives Forever

1986 saw regime shifts, a nuclear meltdown, a space shuttle explosion, successful surrogacy, Oprah going national, and other events that forever changed us.

How The U.S. Lost 6 Nuclear Weapons And Other Broken Arrow Tales

The fact that a nuclear weapon can go missing is somewhat shocking, but these so called "broken arrow" incidents have happened multiple times. Here's how.

Finger pressing a nuclear button on a control panel, composite image.

Inside Russia's Doomsday Machine

The Cold War superpowers held nuclear arsenals that could be launched with the push of a button. It turns out that the Russians had an automated button-pusher.

Lowered sports car driving under barrier

Cold War Escapes That Were Absolutely Unbelievable

Numerous residents of the USSR tried to escape to the West during the Cold War, despite the Iron Curtain, and some of them were astonishingly inventive.

The USS Thresher's Sinking Was Worse Than You Thought

In 1963 the United States sent its first nuclear submarine, the USS Thresher, to sea with 129 people on board. The same day it left port, the vessel imploded.

The CIA's Top Secret Mission To Steal A Russian Nuclear Sub

In the early '70s, barely before the Cold War began to thaw, the U.S. launched an audacious, top-secret plan to recover a sunken Soviet submarine in deep water.

The Untold Truth Of The Army's Intelligence Support Activity

While the CIA might be more commonly known as the secret spy arm of U.S. government intelligence, the Army's ISA really takes the cake.

Barbed wire in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

What It Was Like Living In Berlin During The Cold War

The Cold War had a generations-long impact on the residents of Berlin after World War II. Here's what it was like living in Berlin during the Cold War.

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg separated by wire

The Rosenbergs: The 1950s Trial And Execution That Shook The World

One of the most sensational and controversial news stories of the 1950s was the Rosenberg trial. Here is the trial and execution that shook the world.

The Disastrous Flight Of KAL Flight 007: A Tragedy Of The Cold War

The Cold War gave rise to no small number of mysteries, including the strange, tragic fate of KAL Flight 007, which was shot down by Soviet jets.

The Disturbing Story Of The Cold War's 'Lavender Scare'

Targeting one segment of the population, pitting it against another, is a common political tactic. One of those government targets was the LGBTQ+ community.

Things We Believed During The Cold War That Ended Up Being Wrong

These things we believed during the Cold War ended up being totally wrong. Despite the propaganda, Eastern Europe isn't a grim, gray wasteland.

photo showing men standing at checkpoint in Berlin

What It Was Really Like To Be A Cold War Spy

Throughout the course of the Cold War, spies played a vital part in establishing an edge for the United States and the Soviet Union.