The USS Indianapolis was arguably the worst, and definitely the most, terrifying disaster in American naval history. The 879 crew members who perished represent the greatest loss of life in a United States Navy vessel. What makes the disaster even more grievous is the tragic manner of their deaths.
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The true story of World War II's code talkers is a tale about information and war and how a complex Native American language birthed an unbreakable code.
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Chivalry, or the act of treating women with a certain reverence and respect, has a surprising true origin.
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Feral children have long been a source of fascination, and often many questions are never answered, much like in the mysterious case of Victor of Aveyron.
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The Smithsonian is one of the most respected institutions in the U.S. So why did its founder, who'd never set foot in America, leave his wealth to the county?
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When Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul succeeds Governor Andrew Cuomo on August 24, it will be a historic moment as she becomes the state's first female governor.
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September 11, 2001, remains one of the worst days in American history. On that day, a group of terrorists carried out separate, coordinated terrorist attacks.
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Radium was once a common ingredient in many cosmetics, such as lipsticks, face creams, and toothpaste.
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It's said that some people wear their heart on their sleeves. Heart-shaped candy boxes, heart-shaped emojis -- but they don't really look like a heart. Why?
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Franklin D. Roosevelt is noted in American history for having to face his former vice president in the Democratic Primary. Here's the story.
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Volcanoes are dangerous places and many of them are too volatile to visit. Intrepid explorers can, however, descend into the magma chamber of one volcano.
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There is a stretch of beaches in Florida where you can really dig for buried treasure! The reason is a disaster that occurred hundreds of years ago.
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Over the centuries, some countries have come to be associated with animals. So why are pandas so important to Chinese culture? Let's find out.
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In October 1982, an American marine archaeologist and treasure hunter named Robert Marx made a curious discovery in the Bay of Jars. Let's take a look.
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Unfortunately, there's nothing quite like a complex scandal involving royalty to attract people's attention. It's true now, and in 14th century France, too.
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Among Congressman Joseph McCarthy's many informants was none other than Walt Disney, who reported to the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover. Here's what happened.
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There's something solemn and dignified about gathering everyone together, posing, saying a customary "cheese" and hoping that nobody's blinking.
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If it wasn't for Charlemagne, this blurb could all look like one long word. Here is the surprising way he still influences modern writing.
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In 1795, Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais fell in love, and Bonaparte proposed with a lovely engagement ring containing a sapphire and a diamond.
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While once a relatively obscure historical figure to most, Alexander Hamilton has found a resurgence in notoriety because of the musical bearing his name
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Jo Girardelli was called the Queen of the Fire Eaters, but then she seemed to vanish. The mystery of what happened to her is still unsolved.
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There are some pretty long songs out there, but this song by Canadian artist Earthena is the longest ever recorded, clocking in at over 48 hours.
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Every culture has its symbols of power and authority, whether a crown, or insignia, or other distinctive garb. What about scepters -- why, and what for?
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Many Americans would be hard-pressed to name the person who preceded Vladimir Putin in his job as Russian president. So how long has he had this position?
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Usually people are imprisoned for good reason. Every once in a while, however, someone manages to escape, and more rarely, remain at large ever after.
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The Ukok Plateau, a glacier-carved expanse of grasses and hills, is the perfect resting spot for the shaman of remote antiquity, the "Ice Maiden."
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Tarrare was a French man who had an extremely voracious appetite.
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