The Toilets That Spied on You? A Strange Cold War Secret
Never-before-revealed secrets emerge from an unlikely Cold War source: how intelligence agencies turned toilets into tools of espionage.
The Ghost Army of WWII: A Deceptive Unit That Fooled the Enemy
How artists and actors became WWII’s secret weapon, using inflatable tanks and sound effects to deceive enemy forces.
British Attempted to Train Seagulls to Spot German U-Boats
You won’t believe how desperate British forces became in WWI when they tried turning seagulls into submarine-spotting secret weapons.
Half-Safe: The Amphibious Jeep That Circled the World
Never-before-told tale of Half-Safe, a modified WWII amphibious jeep that defied odds to become the first vehicle to circle Earth.
Exposing the Phoebus Cartel: When Bulbs Burned Out on Purpose
Uncover how a secret cartel of lightbulb manufacturers conspired to make bulbs fail faster, forever changing the way we consume products.
Apollo 11 Astronauts Signed Autographs as Life Insurance
Before blasting into space, Apollo 11’s astronauts turned their signatures into a unique life insurance policy for their families.
France Began Building a Decoy Paris in WWI to Fool German Bombers
In WWI, France devised an elaborate plan to construct a fake Paris, complete with lights and railways, to deceive German bombers.
Drugged Birth: The Twilight Sleep Controversy
In the 1900s, wealthy mothers chose temporary madness over birth pains, but this controversial “miracle drug” held dark secrets.
Britain’s ‘Death Ray’ That Became Radar
Britain’s quest for a deadly superweapon in the 1920s unexpectedly led to a breakthrough that would change warfare forever.
The New York Times Logo Had a Period Until 1967
Curious readers might be surprised to learn why The New York Times made the pivotal decision to remove its period in 1967.