In 1976, two American space probes, Viking 1 and Viking 2, landed on Mars. After collecting data and performing experiments, scientists decided the planet was lifeless. But now, several scholars are beginning to question that conclusion. Is there life on Mars? Is there Life on Mars? “To paraphrase an old saying, if it looks like…
On April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic slammed into an iceberg and sank to the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean. Since that time, a whole mythology has sprung up around the Titanic, much of it questionable or downright false. What are some of the many myths of the Titanic? The Many Myths of the…
In 1862, the Union and Confederacy locked horns at the Battle of Shiloh. More than 3,000 people died and another 16,000 received wounds. As the fighting came to an end, something strange started to happen. Wounds started to glow. And this glowing seemed to have a miraculous effect, leading to saved lives and faster-healing wounds….
Nearly 400 years after his death, mystery continues to surround William Shakespeare. What did he look like? What religion did he practice? And did he really write all those plays? So many questions, so few answers. The Mysterious Shakespeare Signature? Recently, scholars at The Lazarus Project discovered a bit of writing in an old legal text…
The popular image of dinosaurs – gray, dull, and scaly – has remained unchanged for decades. But new evidence over the last few years suggests a completely different picture. Did dinosaur feathers really exist? Dinosaur Feathers – Did they Exist? Well, yes, it appears at least some dinosaurs were covered with colorful feathers. First, there was…
Around 800 AD, the ancient Mayas started to use a strange blue pigment in their artwork. What was Maya Blue? The Mysterious Origin of Maya Blue? Maya Blue was a unique, weather resistant, blue pigment used by ancient pre-Columbian cultures such as the Maya. For many years, we’ve known Maya Blue consisted of indigo and…
The invention of fire is rightly viewed as one of humanity’s greatest achievements. But when was the first fire built? When was the First Fire Built? It’s probably impossible to determine the date of the first fire. But if a new study conducted by paleolithic archaeologist Michael Chazan is correct, the first fire may predate…
For over a century, historians have operated under the mistaken impression that exactly 618,222 men died during America’s Civil War. That number was always an estimate, with the Confederate casualties being based largely on meager data and some rather dubious extrapolation. So, what was the Civil War death toll? Civil War Death Toll: How Many…