Psychology · The Person
The Man With a Hole in His Head
In 1848, an iron rod more than a metre long shot through Phineas Gage's skull. He sat up, talked, and lived for another eleven years — and became the most famous patient in the history of neuroscience.
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Psychology · The Person
The Man With a Hole in His Head
In 1848, an iron rod more than a metre long shot through Phineas Gage's skull. He sat up, talked, and lived for another eleven years — and became the most famous patient in the history of neuroscience.
People · The Person
The Girl Who Found Sea Dragons
Mary Anning was poor, had little schooling, and was barred from the scientific societies of her day because she was a woman. She also found some of the most important fossils in history.
History · The Strange Case
The Pope Who Put a Corpse on Trial
In 897, Pope Stephen VI had the body of his predecessor dug up, dressed in papal robes, propped on a throne — and prosecuted.
History · The Strange Case
The War That Lasted Less Than an Hour
On a summer morning in 1896, Britain and Zanzibar fought an entire war before most people had finished breakfast. Then came the bill.
Ancient World · The Deep Dive
The Concrete That Heals Itself
Modern concrete starts falling apart within decades. Roman harbour walls have been sitting in seawater for two thousand years. In 2023, scientists finally worked out one of the reasons why.
Art · The Rabbit Hole
Why Medieval Knights Keep Fighting Snails
Open certain 13th- and 14th-century manuscripts and you'll find armoured knights in desperate combat with garden snails. It's one of art history's best running jokes — and it goes much deeper than snails.
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