History
Books
+3
Oct 11, 2026
•
8 min read
Annalee Newitz Talks Slime Molds, Pompeii, and Trusting Science
I interviewed them about their new book, A Wall Is Also a Road
News
+1
Sep 6, 2026
•
2 min read
The Lucas Museum Shows You the Sketch Lines
I toured the museum before it opens later this month; it's cool, and not just because Star Wars, Batman & Banksy are in the same building.
Feature
+2
Aug 23, 2026
•
3 min read
Need Change? There Used to be a Tube for That.
Department stores used to be full of pneumatic tubes, all thanks to one guy.
Books
+4
Aug 2, 2026
•
2 min read
How Tube Talk Got Its Name...
Pneumatic tubes played a big part, as these posts make clear.
Feature
+2
Jul 5, 2026
•
6 min read
Thomas Edison Wanted to Call the Dead, So He Built a Spirit Phone
He also thought that "swarms" of life came to our planet from outer space
Feature
+2
May 10, 2026
•
4 min read
Let’s Talk About Space Mirrors
For over a century, people have imagined how reflecting the sun’s rays can help — or harm — the world
Books
+4
Apr 26, 2026
•
4 min read
The 19th-Century Book That Makes You See Ghosts
'Spectropia' was meant to be an anti-Spiritualist tool; it was more successful as a 'toy-book'
News
+1
Apr 19, 2026
•
2 min read
A Museum in Which to Wander
I toured LACMA’s historical new galleries before they're open to the public
Feature
+3
Apr 12, 2026
•
4 min read
TV Was Weird in the 1950s, Which Made It Ripe for Magic
Dell O'Dell was one of the first magicians to have her own TV show; the program reflected the time as well as her powerhouse personality
Feature
+2
Feb 22, 2026
•
3 min read
Don't Put These Items in a Hospital's Tube System!
The technicians will get mad at you.
Feature
+2
Feb 15, 2026
•
4 min read
The Last Bastion of Pneumatic Tubes
In one industry, this centuries-old technology is thriving.
Theremin
+4
Feb 8, 2026
•
4 min read
Why Does Television Love the Theremin?
The odd, ethereal instrument pops up on shows like Severance and Starfleet Academy.
