History

Phantom Time Hypothesis – the supposedly ‘missing’ fortnight in 1752

When the calendar skipped two weeks in 1752, the cause wasn't 'phantom time', but the incompatibility of the Julian and Gregorian calendars

The sinking of the Titanic wasn’t a crafty insurance con, it was a real tragedy

Theories that the Titanic never sank, and that it was switched for another ship as part of an insurance con, ignore irrefutable counter-evidence

Adjust your expectations: a ghost-free visit to Ireland’s Leap Castle

Leap Castle may be advertised as one of the most haunted buildings in Ireland, but its appeal is its real history, not the made-up ghost tales

Is there anybody there? The fascinating history of the Ouija board

Beloved by horror films and teen sleepovers, the Ouija board has roots in the spiritualist movement and opportunistic toy manufacturers

What age was actually considered ‘old’ in Medieval Europe?

Our assumption that life expectancy in the past was significantly lower doesn't make sense, and is based in a mathematical misunderstanding

Did pirates and a First Nations chief help kick-start the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment is often talked of as a 'Western' project, but European thinkers were influenced by the societies they met on their colonial travels

Cannibalism: The long history of a modern propaganda tool

The recent accusations about Haitian cannibals reflect a long tradition of propaganda, aimed at othering those deemed undesirable

Back-masking: you can’t always hear what you want

During the Satanic Panic, paranoia that rock music included sinister messages via 'back-masking' made it all the way into the courtroom
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