A rare photo of Thomson himself with two Manchu soldiers in Xiamen in 1871 In the mid-19th century, photography was still in its infancy, and images of distant lands were rare and inaccessible to most people. Few Westerners had ventured far into China, and those who had were among a privileged minority. It was during this time that John Thomson , a Scottish photographer, embarked on a journey that would not only capture the people and landscapes of China but also bring these

The death of two-year-old Caylee Anthony from Orlando, Florida, back in 2008, still stirs strong feelings and curiosity even now, more...

Medgar Evers was shot dead in his driveway in 1963. His killer bragged about it for decades. The state of Mississippi helped him walk free. It took 30 years to get justice. The full story.

In September 1956, a young John Lennon took home a dismal report card–the kind that many smart, wayward kids can probably relate to. French teacher: “An intelligent boy who could be very much better with a little concentration in class.” Maths teacher: “He is certainly on the road to failure if this goes on.” Physics teacher: “His work always lacks effort. He is content to ‘drift’ instead of using his abilities.” Religion teacher: “Attitude in class most unsatisfactory.” Hea

Nestled on the eastern coast of Cyprus lies Varosha, an eerily silent testament to a bygone era of glamour and geopolitical upheaval. This once-thriving resort town, part of the Famagusta district, has stood abandoned for nearly half a century, encapsulating a poignant chapter in the island's tumultuous history. To the discerning eye, Varosha is more than just an empty shell; it is a symbol of the enduring complexities between the Greek Cypriot community and Turkey. The Rise

Alan Turing cracked Enigma, invented modern computing, and helped shorten World War II. Then the British state chemically castrated him for being gay. This is his full story.

Known as "the wickedest city on earth," Port Royal, Jamaica evokes images of pirates, naval battles, plunder, wealth, and destruction. Its history is marked by rapid growth, establishing itself as a key trading hub in the New World. However, its prosperity came to a sudden end on June 7, 1692, when an earthquake struck, causing two-thirds of the town to sink into the sea. Subsequent fires and hurricanes further devastated the town, leading to its decline. Port Royal eventuall

In June 1989, Chinese troops opened fire on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing. Here's what really happened during the Tiananmen Square massacre, from the Goddess of Democracy to Tank Man and the death toll China won't acknowledge.

Victor Lustig was a master of deception, infamous for his bold scams that spanned Europe and the United States in the early 20th century. Born in Hostinné, Bohemia, when it was part of Austria-Hungary, Lustig’s life was defined by cleverness, charm, and a remarkable criminal mind. He became most famous for selling the Eiffel Tower not just once, but twice, and for devising the notorious “Rumanian Box” scam. His name endures as one of history’s most skilful fraudsters. Early L

Everyone knows Thomas Edison, the prolific inventor behind the phonograph and the electric light bulb, but what you might not know is that he also had a knack for ideas that never quite took off. Across his lifetime, Edison held more than 2,300 patents worldwide. While some changed the course of history, others quietly disappeared, lost to time or doomed from the start. One such misstep was the eerie and ill-fated Edison Talking Doll. Embedded in each doll's tin torso was a m

On 10th April, 1834, a fire in a grand New Orleans mansion exposed a hidden horror. The story of Delphine LaLaurie is part history, part folklore, and remains one of the city’s most unsettling chapters.

Born in Holyoke in 1912, Margaret and Mary Gibb toured with circuses across America and Europe before settling down to run a small gift shop together.

In the spring of 1942, two parachutists pedalled frantically through the streets of Nazi-occupied Prague. One was bleeding from a grenade...

During a roundup in Eindhoven on Tuesday, May 16, 1944, a young girl was arrested. Three days later, she, along with her family, was deported from Camp Westerbork to Auschwitz-Birkenau in a freight car on a train. Once the train in Westerbork was about to leave, the girl cautiously peeked out between the train doors. On that day, the Jewish prisoner Rudolf Breslauer was filming the transport under the camp commander's instructions. The girl's interest was piqued by the camera

Way back in 1990, Lindi St Clair, better known to Britain’s tabloid readers as “Miss Whiplash”, lost her long and rather colourful...

Twenty miles south of Auschwitz, on a lake fed by the Sola River, the SS built a lodge where camp staff could unwind. Guards and officers who'd performed “exemplary” work at the camp were rewarded with trips there to hunt, sing around a fire, and eat fresh blueberries. A photo album that surfaced decades later shows exactly what that looked like, and it's one of the strangest, most disturbing documents to come out of the Holocaust, not because of what it shows, but because of

On the evening of 10 May 1941, a Scottish ploughman named David McLean found a burning fighter plane in his field and a parachutist limping toward him. The man introduced himself as Captain Alfred Horn and asked to be taken to see the Duke of Hamilton. He was actually Rudolf Hess, Deputy Führer of Nazi Germany and the third most powerful man in the Third Reich, and he'd just flown himself over a thousand miles from Bavaria without telling Hitler he was going. Hess believed he

On 16th March 1978, along via Fani in Rome, a faction of the militant far-left organization called the Red Brigades intercepted the two-car convoy transporting former Italian Prime Minister, Aldo Moro, abducting him and tragically killing his five bodyguards. This event occurred as Moro was en route to a session of the Chamber of Deputies, where discussions were scheduled to address a vote of confidence for a new government under the leadership of Giulio Andreotti. Notably

In pre-war Germany, during the 1930s, there was no shortage of wild ideas when it came to transportation, especially when rockets were involved. From rocket-powered cars and aeroplanes to boats, motorcycles, and even skates—both roller and ice—engineers were fascinated by the potential of these explosive innovations. However, one of the most unusual and least practical applications of rocket power emerged in 1931 with Herr Richter’s rather daring Raketenrad, or rocket bike. I

Mae West wasn’t just a movie star, she was a cultural force. With her sharp wit, bold sexuality, and fearless defiance of censors, West reshaped Hollywood and inspired generations to come.

Constantine the Great, revered as a pivotal figure in the establishment of Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire, is often portrayed solely through the lens of his Christian conversion and subsequent actions. However, understanding Constantine's relationship with paganism is essential for comprehending the complexities of his reign and the broader religious landscape of his time. This article delves into the nuanced interplay between Constantine and paganism,

The Mabinogion finds its roots in the 14th-century manuscript known as the 'Red Book of Hergest.' This compilation comprises eleven tales of early Welsh literature, drawing deeply from the mystical realm of Celtic culture, weaving together elements of myth, folklore, tradition, and history. These narratives are believed to possess an ancient lineage, originating from the oral traditions of early Welsh bards. These Celtic storytellers traversed the landscapes of Britain and be

In the early part of 1890, Robert McGee sat for photographer E.E. Henry (1826-1917). The picture, the portrait you see above, shows McGee after he was scalped in the summer of 1864. Scalping, the act of removing the scalp from the head of a living or deceased person, is one of the most brutal practices recorded in history. Although it has often been associated with Native American warfare, the reality is that scalping was not exclusive to any single group or time period. The