When historians talk about the atrocities of the 20th century, we often think of those that took place during and between the two World Wars. But two months before the Rape of Nanking in China, and a year before Kristallnacht in Germany,...

Hank discusses some of the recent developments in synthetic biology, and why some advocacy groups are calling for a moratorium on those developments.

With his signature charm and searching insight, David Whyte meditates on the frontiers of the past, present and future, sharing two poems inspired by his niece's hike along el Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Could the same mechanism used to accelerate vaccine development work for spurring solutions to the climate crisis? Sustainability innovator Stacy Kauk introduces the billion-dollar fund to supercharge the carbon removal market, which...

Saddle up! In this episode, we head to the American West during the 1800s, when pioneers traveled across the plains in wagons, looking for new land. We’ll learn what life was like on the frontier—what people ate, how they built homes,...

In the early 1800s, explorers Lewis and Clark set out to chart the American West. The Corps of Discovery kick-started decades of Western expansion, at significant cost to Indigenous communities.

On November 4, 1791, Native American forces of the Northwestern Confederacy launched a devastating surprise attack on General Arthur St. Clair’s US Army encampment near the Wabash River. The ensuing battle resulted in catastrophic losses...

In the autumn of 1791, General St. Clair's expedition faced severe challenges: slow progress, supply shortages, low morale, and desertions. As his weakened force camped on exposed terrain near the Wabash River, unaware of the looming...

General St. Clair's expedition of 1791 aimed to crush Native American resistance in the Northwest Territory and secure US control over the region. Hampered by corruption, supply shortages, and poorly trained troops, the campaign’s...

In 1787, the United States faced mounting debt and unrest as settlers pushed illegally into the Northwest Territory, sparking violent resistance from Native American tribes. Despite calls for fairness, President George Washington...

Dwindling oil supplies mean exploration drilling is moving to far-flung reaches of the Earth. What difficulties does this pose, and what could the environmental impacts be? Earth Science - Earth's Resources - Learning Points. In the USA,...

During the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, the Abbasid Caliphate reached its peak, with Baghdad as its flourishing heart. His court became renowned for its cultural, scientific, and intellectual advancements, and scholars translated...

Dr. Forrester talks about the Transcontinental Railroad and how it dramatically changed America. She then talks about those who settled in the Great Plains, including ranchers and farmers.

Dr. Forrester tells the story of the legendary Davy Crockett.

Dr. Forrester talks about many of the hardships pioneers faced as they migrated into the western part of the United States.

Dr. Forrester tells the story of a brave pioneer Daniel Boone.

The War of 1812 was a major conflict between the United States and Great Britain for control of the Northern Frontier. Often described as the second war of independence, in reality it was caused in large part by the ineffective foreign...

If the U.S. Navy was to defeat the British during the War of 1812, it would not do so on the open seas. The battles that raged on the Great Lakes, however, would have a huge impact on the outcome of the war.

After almost three years of bitter conflict, the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain came to an end with the ratification of the Treaty of Ghent, but was the war a waste of time and resources?

During the War of 1812, British forces stormed into Washington, D.C. and set fire to the White House and other federal buildings. Rather than dent U.S. morale, the sacking of Washington served to galvanize the population against the...

The War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain ultimately ended in stalemate, but in the aftermath of one U.S. victory, a poem was penned that would become the new nation’s national anthem.

The earliest major industrial project in the United States’ history, the Erie Canal connected East to West by water and enabled a new era of commerce, trade, and movement.

When you think of American tough guys, who springs to mind? Probably not the President. But two-term Commander-in-Chief Teddy Roosevelt was hard as nails.

Just the Facts: The Emergence of Modern America: The Gilded Age uses fascinating historical footage to explore six decades that shaped modern America. The series examines the Gilded Age in the late 19th century, the Progressive Era of...