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How Did Some Enslaved People Sue for Their Freedom — and Win?
In 1781, Elizabeth Freeman successfully sued her enslaver for her own freedom. Learn how freedom suits worked pre- and post-American Revolution in th…
3 years, 2 months ago
Why Do Wine Bottles Have Dents in the Bottom?
Short answer: No one is sure. But it may have once been practical during production, and the dents (a.k.a. punts) in wine bottles are certainly usefu…
3 years, 2 months ago
How Will the Oxford Dictionary of African American English Work?
A team of experts has come together to create a scholarly work that's long overdue: a dictionary detailing the historical and modern use of African A…
3 years, 2 months ago
Who's the Inventor Behind Tang, Pop Rocks, and Cool Whip?
During his 35-year career with General Foods, William Mitchell invented some of America's favorite, fun, and time-saving junk foods. From quick-set J…
3 years, 2 months ago
BrainStuff Classics: Could a Giant Squid Take Down a Submarine?
Tales of squid attacking ships go way back, and there are some known instances of squid attacking subs, but could a cephalopod really take down a mod…
3 years, 2 months ago
BrainStuff Classics: How Do Our Bones Grow?
We humans are fairly squishy, and we eat fairly squishy food. So how do we grow hard bones? Learn how it happens in this classic episode of BrainStuf…
3 years, 2 months ago
Why Is the French Baguette Being Honored?
In France, the baguette isn't just the most popular type of bread -- it's an artisan product that's become a social keystone. Learn how French laws a…
3 years, 2 months ago
When Were Dogs Used as Kitchen Appliances?
In the 1400s through the 1900s, many kitchens made a specific breed of dog run in a wheel in order to rotate a spit of meat over the hearth's open fi…
3 years, 2 months ago
Why Is It Quiet After It Snows?
After a snowfall, the world seems hushed -- for a while, at least. Learn why fresh snow muffles sound in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this ar…
3 years, 2 months ago
How Did Black Inventors Change America?
Black American inventors have given us everything from secure mailboxes and practical lightbulbs to gas masks and blood banks. Learn more in this epi…
3 years, 2 months ago