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The Mysterious Dark Day That Terrified New England
As New Englanders woke on the morning of May 19th, 1780, they realized something was... off. The sunrise looked oddly colored and dim. As the day wore on, the sky grew increasingly dark. Soon, it app…
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
The Windham Frog Fight of 1754
As the French and Indian War escalated, the residents of Windham, Connecticut lived in constant fear of possible attacks, crop-ruining weather, disease and more. One late night in the summer of 1754,…
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
Ancient Mesopotamian Societies Sacrificed Substitute Kings to Eclipses
Thousands of years before the current day, ancient civilizations accurately predicted both lunar and solar eclipses. They often believed these events were spiritual omens. When an eclipse came at an …
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
The Mad Gasser of Mattoon, Part 2
As the small town of Mattoon captured national attention during the reign of the Mad Gasser, the investigation took a turn. Authorities were baffled by the deluge of reports -- and their inability to…
Published on 4 years, 8 months ago
The Mad Gasser of Mattoon, Part 1
As wartime fears peaked across the US during World War II, people throughout the nation were overwhelmed with fears of invading Nazis, secret biological weapons and more. For the residents of Mattoon…
Published on 4 years, 9 months ago
A Currency for Colonies: The Strange Story of "Leprosy Money"
For thousands of years people across the planet lived in fear of leprosy (now known as ‘Hansen's Disease). In many cases, people infected with the disease, or even just suspected of having it, were c…
Published on 4 years, 9 months ago
Wyoming Tales, Part 2: Absaroka, the State That Almost Was
Back in the 1930s, the residents of Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota felt the federal government— and the state legislatures— ignored them. They felt unheard, unheeded and, most importantly, moved t…
Published on 4 years, 9 months ago
Wyoming Tales, Part 1: Walking in the Shoes of Big Nose George
George Parrott was a career outlaw -- a known thief, murderer and would-be train robber. When justice finally caught up with him and his game, he was destined for the hangman's noose. Yet George's de…
Published on 4 years, 9 months ago
The Rise and Fall of the Flea Circus, Part 2
In the second part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and special guest Gabe Luzier drill down into the nuts and bolts of flea circuses -- how did they actually work? Is it true that some flea circu…
Published on 4 years, 9 months ago
The Rise and Fall of the Flea Circus, Part 1
Fleas -- they're one of the only animals Ben actually doesn't like! Yet, once upon a time, these bloodsucking nuisances were star performers in novelty acts across Europe and, later, North America. B…
Published on 4 years, 9 months ago